V8 Swappers-Step in

[T.Neff]

Tell (me) us your story.What did you build,do you still own it or did you sell it,is it still running,how did it go over the long term,and if you had to do it again,would you or what would you change??.

[BigWheelinBubba]

I bought my van already done. It's a 91, LT1, 4L60E. Everything came from a 1994 Z28.
Being a car guy by nature, I would have done this swap myself but I found a van already done that was more cost-effective than doing it myself.
My van runs like it was born with this combo. All the gauges work (digital), the a/c works, and with the mods to the engine the van is quick enough to hang with a 2002 Z06 Corvette

[Mmusicman]

I'm in the process of my 1st V8 swap as we speak! A hot rod 350! Very excited about it.

[bubbalowe]

Closing in on the end of a very long journey to put a 98 5.7 in a 97 AWD. My biggest regret is doing this to a conversion van instead of a regular van after seeing the photos posted on here of the insides of a conversion van. Also, while an AWD Astro goes very well in the snow the tremendous amount of extra work involved in the swap makes a 2 wheel drive swap look like kids play. I plan on towing and I'm thinking the 2 wheel drive would of worked just fine.

[markmitch]

I have done a couple 1st gen 2 wheel drive vans bought swapped and sold them now I have a AWD conversion van and may someday install a same year (94) 350/5.7 TBI. Since I have never done an AWD I am gonna start gathering all the info and parts and will not start till I have everything including a rebuilt basically stock 94 350 and a transmission for a v8.

[icebrrg3rd]

Just finished swapping in a 5.7L and 5-speed from a '91 Silverado into my '91 Astro a week ago. Nothing special done to the motor other than freshening up the seals & gaskets.

Things I would have done differently:
--Would have the engine prepped. I spent time getting the engine ready (clean, seals/gaskets, paint, etc) which used up my time (I took vacation time to do the swap). I really wanted to prep it during the winter but the blasted cold...
--Would have made a dolly system (extra wheels) for the back half of the frame to roll it around.
--Would have looked at what I needed for the accessories. i.e. the brackets on the manifold for the pick-up were different from the brackets on the Astro.
--Would have found a buddy for full-time assistance (kept disturbing my B-I-L for help. He works at home, I did the swap at their place).
--Should have taken ALL my tools from home, the B-I-L and my folks didn't have what I needed, kept renting tools from LAPS.
--Would have WIFI for web searches (again, B-I-L didn't have WIFI, and he was using his computer for work, and I was data-roaming)

Problems encountered:
--Welder went kaput. Luckily the guy across the street from my folks had one (used the welder for the tranny mount, the 5-speed has a different mounting location)
--Using 22-year-old used parts (from the p/u), had a few break/snap. Had to get new ones, and remove the fragments from the engine, time killers.
--Did the work outside. Could have used the pole barn but felt it was easier to work on out in the open. Had good weather, but once evening came, the bugs...

I'm still working out the kinks, have a couple of codes in the computer to clear up, clutch pedal issues (mount location caused some part relocation, still fixing that), exhaust routing, driveshaft u-joint (needed longer d/s because tranny was shorter) is special because the p/u has different diameter cups than the Astro, I'm sure there's more, haven't noted them yet.

Yes, I would do it again, even tho I know it was a bear & a half, and I'm still aching all over.

-Andrew

[WoodButcher]

I'm in the process of my 1st V8 swap as we speak! A hot rod 350! Very excited about it.

Me too!
about mine I mean.

Just finished swapping in a 5.7L and 5-speed from a '91 Silverado into my '91 Astro a week ago.

--Would have made a dolly system (extra wheels) for the back half of the frame to roll it around.

Good info Andrew, I want to ask about this point, in your opinion would a movers dolly be adequate for this? maybe a 2" x 6" across between the frame bolted or strapped together do the trick?

[bubbalowe]

Harbor Freight movers dolly is what I used but I suspect it wouldn't be so good in gravel. I am fortunate to have a concrete parking pad and then I wheeled it into the garage for the winter.

[icebrrg3rd]

I originally didn't think I'd have moved it around as much, but since I moved it outside to work on it during the day then back inside for the night, I rolled it often. Let's see, pulled it in/out of the garage Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat it was back under. Plus to get it out from under the body, I basically dragged it out on the rear of the frame, spilling out tranny fluid. Then putting it back I inched it under while moving the jack stands. Wheels would have been SOOOO much easier.

Theses are kinda what I had in mind. Harbor Freight. Screwed to a block of wood and strapped somehow to the frame, away from the mounting points. Made so it would be almost level once the body came off.


One other thing, the sub-frame became marginally front-heavy once the engine/tranny was out, some more weight on the back would've kept it off the bumper.

-Andrew

[redfury]

Been driving my 5.7 Vortec ( 1998 AWD van ) as a daily driver for almost 4 years now. Complaints? Gas mileage and that I've torn up 2 4wd transfer cases ( mines a 4x4 convert ). Happy I did the 411 PCM conversion, but I wish I'd get it to a tuner to take advantage of it. I still need to get the A/C whole...tried to extend the hose and ended up breaking part of it, so I have to get a new hose ( rear A/C )

The redneck truck exhaust needs to go too. I want to keep the dual exhaust, but I need different mufflers than these Xcellerators. Glad I put an E fan in it, much easier to work on the front end. Overall, I'd run an V8 astro again, but to be honest, they are a PITA to work on regardless of which engine is in them...it's not just open the hood and jump in like you can with a Silverado.

[bubbalowe]

Been driving my 5.7 Vortec ( 1998 AWD van ) as a daily driver for almost 4 years now. Complaints? Gas mileage and that I've torn up 2 4wd transfer cases ( mines a 4x4 convert ). Happy I did the 411 PCM conversion, but I wish I'd get it to a tuner to take advantage of it. I still need to get the A/C whole...tried to extend the hose and ended up breaking part of it, so I have to get a new hose ( rear A/C )

The redneck truck exhaust needs to go too. I want to keep the dual exhaust, but I need different mufflers than these Xcellerators. Glad I put an E fan in it, much easier to work on the front end. Overall, I'd run an V8 astro again, but to be honest, they are a PITA to work on regardless of which engine is in them...it's not just open the hood and jump in like you can with a Silverado.

What exactly is gained by putting in the "411" ? I have found the 98 Silverado " black box" is supported by HP Tuners because I was able to unlock mine and get my swap running. I haven't got around to going back in for tuning but wondered why those that have this older stuff look at the "411" as an upgrade?
Thanks for any help