Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Can you trim the frame down with a grinder some. And install the manifolds once engine is in place? Or just too tight all the way around?

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

If I modify the frame, it definitely won't be simple trimming. I'm looking at about 1" per side or 2" on the passenger side, depending on how the engine sits once it's all the way down.

I am going to try to install the manifold after I get the engine sitting where I want it, just to see if by some chance the truck manifold will work. It looks like it's going to be a no-go though.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

I used a grinder after taping off the areas on my frame to trim. I installed a Gen IV big block though.....but was able to make it fit with 2" primary tubes. I removed around 1/2" - 3/4" where the headers pass the frame for my application. I would try the install the way you suggested and see if they will fit in from underneath before buying any other exhaust systems.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Came home to find my wife cleaned the mud a road grime off one side of my front suspension! Don't know what got into her, but I like it!

Also mocked up the 04 Silverado mounts with the engine hanging where I want it. My dad is taking them to have them cut today, so maybe this evening we can see if this will be a weld job or a "order the adapters like everyone else does, dummy" job...

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Some oven cleaner from the dollar store will help break the grime off the frame big time. Just make sure that it has the sodium hydroxide listed in the ingrediants on the back.

Spray on, soak and rinse.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Thanks for the tip! I'll try that on the rest of the engine bay.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Nice to have a supportive partner. My wife scrubbed/stripped my entire chassis and then painted it with POR-15 for me since my back and knees don't work very well. Nice progress you're making!

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

I bolted the modified 04 Silverado mounts to the engine and set it in for a test fit last night. Mounted the trans tail shaft on the custom cross member that I made years ago for the 700r4 install. Set the engine down and the modified mounts are situated PERFECTLY on the frame! Just right right to left, level side to side, and about a 5 degree rake back. Better than I could have imagined.

I'm going to weld support plates to the inside bottom of the frame well (where the new mounts touch in the pics) and support them from below or box them in. Then I will tack the Silverado mounts to those plates and remove the engine to fully weld everything up. It's all downhill from there! Fired UP!

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Started cutting off the old slave cylinder bracket (I think that's what it was). Also, here a pic of the brake setup that I installed years ago from a 92 Chrysler LeBaron. A better looking option than most of the truck boosters in my opinion, but I had to make a custom adapter plate to mount it.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Forgot the pic of the 4l60e tailshaft and trans crossmember...it's been through the mill lol.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Lookin' Good, Nice progress!!!:metal:

What app is on your phone for checking the degree of angle?

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

It's call "iAngleFinder", but there are dozen of free ones on the app store. One thing to note though: the valley cover isn't actually level front to back on an LS, so I need to double check using the trans tail shaft or the balancer pulley...

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

The bracket you removed in post 49 is for the z-bar....no biggie, but just so you know in the future.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Thanks for that. I knew it was something to do with the clutch/shifter stuff.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

So, I'm not a "bling" guy at all...even my turbo Buick Regal is blacked out with no chrome other than the bumpers...BUT...

I need headers or manifolds since the ones I have came from the silverado donor truck and won't fit. I ordered a set of these. Stainless, with extensions and o2 bungs, gaskets, bolts, Chinese, actually ship direct from china, but who knows...? At $185 shipped I figure it's worth a try. Maybe it'll end up being the go-to swap header for c10s?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331390579579

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Thanks for the complements btw... ;-)

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Thanks for the info...:mm:

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

My dad's neighbor had some metal plate laying around and gave it to me to use to extend my frame inwards. I cut those to size last night. I also started the process of removing the three bolts that hold the frame to the crossmember. My plate will be going right over those bolts, then be bolted down and welded with gussets underneath. I swear it will all make sense once it's done, lol!! I'll have more pics of the tomorrow.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

We got the three cross member bolts removed from one side last night. Liberal doses of WD-40 and patience to make sure the nut/bolt don't heat up are the key to remove old bolts like this.

Placed the frame extension on the frame and marked the bolt locations. Center punched and drilled out the holes. Looks good. Now for the other side...

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

For those interesting in fabbing their own mounts from the late model mounts, a few pics of where we cut the late model mounts. Basically we placed them on the engine and cut straight across, level with the ground. Still to be determined how this mounting method works out, but things are looking good so far! The left pic is the late model drivers side mount, goes on passenger side of 65. The right pic is the late model passenger side and goes on the driver side of the 65. No real reason for swapping other than it fits that way...

