Introductions and 1970 C10 Project

[Hatzman]

Hello everyone! Although I have been a registered member for quit some time now, I have been pretty dormant on this site... I was working on my 1970 RS Camaro and find that when I am working on more than one project at a time I lose track of things...

That all stops now. Along with the 1970 Camaro, I am the proud owner of a 1970 C10 short bed. This truck was pretty unmolested when I found it several years ago, but was a long bed. I found a shortbed frame and transferred everything over, and rebuilt a shortbed from scratch. (Thanks LMC) it was my daily driver until a few weeks ago when I started to take it apart. Unfortunetly, the guy who did most of the work lost much of the original hardware and replaced it with garbage... So when I started taking it apart just recently It was quit a shocker.

So my quick paint job has now turned into a full restoration and an LS conversion.

I just purchased a 2004 LQ9 motor and a 4L65E transmission. When done with this motor ( some reprogramming ) it will be a nice beefy motor to play with on the streets.

I'm in the garage every night pulling this truck apart and trying to figure things out, so bare with me with the stupid questions.

Before pic soon to follow!

[hugger6933]

Welcome although you've been here almost as long as I have. There are no stupid questions ,if you don't know how else do we learn ? Going on without the learning, that is the stupid part[in my opinion]I try to learn as much as I can about anything I can every day. Jim

[Sklptrljay]

Looking forward to seeing pics.

[Kerry P]

Your story has a familiar ring. I have an LQ9 for my ’68 Camaro. I was planning a 5.3 for my ’70 GMC but I have a fresh L31 on a stand that will put it on the road much sooner.

[Hatzman]

My 1970 Camaro is an all original car, so unfortunately I have to keep it as such... The C10 was going to be an everyday driver with a new paint job... But my neurotic, OCD personality took over and it has to be done right and from scratch...

Since I swapped out the frame on my truck I figured custom bad a$$ truck is in order.

[Ol Blue K20]

Waiting on the pics of your truck but a couple camaro shots would be cool and ask away

[BugzC10]

truck
truck
Camero

Welcome aboard!

[Hatzman]

Alright folks... So my hard drive crashed and the bad news is I lost every single photo I ever had (including family pics) The good news is my buddy is a computer forensic guru and took the HD to recover everything. In the mean time, here are a few current photos of my progress...

The LQ9 motor and 4L65E transmission as I received them from Subway truck Parts in Sacramento. (Thanks Dave!)





And the Cab as it sits right now...





First day of disassembly...













Stock A/C unit...



I will have some photos of what the truck looked like when I first got it as a long bed, then how it was transformed into a short bed and in between then and now...

[BugzC10]

Looks like you have some solid bones to work with
After you buddy recovers your hard drive pictures and data, put it all on a portable hard drive. That way when and if your computer crashes all of your data is safe. You just have to make sure when you save something that it is saved to the portable HD not the computers main drive. I learned the hard way also, so I save all important stuff on a portable drive. They are not expensive, however great insurance.

[mcmlxix]

That looks like the 4WD version of the 4L65e...

[Hatzman]

So parts have been ordered, and I am onto my next step!

Fuel delivery system...

I already have the rear mount gas tank and that's in place in the 1970 C10.

My plan is to purchase the Aeromotive A1000 fuel pump (researching if it can be mounted inside the tank), and I'm up in the air about regulators.

What's your fuel system made up of and how well do you like it?

mcmlxix (Rich), yes, it is the 4wd version, I am having it converted to the 2wd version. It was an easy swap.

[Hatzman]

Some progress photos. Spent most of Saturday welding up what I don't need anymore.









(My buddy got in the way here...)

[country29]

go check out truckstv.com and check out the 71 c10 build they did with a lq4 6.0 and 4l80e. they used a 67-72 suburban tank and a fuel pump for a 2002 6.0 Silverado, used the factory level sensor for the 71 and made a hole and retaining ring for the intank pump, pretty slick. im looking at buying a 70 c10 from my cousin and doing a 5.3 or 6.0 and 4l60e conversion.

