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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:47 pm
by SJohn
Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2020 9:23 am
by ScramblerCJ8
Hi, just an observation on your fan shroud. The shroud should cover the radiator core 100% for efficient cooling, your set up will be ok at highway speed but not for city/ slow traffic because it will only draw air thru the center of the radiator.
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 3:17 pm
by SJohn
I apologize for the sparse updates, I have moved closer to my new job and unfortunately do not have a garage so the truck is 45 minutes away in my dad's shop. Thankfully most of the big projects like metal work are behind me and I can focus on getting this thing back on the road!
I took ScramblerCJ8's advice and built an aluminum shroud extension for the taurus fan. I still have some work to do on it but so far it is looking good! I have also plumbed the radiator hoses and steam port using a coupling with a 1/8 NPT fitting. I filled the fluids and ran it to check and fill the trans fluid as well as burp the coolant.
The taurus fan uses an old ford/(motocraft?) 3 pin female plug, any clue where to find a male plug?
Running video:
https://i.imgur.com/aHg4jgy.mp4
Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 8:03 pm
by cpfeifffer
Send a picture of the plug.
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 8:13 pm
by SJohn
cpfeifffer wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 8:03 pm
Send a picture of the plug.
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I'm looking for the socket this plug connects into.
1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 9:59 pm
by sirrus
That looks exactly like connectors on Duraspark ignition modules. I don’t know the exact name for it, but if you look for “duraspark connectors” you’ll find plenty online.
On the other side they are far from perfect and will be full of green goo from corrosion soon. So you might want to cut it off and replace with 3pin weatherpack. They are waterproof and more durable than “duraspark” ones. I recently did that to connector on my stock duraspark dizzy and it actually fixed occasional rough idle
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2020 6:12 pm
by SJohn
sirrus wrote:That looks exactly like connectors on Duraspark ignition modules. I don’t know the exact name for it, but if you look for “duraspark connectors” you’ll find plenty online.
On the other side they are far from perfect and will be full of green goo from corrosion soon. So you might want to cut it off and replace with 3pin weatherpack. They are waterproof and more durable than “duraspark” ones. I recently did that to connector on my stock duraspark dizzy and it actually fixed occasional rough idle
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Yes it's the same plug as the ignition module but I can't seem to find it's counterpart. I did order a weatherpack kit and crimper so I can do that.
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2020 10:41 am
by SJohn
Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 10:15 am
by SJohn
Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 11:23 pm
by SJohn
Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2020 3:26 pm
by SJohn
Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 12:07 pm
by SJohn
I've been slowly making progress the past few months. Finally got the wiring harness off the dinner table and back in the truck. While it was out of the truck I repaired all the sketchy factory duct taped splices and cheap crimps. Almost every in-line connector has been replaced with weatherpack connectors including the firewall connector. The Viper remote start is installed and works! Along with remote start, I installed universal door lock actuators (the holes line right up with the existing holes in the door) and made a simple relay harness to activate them. The wiring diagram is edited to match. I finally got to try out the Dakota Digital Gauges! I haven't dug in and programmed everything but seeing the lights come on and tach responds has got me pumped to finish this thing!
https://imgur.com/a7TRlPj (Door Lock Video)
https://imgur.com/y6B3uhO (Remote Start Video)
https://imgur.com/nFITGHS (Gauges Video)
Headlights installed and relays wired in. The bucket tabs need to be adjusted more to center the lights up but I'm in love! last part of the razor conversion is installing the hood bar.
For the transfer case shifter I decided to go with the JB Fab cable shifter since I felt too lazy to fabricate a shifter linkage myself. It's big and bulky but oh well. Ill get a boot made to cover the body of the shifter.
Somehow I ended up with another parts truck. It's hard to pass up a good tailgate
Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 9:55 pm
by SJohn
Oh wow I have not updated here in a long time! Does anyone even get on here anymore?? Anyway here is an update: Finally back on the road...ish!!
