72 C10 SWB LSx Build, truck with no name

[Peepaw]

Hey guys and gals. This is a project of mine that began @ 7-8 years ago. I bought the truck from a friend of mine, that had owned the truck for @ 15-20 years that had bought the truck from the original owner (whose Brother is a member on this board).
It was an original 402, LWB, AC, Turbo 400, 12Bolt truck. My friend had restored it: new interior, brakes, suspension, transmission, rear end, motor, etc...
The 402" got warmed over with more compression, cam, heads, intake, Holley.
Truck ran great. I put a plate on it and ran even better. Until it didnt.

Knocked a hole in a piston and transformation began.
It began as a 427" BBC. Then a 502". Then a 632". Then a Gen II Hemi (put the guns down, I didnt do it).
So, finally decided to do a LSx turbo and that's my plan and Im sticking to it. Maybe.
Started with pulling bed off and turned her into a SWB. Then cab corners and rockers. Patching floors up. Ripped out all the old wiring and started from scratch.
Has a 5.3L in her with a single 76MM, but also have a built 414" with L92's ready to plop in (the 414" is technically for my Camaro, but may find its way into the C10 or my '55 Pontiac, ).
I have the Holley Terminator X, Magnafuel fuel system, etc....

Got 5" drop in the back, and 3" in the front.

Turbo 400 and 12 bolt are staying for now.

I am going to need some help along the way of course, and is why Im here:

Fuel tank (want it under bed)

Brakes (master cylinder relocation, maybe? Or Hydro Boost conversion? LSx pump work with stock steering box? Custom lines made?

Radiator/cooling system.

And a lot more.

Pics will follow.

[Peepaw]

[Peepaw]

[Peepaw]

[Peepaw]

[Peepaw]

[Peepaw]

[Peepaw]

[Peepaw]

Not sure why some of those turned sideways?

[tinydb84]

Very nice work. Ill be following along.

[Peepaw]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Very nice work. Ill be following along.

Thank you sir. I should have some more pics later on this week (doing all the wiring right now, and the Holley Terminator should be here this week as well).

[pjmoreland]

Nice truck! How close are you to getting it on the road?

[Peepaw]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Nice truck! How close are you to getting it on the road?

Me and her turn 50 this coming May, 11 months from now. I want her back on the road by then.
Bodywork wont be completed, so she will be rough around the edges (cosmetically), but should run good (I hope).
I ordered a 15 gallon fuel cell only too wait 2 months to be told they probably wont make any more so need to pick another.

Fuel system needs: fuel cell, lines, injectors and rails.
Engine needs: throttle body.
Brake needs (need MC set up, but not sure if going manual brakes or hydroboost....with my turbo set up, factory brake booster wont clear)
Trans: converter (and do I stick with column shifter (likely) or go floor mounted shifter)
Power steering (will determine once decide on brakes)
Cooling system: radiator, fan and hoses.

Im trying to get a little done each weekend. My latest wiring snafu set me back though. Spent the last month+ trying to figure out the whole turn signal/lighting issue.

[Peepaw]

The old turn signal switch has seen better days. 🤣🤣

[Peepaw]

And of course, removing the broken turn signal switch, revealed a worn out steering column bearing. Which is leading to rebuilding steering column. 😳🤣

[pjmoreland]

You've got your work cut out for you. Sounds like a fun to-do list.

That's one tired looking turn signal switch.

Does the Terminator X have the ability to control a 4L80E?

[Peepaw]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

You've got your work cut out for you. Sounds like a fun to-do list.

That's one tired looking turn signal switch.

Does the Terminator X have the ability to control a 4L80E?

No it does not. The Term X Max does.

But the simple version is, there is just no reason for the 60 or 80 over the 400 in my opinion and what my plans are for this truck.

Why would you put in the OD trans in a vehicle that did not have it to begin with? Fuel economy and keep revs down on the motor, right? You could add noise from engine RPMS as well, but Im pretty sure noise is not a concern in these older trucks. LOL!

