First things first, I need to start collecting some parts. I would prefer it not to end up like so many of my other personnel projects spread out over all of the shop waiting on the necessary pieces to magically show up at my doorstep. So, over that last several months, I have been acquiring the necessary pieces that will eventually address the many aspects that I find wrong with the vehicle. Remember, I built the thing when I was 16...I made a lot of mistakes....
One of the aspects that I despised the most was the carburetor. Have driven the car cross county several times, it was a never ending battle to keep the thing running correctly especially at any appreciable elevation. The last time I changed jets somewhere in the mountains of Colorado, I swore that I was going to eventually step it up to the late 20th century and install a fuel injection system.
That was at least 10 years ago, and things change...especially...the availability of newer engines and their donor vehicles. Case in point, I pick this beauty of a truck up for basically scrap price. Its a 1999 Chevy Silverado LS with a 5.3L GM Vortec engine that had been involved in a slight accident that eventually lead to it being totaled.
Now, I have a couple of friends that have done the 5.3L swaps that have been trying to convince me to do it to the Nash. I admit, I was a bit hesitant until I saw this on the Youtubes...warning: it's a bit of crude humor....
So, I had to get me one of those tornadoes under the hood....
Since I had a running, driving donor vehicle, I was able to take everything I needed from the engine to the computer and even the OBDII port off at my leisure and part the rest out before I hauled it to the scrap yard. As it stands right now, there really isn't much left of the thing...apparently the hillbillies around here go crazy for Silverado parts...
I plan on using a 700R4 instead of the stock 4L60E transmission. It's got a mechanical speedometer and it's not completely computer controlled. Regardless, the ECU is going to have to be reprogrammed to do anyway with all of the emissions B.S. so I still have to figure that all out...not to mention that the stock engine harness is a bit overwhelming. So, stay tuned...I'll try and keep a decent step by step review...
