'68 project pics
 

Well i've been busy on the '68 the last couple of weeks and my lower back is letting me know. I put in a Comp 270H Magnum cam, put on a set of '69 186 double hump heads with 2.02/1.60 valves and a mild port job, changed out the performer intake for a torker 2. WOW!! what a difference!! this thing pulls so hard it feels like the rear bumper is draggin the ground!!! I also put the auto guage tach in the guage panel, changed out the steering wheel, and pushed the column in a couple of inches. Next is the torque converter, I just bought a new 10" 2800 stall, I just need to crawl under there and put it in. I still need to rebuild the driveshaft, I'd love to go with a one piece. Does anyone know if a one piece will work in a long bed truck? Also, I had to use tall valve covers to clear the rockers, is there a company that makes taller brackets so i can bolt my A/C compressor back on?

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

she looks great!

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Nice ride, what is that thing on the top of your water pump?

HG

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Thats my home made plug. I know, its rigged, but i didn't have the right size pipe plug for the hole! There was a water line that went from the pump to the intake. I installed the thermostat switch for the electric fan in the intake hole so I had to come up with a plug for the water pump. It works for now.

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Lookin' good!. What kind of rockers are those?

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Thanks! The rockers are Summit brand (plain box) SUM-G6905.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...0&autoview=sku

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Nice looking truck. Out of curiosity, What does the option sheet say your color is?

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Everything looks great! That's the same wheel I want to install in my truck! I've been having trouble getting the correct part number for the adapter kit. is it GRT3163? Where did you get your wheel from:)

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

There is only a small peice of my option sheet left. But going off of the paint chip chart the paint code is 507 Light Blue. The interior metal is 506 Medium Blue Poly. These are the original factory colors.

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Thanks!
Part numbers are:

Wheel- GRT-969
Install Kit- GRT-3162
Horn button- GRT-5630

The wheel came with a black button w/ red bowtie, the part # above is for the blue w/ white bowtie. I ordered it all from Summit.

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Thanks so much! Can't afford it for a few months, but I've already written the part numbers down for when I get the $$$.

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Looks great, the more I see these the more I am leaning towards a 2wheel peal for my next project.

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Anybody know about the driveshaft or A/C brackets? :confused:

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

One piece will work fine in a LWB. Just put one in mine and others on this board have done it as well with no problems.

I found a one piece from a 78 chevy LWB and had it shortened to fit the 700r4.

A/C brackets I have no clue about, sorry.

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

but if you have the original style tranny (short shaft) you may not find anyone willing to make it.
What's wrong with your 2 piece shaft? They are better in some ways. Just spend some money on the parts, take it to a driveshaft shop, and the carrier bearing will last another 100,000 miles/30 years. Good U-joint aill last almost as long.

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Thanks for the replies. The tranny is the original TH400. I was unaware that there was a short and long version. I thought the TH400 was the same length as the long TH350 :confused: . The only reason I want to put in the one piece driveshaft is to simplify the driveline. I've always gone by the rule "it's only as strong as the weakest part". I'm sure that the 2 piece is probably plenty stout, heck the carrier bearing that's in there now is the original from '68 with 82,000 miles, and it's still good but the rubber is shot. I thought I could just get a '73-'87 LWB driveshaft and put my tranny yoke on it. :confused:

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

I put a one piece shaft in my 71 with the 700R4. That tranny is almost the same length as the TH350. Only problem I have is when I have a load on, the shaft will sometimes hit the crossmember it runs thru on big bumps. If my shocks were new it might not be an issue. As far as the A/C goes, I think you are going to have to fab your own brackets. I haven't seen any that compensate for tall covers. Anyone else know?

Sorry, also meant to add that you have a super nice pickup!

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

red71cheyenne, thanks for the input, I think I'm SOL on the AC brackets unless I do like you say and fab them myself. I think I can weld on some extensions to the factory ones to make them work. I also think I'm gonna take Longhorn Man's advice and stick with the 2 peice shaft. The driveshaft bangin' on the crossmember can't be a good thing, I live in a rural area with pot holes called roads.

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

I agree with you on the driveshaft. Eventually after the Blazer is done, I'm going to redo the suspension on the 71 and see if that cleans it up. I'm also going to add a set of overloads to the back as the coils are just too weak.

On my engine, the A/C had a bracket that ran from the intake to the back of the compressor as a brace. Does yours have that? I just left it off when I went to tune port(no way to mount it), and it hasn't made a difference in the way it operates. I did have to modify the mounting bracket to make it work with my headers though. A little grinding and some 1/2 and 1 and a 1/2 inch spacers were all that were required.

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

I have a one piece in mine and have had no problems with it. Find a driveline shop, give them a couple of measurements and they can make you one. By the way, super nice ride.

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Well I solved the AC bracket issue today. I was able to cut out a section of the factory bracket to clear. It worked perfect.

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Good to go!

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Nicely done ! With respect to the tach, it looks like it belongs there. Was that a Summit piece as well ? I was looking at a white face gauge kit yesterday and I like it a lot. Can you get that tach in white face also ? Thanks, Dean

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Thanks, it took alot of nerve for me to cut into an original gauge panel, but the results dried the tears. I still need to paint the needle also. I got the tach off of evil bay for $10 brand new, but summit does have them for $50. I don't think they have the auto guage in white but they do have the 3 3/4" auto meter in white for more $$$

Here's the link for the one I used,

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

Here's a white auto meter 3 3/4, i don't like that the numbers are on the left side though, might not look right,

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

Re: Got a few projects completed
 

Looking Good! Nice Work!