Chevy Astro and GMC Safari Forum banner

Ls swap

2163 Views 21 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  Mmusicman
Hello my name is DaWayne and I am a procrastinator. Now that , that is out of the way. I know I'm not reinventing the wheel, but wanted to know if someone has any suggestions on how I will get a Gen1 Astro to shift a 4l65e transmission? Finding new obstacles every day. Transmission mounted and recess cut for A/C.
Automotive lighting Automotive tire Hood Motor vehicle Automotive design
Motor vehicle Automotive tire Vehicle Automotive design Hood
Automotive lighting Automotive tire Hood Motor vehicle Automotive design
See less See more
2
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
Use the wiring harness and PCM from the donor vehicle to control the engine and transmission.
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Thanks, for the input, but i did not communicate my question properly. I was questioning the shift linkage the 2004 uses a cable and the 1994 had a linkage assembly. Believe I can cut down rod and reweld and used the adapter from 1994 trans.
Have made some progress. I have got he motor in took removing exhaust manifolds front acc drive. Noticed there was no need to recess frame for ac have will over an inch between the two. With that have found my steering linkage grease zerk had to be removed to fit under oil pan.
Hood Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Automotive design

Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive lighting Rim Automotive exterior

Tire Wheel Hood Automotive tire Automotive lighting
See less See more
3
  • Like
Reactions: 2
IT'S IN!!
Looks like it belongs!
Nice job!
awesome progress dawayne !
Thanks, for the input, but i did not communicate my question properly. I was questioning the shift linkage the 2004 uses a cable and the 1994 had a linkage assembly. Believe I can cut down rod and reweld and used the adapter from 1994 trans.
were you able to use your '94 shift rod on the cable shift '04 transmission???
With the motor sitting as low and forward as mine is. What is the opinion on lifting the engine approx. 1/2"? Where would the spacer be best placed at? Under frame mount, between the JTR mounts and LS mounting plate or between LS mounting plate and engine block.
We placed a 3/8 plate between the JTR mount and LS mounting plate. Have me the clearance needed for steering linkage. Now the problem lies with the ac lines jetting out straight into the upper control arm bolt/nut. Any ideas?
Automotive tire Motor vehicle Rim Gas Engineering
See less See more
Are all the LS a/c compressors the exact same? Maybe one from a different car will have a different exit point.
Move the motor forward?
(huge amount of work..)
Have custom fittings made?

Unfortunately the LS swap is NOT a simple drop-in like the older V8's where everything fits the same. You'll likely need creativity and fabrication skills.. good luck. You'll be showing everyone else how to do it.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
How it was done in my '05, this is the build thread Teddy put up when it was built. aka "Vandiction"

We placed a 3/8 plate between the JTR mount and LS mounting plate. Have me the clearance needed for steering linkage. Now the problem lies with the ac lines jetting out straight into the upper control arm bolt/nut. Any ideas? View attachment 284500
something like this with the correct mounting pattern for your compressor :
Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive design Rim Automotive fuel system
See less See more
Did see something like that. It appears to be a single center bolt torque and I do not have a threaded hole in between mine.
Some progress still going slow. Did get pedal assembled. Remembered reading about morphing the new and old together. That's what we did. Found a easy fix to connecting my fuel lines. More fitting than line. Seems expensive, but was easy.
Bumper Asphalt Cable Gas Camera accessory

Cable Auto part Electronics accessory Wire Heat-shrink tubing

Motor vehicle Automotive tire Hood Automotive design Automotive exterior
See less See more
3
Wow that's a crazy amount of fancy expensive fittings.
Sure you couldn't just slide a rubber line over it like I did with mine?

Lot of work... looks good.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Might have, my brother thought we should have replaced them all the way back to the tank to at least felt like it was money well spent. :LOL: Is it ever. So far it has been the most expensive part of the swap.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Might have, my brother thought we should have replaced them all the way back to the tank to at least felt like it was money well spent. :LOL: Is it ever. So far it has been the most expensive part of the swap.
good practice for the AC compressor..................
Been almost a year since last post. Gotten some what further this year. Have the engine wiring finished and have at least started it for a brief second. Have the oil, fuel and temp gauge all working. Stuck on the speedo tried using 2004 sensor to 1994 wiring and got no reading at dashboard. Any suggestions?
Glad to see your still at it, honestly my first thought would be to put in a more modern cluster that is the same year as the computer. '94 tech is antique compared to the '04.
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
Top