'72 Chevy SWB, Project Driver

[oldblue1968chevy]

I envy your future potential gas mileage..lol

[usmcchevy]

Originally Posted by andy4x4

this is going to be a nice "dd"!!!

Thanks, I hope it is! I'm down to riding my motorcycle pretty much all the time now

Originally Posted by 68greg

Wow, got off work over here in iraq and read your whole thread from start to finish, got alot of ideas for my '68 when i get home to Ar. anyways belated congrats on the bith of your son mine graduates h.s. in may. and again thanks for the welcome to the site a few days ago. I'll be following this build till your done keep up the good work.

Thanks! I've spent some time at Al Asad and TQ, actually thats where I started researching swapping to an LS engine. Good times.

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

I envy your future potential gas mileage..lol

Thanks, Hopefully its better than the 250 I took out. In that 100 miles I drove it, it used over a half tank


I owe a thank you to everyone that assisted in my search for the correct motor mounts, I finally got something to work. If/when I do this again I'll use the 73+mounts with extensions welded to the cross member so the motor can be all the way back. The way I have it now is a bit far forward, but this is what came together and I might not even need to modify my drive shaft now.









I picked up a trans cooler off of Craigslist tonight.

[68greg]

good times........yeah, I did have a question, i know you you got a heck of a deal on your motor and trans but did you look at the cost of a gen 1 smallblock rebuild and compare the two or was an ls swap part of the plan all along.

[usmcchevy]

I didn't do a cost comparison this time, but in the past I have built up a ol 350. By the time I had good parts (parts are the cheap part) and all the machine work. I had well over $2,000 in it and maybe only 300hp, horrible cold starting(in MN) with 9-11mpg. After owning a vehicle with a LS, I knew my small block days were over.

[68greg]

just wondering i built a 383 stroker for my 95 gmc last year and after it was said and done i had about 3600 in it and it gets terrible mileage havent compared the cost of the two yet but if i could find a set up similar to what you have there really isn't a comparison especially if i can get a low mileage engine/trans combo anyways looking good can't wait to see it run got a lot of research to do.

[67shortie]

Excellent work with the mounts, great news

I am running the same pump, works like a charm. I mounted mine right in front of the tank on the frame rail, I'm running the blazer tank as well. Very quiet too, when you turn the key all you hear is a low humm until the rails are pressurized and off you go. Sweet setup.

[usmcchevy]

Installed power steering box, power steering pump, radiator and radiator hoses. Modified the power steering reservoir because it originally went above the hydroboost. Bent/flared a trans cooler line, still need to run the hoses to the aftermarket trans cooler. I also started researching how to mount up the hydroboost. When I pulled my master cylinder so I could get some good measurements I found my 1 year old master cylinder was leaking Ordered a couple hoses that I hope will work for my hydroboost and power steering box. So close yet so far



Still need to add a brace here.





I had to modify my outer bumper bracket to get the box in there.....

[oldblue1968chevy]

looks great!!

whys the sig say 292 4l80e? is that what the 4.8 comes out to lol? im jealous!

[gcburdic]

Nice to see this progress!!!....What are you gonna do about that top radiator hose?

[usmcchevy]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

looks great!!

whys the sig say 292 4l80e? is that what the 4.8 comes out to lol? im jealous!

4.8x61=292.8 and I think GM calls it 294, but whos counting

Originally Posted by gcburdic

Nice to see this progress!!!....What are you gonna do about that top radiator hose?

Thanks! It might get trimmed a little, but it will look much better when I get E fans in there and tie it to them.

[68greg]

looking good , are those the o.e. manifolds or off something else its been awhile since i read that part of your thread. looks like your getting close to fireing it up.

[usmcchevy]

Originally Posted by 68greg

looking good , are those the o.e. manifolds or off something else its been awhile since i read that part of your thread. looks like your getting close to fireing it up.

Thanks, The manifolds are stock Trail Blazer SS (LS2) manifolds. They are just set in there with 2 bolts right now to see how they fit. Honestly I could plug in the TAC and gas pedal and it would start and run IF I had my fuel hose ends. Which are back ordered until the 21st.

[68greg]

Wow the 21st that sucks, don't you hate it when a couple of fittings are all that's holding you back.

[oldblue1968chevy]

What was the hardest part of the swap so far at least (shucking out $ for parts doesnt count lol )

[Average Joe]

Coooool project! Kudos to you for making the harness work. Personally I dont think I would have the patience or ability. Nice work!

[usmcchevy]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

What was the hardest part of the swap so far at least (shucking out $ for parts doesnt count lol )

Ya know it would have to be getting the freaking motor mounts to work with manifolds For most it prabably would be the harness, but I enjoy that kind of work

Originally Posted by Average Joe

Coooool project! Kudos to you for making the harness work. Personally I dont think I would have the patience or ability. Nice work!

Thanks!

TBSS manifolds bolted up, just had to trim about 1/2" off the drivers side trans "wing" I used the original bolts and gaskets....hope they don't leak.
This on the other hand WILL leak so now I get to search for a drivers side flange. I think it happened when the guy pulled the motor out with a skid loader.



Finally ran all the wiring in the cab, now to hook it up.

[mcbassin]

Look like you are getting close. I like what you did to the motor perches. Did you consider using the newer style mounts like the 73 up trucks uses? I have a set and I'm hoping they will work without modifying. Keep the pics coming.

[dougminton]

subscribed

[usmcchevy]

Engine dipstick installed. Finished Trans cooler lines just need some hose clamps. One of the two hoses I ordered for the Power steering/hydro boost worked. I'm going to have to make the other as it needs a 11/16 inverted flare on one end and a 18mm O ring on the other.
I played around with trying to start it, didn't make it far. With the TAC hooked up the Throttle body makes a high pitched hum and doesn't respond to the gas pedal. The TAC didn't come with my motor, but has the right part number on it so tomorrow I need to check the TB wiring.

[JasonBird]

great build! best of both worlds when you get her running!

[usmcchevy]

Thanks! Not much happening due to having corrective eye surgery (PRK) on Wednesday. I did give up on summit sending the hose ends because the delivery date got pushed back to May 24th. I called Jegs and they price matched Summit with their stuff and it will all be here tomorrow Also ordered a mounting plate and push rod for the hydroboost from this guy http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showt...ght=hydroboost
If you want to know anything about hydroboost he is the man!

[usmcchevy]

Jegs stuff showed up today.

Hydroboost plate with rod cut off and new end threaded on. I will need to enlarge the hole in the fire wall to clear the nut that holds the hydroboost to the plate.



Lokar trans dipstick installed.



Put together my first teflon AN fitting.



And a couple of the pump/filter/reg with all the adapters.





Looks like I'll have some time to work on her this weekend......maybe we'll have fire

[oldblue1968chevy]

I cant wait for ya buddy!! AN lines look clean!!

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice job! I installed hydra boost on my vette and that was a huge step up compared to having to press down with your life to get stopped.

[fishingjred73]

Did that hydroboost come out of the van you got the motor from? And have you seen these http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=347480 http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=347484