Senior Project Build - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

LuckyHenriksen · 08-21-2008, 05:50 PM

Here is my attempt at a build thread. The truck is a 1968 Chevy LWB, and I am rebuilding the suspension, motor, switching transmissions, and adding disc brakes. This is my Senior Project for high school.

Here are some pics of when I first brought it home. The blue one is my '62 that I wrecked, being parted out.

Truck came with a crusty 350 and the original 3 speed on the column. The linkage was mostly broken so I had an interesting time getting it from Battle Ground WA. to my house in Oregon. The motor leaked oil like a champ, so I tore it down hoping it was the front main seal.

I fixed that and it still leaked like a seive. I found a fairly straight tailgate on craigslist for cheap and brought it home and rattlecan primered it.

Next step was to remove the lame rear bumper and stickers from the back window.

Riveted1 · 08-21-2008, 06:18 PM

Nice looking truck!

LuckyHenriksen · 08-21-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riveted1

Nice looking truck!

Thanks!

LuckyHenriksen · 08-21-2008, 06:50 PM

Now it was time to remove all the old stuff and clean it up.
There goes the rusty, oil soaked exhaust.

Then comes the motor and trans.

LuckyHenriksen · 08-21-2008, 07:32 PM

I tore the motor down to a short block, and replaced all the seals and gaskets, added a new oil pan, timing chain cover, water pump, fuel pump, starter, and a new Edelbrock performer intake and 650 CFM carb. I also repainted it, those are just iron heads that I painted with aluminum paint.

Then I started the suspension tear-down

I am switching from 6 lug to 5 lug, so I have new axles to install in the rear and a set of 2.5in drop disc brake spindles to install up front. At the same time I will be installing 4'' drop coil springs to bring the rear down and 3'' drop coils up front. Combined with the spindles I should have a 5.5 /4 drop.

This is one of the new 5 lug axles

LuckyHenriksen · 08-21-2008, 06:23 PM

The manifold was in bad shape too

And heres a couple pics of the poor '62

jljohnson3579 · 12-24-2008, 06:11 PM

Man, I hope you weren't in it! The red one is sweet!

rcrahn · 08-21-2008, 07:35 PM

Tell me you were not in that '62 when it was T -Boned? If you were you are one lucky kid!

LuckyHenriksen · 08-21-2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcrahn

Tell me you were not in that '62 when it was T -Boned? If you were you are one lucky kid!

Yes unfortunately I was. I DIDN'T have a seat belt on, so I was thrown against the opposite side. The doors jammed shut, but I was able to crawl out the window hoping the fire bomb gas tank behind the seat wouldn't ignite. I guess thats why my friends call me Lucky

LuckyHenriksen · 08-21-2008, 10:27 PM

I pulled off the upper and lower control arms, cleaned, painted them, and had new ball joints pressed in at NAPA.

Then I installed everything, including the new spindles, shocks, springs, and suspension components.

LuckyHenriksen · 08-21-2008, 10:31 PM

Next came the new disc brakes. The calipers were gold, and it didn't look right, so I painted them red with high-temp paint.

Here are the new braided steel lines, compared to the old rubber ones.

And here is a test fit of a junky 5 lug rally wheel.

68 C-10 KID · 12-13-2008, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyHenriksen

I pulled off the upper and lower control arms, cleaned, painted them, and had new ball joints pressed in at NAPA.

Then I installed everything, including the new spindles, shocks, springs, and suspension components.

So I noticed you had heavy duty tie rod sleeves. Where can a kid get a set at. And also are those single piston calipers or dual?

Thanks Mike

sixty8c10 · 08-21-2008, 10:41 PM

looking good, keep up the good work

LuckyHenriksen · 08-21-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixty8c10

looking good, keep up the good work

Thanks man

rcrahn · 08-21-2008, 10:45 PM

Wow, I believe "lucky" is an excellent nickname for you now.
Nice work on your new ride now.
In the future buckle up.

thirdstreettito · 08-21-2008, 11:55 PM

Lookin good! Keep it up! How old are you? 18? Guessing because you are a Senior.

