Project -underfunded - '68 shortstep/carb'd LSx/200-4r build

[68GMCCustom]

more progress........amongst other things..I put it on the ground to check the stance and it looks great and is even level from side to side I think.

rear wheel cylinders, front 1.25" sway bar, steering gear box (rack and pinion on hold until later date), front suspension and steering bolts torqued, lubed the new front ball joints and LCA's. Thats all I can think of But I'm sure there was more.

pics to follow tomorrow...for now I'm tired and taking a shower then hitting the sack!

[68GMCCustom]

front sway bar mounted:




fuel tank hole needs to be patched:



cleaning up the firewall (should have been done before moving the cab...but you take help when you can get it)




oh...and its on the ground:





and how its sits:
front crossmember at roughly 8.50"


cab height just under 12"



oh...and here's a better shot of the CPP panhard bar mount:

[68GMCCustom]

budget got another small shot in the arm...getting ready to order pushrods, headers, exhaust, driveshaft, plumbing, etc.
Going to try to finish before thanksgiving...we'll see!

[85burb]

Good to here. Hope to see running video sooon... What size pushrods does your enging come with factory?

[kvn1011]

nice build!
nice truck!!
subscribed!!!

[STOCKISH]

Great work buddy! Keep it up.

[68GMCCustom]

thanks guys!

Whose everyone using for driveshafts? Denny's? Inland Empire? I need to have one built for roughly 500-600hp...and don't want to break the bank, but don't want it to take forever either.

I'll spring for the super double throwdown "bling" driveshaft when I'm making 1000hp.

[68GMCCustom]

Been busy as heck with personal life....but did manage some progress!
I ordered the 7.375" chrome moly pushrods today from Trend and the ceramic coated Dynatech 1 7/8" primary 3" outlet LT headers (for a 2nd gen LSx f-body) from Speedway.

Over the weekend I managed to get the column to steering box link painted and installed, as well as the CPP power booster/master cylinder/prop. valve combo. Seems to hang down though...instead of being more level. I also painted the valve covers and cleaned up the firewall. I'll try to get pics tomorrow.

[85burb]

Those look great!

[68GMCCustom]

Thanks! Got the word they are already on thw way, as are the p-rods. I need to order a drive shaft now....who's got the best for the least?

[68GMCCustom]

Headers are here and I must say....they are nice! Can't wait to try them on...hopefully they'll fit w/o grinding half the frame away.

[68GMCCustom]

Headers are in....and they fit! Barely...but they fit w/o cutting or grinding and look great. I wish maybe they were about 3" higher off the ground...but they don't hang down past the oil pan/front control arms.

just out of the box:


installed:
















hardware included...even 02 plugs.


am I happy with them? Heck ya! Another thing went well today....got my pushrods in. So I'll be buttoning up the motor best I can this weekend.

Still need to order the driveshaft and some 2.5" exhaust pipe (a buddy gave me some turbo mufflers). Also need to sort out the plumbing and wiring...but its getting closer to running!

[VA72C10]

very nice! And like you said, they don't hang down lower than the oil pan so they're good to go!

[71cadc10]

those do look to fit great! Is the 2nd gen Fbody supposed to be the best fit, vs say 1st gen Fbody or Nova ones?
That's a great price too for coated 1 7/8 tubes

[68GMCCustom]

Thanks! Not sure on the 1st gen f-body headers...but I have heard they work. I'd had a set of 2nd gen sbc headers that fit OK...so I felt safer ordering those.

[propanemudtruck]

Read the entire thread today, it's definitely an interesting build! Look forward to hearing this beast come alive for sure!

I couldn't belive the truck was coming apart in the before pictures!

[85burb]

Those look great. hope mine fit that well.

[68GMCCustom]

more updates....


got my pushrods out....



put them in...



and installed the coil packs (after installing valve covers)






did something to my back (again) today...hope I can keep on schedule for a fire up before months end! still need to order more dang parts....I can only imagine the list if I was doing a 100% rebuild.

[85burb]

Them valve covers really look great. Everything looks great. So does it matter what order you tighten down the rockers on these motors sence the are nonadjustable any way or do you need to still follow the right order.

[68GMCCustom]

Thanks!
not sure....went from the middle out just for the heck of it, trying to make sure the bar underneath the arms didn't bind or something...otherwise just tighten them down to 22ft lbs.

[68GMCCustom]

also.....I will be upgrading the valve covers when I move the coil packs behind the heads...so what you see now is temporary.

[85burb]

I will also be moving my coils after a while. My boss at work is putting them on his inner fender i think. But that is on a el camino. Would make for long plug wires on our trucks.

[68GMCCustom]

there are adapter that mount to the back of the heads...4 on each head bracket.

[85burb]

Who sells them. Have seen them at mast but they changed the site up and now i cant find anything.

[68GMCCustom]

Mast has a complete kit with MSD wires but its a bit spendy.
I've been thinking of going with these:





http://www.automotivedesigneng.com/p...coil_pack.html