72 K30 Build

[BLAZERMAN]

Been following your project for awhile now, it's really starting to take shape! Are you going to run your engine in the original 4x4 position or move it up to the 2 wheel drive position? I'll be starting a similar project soon with my C/30, been gathering parts for several years and have about everything I need now.

[7dee2]

Thanks Blazerman, thinking the forward 2wd position to make a big block install go easier.

[7dee2]

Doh! The rear eye bushings are wrong on the front springs. Found we need the aftermarket spring bushings. They will work for we need right now good news is the frame bracket bushings are perfect. Still need to weld up some holes and then drill for the lower flange mount to finalize the mockup.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work on the frame! It's really coming along nicely!

[DWilbur]

Looking good keep up the work. I think it took me about a year to get it back on the wheels.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

As far as I know, the only difference between the 10-20-30 series engine crossmembers is the height to match the different frames - if it fits, I'd say run it! Installing original style power steering brackets with the later cross members is difficult at best.

Power steering pump fitment did cross my mind from your build Jim. Running this style K20 cross member does simplify things. The only con for me is the motor mount style. IMO the clam shell motor mount is a far better design but I’m hoping with better heavy duty poly mounts that we won’t have any lifting problems later.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice work on the frame! It's really coming along nicely!

Originally Posted by DWilbur

Looking good keep up the work. I think it took me about a year to get it back on the wheels.

Thanks you guys!

So I borrowed an early style motor mount from a friend who only had one. A block of wood was subbed for the other side this is some high tech stuff here! With the K35 trans mount just set inside the frame rails and no TC mounts we got pretty close to carb level just messing around. Left exhaust manifold is touching the cross member but I think the new poly mounts are thicker.

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Power steering pump fitment did cross my mind from your build Jim. Running this style K20 cross member does simplify things. The only con for me is the motor mount style. IMO the clam shell motor mount is a far better design but I’m hoping with better heavy duty poly mounts that we won’t have any lifting problems later.

The poly mounts are built with travel limiters in them, so they don't have the same lift/breakage issue as the old style ones. That's a good call! I actually hate the clamshells, the short/wide style is my preference when I can use them.

Do you have SBC or BBC motor mount stands?

[Dieselwrencher]

If the poly mount isn't tall enough, you could always shim the engine up if you had to to clear the cross member.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

The poly mounts are built with travel limiters in them, so they don't have the same lift/breakage issue as the old style ones. That's a good call! I actually hate the clamshells, the short/wide style is my preference when I can use them.

Do you have SBC or BBC motor mount stands?

That's what I keep hearing on these newer design early style mounts so they should be OK for what we'll need.

Both the 73 K5 and the 84 K35 stands we have are for a small block, the motor mount take 3 bolts to mount to the stands not 4 like the big block version. I'm thinking ours are the short/wide you describe and have noticed that our later K35 version does seem to be a little heavier duty with extra mounting provisions to the frame and cross member but are still pretty much the same overall dimensions.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

If the poly mount isn't tall enough, you could always shim the engine up if you had to to clear the cross member.

Good suggestion DW! I’ve had to use spacers before and that works really well when you just need a little more room/height, pretty sure that GM did the same on some applications.


While waiting for the new motor mounts to show up we’ll get the crossmember mounted and start to figure out how we will mount the sway bar. Really want to run the original front cross member if possible and these later sway mounts are not helping that goal as much as I’d like. So, so close but no cigar!

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

While waiting for the new motor mounts to show up we’ll get the crossmember mounted and start to figure out how we will mount the sway bar. Really want to run the original front cross member if possible and these later sway mounts are not helping that goal as much as I’d like. So, so close but no cigar!

You know I was never really happy with the way I got that to fit on my truck. What about something like was done here?
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=140216
Food for thought

[7dee2]

Great minds do think alike Jim, I saw that thread and thought wow! Here’s another one closer to what we'll end up with http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=4935792 . Forum member snj8198 did a great job so all credit for this design goes to him. We lucked into some scrap 2x4 tubing a buddy had laying around and it was just perfect.

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Great minds do think alike Jim, I saw that thread and thought wow! Here’s another one closer to what we'll end up with http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=4935792 . Forum member snj8198 did a great job so all credit for this design goes to him. We lucked into some scrap 2x4 tubing a buddy had laying around and it was just perfect.

Hey, I've got some of that 2x4 tubing laying around ... maybe I should get a wild hair and put some sway bar mounts on my K10???



Nice progress!

[DWilbur]

That is a good idea for mounting the sway bar. I just might have to do something like that.

[Dieselwrencher]

That is a great idea. I may have to alter the tube a lot due to my front cross members being modified for inline 6's.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

Hey, I've got some of that 2x4 tubing laying around ... maybe I should get a wild hair and put some sway bar mounts on my K10???



Nice progress!

It's a pretty easy setup go for it! Thanks, but your progress on the Red Herring is outstanding!

Originally Posted by DWilbur

That is a good idea for mounting the sway bar. I just might have to do something like that.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

That is a great idea. I may have to alter the tube a lot due to my front cross members being modified for inline 6's.

That's what I thought when I saw the thread. Ha, easy peasy you know.

[7dee2]

Here's another reason I wanted to stick with the original front cross member. I’ll tell you what these blazer steering box supports don’t fit the 133” or 157” frames real great. But with a little trimming it’s going to work out just fine, still need to add an upper shim to complete the fitting but you get the idea.

[7dee2]

Our new poly mounts and bushings are here. First thing the rear spring bushings were swapped for the correct ones, way better fit. Not too excited with the washers that came with the new motor mounts though (wimpy). Pretty sure I've got the correct (beefy) old style ones in my nut, bolt & washer collection.

[7dee2]

The later K35 trans/tc cross member is going to be the cleanest and easiest to install by far. Here are some pics of prepping and installing ours it had a small chunk missing from an earlier driveline failure as well as needing some straightening.

The original 67-72 style member would have required a pedestal to fit the larger longhorn frame section. It could be done but I felt it would always be a battle to work with and not worth the extra effort.

[Dieselwrencher]

It's looking nice! It's nice to see the manifolds clear now too!

[7dee2]

Thanks DW!

It's time to install the tc and side mount. Couldn't locate the exact right length (they are really, really short) bolts from bracket to case so we just cut off the extra to make ours, no problemo.

[7dee2]

Our rear pinion angles look close enough for me, tc 2.5 down & diff 1.5-1.75ish up, roughly 1 degree or less off the same plane. With the angles that good and we like the overall stance the rear most hangers did get bolted. Went ahead and finished mounting the sway bar to the new mounts. Sway bar looks pretty flat with the motor/trans/tc weight in place.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work! It's getting closer!

[ryanroo]

Looking good!

[swamp rat]

Real nice progress!

[7dee2]

Thanks for the kind words it’s pretty cool seeing it start to resemble a truck again!

We built a new high lift type cab lifter much more stable and just in time to fit the cab with some new body mounts. Our mockup big block fits great, plenty of room in the forward 2wd position.