1971 Stepside LS Build

[1971Stepside]

Finally some color! Are they cutting and buffing too?

Yes, it will be started today. Probably take the frame back out next week to begin assembly

[TA_C10]

[Custom 68]

Perfect color Shannon! I bet you are grinning from ear to ear.
Dave

[1971Stepside]

Continuing to work on the exhaust. I have very little clearance between the H-pipe and the trans cross member. I am not sure if this will present a problem. According to Holley the system should be rigid all the way to the headers and not use the flex pipe. The hangers allow for flex.

[TA_C10]

Hey man, I have that same clearance in a couple spots and no issues hitting. My exhaust is using rubber isolators similar to yours. So that isn't rigid mounting. If you used the flex's at headers, then rigid mounting would be hanging the exhaust directly to the frame with no isolators. Right?

Anyway, you should be ok. If you grab the exhaust and rock it back and forth, does it touch? (put a rag in between that fresh paint first ) I think my clearance is 3/16" in one spot. And I have drove it around the neighborhood a lot, and took it down a backroad a couple times giving her h3!! and no rubbing when I got back and looked.

.

[1971Stepside]

If you grab the exhaust and rock it back and forth, does it touch?

It doesn't move at all. Thanks for confirming.

[cornerstone]

Same here. My exhaust system is that close to the frame and cross members in a few places. The only way the system can move is at the rubber in the hangers, to allow for heat expansion. You may want to keep an eye on it though since you have a nice paint job on your chassis, but I imagine the heat will have dissipated enough by the time it gets to the trans cross member. You're going to have a one of a kind special truck in the near future...

[derotoreut]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

Continuing to work on the exhaust. I have very little clearance between the H-pipe and the trans cross member. I am not sure if this will present a problem. According to Holley the system should be rigid all the way to the headers and not use the flex pipe. The hangers allow for flex.

Yes the system should be rigid and not include flex pipe. I questioned Holley on this in the following thread. They explained it quite well. Keep up the good work and forge on man.
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=790866

[1971Stepside]

Wrapped up the exhaust this weekend. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I had to wire everything back up and put my temp hydroboost holder back on so I could fire it up and listen to it.

[TA_C10]

That exhaust looks great man. The frame is just killer. You will have to keep us updated on those slip style clamps. I cannot speak with experience but I have read everywhere they don't hold over time. But I take that with a grain of salt cuz it's all coming from the internet

I see how the exhaust appears to have shifted to the left on you both sides, it's close to frame up by LH bank header, and also close at the pass-thru on RH side cross member. But looks like there is plenty of room though. Exhaust moves SO MUCH when final welding everything, I learned this the hard way and had to cut and reweld a couple places.... It's still too close for comfort over my trans cross member...

Love it man, can't wait to see it with the body on.

.

[MDPotter]

That is one clean chassis. How was the sound? What I don't like about my black widows is the have the "clapping" sound (for lack of better term) at certain RPM's and throttle.

[1971Stepside]

That exhaust looks great man. The frame is just killer. You will have to keep us updated on those slip style clamps. I cannot speak with experience but I have read everywhere they don't hold over time. But I take that with a grain of salt cuz it's all coming from the internet

I see how the exhaust appears to have shifted to the left on you both sides, it's close to frame up by LH bank header, and also close at the pass-thru on RH side cross member. But looks like there is plenty of room though. Exhaust moves SO MUCH when final welding everything, I learned this the hard way and had to cut and reweld a couple places.... It's still too close for comfort over my trans cross member...

I have read that too. If they do then we will have to get it all TIG welded up. I plan to add cutouts at some point, so that may be the time to do it. The pictures do make some spots look closer than what they are. I spent a lot of time adjusting and getting it as much clearance as I could at all points.

[1971Stepside]

That is one clean chassis. How was the sound? What I don't like about my black widows is the have the "clapping" sound (for lack of better term) at certain RPM's and throttle.

They have a throaty sound similar to a new Camaro, but probably not as loud. It a little hard to tell until I get the body back on because with it just being a frame you hear the engine sound much more than you will.

[1971Stepside]

Cut and polish continues. Hope to start assembly next week on the cab, doors, and fenders.

[TA_C10]

Wow man, that paint is gonna be awesome.

[1971Stepside]

The day finally came where the frame goes back to the shop to meet up with the body. I rolled it out in the driveway and waited for the trailer to show up.
Who knows if they will get it back on the frame when they said, but it feels like progress. Hopefully, it will be home this weekend.

[IronCanine]

It is real progress. Great build. Can't wait to see them married.

[KMC3420]

Your detailed planning and execution is coming together nicely. Excellent progress IMO.

[MDPotter]

One of these days very soon we're going to get an update and it's going to be a picture of body on frame and it's going to be huge! It's really a one-off truck.

[71cadc10]

love the build....looks great. I was looking at your pics and realized we have very similar tastes on color and wheels LOL.

mine is 04-06 GTO Quicksilver metallic, with antique white lower. looks like the same silver you went with. Your chassis and build are on another level!!

[1971Stepside]

It is real progress. Great build. Can't wait to see them married.

Thank you! I can't either...

Your detailed planning and execution is coming together nicely. Excellent progress IMO

I never dreamed it would take from April 3rd until now to get this far, so my planning is very different from my buddies shop. I don't complain to him at all since I am getting a 20k plus paint job for a very discounted rate.

One of these days very soon we're going to get an update and it's going to be a picture of body on frame and it's going to be huge! It's really a one-off truck

LOL, right? I hope you get to see it Monday, but I'm being optimistic

love the build....looks great. I was looking at your pics and realized we have very similar tastes on color and wheels LOL.

mine is 04-06 GTO Quicksilver metallic, with antique white lower. looks like the same silver you went with. Your chassis and build are on another level!!

You have a great looking project going as well. I like the two tone and I'm glad to see the wheels work with the silver. Mine is a Chrysler color from the Dodge Hellcat called Triple Nickel. It looks close to yours for sure.

[Custom 68]

Wahoo.. You are moving forward for sure. These fine details do take some time.
You will certainly enjoy it!
Dave

[71cadc10]

Ah cool....I was skimming thru and saw you were looking at GM truck silver of some type. The triple nickel Dodge color will look killer

I saw you discussing the Precision push on door seals...I just put the driver side on. Seems to be 1-2" short on overall length, and you gotta slam it firm due to the pressure. Maybe my door openings got too big LOL?
I took a pic of the package tag, I think these are the '2nd' design but don't recall when I bought them.
curious your experience with them when installed.
I have a set of glue on soft-seal, might try that on the passenger side

[TA_C10]

[cornerstone]

It's a long time a comin' man!! I bet you're dreaming about driving that bad boy every night.