1969 Chevy Stepside Restoration/Build up

[68GMCCustom]

So are you going to monitor only one side?

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

So are you going to monitor only one side?

Yes typically from what I've heard Cylinder #7 (band 1, drivers side) is famously the leanest cylinder so that's why I'm only monitoring that side. It's not necessary to monitor both. The factory O2's do that.

[68GMCCustom]

Sure, I was just curious as to why it would be there instead of in the y-pipe. In my situtation...I need to know what both sides are doing. I'd love to add FAST's (or was it Innovate?) newest 4 channel system.....allowing a/f readings on every cylinder (w/8-02 sensors) with just 2 boxes linked together... and I think maybe even set alarms for specific parimeters on each channel?

[RCbowtie69]

sweet!!!

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by RCbowtie69

sweet!!!

Thanks

[RCbowtie69]

sounds great, u have came a long way with this build & keep up the hard work. The truck has turn out really nice, keep on truckin''

[matthew20061]

Well I got bored tonight and I was icing to do something with my truck. Originally earlier in my build I used CPP 2" front drop springs, the problem with them is they didn't really seem to lower my truck at all what so ever it was the exact same height basically as stock. So I still had the stock spring so I cut a coil off of them, sand blasted and painted them and these where the results. (Note I need to take out some homemade rear spring spacers on my rear 3" drop springs)



Original spring cut and installed.

The CPP Springs sitting next to the cut off parts of the original front springs.



BEFORE:


AFTER:

It's hard to see in the pictures but the truck is probably sitting about 3-4 inchs lower in the front, next I'm planning to add sway bars and drop out my lift blocks I added to the rear to level the truck with the too high front springs and the drop springs in the rear.

Front Fender to ground, 30-30.25 inchs


Rear Fender to ground, 32.25 inchs


I'm very happy with the results, tomorrow I'll get the rear lowered back down and install the CPP adjustable trac bar I've been meaning to install for ever. By the way, started the truck up today after it had been sitting for a long time outside and it fired right up and sounded awesome!

[67chevylongbed]

Looks great!

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by 67chevylongbed

Looks great!

Thanks!

[matthew20061]

I continued on with the lowering project late into the night last night! Pulled out the lift blocks I had made and dropped down the back end, wow what a difference in the way the truck looks, just amazing! I also managed to finally remove the seized in trac bar/panhard bar, the bolt where it connects to the frame was fuzzed to the bar so I had to cut the bolt out of there with a sawzall what a pain.

[Sonicman]

Just finished reading your entire thread in one sitting. Man I'm inspired. I want to put a LS engine in my 69 but I know absolutely nothing about computer controlled engines or wire harnesses. Is it as complicated as it looks? Sharp truck bud!

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by Sonicman

Just finished reading your entire thread in one sitting. Man I'm inspired. I want to put a LS engine in my 69 but I know absolutely nothing about computer controlled engines or wire harnesses. Is it as complicated as it looks? Sharp truck bud!

Thanks I'm glad your inspired it definitely takes some inspiration to do one of these trucks! As far as the LS motor swap its not really too hard, when I started I didn't know a ton about the computers but there is a ton of information to be found here that's how I did it basically. If you buy a pre-made custom wiring harness for the engine it will come with basic battery connections, ignition hot wire and starter wire so its a simple 3 wire hook up as they call it which makes it much easier. Depending on what LS engine you go with you will have to have the computer reprogrammed to delete the emissions, and VATS security system otherwise the engine will not run. Another thing to watch for is Cable vs Electric Throttle. So overall not as complicated as it looks but not as simple as a Carb'd 350.

[matthew20061]

Well when I restored my truck I bought a 2/4 spring drop kit from CPP, anyways I'm not sure if since I have a aluminum headed LSX motor that its much lighter than a SBC 350 or what but the front of my truck with the 2 inch front drop springs sat way too high while the rear was nice and low. This was an issue so at the time I just jammed some lift blocks under the rear springs to bring it back up. I finally decided fixed it!!!

