Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Ok so it's been 4 years since I've started this project and it way past time to get a build thread going. I'll try to update it to its current state. Here are some features of the truck.
-1971 shortbed c10
-2009 chevy 6.0, 4l60e, Hydro boost, buckets, tilt, tach, posi, wood bed, boyds tank, entropy radiator, Howell engine harness, AAW chassis harness

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

There was not much there when I bought the truck but somehow it was begging for a second chance. After a lot of bodywork, sourcing panels, (3) sets of doors (amazing how a door looks good until you power wash it and rust holes pop through) I was able to send her to the blaster.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Was planning on a LS swap from the get go but still hadn't found one so next set was paint the cab.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Found a low mileage 6.0! Cleaned up the alum and shot a quick touch up coat on the block.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Body, bed and paint

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Wiring, computer, trans control, DBW gas pedal.
Built a bracket for comp and gas pedal that bolts to original gas pedal mounts and added a 90 degree bracket for stability. Trans control is mounted on firewall tub with 1/4" 20 bolts welded to a fender washer then cut flush to a stud. I cleaned down to fresh metal and glued these with 3M panel adhesive. Used them for mounting the fan and fuel relays as well.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

More wiring and what the heck let's get out the buzz saw on some fresh paint. My good friend sold have been a surgeon.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Electric speedo

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Hydroboost

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

what sand blaster do you use. I need for my suburban

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Blast Tech by Santa Fe and Hampden. They have a decent lead time as they are always busy. I've always been happy with their work.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Sweet thanks
what I really need is a shop that can do my air set up.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Just starting a...similar, project. Looking forward to seeing how it goes.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Curtb1971,
I'd like to pick your brain about your hydroboost. Could I come by sometime and take a look? I need to get my C10 out for a little burn.

Doug

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Are the heads rectangle port, or cathedral port?

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

That would be fine by me. I'm headed out of town for the weekend but next week I'll be back. I'll shoot you a pm with my contact info. Be a good excuse to knock some carbon off and talk chevy trucks.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

I couldn't answer that with complete confidence but I belive these are rectangle port. What ever a 09 silverado with a 6.0 had.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Hopefully can get more time to work on this and get it running. Had the truck 4 years and it's getting close.:metal:

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

This is one good looking truck, where did you score the 6.0?

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Thanks man, I got it from Al's auto wrecking in commerce city around the beginning of 14'. Al's went out of business a couple month ago. It sucks pretty bad because the guys there were very helpful and the circumstances behind the closing.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Damn, andersen's is Greeley has good prices, but beating everyone else to a 6.0 is tough there

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

WOW Your first post. Welcome...
Its cool to see Colorado people posting. I never see c10.

Keep up the good work and info. ..

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Looking great, I like the color combo.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

I got to see this truck in person last night and Curt is really doing it right. Quality parts and quality workmanship. Seeing it in person and then looking back thru the pics in the thread gives you a great perspective on the amount of work that goes into one of these trucks.

Doug

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Thank you! Almost picked medium blue and white but glad I did the orange.:metal:

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Thanks Doug, it was awesome hanging out and bs'in about old chevy trucks. You got one heck of a truck yourself. It's amazing the work that goes into one of these old rigs. Hope to hang out again soon.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

So got a chance to tinker around and rebuild the AC controller while I'm waiting on more fuel line parts. I'm looking into an AC system that will use the LS style compressor and the original controller. Won't be needing the vacuum switch on the controller but cleaned it up anyways. Also made all new brake lines and transmission lines. The mastercool hydraulic flaring tool made life a lot more easier instead of cranking by hand.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Do you have any pictures of that tool or the lines you made with it? I'd like to see what you did and how they turned out!

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

x2

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Pics as requested:metal: Transmission lines. I have them just hand snug. Still need to pull them out and wash the sharpie marks off then install with all the line seperators.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

MasterCool tool. It's hard to mess up a flare with this tool actually after all the mess ups with the hand flaring tool and redoing the lines again I didn't screw up once, but time will see once I put fluid in the system.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Rear brake lines. I changed my mind about running the rear line down the passenger side like the oem and ran it down the drivers to save myself a coupling. Oh after screwing up my hand a couple of times with some cheap flare wrenches a set of snap-ons was in order. Brake lines suck to run. It's funny I'm an electrician and run/bend conduit all the time and my trash can shows (the bone yard) that brakes lines isn't just running some pipe.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

I bought one of those flaring kits 4-5 years ago. Worth every penny!!!

Those old timey flaring tools were nothing but a pain, and it was a crap shoot, as to whether or not the flare you were making was going to work.

With the old flaring tools you had to make sure your line was extra long, in case you had to re-flare the dad gum thing again!!!

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Alright, got to hang out with the old man all day and it was a blast. Awhile back I picked up a oem steering wheel that is cracked up. So... I took a exacto knife and V'd out the cracks then sanded the wheel with some 320 grit. I used 3M 08116 body panel adhesive to fill in the cracks. It's getting another coat tomorrow as its too runny to one shot it. So we shall see how it turns out. On a side note I also got the bucket floor section back from the blaster. I drilled the spot welds out and separated the pieces then primed and painted the supports. I took care to not damage the upper floor section by not busting out the air hammer for later mock up of drilling the hole in the floor. Gonna play hooky and work on the truck until the snow melts here so more pics to come soon.:metal:

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

More pics of the progress on the steering wheel and bucket brackets. Gonna try to fade in some chip guard in the area of the worn out grain.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Looking good!

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Thanks man, just tinkering here and there. I really need to finish the fuel line and get this thing fired up but I keep pulling off that task to mess with other stuff. Like... steering wheels, visors and arm rests:lol:... At least progress is being made. I'm really digging SEM vinyl dye for the console, armrests and visors. With a little patience even saved the start sticker. A little spray glue and it was back on.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Well, not much progress except I got the steering wheel done. Ended up not doing the chip guard for the grain, but she sure is shiny with the single stage ppg concept:metal: Painting the horn button and console emblem was a tedious job but found a testor paint that matched the factory color pretty darn close

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Nice truck, not sure how I had missed this thread. How did you get vats disabled on your ecu I'm planning on ls swapping my truck in the near future and kinda want to know what I'm getting myself into.

Re: Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX
 

Thanks man :metal: As far as the vats, I had Howell Industries build the standalone harness and program the ecu to the specs of the build. I'm kinda lost on the whole tuning thing but fingers crossed that they did a good job as I've yet to fire it up. A LS is quite the undertaking, a lot of custom fabbing, time, researching and cost. The main reason I choose a LS is when I bought the truck it was missing an engine anyway. If I had a running truck imo probably wouldn't do a swap just because why try to fix something that ain't broke, but if it's really something you want and can handle your rig being down for awhile I'd say go for it. There is plenty of great LS info here on the forum and very knowledgeable guys here to help.