LuckyHenriksen · 08-22-2008, 12:10 AM

I'm actually 17, my senior year started thursday

My school lets us get our senior projects approved at the end of your junior year, so you can have the summer to work on them. Kinda cool

jljohnson3579 · 12-25-2008, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyHenriksen

I'm actually 17, my senior year started thursday

My school lets us get our senior projects approved at the end of your junior year, so you can have the summer to work on them. Kinda cool

At the speed you're moving, I know we can look forward to many great projects from you. You have a talent just waiting to be born!

68 short step · 08-22-2008, 12:39 AM

looks good

LuckyHenriksen · 08-22-2008, 01:09 AM

Thanks for the comments guys

LuckyHenriksen · 08-22-2008, 01:20 AM

I found a set of stock wheels on CL for a good price, so I grabbed them and cleaned them up a bit. I needed new wheels because I switched to 5 lug. I had them sandblasted at this sweet old shop in town, then rattlecanned grey primer and "clearcoat" over them.

Then I mounted the tires that came on it so I could get it on the ground. They were way too big but at least it is a roller now.

So far plenty of ground clearance

This shows my freshly rebuilt TH400 with 2000 Stall converter, and the clean shiny engine ready to rock.

LuckyHenriksen · 08-22-2008, 01:31 AM

Finally the day came to drop the motor and transmission in. For this job I enlisted the help of a friend.

My so called "help"

It is all nestled down in the engine bay, looks empty

Then I squeezed in the Hooker Comp. Headers

The weight of the drive train pushed the front down even more

LuckyHenriksen · 08-22-2008, 02:13 AM

Here are the latest pics. It now moves under its own power. I know a guy who works for Goodyear, and he got me a good deal on some new Eagles. They fit much better than the old tires. They are too skinny in the rear for my taste, but they were cheap.

Had the driveshaft shortened and rebuilt. Most everything is hooked up and working. The stance is pretty aggressive, and I only have like 2 inches of clearance between the header collectors and the ground. Thats a bit of a problem. But other than that I'm happy about the way its turning out.

IvelDesigns · 08-22-2008, 02:11 AM

nice lookin' truck man. what are you plans for the rear end?

LuckyHenriksen · 08-22-2008, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvelDesigns

nice lookin' truck man. what are you plans for the rear end?

Thanks Im glad you like it. I have a chrome bumper on order through LMC right now

08-21-2008, 05:50 PM	#1
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Senior Project Build Here is my attempt at a build thread. The truck is a 1968 Chevy LWB, and I am rebuilding the suspension, motor, switching transmissions, and adding disc brakes. This is my Senior Project for high school. Here are some pics of when I first brought it home. The blue one is my '62 that I wrecked, being parted out. Truck came with a crusty 350 and the original 3 speed on the column. The linkage was mostly broken so I had an interesting time getting it from Battle Ground WA. to my house in Oregon. The motor leaked oil like a champ, so I tore it down hoping it was the front main seal. I fixed that and it still leaked like a seive. I found a fairly straight tailgate on craigslist for cheap and brought it home and rattlecan primered it. Next step was to remove the lame rear bumper and stickers from the back window. __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here Last edited by LuckyHenriksen; 08-21-2008 at 07:25 PM.

08-21-2008, 06:18 PM	#2
Riveted1 Tasty Cakes! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 2,112	Re: Senior Project Build Nice looking truck! __________________ I'm a little and a lot Ground beef: A cow with no legs. ---------------- '66 Chevy SWB "Penny" '67 Chevy Big Window SWB- aka "Pearl" '72 Burb- "Betty" "It's not a hearse dammit" '99 Chevy Ext. cab Silverado

08-21-2008, 06:50 PM	#4
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Senior Project Build Now it was time to remove all the old stuff and clean it up. There goes the rusty, oil soaked exhaust. Then comes the motor and trans. __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here

08-21-2008, 07:32 PM	#5
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Senior Project Build I tore the motor down to a short block, and replaced all the seals and gaskets, added a new oil pan, timing chain cover, water pump, fuel pump, starter, and a new Edelbrock performer intake and 650 CFM carb. I also repainted it, those are just iron heads that I painted with aluminum paint. Then I started the suspension tear-down I am switching from 6 lug to 5 lug, so I have new axles to install in the rear and a set of 2.5in drop disc brake spindles to install up front. At the same time I will be installing 4'' drop coil springs to bring the rear down and 3'' drop coils up front. Combined with the spindles I should have a 5.5 /4 drop. This is one of the new 5 lug axles __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here Last edited by LuckyHenriksen; 08-23-2008 at 12:03 AM.

