Performance on a budget. 79 5.3l static drop

[Mtrhd329]

Hello all. I had a build thread going over on performance trucks but there isnt much traffic over there so i figured i would start one here. I got my inspiration from this board to start ly 5.3l swap a few years back and have learned a lot along the way.

The truck is a 1979 c10 that i drove in high school and parked fory first 10 years in the military. Once i moved closer to home my wife had it trailered down from its restong spot while i was away for work. I will try and keep this in prder as i go as ive come a long way in this build even though it looks like i havent really done anything. Ive been through a few different susupensions and had two different frames and quite a few interior designs.

Heres a few pictures of the truck when i got it back.

[1963c-10]

Great looking truck. Have you checked the build section on the 73-87 trucks? My buddy has a 79 build on there as well....bluebomber.

[siggyfreud]

Sounds like a fun project. You might consider posting in the next generation's truck branch of this forum, as you might get better feedback there .

[Mtrhd329]

I have a build thread over there also. But didnt really keep up with it.

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/sm...?topic=13913.0

Next i decided to go for the 5.3l swap since my old motor dodnt want to run after sitting for 10 years. I was going to just rebuild it but i found a local yard that had a 5.3 4l60e they would deliver to me with everything needed for a swap for 1600. Couldnt pass it up!

[Mtrhd329]

Ha ha i dont know what i clicked to get in this generation. Mods can we move this please!!

Well before this gets moved i guess it would be fitting to show ly dash to this subforum.

[Mtrhd329]

Next i decided to try and drop the truck some. Bought some leaf spring mounts and welded them on the other side of the axle and cuty front springs and chopped the crossmember.
Plans were to convert to a 87 tbird rack and pinion. I just couldnt get the geometry to line up with where i wanted to mount it so i got donated to a buddies build.


Oil pan was a little too low. Had to swap to a ctsv pan to get some clearance.

[Mtrhd329]

Heres a shot of the rack mocked up but i just couldnt get what i felt would be optimum geometry.

Somewhere along the way i had many different suspension combos. Stepped control arms, cut springs, chopped crossmember, and now a zed frame. Heres a shot of the chopped crossmember and stepped control arms.

[SCOTI]

TTT....
Time for some updates.

[Mtrhd329]

Correct. I forgot about this thread......
So i have installed a ford f150 rear sway bar. Looks like it was meant for my flipped axle 10 bolt.

[Mtrhd329]

Three dollars of paint to help break up the flat black

Took it out to the local SCCA autocross event and had some fun. Needs tires badly, i need a harness and to move my camera mount, and.....i smoked the 3-4 clutches in the 4l60e

https://youtu.be/RNl9mQ9L4Ns

So i had to drive up to LA to get a 62k 4l80e. Got ly.tine segment swapped. Now i juat havento pull the 4l60e out and replace and fab my crossmember. Hopefully i can be ready for the nwxt autocross on 13 december. Heres hoping.

[SCOTI]

I watched the video which is what prompted me to look for an update. Looked like you were having fun!

What final combo did you wind up with for the front suspension?

[Mtrhd329]

I went with a 3" z up front. 2.5" drop spindles, moog 6454 springs with a coil cut and the pig tail bent flat like stock, the caster mod to slide LCA forward. This netted me 8* caster at alignment time with only a couple shims. Running -1* camber. I put in a small coil spring spacer under the springs because my 275/50-15 tires were rubbing. Once i figure out how to get my fenders flared out and not look ghetto i will take the spacer out. Right now my air dam is about 3" off the ground.....maybe less and i want it lower.
With this setup when i turn on a freeway clover leaf i can accelerate through the whole turn and not even notice the turn. There is almost no body roll. Tires will make this thing a beast. I wish i could afford all the parts at once lol. But i only spend 100 a month on this truck.

[c-man405]

Could you give more detail on the f150 rear sway bar? What truck it came off of and how it mounted? Also with the 3" z and spindles did you get rid of your cut cross member or are you still using it? If you are using it how much did you cut out?
Thanks

[Mtrhd329]

The f150 rear bar came off of a mid to late 90s f150. A friend was tripping over it at his shop so he gave it to me. I used two 3" exhaust clamps through the bushing brackets to mount it to the axle. Then i found some old bunper brackets i had in a drawer that sit on top of the frame for a 73-80 bumper i think. The little 90* looking jobs. Went to autozone and got some end links that looked like they would bw the right lenght and leveled the truck and bar and welded the brakets in.

The chipped crossmember i could not get to work with a rack and pinion. Not enough room for everything and the shaft would have needed to go where the motor mount was residing. I tried raising my steering box and pitman arm 3" to match the chopped crossmember but it didnt look right. So i read a few threads on frame z and it seemed WAY simpler to do that. I had 2" stepped control arms on it at first and it was way to low. So i put spindles and cut some springs and now it sits great. I just swapped in a crossmember from another truck.

[Mtrhd329]

Got the 4l80e bolted in place, had to make an extension on ly tranny crossmember cause i didnt want to redrill my frame for the crossmember to move back. Junk yard was nice enough to give me an old trans mount with the trans. I used the metal from the base of that to weld to my crossmember and extend it. Worked great since it was bent and i could weld to the gussets along the sides so theres even more strength. I love free parts.


Today i will rerun my cooler lines. Im putting my cooler on the floor pan at a 45 closer to the trans. And then i just have to wait for a th400 yoke to appear and i will be done.

[Mtrhd329]

Got my th400 yoke for a 1350 u joint. Running a 1310 to 1350 u joint until i figure out a new driveshaft.

Had a horrible stumble and couldnt track it down. No engine codes and didnt see anything abnormal scanning for misfires with hp tuners. Went back through everything that was touched during the trans install and noticed a spark plug sock that was touching the header and discolored.

Took it off to inspect the wire and it fell apart on my hand. I removed all of the boots and found a couole other wires that were cooked underneath the boots. Damn.


Now to get some new wires and wrap the **** out of them.

[TrailerTrash]

well its good you found the problem! i hate those little things that are super hard to track down.

keep up the progress dude

[Mtrhd329]

Ya i keep seem to find all the little things. While i was under the truck i noticed that my gas tank was smelling and when i pushed up on it pressure came out like it has a hole.
Also my water pump is leaking from the weep hole. Original water pump so i cant complain there. I guess thats the great thing about a project. Theres always something to do.

[TrailerTrash]

Originally Posted by Mtrhd329

I guess thats the great thing about a project. Theres always something to do.

not everyone sees it that way. i know it can be extremely frustrating at times but i just have no idea how people get tired of working on project vehicles all together. its way too much fun