Project "Leon "

[texasld]

Stumbled across a guy at HF this past weekend, started chatting, and sure enough he is working on a 72 GMC C20 with is 15 year old son. Talked him into becoming a member of the board. (FwEwForney). He showed me a picture of his truck and he had a 71/72 grill and core support. If you remember back to my first post, I had a GMC grill and CS. Did a little trading and BAM! Now I have a CS, grill, trim, headlight and all the other goodies. Although I can't use some of it, it's a step in the right direction. Pretty clean. I'm going to take it over to my friend and let him blast and coat it for me. Should turn out nice. I just saw a picture of a CS that had the "humps" on the top cleaned up. I think I'll do the same.

Really crummy picture, but I was giddy and had to set it on the frame for a shot.

[texasld]

More garage time over the long weekend!

Got the passenger side rocker all put in. Hanging the door all by yourself is a real pain, but I got it. I dont know about everyone else's cabs, but my top edge of the door isnt quite even across the length. I'll be replacing the drip rail, I'll work on it then I suppose.

[texasld]

Getting cold here in Texas, (18 degrees this morning) My garage isn't insulated, so its chilly, but I have still been toodling.

I got my Flowmaster U-Fit kit in this week and started playing with that. Tacked my flanged to my header collectors and started trying to lay it all out. Didn't snap any pictures... story of my life.

Also drilled a hole and brazed a 3/16 inch barb into my radiator for my steam port on the LS. I have seen the Jags that run stuff, but not a big fan of those. My Radiator was about the only thing I had on my truck that was new and not in bad shape, so i'm going to reuse it. Need to clean it up and repaint it but that's easy.

Picked up a "splicer" barb from lowes for $2.79, threw it in the vice and cut about half of it off of one half. (I guess that would be 1/4...)




Then pulled out the step bit and drilled a hole in the rad. I used the shop vac on the fill neck to suck any shaving out. I cleaned up the area really well, but guess what, didn't get that picture either.



Then just applied flux and solder and heated with my propane torch and stuck it like chuck. filed down any extra solder and then shot it with some black paint for giggles.



Waalaa, a 20 minute and $2.79 since later... I have a steam port. This is the highest point I could get it in the system. I didn't want to drill and tap the thermostat housing because when I have to replace my stat i'll have to do it again.

[aggie91]

Nice work. Awsome and getting the grill and stuff in trade...

[texasld]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Nice work. Awesome and getting the grill and stuff in trade...

Thank you, Sir!

Spent some time refinishing a table this weekend, so that ate up a full day, but I did get the send lines for the fuel system in for the most part. Still need some more -an fitting... those things get pricy quickly. Fabbed a bracket and drilled and tapped some holes for some really slick aluminum line clamps I ordered from scamazon. Really happy with the way they turned out. I'll get more shots of that once i get all the lines finished. but here is a shot thus far.

[texasld]

I have been on the road all week and I am currently stuck in the Atlanta Airport, so I figured I would do a little update. I'l take a ton more pictures this weekend once I finish up a few things that I started last weekend. This is what I did get finished last weekend, though.

Got the fuel lines from the fuel tank all the way to the intake. Both send and return. Ordered some heat sleeve to cover the lines when they run over the headers. I also had some heat shields made to cover the fuel pump and help cut down on the heat on the hard to soft line connection. I'll install those this weekend.





I used 1" line clamps for the hoses when I bolted it to the back of the head. Had to drill the bolt hole in the clamp out to make the bolt fit, but It's stuck like chuck now.

[Justin@EntropyRad]

Cool fuel lines!

[KMC3420]

What filter did you use for your feed line, from what I understand, no filter is needed on the return line. I am planning on using an in tank pump as you have done with the blazer tank, nice progress. I am still up in the air on the boyd's tank or the tank you have used. Plenty of money could be saved by going your route.

[texasld]

Originally Posted by KMC3420

What filter did you use for your feed line, from what I understand, no filter is needed on the return line. I am planning on using an in tank pump as you have done with the blazer tank, nice progress. I am still up in the air on the boyd's tank or the tank you have used. Plenty of money could be saved by going your route.

I have nothing against the Boyd tank, I just don't have any experiance with them due to cost. I have heard many good things about them. You are correct, no filter for the return. I think the filter is one from a 2001 suburban from the parts store. The fittings I used 3/8 tube nuts, and they threaded right in. Haven't pressure tested it yet, but I plan on trying it out this weekend. If you are running an LS with a returnless style intake, PM me and I'll be happy to send you my Regulator/Filter and the -an fittings to go with it. I ordered it not thinking that my fuel rail is a return style. I'll give it to you for a great deal to help a fellow board member.

But I have to let you know I'm actually running an external pump. If you look forward of the center cross member, you will see the walbro pump hiding in there. Don't make fun of my rubber hose barb to bubble flared steel lines, I got lazy and cheap! I think I got my tank on sale from brothers. Don't remember the price, but I'm leaning towards $230. Even comes with sending unit. I got the top fill. I'm going with the wood bed so the filler neck will be in the bed slats. Nice and easy.... I hope.

[KMC3420]

Originally Posted by texasld

I have nothing against the Boyd tank, I just don't have any experiance with them due to cost. I have heard many good things about them. You are correct, no filter for the return. I think the filter is one from a 2001 suburban from the parts store. The fittings I used 3/8 tube nuts, and they threaded right in. Haven't pressure tested it yet, but I plan on trying it out this weekend. If you are running an LS with a returnless style intake, PM me and I'll be happy to send you my Regulator/Filter and the -an fittings to go with it. I ordered it not thinking that my fuel rail is a return style. I'll give it to you for a great deal to help a fellow board member.