08-21-2008, 06:23 PM	#6
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Senior Project Build The manifold was in bad shape too And heres a couple pics of the poor '62 __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here

12-24-2008, 06:11 PM	#7
jljohnson3579 I'm here 2 learn! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: montgomery, al Posts: 54	Re: Senior Project Build Man, I hope you weren't in it! The red one is sweet! __________________ This is a great place!

08-21-2008, 07:35 PM	#8
rcrahn Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The West Posts: 767	Re: Senior Project Build Tell me you were not in that '62 when it was T -Boned? If you were you are one lucky kid!

08-21-2008, 10:27 PM	#10
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Senior Project Build I pulled off the upper and lower control arms, cleaned, painted them, and had new ball joints pressed in at NAPA. Then I installed everything, including the new spindles, shocks, springs, and suspension components. __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here Last edited by LuckyHenriksen; 08-21-2008 at 10:29 PM.

08-21-2008, 10:31 PM	#11
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Senior Project Build Next came the new disc brakes. The calipers were gold, and it didn't look right, so I painted them red with high-temp paint. Here are the new braided steel lines, compared to the old rubber ones. And here is a test fit of a junky 5 lug rally wheel. __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here

08-21-2008, 10:41 PM	#13
sixty8c10 MY EX DRIVES A BROOM Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Herington, KS Posts: 869	Re: Senior Project Build looking good, keep up the good work __________________ They say nobody's perfect. I'm a nobody, so I must be perfect. Building Nemo -1968 C10 Long Bed FRED -1947 KB-2 International

08-21-2008, 10:45 PM	#15
rcrahn Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The West Posts: 767	Re: Senior Project Build Wow, I believe "lucky" is an excellent nickname for you now. Nice work on your new ride now. In the future buckle up.

08-21-2008, 11:55 PM	#16
thirdstreettito Resident of Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel, FL, USA Posts: 7,716	Re: Senior Project Build Lookin good! Keep it up! How old are you? 18? Guessing because you are a Senior. __________________ ~Bradley~ 2004 Black GTO LS2/T56 too much to list Miss having a truck

08-22-2008, 12:10 AM	#17
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Senior Project Build I'm actually 17, my senior year started thursday My school lets us get our senior projects approved at the end of your junior year, so you can have the summer to work on them. Kinda cool __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here

08-22-2008, 12:39 AM	#19
68 short step Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: tulsa OK Posts: 3,070	Re: Senior Project Build looks good

08-22-2008, 01:09 AM	#20
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Senior Project Build Thanks for the comments guys __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

08-22-2008, 01:20 AM	#21
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Senior Project Build I found a set of stock wheels on CL for a good price, so I grabbed them and cleaned them up a bit. I needed new wheels because I switched to 5 lug. I had them sandblasted at this sweet old shop in town, then rattlecanned grey primer and "clearcoat" over them. Then I mounted the tires that came on it so I could get it on the ground. They were way too big but at least it is a roller now. So far plenty of ground clearance This shows my freshly rebuilt TH400 with 2000 Stall converter, and the clean shiny engine ready to rock. __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here

08-22-2008, 01:31 AM	#22
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Senior Project Build Finally the day came to drop the motor and transmission in. For this job I enlisted the help of a friend. My so called "help" It is all nestled down in the engine bay, looks empty Then I squeezed in the Hooker Comp. Headers The weight of the drive train pushed the front down even more __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here

08-22-2008, 02:13 AM	#23
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Senior Project Build Here are the latest pics. It now moves under its own power. I know a guy who works for Goodyear, and he got me a good deal on some new Eagles. They fit much better than the old tires. They are too skinny in the rear for my taste, but they were cheap. Had the driveshaft shortened and rebuilt. Most everything is hooked up and working. The stance is pretty aggressive, and I only have like 2 inches of clearance between the header collectors and the ground. Thats a bit of a problem. But other than that I'm happy about the way its turning out. __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here

08-22-2008, 02:11 AM	#24
IvelDesigns Commander Taco Bello Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 2,232	Re: Senior Project Build nice lookin' truck man. what are you plans for the rear end? __________________ Bagged '50 3600 - Bumper punchin' road kill since 2009... Bagged '69 C10 Longbed - Bumper punchin' road kill since 2007...

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.