Possible plow truck repower thread

[darwink1]

Just hoping to pick the smart peoples brains a bit.

My 69 40 is running a 76 2f/4spd/orion case at the moment. The orion case that I purchased this summer came with an AA orion to th350 adaptor attached to it that I still have and now a buddy has a spare 5.3 hes willing to sell me. So that got me thinkin, maybe i can start gathering parts for a budget swap.... Buy said 5.3 then find a th350, use the Houghes flex plate adaptor to mate the two then bolt in the orion with the adaptor I already have.

The biggest concern i have with this set up is overall length and was curious if anyone here had thrown this particular combo into their truck. Basically wondering if I can get away with leaving the transfer case in its current location so i dont have to mess with the drive shafts.

Also, the AA adaptor has a cross member mount attached to it, would this be sufficient to support the tranny and t case or would the mount that attaches to the rear of the case be prefferable?

Lastly, I'm running a champion 3 row aluminum rad right now and ive read conflicting reports of it being able to cool a v8. With properly set up fans and a good shroud will it suffice?

Just trying to get an overall idea of what would be involved and what kind of budget i should plan for.

Thanks in advance!

PS I'd post pictures but ..photobucket.

D

 

[White Stripe]

Is it a drive by cable or drive by wire 5.3? I don't believe their is any way to keep your driveshaft length the same. I would go turbo 400 rather than 350. BTW, u mind measuring your crawlers actual Height? I got some 37s to mount and thinking about selling them for 39s.

 

[darwink1]

Ahh s***, my big meats are stored at a buddies house right now... I may actually be heading by his place some time tomorrow, if i do ill take a quick measure for you.

It is a drive by cable 5.3 out of an 06 yukon.

I was hoping that being able to shove the motor forward would offset the longer trans/adaptor and id be able to keep things downstream in roughly the same position. Only reason for the th350 is the fact i already have the right adaptor to mate it to the orion.

D

 

[74fj40]

The bolt pattern between th350 and 400 should be the same but overall spline count is 32 vs the th350s 27, so you would need a different stub shaft. Even with the short lengty of both an ls and th350 I still think you’d have trouble leaving the transfer case in the same spot. Not to mention, if you put it to far forward it may handle differently but I don’t have too much experience in that area.

What about using an sbc bellhousing and an adapter plate to your 4 speed? Or an sm465 with a plate adapter to your Orion?

 

[darwink1]

Thats an idea, and i would love to keep it stick. My front axle is shoved forward 5" and the rear is back 4" so i have some room.

 

[darwink1]

Is it a drive by cable or drive by wire 5.3? I don't believe their is any way to keep your driveshaft length the same. I would go turbo 400 rather than 350. BTW, u mind measuring your crawlers actual Height? I got some 37s to mount and thinking about selling them for 39s.

The 39x17x13.5 krawlers measure out to roughly 38/38 1/4" tall.

Bought the 5.3 today, pick it up tomorrow. Ffs.

D

 

[White Stripe]

The 39x17x13.5 krawlers measure out to roughly 38/38 1/4" tall.

Bought the 5.3 today, pick it up tomorrow. Ffs.

D

Thanks man.

 

[74fj40]

Bought the 5.3 today, pick it up tomorrow. Ffs.

D

That’s awesome! What are you thinking for a transmission? Keep us updated!

 

[darwink1]

Thats the thing, cheapest for me would be a th350 because the orion i bought this summer came with the aa adaptor for it and the bracket for the trans shifter.. It also came with a bnm shifter but that has a reverse lock out so i doubt id use it. I do kind of wanna keep it stick though. Still up in the air really.

The 5.3 is a drive by wire so i need a drive by cable throttle body. Id post pics but its frustrating.

D

 

[GLTHFJ60]

 

[69LC]

A TH350 can be built to handle the weight of our rigs and the power you want from it. The aftermarket is just as big for those as it is for the old sbc and new LS engines.

 

[jim land]

Mark adaptor or ranger overdrive could be use to keep the h42 and same driveshaft

 

[RAYJON]

Look at the difference between the 350 and 700r4, its just a shaft length, the rear shaft in a 700 can be shortened to match the back of a turbo350..

Personally with the 5.3 and the big tires, i would go turbo 400 or 4l80e, the yukon wiring harness can be modified and the trans contoler flashed for the 4l80e.. the 4l60/700r4 are to week for real abuse.. the turbo 350 can be built to live but the $$$ dont make sense..

4l80's are really beafy.. and cheep for what they are... if you can fit one in.. the other option is detune the 5.3 so the turbo350 will live...

Ohh there is a crankshaft spacer used on the 6.0 the makes the back of the ls like a sbc,

 

[peesalot]

you will need to have the dbw ecm reworked of the dbc throttle body. There was a great thread 2 years ago about the switch. IMO go with the th400 or the 4l80e. The 4l80e will have the vss and be a better fit for regular driving.

 

[gpfj40]

Here are my thoughts on this:
The th350 is the shortest of these autos and can easily be built to handle the power of a LS truck motor for not much $. Couple HD sprags and a Center support out of a later 4l60e should do it. Best to start with a ‘k’ case too. Down fall is the narrow gear ratios. 4l60e have lower 1st and .71 od.

I’m cooling a stock LS truck motor with the 3 row champion cruiser rad and flex lite single fan/shroud combo just fine.