77 c10 5.3ls turbo

[jrpontiac]

So pretty.

[cruizin01]

Truck is looking great. I have that TA girdle as well. Looks great until it oxidizes...

Did you use the 87 sender in your original fuel tank? Im considering dumping my fitech fuel sump and wire/plumb and electric pump in the tank. And those Russell fittings fit right on that sender?

[jrpontiac]

I did use the 87 sending unit. I had an AcDelco Ep381 pump that mounted right up, wont support what im doing now so I switched it for a Walbro 450. That mounted right up as well. Yes fittings mount right up. I went with the in tank pump because it is quieter.

[cruizin01]

Originally Posted by jrpontiac

I did use the 87 sending unit. I had an AcDelco Ep381 pump that mounted right up, wont support what im doing now so I switched it for a Walbro 450. That mounted right up as well. Yes fittings mount right up. I went with the in tank pump because it is quieter.

Thank you.

Have you looked into needing a sump to keep the pump from starving? I found a guy on YT that built around the stock setup using a suction jet pump. Im curious if that would be worth doing on a non-efi tank.

[jrpontiac]

Originally Posted by cruizin01

Thank you.

Have you looked into needing a sump to keep the pump from starving? I found a guy on YT that built around the stock setup using a suction jet pump. Im curious if that would be worth doing on a non-efi tank.

I have not. Hope my setup will be good as is.

[Overdriven]

Nice build! One critique, I only saw one picture of the turbo oil drain going into the timing cover so it may not be an issue. But in that pic the fitting on the timing cover is pointing down (I think) and not optimal. Turbos can be sensitive with the drain and it should be as direct as possible for the best flow. Otherwise oil can backup in the line and go past the seals.

[jrpontiac]

When installed fitting is pointed up. Keep the critques coming, this is the first time i've done this and relying on the internet.

[C10matt]

He's right the oil drain is a very important part of the turbo but I have a friend who put his in the timing cover like that and has logged 16000 miles without a problem. Mine is in that spot as well, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Overdriven]

Originally Posted by jrpontiac

When installed fitting is pointed up. Keep the critques coming, this is the first time i've done this and relying on the internet.

That’s exactly why I mentioned it, figured I’d make sure to save you headaches down the road.

Originally Posted by C10matt

He's right the oil drain is a very important part of the turbo but I have a friend who put his in the timing cover like that and has logged 16000 miles without a problem. Mine is in that spot as well, I wouldn't worry about it.

I wasn’t concerned about it being in the timing cover. He posted a pic with the fitting pointed down, no hose attached yet, so I wanted to verify the drain hose routing. Thanks for chiming in about the timing cover drain though, always nice to have more input.

[C10matt]

Originally Posted by Overdriven

I wasn’t concerned about it being in the timing cover. He posted a pic with the fitting pointed down, no hose attached yet, so I wanted to verify the drain hose routing. Thanks for chiming in about the timing cover drain though, always nice to have more input.

I had no trouble telling which end of the timing cover was up and the hose can only go down from the turbo so I'm not sure what you were looking at there, so i didn't want any misinterpreting of your comment. He's doing a great job on this truck from my perspective.

[Overdriven]

That is the crossmember below the crank pulley so the 90 degree fitting is pointed down. It may be obvious to most to point it up towards the turbo but for someone new they may have a less direct path in mind for whatever reason. Maybe I missed it but I didn’t see the drain in other pics so I posted to be sure. I think we both may have misinterpreted each other a bit on this one, it happens, time to move on, but again thanks for chiming in and I agree he’s doing a great job.

[jrpontiac]

Got the axle installed and drag radials on. Still need to finalize rear diff cover install and brake lines. Should finish that tonight. High 20's here so I have to work an hour or two at a time. Driveshaft and shocks are all that is left, besides final tuning and whatever problems come up. Plan on painting white walls on the rear tires to match the front, but that will have to wait until it warms up. Innovate AFR/boost appears to be working but I still need to read the manual to see if I have to calibrate it.

[KeithGT]

I may have missed it, but where are you getting all your exhaust flanges/vband clamps/etc from? all ebay? Its that small stuff im having a hard time deciding where to buy from...

[jrpontiac]

Mostly Ebay but did get some stuff from Amazon as well. I went cheap on the wastegate and wish I wouldn't have. Ended up buying two cheap ones, messed up the first one, both are junk but Im using one of them. If I get to the point where I am using a boost controller I will step up and buy a quality wastegate. At this point I'm just using the 7.5lbs spring. The Ebay BOV, turbo and intercooler are nice.

[jrpontiac]

Took it out for the maiden run this afternoon. Went pretty well, got a couple things to work out.

- Finish exhaust because in ends under the bed now and is loud.
- I think im running on 7 cylinders, idle seems a little rough and have an injector error code.

Got it up to 5lbs boost and it kept breaking the tires loose. Not to surpised since it is 40 degrees and the road is wet/dry. I think it is going to be ridiculously fast once it gets dialed in. Makes that turbo spooling sound I was hoping for. And blow off valve sounds awesome.

[aggie91]

Nice work overall for the budget you set. My son did one on an '85 and loved it.

One question, I see you used the Hooker turbo manifold on the passenger side, but what manifold did you use on the Driver side? Stock truck manifold?

[jrpontiac]

I did used the stock manifold on the drivers side. I blew any budget out of the water, I didn't go as cheap as I had anticipated. Although my budget going into the project didn't include any transmission or rear end work. I'm guessing I have $5k into it, engine/tranny/rear end.

Picture of exhaust which I finished last night. The exhaust is my favorite part of the project.

[cruizin01]

$5k isn't too bad. I have more than that in my bbc, trans and rear end and it doesn't make any power.. haha.

[jrpontiac]

Correction . The $5k is the turbo/tranny/rear end. I had done the LS conversion previously. Much of the LS conversion costs involved stuff I ended up having to redo. Exhaust, fuel system, tranny stuff, driveshaft, computer, etc.. I think if I had started with an empty engine bay I would be into it $6.5k.

[zach_carver]

Very cool! I cant imagine driving one boosted. N/A run awesome as it is lol

[Whamo]

Dig it!

[cruizin01]

Originally Posted by jrpontiac

If I remember correctly the sending unit is off an 87, which has 3/8 primary and 5/16 return.

The fittings I got were for 8an and 6an lines. I was looking for an 8an fitting for the 3/8th line. I'm not sure if a 6an is an option on the 3/8 line.

Russell part# 644130 3/8th line & 644110 5/16th line.

4 Russell fittings cost $60. Have $245 into pump/filter/fittings/hoses.

So I bought a couple of these fittings to use as Im re-working my fuel system. I dont understand how you use them "as-is". These Russell fittings are designed to have the tube pass through the 2 o-rings to seal it. If you keep the flare on the end of the fuel sender there isn't any way for the tube to pass through the orings. I suppose to could crush the flare down into the fitting but I dont think it would ever seal correctly. Am I missing something?

[jrpontiac]

Will you post a picture of your fitting. Each fitting comes apart. You place the insert on the tube and then thread the fitting onto the insert.

[cruizin01]

Originally Posted by jrpontiac

Will you post a picture of your fitting. Each fitting comes apart. You place the insert on the tube and then thread the fitting onto the insert.

This is the inside of the adapter. Just a flat surface and 2 orings. I dont see how you were able to get yours to seal.





I ended up running to jegs and getting tubing adapters. Cut the tips off and these worked fine.

[jrpontiac]

Thats the fitting. I dont remember my steel line having two ridges. Glad you got it handled.