1986 J20 LS Swap

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SJohn
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post by SJohn »

Big update! All of the metal work, rust repair, and painting is finally done! The cab and front clip are back on the frame and it's finally starting to look like a truck again. The radiator is bolted in just waiting for hoses and steam vent joint. I am currently planning on using the factory Jeep transmission cooler. I am using a Ford Taurus electric fan but I need to figure out how to mount it so any suggestions would be appreciated. I pulled the grill off since i will be putting on a razor grill and it looks like some rats chewed up the passenger side wire harness near the headlight. A wiring schematic for the lights would also be greatly appreciated!
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Owner/Operator/Chief Engineer of Johnson Production FSJ Parts
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1986 J20 LS Swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=17875

1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2JZ swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=22981

ScramblerCJ8
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post 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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SJohn
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post 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?

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Running video: https://i.imgur.com/aHg4jgy.mp4
Owner/Operator/Chief Engineer of Johnson Production FSJ Parts
https://www.johnsonproductionjp.com/

1986 J20 LS Swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=17875

1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2JZ swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=22981

cpfeifffer
Posts: 81
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post by cpfeifffer »

Send a picture of the plug.


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1978 Cherokee Chief
5.3L L33, 4L60E, Atlas II 5.0

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SJohn
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post 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.
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Owner/Operator/Chief Engineer of Johnson Production FSJ Parts
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1986 J20 LS Swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=17875

1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2JZ swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=22981

sirrus
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1986 J20 LS Swap

Post 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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SJohn
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post 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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Owner/Operator/Chief Engineer of Johnson Production FSJ Parts
https://www.johnsonproductionjp.com/

1986 J20 LS Swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=17875

1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2JZ swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=22981

Topic author
SJohn
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post by SJohn »

Got the battery and ecu mounted this weekend. Used a Rusty's offroad optima battery box that I modified for my slightly bigger battery and mounted it to the firewall with a support bolted to the inner fender. The ECU is mounted with a S10 ECU bracket riveted to a support I fabbed up to the driver side inner fender. Also I went with Sirrus's advice and changed the taurus fan plug to a weatherpack. Went ahead and cut the muscle grill supports and bolted the razor grill on and have some round buckets on the way.
I'm about to begin trimming the Jeep harness so if anyone has any info on what wires should be removed and what I will need I would greatly appreciate it!
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Owner/Operator/Chief Engineer of Johnson Production FSJ Parts
https://www.johnsonproductionjp.com/

1986 J20 LS Swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=17875

1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2JZ swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=22981

Topic author
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post by SJohn »

Disk brake conversion is finally done and all soft lines replaced with stainless steel hoses. For future reference for anyone doing this conversion I replaced the old studs with rear studs from a 1978 4x4 Chevy K20 rear stud for 11 inch brakes part number 610-188. These are longer studs that will accommodate for the rotor being mounted on the back of the hub.

I also picked up a 1982 J20 parts truck that the previous owner was LS swapping and gave up on for a great deal. It came with a load of spare parts and brand new parts for the swap which I will be using on my truck. It came with a new 2 door blazer tank and fuel pump which I will be installing and gives me the opportunity to possibly run dual tanks! The truck had a good set of 285/75R16 tires and nice wheels that I swapped over as well.
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Owner/Operator/Chief Engineer of Johnson Production FSJ Parts
https://www.johnsonproductionjp.com/

1986 J20 LS Swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=17875

1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2JZ swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=22981

Topic author
SJohn
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post by SJohn »

Gas tank, driveshafts, and throttle pedal are all in! The driveshafts were rebuilt/cut/stretched at a local driveshaft shop and came out great! I fabricated some brackets to mount the blazer gas tank straps to hold the tank in. New longer fuel lines plumbed and the pump wired. For the throttle pedal I modeled several prototypes in fusion 360 which I 3D printed and adjusted for fitment until I liked it enough to build a mount from delrin plastic. The mount uses two of the bolts around the steering column and moves the pedal over to the left and off of the firewall enough to prevent modifying the pedal. With it snugged up against the steering column there is no longer any issues with the pedal hitting the transmission tunnel. After battling breeding the brakes ( wasn't getting flow to the rear) which still need more bleeding, I was able to take a short test drive! Plan to get exhaust installed soon and then start tackling the interior wiring, gauges, etc.
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Owner/Operator/Chief Engineer of Johnson Production FSJ Parts
https://www.johnsonproductionjp.com/

