Good start on new project.

[chevymad]

I've had a shortbed 70 GMC sitting around for quite awhile. Well I finally decided to put something together. Basically the body's totally shot, so I picked up a 67 small window cab, stepside bed, fiberglass rear fenders, 68 front clip, and a set of 69 doors. Going to weld in a bunch of patch panels and bolt this mess all together. I also had a 74 GMC 1/2 ton 454 longbed. I stole the front crossmember and suspension out of it, the rear end, the 454 of course, th400, and the 12 bolt. Then I lowered the front 4" with coils and spindles, and flipped the rear end for a 4/6 drop. Also welded in a set of c-notches to make sure nothing hits. Moved the shock mounts so they'd fit and stand more vertical. Rebuilt the front suspension and then painted the whole works with por15.

This weekend I finished assembling the 454. Put in 0.250 dome hyper pistons, had the rods reconditioned and arp bolts installed, standard bore, standard crank, new lunati voodoo cam .554/.572 lift 233/241 @ 0.50 duration, crane energizer roller rockers, performer rpm intake, holley 3310 carb, repro velle valve covers, 781 heads with lunati springs and pc seals. Installed a pertronix unit in the original distributor and a flamethrower coil. I'm using a set of Cyclone headers that came with the 74 as well. They werent very old when the truck was parked so I just bead blasted them and coated them with VHT.

The th400 is a fairly fresh rebuild so I just installed a B&M stage II shift kit and a TCI 2600 stall breakaway convertor with anti-balloon plates.

I also had a 73 3/4 ton small block parts truck. So I took the transmission crossmember and the motor mounts/frame plates from this truck. The 454 truck had a taller frame then the 3/4 ton so these parts didnt fit. The 454 dropped right into place using these mounts and the headers clear fine. I did have to drill new holes for the tranny xmember though and I dont think the transmission linkage will work, but I'll find that out when I set a cab on. The 73 also donated its power steering box. And will donate its sway bar mounts.

Anyway, here's some pics of progress and how it sits at the moment. Started all this about February I think. And so far I've done everything myself except for having the rods reconditioned and the pistons presssed on.


















Thats it for now, but making pretty good progress. Trying hard to have it done by this summer.

Chevymad