My '69 4x4 "Workhorse" Build Thread

[Senator350]

It's been a long time coming, since I bent the frame on my old '70, untill now...

In this thread so far:
1. '69 chevy bought from Maryland over the winter.
Chassis: Long Fleet K10, leafs, discs/drums.
Drivetrain: Mid 60's corvette 327ci, GM 202-160 .64cc heads, Edelbrock performer top end, unknown radical cam. TH350. NP205.
Exhaust: Rusted out Flowmaster headers, Rusted out dual 2.25" crush bent pipes, Rusted out 40 series 2.5" in-outs
1.5 replaced battery with Optima Yellow Top.
2. Proform Electric water pump installed.
2.3 (forgot!) PowerMaster high torque starter (black wrinkle finish) installed
3. Edelbrock #1406 Performer carb installed.
3. MSD Pro Billet dizzy & Blaster2 coil.
4. MSD 6AL ignition.
5. Flex A Lite dual 15" monster fans.
6. Removed interior (seats, seatbelts, & carpet)
7. Shaved firewall, replaced with vintage 1950's 'Fallout Shelter' signs
8. G-Force Racing cam lock harnesses installed.
8. GM P30 Hydroboost brakes w/ DIY4X custom bracket.
9. '00 Tahoe seats.
10. eBay stainless 1.5" headers (needed modification to #1 tube)
11. Mojave Heater install.
12. 100A idle-120A max Alt, Custom brackets, and radius tooth HTD belt from Jones Performance Racing


* Install plenum for FAL heater and run defrost ducts
* wire radiator probe for variable fan speed control
* wire new 0g. alt to batt.
* Install Summit inline radiator hose drain
* Install Flex-a-Lite inline temp sensor
* Modify hump for floor shift
* Cable shift NP205 from column
* B&M floor shift TH350
* new correct grill and fenders
* Late model motor mounts & droppable engine cradle from DIY4X
* Moroso oil pan
* Hooker Supercomp aero chamber mufflers w/ 2.5" mandrel bent exhaust & X-pipe
* NV4500 swap
* Replace the suspension with the suspension from my old '70
(FRONT: SKY Offroad dropped front spring hanger, GM 52" front leafs, DIY4X zero rates, ORD larger Shackle hangers, 7" Black Widwow greasable shackles)(REAR: DIY4X rear shackle flip, GM 63" leafs)
* Replace axles with the axles from my '70
(FRONT: '79 Ford Dana 60, GM DRW knuckles-out, 35spline Alloy USA stubs, Teraflex drive flanges)(REAR: GM DRW Dana 70HD, DIY4X disc brakes
* Flatbed with stake pockets.
* Stepside bedsides and original Fleet bedsides with stakes to intall on flatbed.

pictures to come a little later tonight

[Senator350]

How I bought her:

[msgross]

subscribed... love 4x4's

[Senator350]

So far:

Replaced Edelbrock carb with correct sized Performer:



Installed Proform H2O pump.
Removed old AC/Heat, shaved firewall with Fallout Shelter signs.
Installed MSD dizzy & Wires.



Ran heater hoses thru firwall for Mojave heater.



Installed Flex A Lite 282 Monster dual 15" Electric fans with custom Fallout Shelter shroud/brackets






Wiring done:

[Senator350]

Oh lord... this stuff disturbs me...

Driver's floor:



Passenger floor:



Passenger rocker:



Passenger kick panel:



Passenger fender (front):



?ThE hUmP?:

[Yukon Jack]

Quite a project - have fun with the rust issues.

[Senator350]

hmmm.
got my Mojave heater installed behind the glovebox. I drilled out the factory manual choke knob and used it in the stock location mounted to the Mojave's 4 way rotary switch... looks good for now (looks exactly like it always did ) but I'm talking to the guy at Wiseguy Customs to see if I can't get a LED lit translucent spider knob... which I'd put in the factory cig lighter location.

Also got my eBay stainless steel headers installed with the Percy's aluminum gaskets. There is a total clearance issue with my #1 plug... which I will inform the seller about. From his feedback comments, I can see that more than a couple guys have bought 67-72 Chevy truck headers from him. I'm not going to break his balls and mess with all the back and forth shipping... I'm just going to bring them to a welder and have them modified. six one, and half dozen the other.