The truck is 95% back together now sporting a green bed and blue tailgate. Wiring is 90% complete with just the AC and future trailer harness left to complete as well as continued tidying up.
The viper system worked... until it decided not to and I couldn't show off the coolest feature of the truck at the car show
The dakota digital gauges are working great and calibrated. I did the manual calibration using gps on the phone so I'll have to see how that pans out in the future.
Scored a mint factory radio from a facebook group member and threw some old speakers behind the seats to jam some cassettes! In the future I will install new door speakers and a bluetooth amp.
I finished up the interior with sound deadening and closed cell foam, corbeau seats finally installed for the final time and a custom center console comprised of a smittybuilt console an a custom extension to house the shifters. Sound deadening and foam still to come for the doors, roof, and back wall. The classic auto air system is mounted, plumbed, and lines crimped, just need to finish wiring and charge the lines.
I decided to put a new fill cap on the inside rear of the bed rather than running a long hose to the front of the bed. This allows me to run the original tank as an auxiliary tank and also avoid filling problems many people have reported. With the 2" fill hose I don't have to monitor the pump when filling up!
Unfortunately I ran into some bad news, the 4l60e (2l60e as I call it now) is trashed. Even after driving the donor 90 miles prior to disassembly with no issues I lost 3rd and 4th gears shortly after getting the truck running. The only work I performed on the transmission was replacing the filter and fluid so I have no idea why it failed but a reputable transmission shop confirmed it is dead. Oh well, new built transmission from performabuilt on the way!
So after 2 years of wrenching after class, after work, every free weekend, the truck finally left the street on its own power to a local annual car show! And without 3rd or 4th gears to boot
Every minute of work has been worth it for the joy I had at the car show and cruise, don't give up guys!
Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2021 8:14 am
by Dr.Bob
That looks awesome! Thanks for the update.
Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:17 pm
by mike472
hello, I'm working on my ls swap into 72 J4000, I have so many questions, what size fuel tank did you use?, it looks like from the pictures it hangs a little low, could it have gone up any?, do you have any pictures of the classic auto air install I can stare at, and where/what type of vents are you using? Thank you for all the pics and video clips, sounds sweet!!
Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 8:58 pm
by Txflyer16
Nice work on the build and all the updates. Where in SETX are you? What have you done with donor J trucks you bought? I’m about to start a couple projects.
Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2022 9:47 am
by SJohn
mike472 wrote:hello, I'm working on my ls swap into 72 J4000, I have so many questions, what size fuel tank did you use?, it looks like from the pictures it hangs a little low, could it have gone up any?, do you have any pictures of the classic auto air install I can stare at, and where/what type of vents are you using? Thank you for all the pics and video clips, sounds sweet!!
Apologies for the delayed response, I haven't checked back here in a while. The fuel tank is a 20gal blazer tank and it looks like it hangs lower than the wagoneer and cherokee pictures I have seen. It is mounted as high as I could get it with the top of the tank touching the lower bed supports. I am in the process of falling up the rear bumper and it hides the tank pretty well.
I just got the AC charged and hooked the vents up this week! I will take some pictures and post them.
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2022 10:04 am
by SJohn
Txflyer16 wrote:Nice work on the build and all the updates. Where in SETX are you? What have you done with donor J trucks you bought? I’m about to start a couple projects.
In October I moved to Dallas but the remaining donor truck is in Silsbee at my Dad's place. The trucks were parted out and funded my truck and only one (what is left of it) is left. You should be able to find it on FB marketplace 1982 Jeep J10 Laredo
https://imgur.com/a/Z6WUgiy
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2022 10:08 pm
by SJohn
Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2022 5:53 am
by rocklaurence
Wow, you are making a lot of progress. Is the trans a 4L60E? Regarding the rear brakes, will the piston have enough travel to compensate for the spacer? You are coming up with unique ideas--love it