Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Hey Scott;

Yeah I've got a bunch of stuff I'm selling off ( 30+ yrs of dealing with these trucks ). The problem with selling the parts on the board is the cost of shipping usually kills the deal. It gets old going through the process of getting shipping quotes for everyone only to have them back out. Smaller items aren't bad, but the big stuff is costly to ship. I have a couple of adds on Craigslist ( One guys coming over today to look at some parts ) After the Hollidays I'll be reposting the adds, not to many people looking right now.

Gary

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

I know it's very time consuming to box the large stuff up. I think the seats would still be a great deal if someone had to have them shipped. Wish you lived around here so I could buy those doors from you. How's the bed coming along?

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

The bed is moving forward but slow. With the few recent snow storms we've had Steve got busy with all the fender benders. Next week I'm having a taller garage door installed so once the truck ist together it will fit in the garage. "LOL" I also have new 2.5 in lift springs all painted and ready to go in, that should be happening this weekend.

Gary

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Hi Gary, yeah tell me about it, my body man seems to always have something coming in and seems to never get my stuff done. Holler at me when your ready to send over the springs and I'll get you the shipping address and funds on the way. Happy New Year!! John

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Hey John;

Hopefully I'll get them swapped out this weekend. The replacements are all painted and ready to go, just haven't had the time with the Holidays and the last couple of days the new taller garage door was being installed, only thing left on that is to trim it out, but there's no rush on that.

So between the 2.5 in lift & the taller door the truck should fit in the garage with no problem. I Hope .......... "LOL"

Gary

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

As said before NO RUSH I am glad to wait, in fact drag your feet. These springs will be going an a frame that I still have no body for. John

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Hey Gary. Happy New Year! That garage door is looking good. I have a friend that is gonna do mine. However, I need a truck that is somewhat close to being done to worry about that. Looks like you are making solid progress with the details. The holidays always take the wind out of my sails. Keep up the good work.
Chris

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Hey Chris,

Happy New Year...... Hopefuly it will be, and both of us will have our trucks on the road this coming summer !!!! My body guy isn't holding me up at this point, infact I maybe holding him up if I don't get my A$$ in gear. He wants to put both the cab & bed on the chassis to make sure all the body lines and upper & lower side trim line-up correctly..... So I need to finish up the motor,
get it installed, and would also like to do the pumbing...... :banghead:

Gary

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Yes, you're holding us both up :)

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Last Paladin

Huh..... Why don't you come get your dash pad & arm rests, and while your at it bring over your flaring tool !!! "LOL"

Just ordered a complete M&H wiring harnesses from headlights to taillights for the truck today. Figured I'd get that out of the way while I'm home sick today...
Grrrrrr.....

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Come on by and get the flaring tool, stainless tube and flare nuts then. I have the kids.

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Possibly this weekend, Not feeling good at all today. Steve just called and he has my cowl antenna hole re-done and painted again. So if I feel well enough to go to work tomorrow I'll pick it up on the way home after work.

So the next few things I need to focus on are swapping out the springs, plumbing the brakes, fuel and trany lines. Then get the motor finished up and put between the rails. Then the body can go on.

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Well I haven't gotten much accomplished the last week, been sick as a dog. I did sell a few extra parts to help fund my project, but I made about 1-10th of what I spent this week. I ordered every wire from headlight to taillight for the entire truck, and a new antenna, YES another antenna!!!! Got the cowl hole corrected, but couldn't for the life of me find the base for the antenna, nor could Steve find it at his body shop... Grrrrr....

I learned something new about M&H and AAW harnesses ! They are virtually identical, the guys that own them use to be partners, but split up. One runs his company on the west coast and the other on the east coast. I ordered my wiring from Wes @ Classic Heartbeat and he said I'll probably get wiring from bother companies depending on who has what instock. The first box showed up yesterday from AAW. I'll get the camera back out soon for pics, just hasn't been much changes lately.

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

My truck was that color originally. I absoutely love your choice!!! That is awesome!! I cannot wait to see it complete!!

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Neither can I ...... "LOL"

Haven't accomplished much on it the last month or so.... Holidays, sick for 3 weeks,. I have been busy buying and selling parts though. Might get to do a little on it tonight.

Are you talking about your step side ? My first 72 was a SWB 4x4 this same green. I like this color even better with the white !!!

Gary

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Have you installed the wiring harness yet? I am planing on ordering one and I thought I would asked you guys that has already installed one. I have been putting it off so I guess I will jump into that in a few days ordering that is.
I want to paint the truck before I do the wiring. Hoping to paint in a few weeks. I also been ordering parts and putting them up on the shelf. My shelves are getting full.