So I found my original front springs, and cut off a loop, sand blasted and painted them and removed the lift blocks in the rear, and installed the adjustable CPP panhard bar. This is a before shot:


This is how it turned out after I cut the front springs and installed the rear CPP springs without the spacers:




Keep in mind the front tires are smaller but from the top of the wheel well to the ground its 30.25 in the front and 30.75 in the rear.

Some teaser engine pics, I absolutely can't wait for the month of May to come around so I can take the truck for a drive with the new motor!

[68GMCCustom]

Lookin' great and I really like those GMPP LSX valve covers!

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

Lookin' great and I really like those GMPP LSX valve covers!

Thanks, I really like those valve covers as well! I think they really set off the engine, looks so much cleaner than with the engine covers I had on the 5.3L.

[killer71]

Nice, clean build up! Good work!

[whiteyandreddy]

Matt, Nice work. I just finished reviewing your build thread. I can't believe how much you get done in such a short amount of time. You're very talented. Thanks for posting your build.

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by whiteyandreddy

Matt, Nice work. I just finished reviewing your build thread. I can't believe how much you get done in such a short amount of time. You're very talented. Thanks for posting your build.

Thanks for commenting haven't posted any updates on the project for awhile! I've got a nice heavy duty sway bar added to the front now and I did some repaint work to the passenger side door to make the truck even nicer!

[whiteyandreddy]

Good work. May I ask if you have any photos or information on the bed cross sills on the frame? I need a blueprint of which cross sill goes where for a short bed stepside. I am not sure I have the right ones in terms of length or height as I never had the original bed sills. My truck had a piece of plywood in it and I have since collected different sills of different heights. Thanks.

[spike38]

I've always enjoyed your build. And would like
to see some shots of the sway bar. If you have any pics?

Spike

[68GMCCustom]

definitely traction limited...which is costing your ET. Are you driving thru the water box or going around? I always go around with anything but slicks. I would also recommend a bit longer burnout to heat those tires up a bit more. Otherwise...get your tune right...control the traction issues and you should be deep into the 12's....and as said before.....If I ever get my trans leak/puking problems resolved so I can get mine to the track....'ll be gunning for you! I'm sure I'll have traction issues too until I get some drag radials for the back.

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

definitely traction limited...which is costing your ET. Are you driving thru the water box or going around? I always go around with anything but slicks. I would also recommend a bit longer burnout to heat those tires up a bit more. Otherwise...get your tune right...control the traction issues and you should be deep into the 12's....and as said before.....If I ever get my trans leak/puking problems resolved so I can get mine to the track....'ll be gunning for you! I'm sure I'll have traction issues too until I get some drag radials for the back.

Well the only time I've been able to run it yet the track had no prep and they didn't have the water box going. So I just spun the tires a bit to get off any dirt. The second time around I didn't spin them at all and it seemed like I got more traction. I definitely need to get it tuned because its running really rich. I can't wait to see how your truck runs in comparison to mine! I'm sure I'll get there with it eventually.

[Hoot71Burb]

Do you still have the coil covers for the 5.3l? If so, would you sell them complete with hardware? Nice build! I am building a 69 4x4 with ls1. Taking me a long time as I am not nearly as talented as you!

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by Hoot71Burb

Do you still have the coil covers for the 5.3l? If so, would you sell them complete with hardware? Nice build! I am building a 69 4x4 with ls1. Taking me a long time as I am not nearly as talented as you!

I still have them but I was going to keep them for my next build which is a 1957 Chevy Bel Air with a 6.0L swap, after I figure out how to motors going to be setup in a couple months they might be up for sale if you would like I can let you know if I do get rid of them.

[ll____b0t____ll]

Very respectable truck!
All you need to do is cut them whipper blades from double to single blades and it will run 9's lol.
I kid but yeah nice.