Bonnie 1971 SWB LSX

[Curtb1971]

Originally Posted by DPowell

I got to see this truck in person last night and Curt is really doing it right. Quality parts and quality workmanship. Seeing it in person and then looking back thru the pics in the thread gives you a great perspective on the amount of work that goes into one of these trucks.

Doug

Thanks Doug, it was awesome hanging out and bs'in about old chevy trucks. You got one heck of a truck yourself. It's amazing the work that goes into one of these old rigs. Hope to hang out again soon.

[Curtb1971]

So got a chance to tinker around and rebuild the AC controller while I'm waiting on more fuel line parts. I'm looking into an AC system that will use the LS style compressor and the original controller. Won't be needing the vacuum switch on the controller but cleaned it up anyways. Also made all new brake lines and transmission lines. The mastercool hydraulic flaring tool made life a lot more easier instead of cranking by hand.

[boynton]

Do you have any pictures of that tool or the lines you made with it? I'd like to see what you did and how they turned out!

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by boynton

do you have any pictures of that tool or the lines you made with it? I'd like to see what you did and how they turned out!

x2

[Curtb1971]

Pics as requested Transmission lines. I have them just hand snug. Still need to pull them out and wash the sharpie marks off then install with all the line seperators.

[Curtb1971]

MasterCool tool. It's hard to mess up a flare with this tool actually after all the mess ups with the hand flaring tool and redoing the lines again I didn't screw up once, but time will see once I put fluid in the system.

[Curtb1971]

Rear brake lines. I changed my mind about running the rear line down the passenger side like the oem and ran it down the drivers to save myself a coupling. Oh after screwing up my hand a couple of times with some cheap flare wrenches a set of snap-ons was in order. Brake lines suck to run. It's funny I'm an electrician and run/bend conduit all the time and my trash can shows (the bone yard) that brakes lines isn't just running some pipe.

[68Gold/white]

Originally Posted by Curtb1971

MasterCool tool. It's hard to mess up a flare with this tool actually after all the mess ups with the hand flaring tool and redoing the lines again I didn't screw up once, but time will see once I put fluid in the system.

I bought one of those flaring kits 4-5 years ago. Worth every penny!!!

Those old timey flaring tools were nothing but a pain, and it was a crap shoot, as to whether or not the flare you were making was going to work.

With the old flaring tools you had to make sure your line was extra long, in case you had to re-flare the dad gum thing again!!!

[Curtb1971]

Alright, got to hang out with the old man all day and it was a blast. Awhile back I picked up a oem steering wheel that is cracked up. So... I took a exacto knife and V'd out the cracks then sanded the wheel with some 320 grit. I used 3M 08116 body panel adhesive to fill in the cracks. It's getting another coat tomorrow as its too runny to one shot it. So we shall see how it turns out. On a side note I also got the bucket floor section back from the blaster. I drilled the spot welds out and separated the pieces then primed and painted the supports. I took care to not damage the upper floor section by not busting out the air hammer for later mock up of drilling the hole in the floor. Gonna play hooky and work on the truck until the snow melts here so more pics to come soon.

[Curtb1971]

More pics of the progress on the steering wheel and bucket brackets. Gonna try to fade in some chip guard in the area of the worn out grain.

[boynton]

Looking good!

[Curtb1971]

Originally Posted by boynton

Looking good!

Thanks man, just tinkering here and there. I really need to finish the fuel line and get this thing fired up but I keep pulling off that task to mess with other stuff. Like... steering wheels, visors and arm rests... At least progress is being made. I'm really digging SEM vinyl dye for the console, armrests and visors. With a little patience even saved the start sticker. A little spray glue and it was back on.

[Curtb1971]

Well, not much progress except I got the steering wheel done. Ended up not doing the chip guard for the grain, but she sure is shiny with the single stage ppg concept Painting the horn button and console emblem was a tedious job but found a testor paint that matched the factory color pretty darn close

[Foureye71]

Nice truck, not sure how I had missed this thread. How did you get vats disabled on your ecu I'm planning on ls swapping my truck in the near future and kinda want to know what I'm getting myself into.

