Well, the engine is in and now the fun really begins. I'm learning that more than one sensor and ground need extended. The starter on the 5.7 is much larger than on the 4.3, and the larger cable won't bolt onto the starter. The hole diameter is too small. I've currently got half the wiring hooked up though. The transmission is fighting me, and for whatever reason I can't get it connected.

 

I forgot to mention the fuel line on the left (when facing the front of the engine) probably needs replaced as well. It contacts the EGR valve and the oil pressure sensor.

 

My self appointed deadline to have this done has come and gone three times so far (possibly moving in a month) so I decided to have the transmission rebuilt, and some of the other loose ends taken care of by local shop. I went with a 34in radiator over the 28in that was originally in it, and ran into will most likely need new transmission cooler lines. Definitely needed a larger fan shroud (upper and lower). Engine wise, wiring should be good and I swapped the prom chip. Ac compressor, power steering pump, alternator, new belt were also installed.

 

Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is the transmission was rebuilt, everything was hooked up and the engine runs. The bad news is that the engine runs like garbage, is running rich and fouling plugs according to the shop. After they did a lot of diagnosis and research, they believe the camshaft is incorrect. I'm pretty depressed about this. I contacted the company I purchased the kit from to see what recommendations they have. If anyone here has suggestions please let me know as well.

 

It's been a long time without an update. The shop found the distributor to be bad, fuel bad, fuel filter clogged, fuel pressure regulator set wrong, and the fuel pump bad. They also contacted https://harristuning.com/ for suggestions and a programmed prom chip. . . . and today my truck came home! There's still a few issues to sort out, but she drives! The a/c clutch bearing sounds like it's in need of replacement, and I painted up a V8 air cleaner housing assembly I'll toss that in once the paint cures. I definitely want to upgrade the exhaust, and hopefully soon. Ignore my son laughing as soon as the engine revs up.

 

Been kind of demotivated lately. Just moved to Florida, and my wife was involved in a relatively minor accident while driving the truck. Fortunately everyone was ok. The truck had just gotten it's second oil change, a new air compressor, and new exhaust too. It's currently getting looked at by a body shop.



Here's a video prior to completion of the exhaust system. The gentleman that did the exhaust wanted me to finish installing a trailer hitch before he completed the exhaust. (I was waiting on the hitch to arrive, and it got lost in the mail) Everything was finished just prior to the move, but I didn't take any video of the completed exhaust.

 

I have a Stroker I built and put in my 86 S10 on to have a lot of problems keeping the car cool here in Texas. Headers just to close to floor boards. It was like 130 degrees in car on a hot day. I just put that stroker in my 1994 C1500 4.3. No longer TBI running a Holly 750. Once complete my in tank fuel pump no longer excites. No power going to the pump. I read somewhere that the damn ecm completes the ground to the pump. Where am I losing my signal to the ecm, is it the fuel pressure reg that sends a signal to the ecm to excite the fuel pump ground??

 

I finally got the truck repaired. I had the bench seat re-upholstered as well. Headrests were deleted, but the gentleman who did the work told me he can add them back if I buy new ones and want them installed. I drove it ~25 minutes to the gun range today and the CEL came on when I got there. It reset after shutting the engine off and didn't come back on during the drive home. I'm happy it's been fixed as it's been a rather depressing incident for us.

 

Thanks for the postings.
I enjoyed seeing the progression.