[engineer_gregh]

Looks like you replaced the POA valve with a high/low pressure switch on the A/C. i would rotate that counter clock wise to keep the hood from mashing down the wires. I did the same thing and had to figure that out the hard way:-)

[Hatzman]

Originally Posted by engineer_gregh

Looks like you replaced the POA valve with a high/low pressure switch on the A/C. i would rotate that counter clock wise to keep the hood from mashing down the wires. I did the same thing and had to figure that out the hard way:-)

Thats all a thing of the past. Original A/C systems is going to be replaced by VA system.

[Hatzman]

And the first shipment has arrived...

The goodies...


Dough Thorley Headers


New and improved CPP Perch
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/DSC00629.jpg

Motor mounts (included with the perches)


CPP's version of the Dingo mounts. (they work great)

[Hatzman]

And a quick mock up of the LQ9 in the truck...

This photo is with the perches bolted in the stock forward position. It sat way forward and looked horrible. Nothing seemed to lineup.


This photo is with the perches bolted into the second set of holes to the rear of the stock position. I will have to drill holes on the cross member, but it fits like a charm. Huge difference in the clearance for the AC compressor.



So my question now, is... Has anyone NOT moved the AC compressor from the stock location and do you have issues accessing the compressor? It would save me lots of time and money if I did not have to move it, but don't want to leave it stock if I will have issues later.

[Hatzman]

Originally Posted by country29

go check out truckstv.com and check out the 71 c10 build they did with a lq4 6.0 and 4l80e. they used a 67-72 suburban tank and a fuel pump for a 2002 6.0 Silverado, used the factory level sensor for the 71 and made a hole and retaining ring for the intank pump, pretty slick. im looking at buying a 70 c10 from my cousin and doing a 5.3 or 6.0 and 4l60e conversion.

Country29, thanks for the info on truckTV... I did not know I was going to need to notch the crossmember. I will be doing that over the next few days so I can try and keep on my schedule and get the truck to sandblasting on Monday...

[elf w/capital T]

happen to have a part number for the perches? i cannot find those on their site and i want em!

[Hatzman]

Hey folks...

I have been MIA for quit some time. Life got busy; wife, kids etc...

But I am back, and my truck is well on its way. Just a quick update... I built a new bed to replace the long bed, when i got the shortbed back from the body shop I dropped it when I removed it to install a new gas tank from Ricks. So i had to start all over again and build a shortbed from scratch. (Thanks Hagerty Insurance!) I have had no experience with LS tech so I have been winging it as I go along.

Engine tranny is in, front of the motor is 98% done, interior has been prepped with Noico sheets (dynomatt but less expensive), wiring harness was custom made by Speartech and ready for install.

The body and frame were powder coated and the body then painted Tawney Gold (I know, Mopar color on a Chevy, Blasphemy!)

I’ll be posting more photos as soon as I get google photos up. I guess photo-bucket isn’t free anymore!

Any and all feedback is welcomed!

[yuccales]

Color of that motor looks great. Can't wait to see the truck color better. That was a bummer about the bed, but you know that saying about stuff happens. Do keep the pics coming.

[Hatzman]

Hello folks, it's been a long long time since I have done any updates. I am going to inundate you with photos and progress as I am closing in on the end game here.

Here are some pics when I received the frame back from powder coating and added all the grade 8 nuts and bolts. I had it powder coated 90% gloss. At the time I thought it would be easier to clean, which it is, but looks like it scratches easily. The last one is a before the powder coating and after the metal work.

[Hatzman]

Here are some before photos of truck, cab and bed...

[Hatzman]

And the after pics of the Truck...

[Hatzman]

Some wiring and misc. photos... (for the life of me, can't figure out how to post a photo with text between each one...)
After I mounted the Mega Bus panel and installed the headers I realized I was going to have heat issues and the Mega bus panel was too close... I removed it and moved it to the front of the truck... (pics tomorrow) The little tiny photo at the bottom of the post is inside the cab behind the passenger seat... I made a bracket, had it powder coated and it looks like it belongs there. I mounted my PCM, TAC module, fuel relay and fuses on that thing.