04 blazer project

Tomorrow will you learn to ask me about spare parts on the shelf? haha

We have a spare alt, but it's squeaky. I do have 2 Intrepid fans sitting on the shelf that I decided not to use though. I don't think they have the integrated relays.

Sounds like a fun and successful day at the yard. Not sure what is up with the 90 degree temps lately.

I need to make a trip to the yard sometime this week myself.

Tomorrow will you learn to ask me about spare parts on the shelf? haha

We have a spare alt, but it's squeaky. I do have 2 Intrepid fans sitting on the shelf that I decided not to use though. I don't think they have the integrated relays.

Sounds like a fun and successful day at the yard. Not sure what is up with the 90 degree temps lately.

I need to make a trip to the yard sometime this week myself.

dammit. you need to have an inventory list.
i might borrow that alternator for mockup.
with the 25% off deal on sundays at the pontiac yard it's hard to not buy things.

For real. I keep discovering new things myself.

Alt is just sitting on the shelf.

Even without 25% off I have a hard time not buying anything.

An inventory day sounds smart.


I saw an ad from US Auto in Sterling Heights recently bragging about their LS collection.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1993616710883324&id=1384000358511632

"Your LS Engine headquarters! We've put out 4, 6.0 engines this week!! Not to
Mention all the 4.8 and 5.3 engines we put out! $175 for a bare engine, or $250 with accessories.
GM Trucks - Row 22 STACKED!!
Set on 9-22-17
http://www.usautosterlingheights.com/pricelist.html"

That's the usual yard I go to. It's directly on the way from Warren to Romeo, so easy for me. It's been rare I haven't been able to find a 5.3/6.0 part I need.

good to know, unfortunately a whole lot more out of the way for me than the pontiac one which in the past was pretty stocked.

got new engine mounts waterjet, these will place the engine 1/2" lower than the first set
welded and painted


comparing to V1


engine placed in "final" position


still have adjustment capability forwards if i were to modify the trans xmember



now i have "clearance" to the HVAC box




and the oilpan notch is working out well




closest thing down here is oil filter to diff bolts as seen here, but at least the oil filter is "squishable" without too much issue

Looks great!

i started on a thing. lets hope this works

used Harley's p/ns he posted in a different thread and got this elegant setup for the gauge oil pressure sensor
https://www.amazon.com/Pressure-Relocation-Adapter-M16-1-5-Sending/dp/B00NY4VJL8
and the sensor itself
19244505
ACDelco D1818A GM Original Equipment Engine Oil Pressure Sensor
with the M16 thread.

Lowering the alternator? Or turning it into an adjustable tensioner?

Just realized I have no idea what you're doing for exhaust headers/manifolds.

changing the eye to eye distance on the vette alt bracket so i can mount a higher amperage truck alternator.
the pulley offset is the same on all the alternators I've looked at, and the truck alternator spacing seems to be the most common and readily available at all parts stores so on the road replacements will be much easier than trying to track down a vette alternator in the middle of nowhere.

i haven't started on thinking about exhaust yet but i'm going to start with the cast f-body manifolds i got from you a long time ago. I haven't pulled them down from the attic but i think you bored them out to 2.5" tube for me.

and then the rest of the exhaust will be piecing together various bends and straights, into most likely just a single 3" like i always do because it's light and easy, plus i have several mufflers laying around to try to recycle.

i started on a thing. lets hope this works

2010 looked like a good year.

I do vaguely recall at least talking about boring those out for you, but I think I did. If not there's a boring head out at the shop haha I'm curious how those manifolds will fit on a 4x4/ZR2.

I agree on the year 2010.

So doing Vette offset accessories on this one? Trying to keep the radiator in the stock position and still have room to work?

yup. I'm pretty sure they are bored already. Just not sure on what size tube will fit nicely.
I'm hoping those manifolds work out ok! The backup plan is a full custom header but i'd love to avoid the time required for making that.
I also have some truck manifolds laying around but i think those are known to not fit at all.

yea, '10 was a good year

yup, that's the plan! keeping AC so retaining the stock radiator location simplifies the front end work.
I guess it hasn't been pictured yet but i already have the low profile LS2 water pump bolted up.

as seen in this handy google image search picture, the LS2 pump significantly increases e-fan clearance.
(LS1 pump is shared between the vette and f-body and allows for belt wrap in both positions)
the dual intrepid fan should also help with clearance as opposed to a single fan where the fan motor lines up with the denter of the pulleys

You'll be happy with that water neck position too.

I would have bored to 2.5" tube just like I did for mine.

Truck manifolds might work with a similar treatment as we're giving the 4th gen Camaro manifolds, but on the driver side I'm pretty sure steering would be boned.



Passenger side doesn't look all that bad in my pictures.

So i didn't know until today that the envoy manifolds are not the same as the truck ones.
here is the pass side compared to a 02ish camaro one



camaro one mocked up





Envoy one





for the camaro ones being the "typical" s10 swap (2wd), i am not particularly impressed.
I'd need a pretty sharp turn back to run the camaro ones, plus i'll need to cover up all the EGR ports.
the Envoy one fit pretty nicely and I think I may even be able to run the 3 bolt flange, which would make installation a tad easier.
Anyone know if anyone aftermarket makes the flange/flared tube section?

of course, while i was mocking up, I realized I had forgotten to remove several broken exhaust bolts from the engine before dropping it in.
While I hated myself for being dumb, (never rely on mental notes on a project you have been procrastinating from doing for over a year!) having a welder really makes bolt extraction super easy.
it would have been a whole lot easier on an engine stand though.
access was mediocre with the fender gap liner out.
the last 5.3 I swapped I used a drill and tap and was never super happy with the end result.

modified vette alternator bracket seems to work well

next step is to try to weld the 4.3 AC compressor bracket to this without running out of room

I didn't feel like I had to cut in that much with the 98-99 stainless manifolds. Not sure if they changed the shape at all with the cast iron 00+ versions.