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

No progress last night, but I did pick up new bolts for the frame to crossmember. Thought I would ask on here though...I bought grade 5 bolts (3 ticks). Are they strong enough for this use or do I need grade 8 (six ticks)? I'm thinking grade 5 should be more than strong enough...

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

A little more progress. A project like this is all about the next step...

Got the passenger side frame extension cut, drilled and bolted in with new bolts.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

I would use grade 8 or the original hardware in my opinion if they will clean up nice.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Got my computer back from Brendan at ltwswaps.com. The best price I've seen on a basic unlock (vats, egr, etc). Just don't expect much in the way of communication once he answers your questions about your setup and you mail your pcm to him. I would like to have gotten confirmation that he received my PCM intact, and asked for that several times over email. The next communication I got was that it was on the way back several days later. He did get it back to be 5 days after he received it though and the price is right. Just remember it's not his primary source of income (I think).

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

My daughter cut and painted the bottom braces for the frame extensions.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Drilled the drivers side frame extension and bolted it in. Some pic of the extensions and support braces.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Almost ready to tack and weld! I'm going to weld the braces to the extensions, then drill the braces to bolt them to the cross-member. I'm using 2 existing motor stand holes in the cross-member and have to drill two. Also another pic of my daughter throwing sparks!!

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

This Saturday is the start of something cool based on this truck build. We call it #GodsGarage. We have students coming to the house to hang out, eat, and work on the truck. I'll be teaching them about living life with Jesus AND teach them how to work on vehicles. This is gonna be fun!! Updates and pics tomorrow!

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Thanks. The original bolts came off ok, but they did heat up quite a bit to get them off, so I decided to replace all six. I still have to test fit the engine, tack the ls mounts to the frame extensions, then remove everything and weld it all up before I'm ready to permanently mount everything. I think I'll pay the few cents extra to go get grade 8 bolts as you suggest.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

We cut the braces a bit to make it look better and to get rid of sharp edges...

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

We welded the supports to the frame extensions. So...I haven't done any welding for many many years...no jokes about the welds. Jokes about about welding in shorts are valid... (like father like son, lol!!)

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

The finished welds need quite a bit of grinding to clean up, but good enough for a hacker!

We decided that we didn't want to weld these new LS perches to the truck. I just couldn't stand the thought of it, just like I didn't want to notch the frame for the exhaust. Didn't feel right. Instead, we used one existing perch bolt hole and drilled a second on each side. Now the LS perches can be removed if necessary.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Set the engine in with the help of one the #GodsGarage students, Jacob helped out a ton Saturday! This is just a test fit with the Silverado mounts on the engine so we could tack weld them to the new perches we made.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Shop dog! And the finished LS perches, ready to be bolted in! Then....drum roll please....the 5.3 installed and bolted down! Looks so good! My dad, son and I showing off the results!

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

More after install pics. A/C and P/S pump clearing with factory Silverado mounts. I may have to drive it like this so everybody can see what I've got, lol!

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Nice work Jaime. Glad to see you getting the kids and your father involved.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Thanks! Things definitely wouldn't have gone as smoothly without dad around to think things through. He's more patient than I am! The kids are just a bonus...I have five, and while I'm working they'll slowly trickle through to help out with some little something, in between their "day job" of playing in the yard.

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

Got the old seat out. I plan to just give it a good cleaning. I've always loved the look of it. Floor is in pretty good condition, just rot in the front corners. Removed the body mounts. Everything came right off without effort. Even the bushings still looked to be in pretty good shape...for 50 years old. The hardware on the other hand....

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

More body bushing pics. And the drivers front of the pan. Lots of surface rust, and a hole under the old repair in the upper left, but the majority of the floor pan is solid!

Re: Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"
 

I have a new Walbro 392 255 liter per hour external fuel pump with isolation mounts. I'm going to use the silverado fuel lines for most of the fuel run. The drape down the drivers side of the transmission to just past the gear selector linkage, then they 90 over to the drivers side frame. Almost like they planned it that way (SOMEBODY did...grace and favor!) I'm going to mount the fuel filter and pump inside the frame right there. I'll run high pressure rubber line from there with fuel injection clamps holding everything secure.