Hello!

Super new to the forum, and looking for some help/advice.

I've been working on swapping a truck 5.3 that I built out to a 5.5 with redone top and bottom end paired with a Tremec T56 Magnum into my 2nd gen S10.

I've decided to take the project a different direction and move to the C4 platform (wanted to change what the goal of the setup was), which I've always been a fan of. I've spent the past week or so looking through various forums and websites to try and compile information.

Are there any common issues that people run into when doing these swaps? Is there anything that I should be aware of as far electronics go? Common overlooked parts with a swap like this?

I know that I'll need to get headers and swap out the accessories on it. Is there anything I need to know as far as maintaining A/C and heat, as well as clearance issues that people run into?

Any help would be fantastic! (Attached is a picture of my s10 as it sits right now).

 

I am working on this right now and it is a pain in the hinder to make all the systems work together on the car. I am putting an LS7 in my 1986 and I want heat, air, working windshield wipers, working gauges, power steering, auto trans, and clean neat wiring harness. I also am running headers and dual 3" exhaust.

This is a timing consuming expensive job to get all of these items installed in the car like a factory setup (Lots of custom fitting to adapt the various lines to the C4 to make a presentable setup) . I am using a 2008 corvette front accessories drive with some modifications to mount the air conditioner up on the passenger side of the car.

 

I thought an LS swap on an early C4 was pretty easy by comparison to other vehicles. I made a YouTube video about it years ago. I can post a link if you're interested.

But it was easy for me because I live in PA so air conditioning is useless. I never have the roof panel on the car anyway so I just pulled the AC out. Also I sold the factory gauge cluster and replaced it with individual gauges from Intelliteonix. Those two things made the swap much easier. I started with a basic 411 PCM and then later upgraded to a Holley Terminator X max.

Other things to consider with you swapping in a t56 is you will probably have to have a driveshaft made. In today's market it's less expensive to have a new one made vs having the factory one cut down. Also going that way you can up your yoke size to 1350 if you want. The 1310 is the factory size and is a week point.

For exhaust factory truck manifolds fit fairly well. The Holley high flow cast manifolds should fit. If you want headers eBay C5 stainless headers can be made to fit with a little welding. Not a big deal if you want long tubes. This is what I have on mine now. There are other headers that might fit. There used to be a cheap eBay set of headers for LS swapping 240sx's. If you could find those they may fit with little effort.

There are a lot of LS swap threads on this forum. Do a search and you'll find a wealth of information.

 

sounds similar to my project. Haven’t gotten started yet but have a lot of the parts ready. Doing an ls7/ t56 magnum swap on my 94. I’m doing away with heat and air, but I’m going for a clean/custom show car look which will involve taking the entire front half of the car down to the frame for a “restoration”

 

Best of luck with your project, i'm sure it will be a fun car when done. I have a built LS2 with T56 magnum and terminator X ecu in my 88 and love it.

Is your C4 a pre-1990 model? The swap is a bit easier and more well documented in the early cars.