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Hey George

No haven't installed it yet, but will be soon. From what I understand M&H or AAW are almost identical. Most of mine is from M&H, but two small harnesses are AAW. I'll be posting pictures when I get around to it !

Gary

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Hi Gary, just checking in on the springs and shocks, curious to know when you think they'll be ready? John

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Hey John,

I can do it at any time, when I get the time... "LOL" We've been getting buried with snow & freezing temps. and the only way I have room to work on the chassis is to put everything else out side. So I just haven't had the enthusiasm to do the swap. But if you’re getting antsy I can probably get started on it.

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

No problem Gary out of sight, out of mind. I am not antsy at all, just wanted to make contact so you knew I was still around. John

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Hey John,

It's good to keep in contact that way we both stay on the same page !

I need to get it lowered soon anyway, and get the motor back in it, so we can put the body on the chassis. That way Steve can get the body lines & moldings aligned and paint the bed. It's like dominos, and the spring are first to go.

Gary

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

We finally had a break in the weather and I was able to open the garage door and move the body and a bunch of other stuff out side to give me the room needed to remove the 4" lift springs and replace them with the 2". Got a few pictures before the batteries died.

The next big step is to get the motor finished up and in the chassis.

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Congrats on the weather.I'am celebrating today as well.:lol:

Truck is looking great in those colors.

Tom

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Thanks Tom !


I also have a swaybar & later model front cross-member set-up. But I need to look this over and figure out how to work around the steering box reinforcement bracket.

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Your making some nice progress Gary, your going to have a awesome ride.

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Thanks Scott !

I've also been working on getting a bunch of small items ready to install. Window regulators, window slides, engine pulleys & brackets. Everything has been rebuilt, gas beaded and painted. The next big thing is the engine. I'll be ordering roller rockers & push rods, screw in studs and any other misc parts needed. Have to get the motor between the rails so the body can go on.
I've got parts everywhere .... "LOL"

Gary

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

OK..... Time to get motor-vated !!! I need to get the motor completed and between the rails. This is what I'm starting with: full roller vortec 383 4 bolt long block with comp-cams equivalent to GM's Hot Cam in it.
This is how I received the motor from a friend in trade for labor helping him build his truck. From here I need to verify a few things to determine what I need to finish it up. I have been told this cam needs 1.6 rockers to get the most out of it, and it looks like the heads were machined for the larger springs, screw in studs and the push rod openings enlarged. So at this point I know I need 1.6 roller rockers, push rods, screw in studs, timing chain cover.

I have the flex plate, oil pan, in take, carb, balancer and distributor !
It's been a few years since I put a motor together so any help would be much appreciated !

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Parts

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Sweet trade!

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

I second that. Couldn't get better than that.

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Can I get a motor too? I need to meet this guy.

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Huh !!!

I think you know him !

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

:metal:Oh, nice. I can work that angle well. :metal:

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

That looks like a sweet motor build!

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

So after running the block & head numbers this is what I found out. The block is an 1988 L05 350 4 bolt main roller block ( These blocks came roller or non-roller ) The heads are 906 Vortec heads. One advantage of this block is it is machined for a mechanical fuel pump, so I don't have to go with an electric pump set-up. Now I need to determine if the components I ordered a couple yrs back from Summit are going to work. At that time I was thinking it was a bit newer block.

Gary

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

If you ordered stuff for the heads, it appears it didn't change... you thought it was a later model Vortec (L33) right? It looks like the block is already complete.

The big difference in those motors (L05 with roller lifters vs L31) is the heads. Everything else is the same.

The big issue would be the cam's provision for the mechanical fuel pump.

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

OK, time for a little update:

The motor is in the machine shop getting all the clearances checked, rockers & push rods installed and generally just checking everything over to make sure all the parts are going to work together as they should. I would hate to have to pull the motor out later on because something wasn't right !.

So while that's being done I decided to mock-up the front sway bar. It's from a 73 & up, came with the front cross member but I'm not using it, because of the steering box frame brace would interfere. I'm also trying to keep as much of the originality as possible even though I am making mods. I want the mods to look like they would if the factory did them.

So I removed the sway bar brackets from the 73 cross member and test fitted them on my frame. I happy to say that with some modifications to the brackets I believe I can make them work. Here are some pictures of were I'm at so far. I'll be doing the bracket mods at a later date.

Gary

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

Couple more !

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

I don't recall, are you running a 4" lift? 2"?

Interested to see your mods and how this works out without the newer cross member!

Re: Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )
 

I had a 4" but just removed it and replace it with a 2" lift. Haven't decided just yet how I'm going to do it, but I have a couple ideas.