1986 J20 LS Swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=17875

1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2JZ swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=22981

Topic author
SJohn
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post by SJohn »

Progress has been slow the last few months but have got a few things done. New exhaust was installed, 2.5 inch from manifolds to a flowmaster 40 series single in dual out dumped at the axle until the bed is back on an the rest can be built to the rear bumper. After a lot of messing with the taurus fan and trying to make a custom shroud that fit better I bought an assault aluminum shroud off ebay, cut down the flanges, notched out a slot for the top hose and bolted a derale 2 speed fan to it. It looks much better now! I replaced the plastic overflow reservoir with an aluminum one from Jegs. I have removed the interior harness and stripped out the HVAC wiring and other excess wiring that will not be used. Since I am running a Dakotah Digital gauge cluster and will be installing aftermarket HVAC I was able to trim quite a bit out. Installing a Viper remote start system while the harness is out! Found some new mirrors and finally sold the donor truck with just a little over $300 into it!
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Owner/Operator/Chief Engineer of Johnson Production FSJ Parts
https://www.johnsonproductionjp.com/

1986 J20 LS Swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=17875

1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2JZ swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=22981

Topic author
SJohn
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post 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!

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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.
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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.
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Somehow I ended up with another parts truck. It's hard to pass up a good tailgate :lol:
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Owner/Operator/Chief Engineer of Johnson Production FSJ Parts
https://www.johnsonproductionjp.com/

1986 J20 LS Swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=17875

1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2JZ swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=22981

Topic author
SJohn
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post 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 :lol: Every minute of work has been worth it for the joy I had at the car show and cruise, don't give up guys!

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Owner/Operator/Chief Engineer of Johnson Production FSJ Parts
https://www.johnsonproductionjp.com/

1986 J20 LS Swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=17875

1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2JZ swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=22981

Dr.Bob
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post by Dr.Bob »

That looks awesome! Thanks for the update.

mike472
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Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2020 6:57 pm

Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post 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!!

Txflyer16
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post 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.
'81 CJ-5
'93 XJ
New project '79 J-10
Looking for a Waggy

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SJohn
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post 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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Owner/Operator/Chief Engineer of Johnson Production FSJ Parts
https://www.johnsonproductionjp.com/

1986 J20 LS Swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=17875

1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2JZ swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=22981

Topic author
SJohn
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post 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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Owner/Operator/Chief Engineer of Johnson Production FSJ Parts
https://www.johnsonproductionjp.com/

1986 J20 LS Swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=17875

1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2JZ swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=22981

Topic author
SJohn
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post by SJohn »

Here's an update since October.
New Performabilt transmission installed and running great. The truck is finally registered and street legal with Texas state park plates! The factory tank is back in, all that's left is to plumb it up. I picked up a dodge d150 rear bumper for cheap but it was too wide so I cut 3 inches out of it to fit and it looks pretty good and hides the gas tank a bit.
The AC install is finally complete and working after 3 trips to the shop to have the system charged. I had the local NAPA crimp the hoses which leaked at one of the crimps the first two times the shop attempted to charge the system. The third time I took the hoses to Classic Auto Air in Coppell TX and they remade every hose at no charge. I have the trinary switch wired to the high speed input on the fan relay so the fan will kick on at idle with the AC on.
I decided to redo the work I did on the breaks a year ago and I'm glad I did. I bought a good quality flaring tool and the flares are far better so I'm much more confidant in the brakes. I am working on a solution for the parking brake since I didn't use Eldorado calipers for the disk swap. Wilwood makes this Mechanical parking brake caliper but it only fits rotors up to 0.81 inches wide... unless you take it apart and add in a custom spacer. I bought one to test the idea and 3d printed a spacer to mock it up. So far it looks like it is going to work. I will need to get some longer bolts and slides but that is the easy part. Next I need to figure out how I am going to mount it.
And I moved from SETX to Dallas. Of course I couldn't leave the truck behind so instead of working in a large shop I have a tiny apartment garage and look like a crazy guy tearing my truck apart in the parking lot!
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Owner/Operator/Chief Engineer of Johnson Production FSJ Parts
https://www.johnsonproductionjp.com/

1986 J20 LS Swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=17875

1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2JZ swap
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=22981

rocklaurence
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Re: 1986 J20 LS Swap

Post 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
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