I should have the Ignition and Coil mounted in the next couple days, so she'll be moving under her own power... Directly to the Exhaust shop and then the dump

WHAT?!? I have a truck full of construction debris from building a 800 square foot deck

[skchevota]

Looking sweet. Got to ask, did you have a surlpluss of fallout shelter signs?
The rust sucks, but take it one area at a time and it wont be to bad

[Senator350]

Originally Posted by skchevota

Looking sweet. Got to ask, did you have a surlpluss of fallout shelter signs?
The rust sucks, but take it one area at a time and it wont be to bad

To be honest, I was just cruising the webs and looking for vintage sheetmetal signs. I'm just-barely too old to go out stealing stop signs
I found these Fallout Shelter signs in MO, I think, on CL. The guy sold (incl shipping) them for 1/3 of what I expected to pay for two, so I bought six


The rust DOES SUCK. especially when it was so neatly concealed by the top dollar interior. Ah well... life gives you lemons...

At least I have a nice dash, not to be boastful

[steelhorse]

Nice start of a project.Ill be the odd man out and say I like the original grills better.

[72BlckButy]

Great start to the project, good luck with the rust issues!

[Senator350]

Originally Posted by steelhorse

Nice start of a project.Ill be the odd man out and say I like the original grills better.

Sounds sane to me! I'm actually in the market for a correct inner/outer grill.
I'll let this billit joint go for cheap if anyone on the board is interested... especially if they have stuff to trade (**hint HUMP hint**)

[Senator350]

Ignition and coil mounted.
And more than a little wiring.

Still undecided on valve covers and wire looms. Is that patina look "in" on valve covers too?

[msgross]

the chrome looks good, depends on how much you want to spend. You could pull them off, hit the with a wire wheel and get some of the duplicolor annodized paint...

[Senator350]

Originally Posted by msgross

the chrome looks good, depends on how much you want to spend. You could pull them off, hit the with a wire wheel and get some of the duplicolor annodized paint...

Anodized like 'anodized aluminum'?
I'm interested to know what that product will do.
How much do I wire wheel? just a scuff??? or take it down a mil?
I haven't ever noticed this duplicolor anodized



I have two extra sets of rusted chrome Edelbrock valve covers that could use a little TLC.

[msgross]

If you have any bad spots I bet you could hide them on the backside of the engine (ie flip the valve cover around). I used a very soft "cupcake style" wire brush on the chrome trim of a center console and it cleaned it up pretty nice.

YouTube - Duplicolor MetalCast Paint - ANODIZED...

[Senator350]

HYJACK
but it applies to my truck, so Neh.

still interested to know how much you wire-wheeled. specs of wire wheel?

[msgross]

Originally Posted by Senator350

HYJACK
but it applies to my truck, so Neh.

still interested to know how much you wire-wheeled. specs of wire wheel?

just cleaned it enough to knock the rust off of it... worth a shot, if not then just pick up some new chrome or original style covers...

The wire wheel I used was soft and hooked onto my angle grinder... might leave scratch marks but for $10 in paint and $10 for a wheel it's worth a shot.

[Senator350]

well, got her started with open headers today. have to be very careful how long i let it run... my #1 plug boot hits the header tube, so i can't let her get too warm. will take the headers off for tranny swap, and bring them to the welder with some T304 that the header's seller will hopefully provide. lord knows it will be cheaper than footing the welding bill.





The short valve covers I had stashed wound up cleaning up nicely with just some naval jelly. I didn't have a fine cup brush, but I do have a coarse one. It cleaned up my hydroboost pretty well.





anyway, used the Ebrake and pulled her onto the driveway so i could get crane and creeper access to hopefully start pulling the auto tranny this weekend. there's an interesting bunch of steel bolted on from the original 4X conversion. I'll try to take lots of pics (like anybody wants MORE pics in this thread!) to see if any of this stuff can be identified.


Got the hydroboost bracket from the welder, prepped and painted it 'enamel black'.

[Premium72]

not feeln the fall out shelter stuff every where. liked it on the fire wall. but slap'd everywhere is a bit hokey. looks like a cool truck though.

[Senator350]

Originally Posted by Premium72

not feeln the fall out shelter stuff every where. liked it on the fire wall. but slap'd everywhere is a bit hokey. looks like a cool truck though.

pure function, brother.
thanks. it's getting there

[68GMC454]

nice truck.. put the floor mats back in and you not know the rust is there..

[Senator350]

Originally Posted by 68GMC454

nice truck.. put the floor mats back in and you not know the rust is there..

until I cross a stream, etc...

[68GMC454]

yeah ive doen that, had a vw baja sink from all the holes in the floors when crossing a creek..lol..

[Senator350]

couple updates..

Firewall is painted,
PSC power steering pump is recieved,
JonesRacingProducts alt is installed,
hydroboost is painted,
Hooker supercomps are 1/2 done (VHT red+clear)
new SS brake lines are installed,
new proportioning valve is recieved,
like new '00 tahoe leather seats are recieved,

and a new addition to the shop, should make all that rust repair a little easier )