That being said, Id have to drive my truck (I did the math) once a week for @ 20 years to break even to put a 4l60 or 80 in my truck. Im not concerned about that.
Id say on a good MONTH, this truck once running, will see 100 miles over a months time. Lets say it gets 10 miles to a gallon better with the OD. over 100 miles, thats 5 gallons gallons of fuel saved (if we say without OD it gets 10 miles to a gallon, and with OD it gets 20 MPG...10 MPG in 100 miles is 10 gallons burned....20 mpg in 100 miles is 5 gallons burned). So, in that months time I saved a whopping $12-$14 in gas money. Thats $145-$170 a year Ive saved. Times that by 20 years is $2900-$3400 and I finally paid for the 60/80.
That might be a far outreach on the cost of a 60/80 over the 400, and I can guarantee someone will chime in and say the cost to build each is the same or very few dollars more.
But in the end, I still dont need OD.
The 400 is simple. Tough. And I have one already. LOL!

[pjmoreland]

Can't argue with that logic!

[Peepaw]

Here is the Terminator X. Put my sons 32” baseball bat in the pic for size reference. Since Im not a wiring guru as we have found out 😳🤣, the plug and play for me is a nice welcome!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[pjmoreland]

It's nice how small that is compared to the stock computer for an LS. Accelo posted a photo of his, and it looks like it is about 4x the size of the Terminator X.

[Peepaw]

This is a month ago:




This is current status, after my wiring snafu ��




Have NO idea on why photos turn sideways for me. LOL

[Peepaw]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

It's nice how small that is compared to the stock computer for an LS. Accelo posted a photo of his, and it looks like it is about 4x the size of the Terminator X.

I have a stock computer (and in fact, I bought the wiring harness from LMC to run the stock computer), and stock computer is definitely bigger. Should be a lot easier to mount the Terminator X

[Peepaw]

OK, got tailights/brake lights and all the new sockets/lens mounted for the rear (yes, I checked them again before I started to tidy it all up, LOL).

I started cleaning up the interior wiring. I redid ignition switch, head light switch, the "U" connector under steering column.
I am rebuilding steering column while I have it apart now, so awaiting new bearing and parts. I am redoing all of the cluster lights and as well, and Ive got a new backing for the instrument cluster as well. Im not sure what you call that, but its the film that attaches to cluster and has circuit board stuff built into it...again, Im not an electrical guy, LOL.
Once I get to a stopping point, Im going to hop under hood and finish wiring for headlights and turn signals.
I am going to have access for my fuses/relays/Terminator X all behind the glove box so I am going to build a baracket/mount for those next once I have the wiring where I need it.

To get the truck back on the road by my goal date of My 2022, the body work and a little bit of rot will have to wait so I can focus on getting it riding and driving.
Yeah, I know, the body work really should come first, but since Im NOT a bodywork guy either, that would slow this roll, BIG time. I want the truck with no name running by her birthday of May 1972/2022

I did have some questions for you guys.


I am running a LSx based motor, is single turbo now, but header interferes with stock vacuum booster. I dont want manual brakes.
Leaving me 1 of 2:
1)hydroboost
2)relocate brake pedal to floor mount and master cylinder under the floor.

I am thinking of leaning hydrioboost. You guys that have done that swap.
Pros? Cons? Would you do it again? Just have lines made up????

[SkidmoreGarage]

I'm enjoying following along and thought I would throw out the idea that you may be able to find an alternative booster with different dimensions.

To help you answer your question it may be good to know what brake performance you want. Some people really prefer the very "boosted" on/off switch feel of a hydraulic booster and some enjoy the progressive feel of manual brakes with better pads. If you want to tow, the hydroboost is probably great. If you want to do an occasional autocross the manual brakes will be more easily controlled on the limit. It's the old addage of any system will lock up the tires, so which one is really better?

[pjmoreland]

Would this bracket help in your situation?

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...rewall+booster