Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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Took off all the brackets in prep for installing the new suspension and changed course on the dash extension, changed back to the first idea the filled center wasn't turning out as expected.
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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A little more progress dash extension is mostly complete, a few little touch up things needed the cubbies are not mounted at the top yet, all the welding is finished on the dash extension, assembling the rear suspension spaced the trailing arms back 1" and few other things tidied up. Getting closer to the finish line.
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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AC vents finished, and working on power door locks have a proto type ready, next is to figure out how to get the power door actuator to operate the door lock/un-lock
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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All the body panels are out for sand blasting and an epoxy coating, the rear end is installed and the front crossmember is removed for a new front cross member and suspension.
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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fitting the front crossmember in it's new home, will be relocating it forward around 1 inch to help center the tire in the wheel well. This should also give the truck a better ride with the rear also shifted back 1 inch and the front crossmember forward 1 inch with a new 117 inch wheel base an overall 2 inch gain, should help get some more weight off the front and give the truck a better weight bias.
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
Is the engine staying in the stock location. And, only the crossmember/suspension is moving forward ?
Because, if the engine/trans drags forward with the cross member. And the rear moves further away. It will actually be worse. |
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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Front suspension is installed still have to install the front & rear sway bars. the rear sway bar needs custom mount brackets due to the heavy duty axle housing, The housing extends out further, it has shorter axle tubes than the std housing and the sway bar mounts sit right where the tubes are welded and so a stepped mounting bracket is needed, so another custom piece needed to make it all work together
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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rear sway bar mount bracket
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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We set in an engine to test fit everything and it looks like we will have to push it back, as it is right not it is about a 1/2 in front of the stock location. The front cross member is 1 inch forward but when installing the engine mounts first install as the instructions pushed the engine even more forward so we were able to flip sides and bring it back a 1/2 inch.
It really looks strange with all that space between the firewall and the back of the engine. Probably will have to run a low profile valve covers (hope I can do that as I want to run a good set of roller rockers ) and also modify the firewall to be able to set it back more than it is right now, I'm not sure right now how far back we can go because the 4l80e has to also fit in there and pushing that back will surely have some interference somewhere, I believe it will be on the seam between the firewall and foot well. I may have to cut that off and weld it up to gain that 1/2 inch to clear the trans but we need to get a empty case to test fit it. So just to get the engine as far back as we can to get it as far behind the crossmember as possible there will be more modifications. |
Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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All the body parts are back from sand blasting with a fresh coat of epoxy.
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Nice! Did you have that done locally? Eventually, when I get to that point, I'll probably end up doing the same thing
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I can probably get the guys name and info if you want it. I will say when I saw it this past Saturday he did do a great job, everything was very clean the hood was not warped which was my biggest concern. Cleaned out all of the old filler and old undercoating, and overall we had very little unknown rust show up so I'm very happy with the results. Next is fix the unknown now known rust and beat out the dents enough to so that it can be body worked and then it will be off to the painter for body work and paint. Looking forward to getting it back has been gone since 2020 |
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Started on the firewall mod this week to fit the big block, It's looking great, we need to move the engine back 1.5" to compensate moving the front suspension forward 1". Swapping the engine mounts to opposite sides should effectively move the engine back 1" and there is another .5" in the block mounting plate.
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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The driver side of the firewall is cut and fitted and tested the set back of the engine. It looks like we were able to get it back about 2" set back it really makes a difference where the engine sits. testing out a couple different styles of valve covers to make sure what ever I end up running will work.
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
Can you cut both sides to look symmetrical?
The passenger side looks almost "original" - I like that. |
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Dang.
Oh well. Keep up the good work! |
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Well its welded in and has changed slightly from the first go round, I think it will look good once it is finished out and motor is in etc won't really notice it that much, but serves the purpose of getting the motor pushed back and fitting in better.
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
Piece of advice
What ever you do not ever add up all your invoices to see what your project has cost you. |
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Getting a little hood repair the front inner structure was rusted but the exterior hardly showed any signs of rust. Cut down the steering column 3" to be able to fit the steering linkage for the rack. Mounted the rear sway bar. Filling all the little holes which showed up after the sand blasting.
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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mounted rear sway bar
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The hood front inner support is repaired and installed back into place
Front sway bar is in place I like this Tailgate mod |
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coolc10 is now making an air box to go with the center ac vent he sells,
I purchased one and I am really happy with how it seals to the front ac vent cover this will really make a difference in how well this vent works. |
Re: 65Custom Build Thread
Nice Part, looks good
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Update, temp wheels on ready to be put back on the ground soon 15 years since it has had wheels on it. inner fenders needed to be modified to fit over the new coil-overs and also need cover the old steering column hole in the inner fender. Front wheels are more centered in the wheel well now, that turned out well, once the bed is back on we will get a look at how the rear wheels align in the opening, since the front worked out so well the rear should look just as good.
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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The tailgate is now finished
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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Getting down to the last few bits of things needed before going to paint and body work.
Inner fender changed, removed the steering column slot since it is not needed. |
Re: 65Custom Build Thread
Nice work! Looking really good. Are you sending it to a body shop or will you be taking that on yourself?
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Test fitted the steering linkage and decided on going with a race truck trans tunnel, leaving it open so it will run cooler and easier to work on. :lol:
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
Looking great man. A bolt in tunnel makes a big difference for access, makes me wish everything came with it from the factory.
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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So small update not much happening in the last couple of weeks but we did find out that engine mounts have built into them about 3 degrees of angle, this makes sense but we were just not thinking about it, so we were swapping the mounts from left to right to get the engine moved back where we wanted but ended up having to swap them back and cut them to get the best placement and keeping the 3 degrees angle, this also gives us a little more trans clearance than we had, we wont have to raise the floor but maybe 1/2" to give a little more insurance.
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Re: 65Custom Build Thread
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Small update raised the floor about 1/2" to give more room for the trans.
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