72 K20 build thread, need good name

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Nice job so far looks the truck should be done before she arrives...

[special-K]

It gets confusing with the shackle length,over/under,and such sometimes.

[Rust Buster]

I took last week off and headed back to MA (where I have access to a bigger shop thanks to my brother and alot of tools I didn't have room for in the move to VA, specifically the sandblaster). I had my car loaded to the brim with parts and had the transfer case on the front seat next to me strapped in.

I got pretty much everything sandblasted and got the transfer case broken down and cleaned up, ready for the rebuild which I started this weekend but am waiting for idler shaft shims to finish.

What would you all use to paint the transfer case? Does it get hot enough to warrant engine paint, or can I get away with rust bullet or masterseries?

Hope to get the axles back on this week and the transfer case rebuilt and ready to go this weekend. Also got my disc brake brackets from ruff stuff specialties and am very impressed, they are a serious chunk of steel. They are the bent ones and do not require spacers.

[msgross]

I used engine paint but don't know that you need it....

Isn't it nice to have freshly blasted parts? like new...

[Rust Buster]

Yeah, it's great. I'm taking your advice and trying out the Masterseries stuff. I've used rust bullet and I'm going to compare them. So far the only difference I can tell is that it dries faster and has more of a matte finish then rust bullet

[msgross]

did you get the satin? i used good foam brushes from Lowes...

[Rust Buster]

It's been a long time since I've posted but I've made some good progress but had my fair share of setbacks too.

It was like Christmas in July as my new GM PP HT383 arrived and the next day the NV4500 and all the adapters needed showed up from High Impact.

I set to work painting the engine Chevy Orange with Por-15 engine paints. Well turns out the paint came from a bad batch and I had to strip it all off. Luckily TP Tools is a great company and sent me new paint free of charge and refunded my original purchase. When I called to tell them my experience, they even opened a can to paint something and they found it did the same thing, so they contacted Por-15 to let them know they had a bad batch.

So this time I sprayed the paint and it turned out great. The valved covers and intake are going to be replaced, so don't mind the overspray.

Got the engine mounted, bellhousing, and centerforce II clutch kit. Then I hoisted the tranny to get it to mate up and it wouldn't go. Turns out the input shaft is too big to fit the clutch splines. Also, the throw-out bearing doesn't even come close to fitting the shaft. Gets even better...the coupling they gave me to mount the tranny to the NP205 is 31 spline, but the output on the tranny is 32 spline and about half an inch too small. Then the other adapter they gave me is listed in the advance adapter catalog as the one needed for mating the tranny to a Dana 300 transfer case.

The tranny they gave me is labeled as a Dodge NV4500, but all the other pieces for the kit are labeled for GM NV4500. So obviously something is jacked, and I am not the least bit happy. This is after spending a good deal of time on the phone with them explaining my exact setup. The company seemed really good, and the owner was great over the phone. I'll withhold judgement until actually talking to them tomorrow, but I think they sent me the wrong transmission, and since they are on the west coast, this is not going to be an easy fix.

So it was a bad sunday.

Since I'm going with a F/I setup on this engine, I'll be posting the valve covers, water pump, intake, and flexplate that came with the HT383 for sale in the classified forums.

[msgross]

looks good, that sucks about the tranny. You have some big bucks laying around in those parts to not have them work.

[Jtrux]

That is going to be one hell of a truck when you're done. Cool.

[Rust Buster]

It's been a slow couple of weeks, and been very frustrating as I was given wrong part after wrong part for my NV4500 install behind the HT383.
First I wrestled with the tranny before I realized the input shaft was too big for the clutch splines. Then I find out the throw-out bearing is wrong. They send out replacements, and I try again. This time the splines line up, but only to find out they gave the wrong pilot bushing. So I wait another week for that...

Finally with all the right parts in hand, it all mated up. Not the easiest conversion, and taking a cutoff wheel to the rear output shaft on a brand new NV4500 is not a comfortable feeling. When all was done I then find out that they didn't even send the whole assembly that the shifter sits in on top of the tranny.

The instructions are not clear at all, and I am guessing that this is how the transfer case shift linkage extender attaches. Seems kind of loose to me, and I have to grind some of it away to fit. I know there is alot of force on it, so I want to make sure it is bullet proof. If anyone has any pointers or has done this, let me know if I have it correct (that long bolt is just holding the shifter up). Also ordered one of the greasable pivot bolt.

Also got my new Mass-Flo EFI system. I know people have mixed feelings about this system, but after researching it for a couple of years, I decided it fit best for my plans with the truck and I bit the bullet. Pics of that install to come.