But I have to let you know I'm actually running an external pump. If you look forward of the center cross member, you will see the walbro pump hiding in there. Don't make fun of my rubber hose barb to bubble flared steel lines, I got lazy and cheap! I think I got my tank on sale from brothers. Don't remember the price, but I'm leaning towards $230. Even comes with sending unit. I got the top fill. I'm going with the wood bed so the filler neck will be in the bed slats. Nice and easy.... I hope.

Mine is an 02 return style. So I appreciate the offer on the pump and filter but I can't use it either. I will look into the tank from brothers. Your setup looks good to me.

[texasld]

Originally Posted by KMC3420

Mine is an 02 return style. So I appreciate the offer on the pump and filter but I can't use it either. I will look into the tank from brothers. Your setup looks good to me.

Thanks man. If it works, I'll let you know.

[derotoreut]

I just read through your entire build thread. Nice work. I can't wait to watch the progress. Keep up the good work. Definitely subscribed!

[Vic1947]

Everything is looking great, Mike. I know how travel can put a damper on things, but you're making good progress in spite of it. Keep it up!

[texasld]

Originally Posted by derotoreut

I just read through your entire build thread. Nice work. I can't wait to watch the progress. Keep up the good work. Definitely subscribed!

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Everything is looking great, Mike. I know how travel can put a damper on things, but you're making good progress in spite of it. Keep it up!

Thank you, Gents!


More of this and that. So many things to do, I guess that's good because I get to bounce around and don't get to board on one thing. Like rust repair. I'm burnt on that for the moment. So, I got my core support back from my PC buddy. $50 turn key deal on that. I went ahead and hung it to get all my hoses straightened out and mount my rad. I'll have to pull it back off to clean it up. Does anyone have any upper rad brackets they would sell me. I need a set. (see the zip ties?)



Also mounted a universal overflow bottle. I want to relocate the battery, but I'm not sure where to put it yet.



Pulled my headers off to weld my flanges on. Only have a MIG welder, so the welds aren't super pretty, ground those down a bit and hit the ends with a high temp paint to make them all pretty. Also took care of the O2 sensors while i had the paint out.



Here is as far as I have gotten with the Exhaust. I need to order some v-band clamps so I can pull the exhaust out if I need to. I have had to cut one to many tail pipes while doing a transmission swap in my small number of days, I just don't want to hack up mine after spending time on it. It took a bit of time to figure out all the curves for the "jog" over the tranny x-member. I think it coming out nicely. I ordered the Flowmaster u-fit kit, I recommend it. It's basically a box full of bends and straight pieces that you fit together how you want... Duh, U-Fit... once I get the v-band clamps in, I'll cut the longer of the two pipes to the same lengths.



Here is the heat shield I had bent-up for my fuel pump. I used aluminum rivets for the top "holders".... BAD IDEA. I should have known. The ole steel against aluminum battle. I drilled and tapped the holes for some bolts to hold the shield in the bottom. I guess I'll do the same for the top and buy some threaded tube to protect the threads. Once I get it all sorted out, I'll pull it back of, blast and coat with high temp red paint.

[texasld]

But before my pipes got to where they are now, I (like a fool) welded the H-pipe in before I finished the rest of the build. Learn from my mistakes, weld it on after you finish.

The other problem this caused was a bit of warping of the tubes. Ended up not lining up with the headers and the tail end didn't go straight out the back, but some what wonky so I had to "adjust" them. Using a few blocks of wood and my 3 ton jack, I commenced.



Doing this, of course crushed the ends of my pipes, so, I just hacked them off and welded new ones on.... problem solved. everything lines up nicely and we are back in business.

[mcbassin]

Nice progress on the truck. Bummer about the H-pipe. I got one of those with my kit, I opted to leave it out. I'm sure it would be better with it, but I really didn't want to fight with it. Nice fix with the jack idea.

[texasld]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Nice progress on the truck. Bummer about the H-pipe. I got one of those with my kit, I opted to leave it out. I'm sure it would be better with it, but I really didn't want to fight with it. Nice fix with the jack idea.

Thanks, Mike!

I have cut up and rewelded 8 pieces so far. It's just a manley jigsaw puzzle.

[Bennett68C10]

Just read through your build, nice looking project. Love those valve covers on your LS.

[texasld]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Just read through your build, nice looking project. Love those valve covers on your LS.

Thanks, man. Trying to go with a "traditional modern" style. Saw those covers, had to have em.

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by texasld

Thanks, man. Trying to go with a "traditional modern" style. Saw those covers, had to have em.

Yeah I'm had similar thoughts for mine, I have the same ones sitting in a box right now, just they are the cast gray version. I plan on painting them along with the engine the same color as the body.

[calvin78612]

I may have some rad supports. It will be tomorrow before I can look. Working a double today.

[texasld]

Originally Posted by calvin78612

I may have some rad supports. It will be tomorrow before I can look. Working a double today.

Calvin, That would be awesome! LMK!

[calvin78612]

Mike, i sand blasted them at work this evening. I'm of fri,sat, & sunday. Let me know.

[texasld]

Got absolutely nothing done on the truck this weekend.... But I did get my new toolbox. It's definitely an upgrade from my old one. My old box was my great grandfathers at one point in time. I have a serious problem though. I was overflowing and not i have empty drawers. I need more tools!!!!







Excuse the finger prints, I was so happy to ge the thing loaded up with all my new tools I forgot to wipe it down... Oh well, just another reason for me to stay in the garage just a bit longer.

[KMC3420]

Nice toolbox. It looks like a very nice upgrade.