Project 66: LS and Frame on the Ground

[Jferrante]

Well I am back with my 3rd 60-66. Cant stay away. This time I am building what I always planned on doing previously; LS swap (well LQ4) and full step notch, dropmember and power steering and power disc brakes. Goal is laying frame.

The truck I bought is from the south and was an incomplete project that has 80% of what I would have been buying already so I really hit the jackpot. Very little to no rot, only small section of drivers floor but I am not concerned about that for now.

Originally was looking at a few trucks with 350s that I would have had to try to sell but ended up finding this one that has a 6.0 out of a 2003 pickup; so no aluminum block but I liked the idea of a 6.0 and it is an LS variant.

I wasnt planning on doing much to the motor but since it is coming out I think I am going to reseal it, get the injectors tested and maybe a few maintenance items - I am new to these engines so I am open on ideas on how to spend money wisely on it.

Here she is waiting to be loaded and then unloaded today at my house.. buddy and I had the bed, hood and front clip off in no time. Planning on pulling the cab this weekend and getting the motor out.

[Rusty63]

Nice,you don't waste any time huh! even rear tank already...nice score..

[hewittca]

Looks like a cool little truck to start with. That is ambitious of you to have it torn down already! I think I would have cruised it around a bit before I started on it.

[Jferrante]

Thanks guys, if I dont get moving immediately it won't get done - and yes rear tank is another bonus. This truck actually came with coilovers in the rear so I will be selling them to anyone who is interested just send me a note.


and a ****ty pic but can see how they bolt up.

[timmytimm3]

Nice truck to start with! Subscribed

[Jferrante]

Goal for last night and today was to get some jigs made up and the cab off. Did this all solo, not the best craftsmanship but it did the job.
Next is going to be pulling the motor and trans and getting the frame cleaned up ready for some cutting and notching. Also will be going through the motor, not sure how deep yet maybe just remove the heads and check the gaskets.

[slimjim66]

cool build man, ill follow along. run a leak down test on the motor before you dive into it, you might be surprised with the results, i bought a LQ4 for my '66 and was almost certain i would be doing a full tear down, especially with 200+ miles on the motor. but after my leak down test came back with 8-10% difference i left it how it was.

[Jferrante]

Originally Posted by slimjim66

cool build man, ill follow along. run a leak down test on the motor before you dive into it, you might be surprised with the results, i bought a LQ4 for my '66 and was almost certain i would be doing a full tear down, especially with 200+ miles on the motor. but after my leak down test came back with 8-10% difference i left it how it was.

thought about doing a leak down as well and is probably the right approach. It ran fine for the 15 mins I had it before I started ripping it apart. Will start pulling plugs and coils tomorrow.

[Jferrante]

Engine up and out. Going to do water pump/gaskets, timing chain cover clean up and gasket and probably heads off as well.

[Bennett68C10]

Nice looking project, can't wait to see what you do with it.

[Jferrante]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Nice looking project, can't wait to see what you do with it.

Thanks!
Waiting on a few gaskets for the motor but keeping the momentum going. Removed the fuel lines from the frame so its ready for a bit of blasting. Going to be ordering the choppin block setup early next week, Travis has been great at answering questions.

In the meantime I got my transmission solenoids, filter and gasket so I cleaned up the tranny a bit and got the new bits installed.








Still need to clean up the bell housing but its better than it was. This is no show truck but trying to clean up where I can.

[Jferrante]

Started to pull the driver head tonight and found a nice little crack - had a bad feeling about it. Seller actually was really cool and refunded me some money for this.



The question now is do I upgrade or just look for a replacement block for 3-400 and keep moving on? Really dont want to spend 3k on a motor but I am tempted.

[slimjim66]

Originally Posted by Jferrante

Started to pull the driver head tonight and found a nice little crack - had a bad feeling about it. Seller actually was really cool and refunded me some money for this.



The question now is do I upgrade or just look for a replacement block for 3-400 and keep moving on? Really dont want to spend 3k on a motor but I am tempted.

Oh no, that’s to bad. I remember few years ago you could buy a reconditioned LQ4 block from summit for like $350 or something. I check every now and then and it says out of stock still. Good thing you found the crack though. You could always buy a LSX block if 2000hp is in your near future lol. Good luck on your search for a new one.

[Jferrante]

Originally Posted by slimjim66

Oh no, that’s to bad. I remember few years ago you could buy a reconditioned LQ4 block from summit for like $350 or something. I check every now and then and it says out of stock still. Good thing you found the crack though. You could always buy a LSX block if 2000hp is in your near future lol. Good luck on your search for a new one.

Yea could be worse...looks like I can get a LQ4 for less than 1k which isn't bad.

[Bennett68C10]

Nice choice going with Choppin Block and going through Travis to purchase it. That's where I got my last one from and his customer service is second to none.

[Jferrante]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Nice choice going with Choppin Block and going through Travis to purchase it. That's where I got my last one from and his customer service is second to none.

Yea great guy to deal with.

Motor Update: I found a 6.0 only an hour and a half away that I am picking up tomorrow morning.

[TimE]

Glad you found another 6.0 close by.

Any time the heads are pulled on an older LS motor, I would suggest changing the lifter trays. Just cheap insurance while you're that far in...

BTW, love the blue patina. That has always been my favorite color on that body style.

Good luck!!

[Jferrante]

Placed my order with Travis yesterday so hopefully all those goodies will be here in the next 2 weeks or so. In the meantime I am going to paint the frame and get rid of my front cross member and power steering setup. Going to post these in classifieds but probably need to sell to someone local.

Ordered new lifters, push rods and lifter trays for the 6.0 so crossing my fingers the motor will be assembled and ready to go this weekend.

[Notch1988]

Keep the updates coming.

[Jferrante]

Originally Posted by Notch1988

Keep the updates coming.

Will do - need some help and pics on what to do with the steelies - I have white patina'd hubcaps and I was debating on painting the wheels white or body color blue...the problem is the skinny white wall, not sure how it will look either way. Other option is new wide white walls but these tires are new...

[Jferrante]

Knocked a few things out yesterday and today. Got the lifters and new lifter trays in as well as the head gaskets and heads back on. The rocker arm mounts were cross threaded so I didnt get those back in I will tap them tomorrow and finish the heads.
Pulled the front spindles off and gave them a fresh coat of paint, nothing crazy but wanted them cleaned up.

Looking for a high hump trans tunnel and firewall piece so I can get that all finished up as well because once I finish the frame I want to get everything put back together asap.

[Jferrante]

Have some time before the frame pieces come in so I decided to paint the LQ4. Nothing crazy but I think it looks great. Unfortunately these motors get covered up pretty quick once the coils and accessories go on.
Before:

After:

[Notch1988]

Surprised you didn't toss a cam in there.
What head gaskets did you go with?

[Jferrante]

Originally Posted by Notch1988

Surprised you didn't toss a cam in there.
What head gaskets did you go with?

Could have done a lot of things but keeping the engine piece of the build as budget friendly as possible. I used fel-pro gaskets

[Jferrante]

cleaned up the intake and got the water pump and tensioner mounted. Next is cleaning power steering bracket.