[Curtb1971]

Originally Posted by Foureye71

Nice truck, not sure how I had missed this thread. How did you get vats disabled on your ecu I'm planning on ls swapping my truck in the near future and kinda want to know what I'm getting myself into.

Thanks man As far as the vats, I had Howell Industries build the standalone harness and program the ecu to the specs of the build. I'm kinda lost on the whole tuning thing but fingers crossed that they did a good job as I've yet to fire it up. A LS is quite the undertaking, a lot of custom fabbing, time, researching and cost. The main reason I choose a LS is when I bought the truck it was missing an engine anyway. If I had a running truck imo probably wouldn't do a swap just because why try to fix something that ain't broke, but if it's really something you want and can handle your rig being down for awhile I'd say go for it. There is plenty of great LS info here on the forum and very knowledgeable guys here to help.

[Low Elco]

Beautiful truck, Curt!

Foureye, start reading here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/f...play.php?f=206

See you in a couple of weeks! Once you go LS, you never go back!

[Foureye71]

Originally Posted by Curtb1971

Thanks man As far as the vats, I had Howell Industries build the standalone harness and program the ecu to the specs of the build. I'm kinda lost on the whole tuning thing but fingers crossed that they did a good job as I've yet to fire it up. A LS is quite the undertaking, a lot of custom fabbing, time, researching and cost. The main reason I choose a LS is when I bought the truck it was missing an engine anyway. If I had a running truck imo probably wouldn't do a swap just because why try to fix something that ain't broke, but if it's really something you want and can handle your rig being down for awhile I'd say go for it. There is plenty of great LS info here on the forum and very knowledgeable guys here to help.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Beautiful truck, Curt!

Foureye, start reading here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/f...play.php?f=206

See you in a couple of weeks! Once you go LS, you never go back!

Thanks for the info Curt, I'll probably go with a stand alone from Howell they're one of the few that no ones really had any complaints from. Going ls because my 327 is nearing the end and a rebuild would run me as much or more than a swap.

Thanks for the link elco, that section is loaded with info.

[4x4chase]

Another CO build. I'll be watching. Mines just as slow.

[Curtb1971]

Alright, been awhile so here's an update. I finally got the GM transmission die for the master cool flaring tool and flare the quick connect's for the tranny lines and installed.
Also had a screw up with the left rear wheel cylinder. Torqued the flare nut too much and broke the nut threads clean off in the wheel cylinder. Tried extracting it but no dice so installed another wheel cylinder and formed another brake line.
I have all the parts to start the fuel line. So formed the GM fuel line connector in some 3/8" stainless with the mastercool tool and mounted the pressure regulator. I'll try and get a parts list of what I'm using when I start tackling this next for future LS swappers.

[Curtb1971]

Start of fuel line. On the fuel filter/regulator I had to slightly bend the 3/8" inlet so both fitting's would clear. This was recommended by other members for getting the fittings to not interfere with each other. The 5/16" fitting on the regulator has a diaphragm on the inside and it was recommended to leave that one be. Mounted it foward of the rear cross member because I want some flexibility in the hoses in case down the road it needs a c-notch.

[Curtb1971]

Alright, finally got the fuel lines done on this mutt. The last of the pain in the but plumbing is done Fingers crossed that nothing leak's Now on to buttoning up radiator hoses and front brakes.

[Curtb1971]

More fueline pics

[Hart_Rod]

Looks good!

[Advanced Design]

Very nice build!

[Curtb1971]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Looks good!

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Very nice build!

Thanks guys! After a struggle with the front brakes last Friday, I got the rest of the radiator and steam hoses fitted for the entropy radiator. I have a pile of radiator hoses to return but found some that will do the job. (Pic of napa part numbers for reference) The brake rotors I got had the wrong outter bearing races pressed and the castle nut was going too far in for the cotter pin to do anything. It was a fluke and I'll try again this weekend with another set of rotors. Chuggin along when I can on this old mutt and getting anxious to turn the key!