New Member-New Project

[1LOW4X4]

Here is my new worktruck! Ive been on other forums for years as I own a 2001 Silverado (low4x4)....ever since it hit "showtruck status) I havent been able to haul or tow with it. And my wife is tired of me using her new suburban to tow, so I started looking for a worktruck.

Back in high school I had a '64 GMC panel, and wanted something around that year, but I found this and couldnt pass it up. 1985 C20 3/4 ton, dual tanks, camper king, T400 trans, 4.11's, 350 engine. It was a California truck, hence the low rust and all original smog stuff intact. The kid I boiught it from had bought it from a dealer about 6 years ago for $6,000. I got it for $800 from him, because the engine had a spun bearing. It looked as if he never changed the oil in it.....It had been rear ended and they had to get a salvage title, but the damage isnt bad at all, just the very end of the frame rails needs to be straightened out. I'm hitting that after the engine rebuild.

The interior is IMMACULATE. No cracks on dash, no wear on steering wheel, all original radio and A/C, oh and did I mention the A/C blows cold! I love it! Its obvious the previous owner before the kid had to have been restoring this truck, because the drivers side door and fender have fresh new paint, as well as new chrome moldings, all the rest of the truck is flat red with no clear, and all the moldings have lost their shine. The interior has def been restored, no way it could be this fine originally. The only thing wrong is the drivers side door pull is broke, but those are common. You guys would **** if you saw this in person!

Got it home, pulled the motor within 3 days. Block numbers show it to be a GM crate engine, like a 95. Roller cam-1 piece rear main seal. It did not have a roller cam in it tho, but it is roller cam capable. After I pulled the motor I borrowed my dads steam washer and dissolved all the built up grime on this thing, it is super nice under there now. still has the original jack and crank under the hood.

These are the steps I've taken to rebuild the motor
* Had the crank ground .010
* New main and rod bearings
* New oil, fuel and water pump
* Had the block acid boiled, honed, and new cam bearings installed
* Heads dont need any work-'cept two broken header bolts
* Bought new gasket set
* Got two different rods to use in place of #'s 5 and 6 where the spun bearing was
* Got new Summit pistons and rings
* Scored a lightweight aluminum intake off my dad in place of the iron one
* Currently rebuilding the Q-jet carb

I'm sure I'm missing something.

Two days ago I started putting the engine together, I dont have a lot of free time right now so its a slow go. Got the crank laid in and torqued down to specs, installed the rings per instructions and slid the pistons and rods in, torqued them down. Bolted new oil pump in and windagee tray, then lubed up the stock cam and slid it in-this is where I hit a wall. I guess all those years of buildiing big blocks with dad and stepdad I forgot the first thing you do, try the cam and lifters.

My cam stopped cold on the middle bearing. I thought maybe its warped or bent, and tried another stock cam I had to see, it stopped too. Looked in there, cant see anything visually wrong, but its def cockeyed or something. Called my machine man and he wants me to tear it all down and bring it to him to fix (dammit).

So thats where I'm at now. I cant wait to get this thing on the road, I know its gonna be fun to drive! I have an LS1 I'm currently building for my '01, maybe 1 day after its done this '85 might get my 5.3/4l60E! one never knows.....What do yall think of it?

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