1969 Chevy Stepside Restoration/Build up

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by killer71

nice progress!

Thanks!

Today I bought new rubber engine mounts and sandblasted the adapter plates. Then I painted the adapter plates and bolted the mounts on. I also modified the frame to fit the header on the passenger side. Then I lifted it back into the truck again and bolted it in (took a bit of persuading) but it bolted in. Now it's time to make a trans cross member.

[matthew20061]

I mounted up the customized 72 gas pedal and drilled a new hole though the firewall to install the cable. Then installed the cable and connected it up to the gas pedal. It just so happens that the s-10 cable was the same length and just fit right in. Now I can press the pedal to the floor and the engine opens up all the way, let off and it goes back to idle, this just amazed me that I didn't have to do any modifications to the setup.

[matthew20061]

Well got back to working on the truck today, and installed/converted the front end to the disc brakes. I pulled all the crappy old drum stuff off, and cleaned the spindles up. Then bolted on the caliper mounting bracket, packed the bearings with grease and installed the hub/rotor assembly. Being that I haven't bought any rims yet I had to find something that would fit just temporarily so I can roll it around. The fix was some random 90's camaro rims that I randomly had. They have a lot of backspace so but they just barely clear enough to roll it around. Another interesting thing was that the front end had some lose spots in it. I thought that the driver side lower ball joint and outer tie rod end was bad but... Turns out they were fine just that someone never tightened the nuts whatsoever. They weren't even finger tight, after removing the cotter pins and tightening the nuts up there's not a bit of play in the steering at all. In fact it looks as if someone else changed the upper ball joints and many other parts in the front end as well. Greased all the grease points up and the front end is basically done. Here's some pictures:

[matthew20061]

Here's some updates of what I've been doing over the last couple weeks.

The wiring harness for the engine turned out to be too short so we decided to lengthen it about 2 feet.....
Since there was no way that I could possibly do this I called up akman360 and convinced him to do it.






What a lot of wires!

Last wire!!

Done....Time too put on a plastic split loom.

[matthew20061]

Built a new transmission crossmember, sandblasted, painted it, and installed it!