Also got some Comp cams pro-magnum 1.6 roller rockers after reading a build article on the HT383. They gave a decent boost in torque throughout the RPM band. Can I just soak them in oil overnight before installing or do I need to use assembly lube?

Now time to decide what to do for valve covers. I'm not 100% happy with the options for centerbolt covers, but the Edelbrock Elites are decent. What I'd really like are the ones pictured below which I would then paint the lettering the same color as the engine. But they are very expensive and I would have to get the adapters to use them with the centerbolt heads, adding more cost...

Next up completing the rear disc brake conversion.

So much to do, so little time, and even less money...

[msgross]

more upgrades than I can handle....good luck bro! looking good though.

[Rust Buster]

Again, too much time between posts. It's been a busy month with slow and steady progress. I got the intake manifold for the Mass-Flo EFI system installed as well as my Comp Cams Pro Magnum 1:6 roller rockers. Put the Edelbrock Elite valve covers on and then painted the top ridges the same color as the engine to give some uniqueness to it. What do you think? Only problem is the grommets don't want to fit in the holes in the valve covers, but there appears to be only one size grommet available. Anyone else have that problem?

Installed the disc brake conversion from Ruff Stuff specialties and got 76-78 Caddy Eldorado calipers with the e-brake. Painted them the same as the engine too, just cause I had some paint left over.

Finally got the right parts for the transmission to be complete, so hopefully I am done there.

Rebuilt the steering gear this weekend and for those that are going to do this, it isn't bad until you need to reinstall the ball bearings and there is a specific tool you need, but a 1/2" OD copper pipe works great as a substitute.

Also started putting the front end back together but found out I'm missing one of those copper/brass? thrust washers for the spindles, so had to order them.

Then started putting the actually EFI together. Man that throttle body is a nice unit, and very solid. Doug Thorley ceramic coaters came too, so I have lots to do and not enough time to do it. I am so sick of painting everything, but I know now is the time to do it. Anyway, here's a bunch of pics.

[Rust Buster]

More...

[berencam]

awesome engine did ya have fun masking all that off, i know i did haha

[msgross]

looking good man.... need to put an old school shift knob on that stick....

which washer are you needing? Is it the plastic type spindle one? If so I have an extra that you can have.

[Rust Buster]

I was thinking the same thing, the knob they give you screams "new dump truck"
I'll have to think of something cool to put on it. The thrust washer I need is the copper/brass one, that has a chamfer. I already ordered one from quad4x4 and got seals while I was at it. Your 68 has a plastic one?

[msgross]

The Dana 44's and Corp10 have a plastic type thrust washer on the inside of the spindle. Just inside the needle bearings...

[Frizzle Fry]

That looks awesome!

[68chevy68]

Man that looks great!!!

[shopking72]

Very Nice build thread!!

I have one of those TP Tools HVLP sprayers also, I love it, works great and has painted a lot cars for guys I know around here

Nice fuel system, I'm wanting to go EFI on my truck, gonna look into Mass Flo.

[Rust Buster]

Once again, too much time between posts...

Got the front end completely back together. All new Moog front end parts, new wheel bearings, seals, etc...
I'm going to get new Warn hubs at some point, but can anyone identify the hubs that are on there now? I always thought they were just stock, but found out last weekend that they are not and there are no ID markings on them.

Picked up a used serpentine setup off a TPI camaro on ebay. The seller had sandblasted the whole thing and it arrived just like brand new, all for about $115. Also bought a powermast 140A alternator, new steering pump, and water pump. Now just need to get a new pancake A/C compressor and then guess at what size serpentine belt I need.

FuelCellGuy's tank arrived, and now I just have to permanently mount it. I guess there is really no right/wrong exact place to put it back there? I already took the rear crossmember out as it was all rusted, but have some nice heavy duty square tubing to replace it with.

Just have to finish the rear disc brake conversion, install A/C compressor, add shocks, driveshaft, and plump fuel lines, and then I can move on to some cab/body work. Almost can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I hate not having a truck to haul stuff.

[68chevy68]

Really nice work here. Your chassis looks great!!! looking forward to seeing the finished product.

[msgross]

Originally Posted by Rust Buster

I hate not having a truck to haul stuff.

I hear ya on that one!

Looking good, get a better pic of the hubs and maybe we can ID them...

[Rust Buster]

Good call, thought I had one of them straight on, but it didn't post. Let's try this...

[SactoJim]

Doin a helluva job.....gonna be a nice 4x4!