Project Lazarus bringing a 72 SWB K10 back to life

[Rust_phoenix]

Well it turns out the old saying measure twice cut once is words to live by, the rearend from the 03' will not work it is not a 14 bolt like i thought it was, it's an AAM 11.5 while this thing is strong as heck! it is by my measurement 2 1/4" wider between wheel mount surfaces, so i for now will use the Dana 60.

[Rust_phoenix]

The engine crossmember mount that i ordered from DIY4X4.com finally made it here. so, after initial test fitting the 8.1 sat a little too low, no problem i used the drill press and added extra holes to bring the motor up 1" i test mounted the cab to see if it it would clear, it would not until i moved the engine and trans 2" ahead without doing this the valve covers will hit. i still need to modify the center section of the crossmember as it will not clear the oilpan. i will not be able to use the stock exhaust manifolds either, so i will look for some earlier big block ones or go with headers.

[Rust_phoenix]

Over all i am very pleased so far how well everything is coming along. the allison clears the trans tunnel and the cover goes on just fine, the 8.1 fills the engine bay without doing any cutting, i am thinking about going with an electric fan, and might modify the raidiator mount to use the 03' raidator.

[Rust_phoenix]

A couple more.

[whitels1]

Great progress looks good. I ended up using a 14bolt SF from a 97, that was wider than my original 12 bolt and it is actually just about the same width as the front and has worked out well for me.

[Rust_phoenix]

Well it has been a few months since I last posted, so I figured I would share a few progress pics. first I made my own engine cross member out of some steel plate because the one I bought wasn't going to work

[Rust_phoenix]

Next I found some, I believe late seventies big block exhaust manifolds and fabricated an exhaust system, it didn't turn out exactly like I wanted but I can change it later.

[NASTY-LSX]

pretty cool build up! Looks great so far.

[Rust_phoenix]

In order to use the radiator, fan, shroud and coolers from the 2003 I needed to modify the 72 front panel with a little trimming and some angle iron, I ended up raising it 2” over stock. It fits nicely under the hood and will enable me to service everything by buying stock 2003 replacement parts. I added a 2” body lift and a rough country all spring 6” lift and got rid of the 4” lift with rear blocks, I needed to do this to get the proper clearance for the 37” tires, I reworked the wiring harness myself using info from LT1swap.com and sent my ECM off to Brendan Patten who owns that website for 75.00 he removed the EGR, Evap, and Passlock security and I had it back in less than a week.

[Rust_phoenix]

I fabricated a cable bracket to use the 03 shifter cable and bolted up the master cylinder and hydro boost unit I did replace all of the brake lines and used my flaring tool kit to adapt the new stuff to the old style, everything is basically still in the mock up stage and I will need to tear it back apart to do final paint and body work, I would rather do it this way than find out I need to modify something after paint.

[Rust_phoenix]

I did purchase a cowl induction hood and new front fenders also, they look faded because they sat outside all summer, the 03 4wd shifter fit onto the trans hump with a minimal amount of cutting, I will make a cover for the stock opening, here are a few more pics

[Rust_phoenix]

Originally Posted by NASTY-LSX

pretty cool build up! Looks great so far.

Thanks NASTY-LSX, I have a long way to go still but I keep telling myself this is a marathon not a sprint and I know it will turn out the way I have envisioned it

[Rust_phoenix]

What I will be tackling next is rebuilding the front and rear diffs and adding rear discs on the Dana 60, I will also clock the rear diff a little more to help that drastic angle it has now and I might change the front knuckles, spindles ect out to Chevy instead of the Ford stuff it has now and I am currently looking into a slip yoke elimination kit for the 261 transfer case front driveline output so I can run a normal front driveline. after that i should be able to Start up and drive Lazarus for the first time soon.

[birdistheword]

Very cool build. Keep up the great work.

[gipper]

Very nice. I am now subscribed.

[Rust_phoenix]

Did some more work this last weekend on the differentials and brakes, I pulled the front diff and rebuilt it using new bearings, seals chrome moly Yukon axles, new u-joints, rotors and pads, I also did the disc brake conversion on the dana 60 rear, its almost done except I need to fab some hard lines and hose retainers, then bleed the system, here are a few pics

[Rust_phoenix]

A couple more pics.

[Rust_phoenix]

Made significant progress over the weekend and today, I installed all the brake lines and bled the system, I also put on the new Warn locking hubs, but the biggest thing of all is I started it up for the first time!
it sounds awesome! I have a video and will try to figure out how to upload it, I only have one leak, it looks like I will need a new trans cooler, and I still need to get all of the air out of the power steering, and finish installing the seat and I will take it for a test run!

[Rust_phoenix]

Here is the video, the whine you hear is the power steering, that will go away soon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvqCl...ature=youtu.be

[notsolo]

WOW that is a serious upgrade.... Really clean, slick, skilled. Nicely Done.

[Rust_phoenix]

Originally Posted by notsolo

WOW that is a serious upgrade.... Really clean, slick, skilled. Nicely Done.

Thanks man! getting it running really has given me the energy to finish this thing and put it on the road, can't wait until this weekend gets here so I can get back to it.

[birdistheword]

Looking good. You going to have it done and bring it to the Goodguys show in Puyallup next year?

[NASTY-LSX]

looking great!!!

[Rust_phoenix]

Originally Posted by birdistheword

Looking good. You going to have it done and bring it to the Goodguys show in Puyallup next year?

That would be cool, might put that on my list, would be awesome to meet other board members as well.

[Rust_phoenix]

Originally Posted by NASTY-LSX

looking great!!!

Thanks! getting closer everyday.