Project "Love Affair"... 5.3/Wilwood/c10

[smokinstang70]

Well after about a year and a half of reading build threads and acquiring parts... its time to start my own thread... I would first like to say that I absolutely love this forum and have become somewhat addicted to it!!! My wife constantly tells me I'm nuts., but I can't help myself... besides my wife and little girl (and one on the way)... there is nothing I love more than classic cars and trucks.

Here's my story.... I have ben in love with classic cars for a long time... in fact I bought a 1970 mach 1 mustang when i was in high school (1998)... and worked my A$$ off to fix it up. I still have it ... you will see it in some of the pictures later. Its all original 81K miles... 351C + 4 speed = fun!!!! after playing with it for several years, I wanted another project.

I have ALWAYS thought 67 - 72 chevy trucks are the best looking truck ever made... I started looking and eventually found one in NC (Ebay). Drove up to get it and was terribly disappointed... although the guy did take a lot of pictures... the pictures were of the "Good" stuff... not the "BAD". Truck was a lot rougher that I had hoped... but was still what I wanted. I got the truck for a little less than we originially aggreed on, put it on the trailer and headed back to Savannah. I did a little work to the truck and drove it as a daily drive for about a year... thats were it went down hill.

I had a friend who totaled a 2005 silverado w/ only liability insurance... (alcohol was involved)... although the body was trashed... the motor and trans were perfect. I gave him $500 for everything... and so it began.

Original plan was yank out the old 350 and shove in the 5.3 / 4l60e, but as I started getting everything ready i kept telling myself... "well a few more bolts and you can be down to bare frame" and I ended up talking myself into a full frame off restoration... I'm in over my head!!!!

The wife is very supportive, which is a HUGE help.

The new plan is "nothing major"... basic frame rebuild, 5.3 / 4l60e, Wilwood master cylinder and D52 calipers, wood bed kit, tilt column, rear mounted tank, repair rust, and fresh paint.

I want to thank everyone that I have talked to, bought parts from, and gotten inspiration from... I look forward to leveraging your experience, expertise, and opinions to make this a successful project.

here are a few pictures of my progress (it ain't much)

[smokinstang70]

here she is a daily driver

[smokinstang70]

more

[smokinstang70]

Rust... rust... more rust

[smokinstang70]

nice bondo job...

[smokinstang70]

the old... and the new

[lolife99]

Looks like a great start!
We need some more pictures.

[Hart_Rod]

Cool project! You might as well install a bolt in c-notch while you have the body off the frame......

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Looks like your off to a good start.. I too however would suggest the bolt in notch now while you have it apart and easily accessible..

[kyull67]

Good job! I really like the shop too!

[smokinstang70]

Got a little work done this weekend... got front suspension completed, got front shock support brackets installed, shocks installed and rear end disassembled. Will try to post pictures tomorrow.

Ran into some problem with installing the CPP LS tubular engine mounts... don't seem to line up properly. Anyone have any issues using these mounts?

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by smokinstang70

Ran into some problem with installing the CPP LS tubular engine mounts... don't seem to line up properly. Anyone have any issues using these mounts?

Pictures would help diagnose the problem.

[smokinstang70]

Made "a Little" progress over the last few weeks... in between work, a pregnant wife, and 17 month old running around... I haven't found much time to work on the truck. I usually head to the garage around 8:15 and work until about 9:30 every night. (while the wife watches the crap thats on tv... why can't there be a 24/7 "Power Block" channel?)

Got the rear rebuilt... disc brake conversion, girdle rear, and new brake lines on the way. (inlinetube.com... SS set). I bought a set of front sway bar brackets and bushings and got the rear re-installed in the chassis.

Next steps are to install brake lines, install sway bar, and get ready to set the motor.

P.S. - have some goodies on the way... the wife bought me the black wilwood D52 front calipers for Christmas... she's awesome!!!

[smokinstang70]

Rear went together pretty nicely... after HOURS and HOURS of cleaning. CPP rear shock relocation kit installed... new monroe Sensatrac shocks front and rear, CPP front shock re-enforcing kit and CPP LS swap engine stands installed.

[Undone]

Originally Posted by smokinstang70

Made "a Little" progress over the last few weeks... in between work, a pregnant wife, and 17 month old running around... I haven't found much time to work on the truck. I usually head to the garage around 8:15 and work until about 9:30 every night. (while the wife watches the crap thats on tv... why can't there be a 24/7 "Power Block" channel?)

Got the rear rebuilt... disc brake conversion, girdle rear, and new brake lines on the way. (inlinetube.com... SS set). I bought a set of front sway bar brackets and bushings and got the rear re-installed in the chassis.

Next steps are to install brake lines, install sway bar, and get ready to set the motor.

P.S. - have some goodies on the way... the wife bought me the black wilwood D52 front calipers for Christmas... she's awesome!!!

What rear disc brake kit did you use or parts?

[butternut1972]

Nice work. Your moving right along on it.

[68GMCCustom]

nice work!

[aboyer]

Very cool build!! Keep up the good work!

[smokinstang70]

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and are getting ready to celebrate New Years... if you in the Savannah GA area, your invited to a New Years oyster roast and low country boil...

Got a "LITTLE" work done over the last few weeks... but having a wife on Bed rest and a 17 month old running around is pretty much been taking up most of my time. We got some good news today though... and hopefully the bed rest is only going to be temporary... another 2 weeks or so.

Here are a few pics of what I got finished up today... Boyd rear fuel tank and sway bar installed... SS brake lines laid in (final fitment by friday... I hope) and FINALLY placed the order for all my fuel system lines and fittings.

Also... Wife ordered a set of Wilwood dual piston D52 calipers for me for Christmas (She's Awesome... and yes she does have a sister!!) .. only problem is she ordered them black (which I wanted) but they showed up RED... awaiting new set (Scotts hot rods (www.scottshotrods.com)... best price in town $340 delieverd). Also ordered new SS braided brake hoses (inlinetube.com).

Plan was to have her rolling by New Years... I won't make that, but shouldn't be to far off. Hopefully will be ready to test fit motor and trans in the next few weeks. Wish me luck!!!

[smokinstang70]

here are a few more...

[smokinstang70]

lasts ones for tonight...

[franky69c10]

Lookn good
Posted via Mobile Device

[72BlckButy]

Killer project!

What paint did you use on the frame?

[smokinstang70]

What paint did you use on the frame?

Sherwin Williams industrial primer and Sherwin Williams Polane industrial exterior coating on chassis. Flat (35%). Extremely durable but a little pricey!!!


Might try powdercoat next time... I have made friends with the local powdercoater... sandblast and (black) powdercoat on any chassis for $500. Thought that was a pretty sweet deal.

[threeonthetree]

wow man awesome project lots of good work
good luck keep at her