Project - "The under funded dream" / phase III

[68GMCCustom]

Well, after completing phase I and II w/o one....I thought maybe it might be a good idea if I finally get around to starting a build thread.
I should clarify....its the "underfunded dream" because it was going to be a much bigger build, with custom IFS, air suspension, Dana 60, etc. etc. but do to real life issues it will be a simple rebuild with a new drivetrain. Some day....I'll upgrade with phase IV, phase V, etc.

This phase is going to be a bit different as I'm only only partially charted territory. Phase I took my fairly straight and clean 1968 GMC C15 and mated it with a '72 C10...and spawned a '68 C15 on a '72 C10 chassis.

Phase I
The '68 GMC when I got it. I kept the frame when I moved the body to the '72 chassis and sold the drivetrain.


my '72 C10 that donated its chassis. I sold the body off.



swap in progress:



Phase II was simple...just a motor swap. The '72 chassis had a good turbo350 in it, but a weak, weak 305. A buddy had a 383 stroker he needed to get rid of so we put it in my truck and I got rid of the weak, oily, nasty 305.

the 383:




and as it looked before I just recently started pulling it apart:


interior before painting dash pad, visors, and door handles black:



Phase III:
never run genIV 2008 LY6 crate engine that will be going in - think LQ4 with L92 heads and VVT (which will be removed)


built for 500+hp 200-4r:


old frame after stripping:


boxing both sides of trailing arm crossmember and body mount points


new parts are always fun:


and one of the best parts of doing it yourself...buying new tools and hardware!


and where it sits now:
old frame painted with POR15, truck disassembly started:




and the bed stand I made so I could work on the frame without the bed in the way, after seeing something similar here on the site:

[OARNGESI]

Truck looks great already you should really like phase 3

[68GMCCustom]

Thanks. The truck is a toy more or less, built to drive on nice weekend days or nights and race at the dragstrip...to have fun with. Certainly not building any show machine...but I do want it to all be solid, and all new or in some cases rebuilt parts, for dependability.

[67cheby]

cant wait to see more

[85burb]

Looks Great. Did you get the intake manifold yet?

[68GMCCustom]

nope....beginning to think they not going to release it (LSX dual plane) this summer.
If thats the case...it changes my build slightly. (single plane = different cam)

[85burb]

Ya does not sound like they are i have checked there site and seen nothing about it. I am still going to use the single plane on mine. All the dyno test use them. They all show pretty good low end. With the cam i am getting shouls have about 400 at 2000 RPM. That is probly twice what i have now at max.

[68GMCCustom]

Edelbrock offers both single and dual plane intakes for the cathedral port heads. The Performer (and/or Performer RPM?) and the Victor Jr.

[85burb]

Yes i seen that but still going to try the single plane one. That is what all the dyno runs are with. Sure they will come out with duel for L92 heads soon. More people just need to ask i guess. That is why no one has headers for my year yet. LACK OF INTREST is what they say. I guess if it is a dog i will get the other one. They are easy to change and kinda cheap.

[68GMCCustom]

I got everything thats connected to the motor and trans disconnected now. Should have them pulled this week, allowing me to begin on the front crossmember and suspension...so I can install the ECE LSx adapter kit and install my LSx motor!

[85burb]

Good to see progress. Cant wait to see it in there.

[menace121978]

awesome build! subscribing

[lnwlfbsktbll]

Great start, the thread is less than a week old and you already have more done than I do. Looks like we really do have really similar builds with just a couple exceptions. You're going with a carb and started with a much nicer truck. I'm really likeing the jack stands on car dolleys idea.

[68GMCCustom]

Well I've got everything unbolted, unscrewed, cut or disconnected...and ready to pull the engine and trans as a unit. Everything with the new frame has kind of on hold though until I get the front end out of the old chassis, clean it all up, paint it with POR15 and install the front crossmember in the new frame. Then I can finally install the motor mounts to mount the LY6 and 200-4r in the new frame... so I know where the trans crossmember will go, so I can finish out the boxing plates. I also need to work on the back end of the '72 chassis to get the rear suspension and axle out of it and get all that cleaned up and painted too. This will leave only the cab to remove from the '72 frame, so I can finally get it out of the garage and out of my way. Doing this in a small 2 car garage is a little tight.

The 383 stroker and turbo 350 should be coming out this weekend!

still waiting on parts from ECE and CPP. back orders are a pain.

[85burb]

Looks great. Wish i was that far. I feel your pain about backorder. Ordered my flywheel and two weeks later i found out it was on backorder. Should ship the 11th they say. Keep up the work.

[68GMCCustom]

383 stroker and turbo350 pulled! I can finally get to the front crossmember to prep it for the other frame...then start mocking up the LY6 and 200-4r

[menace121978]

little by little! nice progress!!

[85burb]

Good progress. Now when you are done you can drive it down to tyler and put mine in.

[68GMCCustom]

Thanks! ...and I'm running out of space!

[68GMCCustom]

got everything off the frame but the coil spring crossmember and bump stops. I'll be through with all the disassembly soon!

[85burb]

That is for sure going to be one sweet ride. Hope i can make it to goodguys in october to see it.

[68GMCCustom]

just about everything is off the frame now. I'll pull the cab tomorrow...then other then disassembling the front suspension and the brakes from the old frame...moving forward everything will be new, rebuilt, or cleaned and painted. I've been dreaming of finally getting past the messy part!

[85burb]

I love when every thing is nice and clean. Can work on truck for ever and not get nasty. Even better wife does not yell at me for gitting it on the hole house. Keep it up.

[chevytruckluver]

Hey Kurt, look I found your build! subscribed too! Will be watching

[68GMCCustom]

Hey Trey....I thought you knew where I was.

frames practicaly bare. another member is picking it up tomorrow...so I guess you'll need to talk to him (maybe getting it just for the hitch?) if you still want it, or he may have more. If you have a little more room then I do...I think its a good way to go since you can get the build started on the new frame before ever pulling the truck and old frame apart.

moving that cab by myself was to tough so my wife came and helped. Well...sometimes that works out pretty good and other times it doesn't Got it done though... and nobody lost a finger or anything.