Brent's '72 Custom/10 SWB stepside build

[MisterE72]

Originally Posted by brossow

Yup, it's right side up. It can only go one direction. Tomorrow I'll look at it more closely to see how it lines up with the rearend, etc. before I decide whether to add a spacer or find some other solution. I've got a machinist friend who can make me whatever I'd need. Thanks for the feedback!

I have a similar problem using the CPP trans crossmember and a 700R. The motor looks a little tilted back. I contacted CPP and they said they had never heard of such a problem. I made some measurements and found the original crossmember was 1 inch higher than the CPP tubular at the mount. I had a 1 inch spacer made for mine, but I still think its not going to be enough to get the 3 degrees. Keep us posted on what you find. Thanks

[brossow]

I'm gonna have to futz with it a little to see where I can get the best compromise. Looked at it briefly last night and realized that with it jacked up to where it sits in the second pic there's no way the driveshaft would clear the crossmember. Oops! An inch might do it but much more and I think I'll have problems.

Don't you love companies who have "never heard of" a problem that virtually everyone must be having?

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by MisterE72

I have a similar problem using the CPP trans crossmember and a 700R. The motor looks a little tilted back. I contacted CPP and they said they had never heard of such a problem. I made some measurements and found the original crossmember was 1 inch higher than the CPP tubular at the mount. I had a 1 inch spacer made for mine, but I still think its not going to be enough to get the 3 degrees. Keep us posted on what you find. Thanks

Originally Posted by brossow

I'm gonna have to futz with it a little to see where I can get the best compromise. Looked at it briefly last night and realized that with it jacked up to where it sits in the second pic there's no way the driveshaft would clear the crossmember. Oops! An inch might do it but much more and I think I'll have problems.

Don't you love companies who have "never heard of" a problem that virtually everyone must be having?

The factory tranny mount for a 2001 -2007 suburban or truck is 3/4 - 1" taller than the mounts you're using. You will have to drill one hole in the center of your tranny crossmember because the it only mounts with one bolt.

[brossow]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

The factory tranny mount for a 2001 -2007 suburban or truck is 3/4 - 1" taller than the mounts you're using. You will have to drill one hole in the center of your tranny crossmember because the it only mounts with one bolt.

Thanks for the info! My current mount uses just a single bolt, too, and there are three holes in the crossmember already, so it looks like I just need the different mount. Guess I won't be using the Energy Suspension poly mount I had sitting around....

[brossow]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

The factory tranny mount for a 2001 -2007 suburban or truck is 3/4 - 1" taller than the mounts you're using. You will have to drill one hole in the center of your tranny crossmember because the it only mounts with one bolt.

Hmm ... not sure if I'm using a different mount than you were thinking of or what, but today I picked up the mount for an '02 Suburban and it's exactly the same height as the two mounts I already had on hand. Gonna return it tomorrow.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by brossow

Hmm ... not sure if I'm using a different mount than you were thinking of or what, but today I picked up the mount for an '02 Suburban and it's exactly the same height as the two mounts I already had on hand. Gonna return it tomorrow.

Looks like the poly mount is quite a bit taller than the factory 2 bolt mount I had. The burb mount was a good 3/4" taller than the original mount I had. Looks like you will have to add spacers or flip the cradle on your CPP mount.

R/

[brossow]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Looks like the poly mount is quite a bit taller than the factory 2 bolt mount I had. The burb mount was a good 3/4" taller than the original mount I had. Looks like you will have to add spacers or flip the cradle on your CPP mount.

I'll likely have my machinist friend fabricate a spacer for me. The CPP crossmember is all one piece and can only be installed one way. No big deal.

[hgs_notes]

Is it ECC engine mounts and CPP tranny crossmember? Could that be the issue? Are the engine mounts higher than the ones CPP had? Would an ECC tranny crossmember have a different tranny height? I'm just banging ideas around and thinking out loud...

[brossow]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Is it ECC engine mounts and CPP tranny crossmember? Could that be the issue? Are the engine mounts higher than the ones CPP had? Would an ECC tranny crossmember have a different tranny height? I'm just banging ideas around and thinking out loud...

That's the setup, yes, but I think the engine comes out about the same height either way, with the bottom of the oil pan about even with the bottom of the front crossmember.

Correction: I just went out and measured before posting the above. I've got the CPP tubular engine stands also and set them side by side with the ECC setup. It appears the CPP stands would actually raise the engine by 1/2"–1". (Hard to tell exactly how much just eyeballing it in the semi-dark.)

Attached is a pic of the setup with the CPP stands I was originally planning to use (on the bottom) compared with the ECC mounts I'm using now (top). (I flipped the top pic so it was a better visual comparison.) The angle of the photo isn't precisely the same, but if you look at the bottom of the cylinder head in each pic in relation to the top of the tire, I think it clearly sits higher on the CPP stands. You can also see it in the one rib on the bellhousing in relation to the frame.

Whatever the case, I don't have a lot of options. The engine is sitting as low as it's gonna get and the tailshaft of the tranny can only go so high before the driveshaft won't clear the center crossmember. It's just gonna have to be good enough. If nothing else, the front end will settle more once the weight of the cab and other parts is on it and decrease the angle relative to the ground at least.

[brossow]

Yesterday I stained the bed wood and today I applied the first of several coats of Pelucid. It needs 96 hours (4 days) to cure before I can sand it and apply the second and subsequent coats, though it's dry to the touch in 3-5 hours. In a couple days I plan to flip the pieces over and do the bottoms. I expect this will be a week-long process, give or take, with all the flipping and waiting between coats. Hope it lasts for a long, long time!

[brossow]

Ordered the 'Burb mount today as described above. Had a coupon for $10 off a $25 purchase at Advance Auto Parts, so got the mount plus a tranny filter kit (which I'll use for my Camaro) for $16.08 total. Supposed to be here tomorrow.

[brossow]

Originally Posted by brossow

Ordered the 'Burb mount today as described above. Had a coupon for $10 off a $25 purchase at Advance Auto Parts, so got the mount plus a tranny filter kit (which I'll use for my Camaro) for $16.08 total. Supposed to be here tomorrow.

Not sure if I should feel bad about this or not. Returned the mount this morning and between the cashier and the manager on duty they couldn't figure out how they should handle the return because of the $10 coupon I had used, so they just decided to refund the full price ($15.99) plus tax for a total refund of $17.17. Essentially they paid me $1.09 to take the tranny filter.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by brossow

Not sure if I should feel bad about this or not. Returned the mount this morning and between the cashier and the manager on duty they couldn't figure out how they should handle the return because of the $10 coupon I had used, so they just decided to refund the full price ($15.99) plus tax for a total refund of $17.17. Essentially they paid me $1.09 to take the tranny filter.

What's my cut?

[brossow]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

What's my cut?

Hmm... 10% finder's fee works out to .... let me get my calculator ....... Looks like I owe ya 11¢. You take PayPal?

[brossow]

Over the past few days I've been adding more coats of Pelucid to the bed wood. It's turning out very, very well. Too bad I won't be able to do anything with it for quite some time!

Worked all day today on stripping paint and don't have a lot to show for it. Took a break in between to haul a load of parts and scrap metal out to my parents' place. If anyone needs a complete front disc brake suspension (A-arms, rotors, calipers, crossmember, etc.) let me know.

Tried the "best" stripper available at Menards to start with and it was a joke. Only used it because I had it on hand and wanted to see what it would do. Didn't do a darn thing to the paint on the fender. Eventually I gave up on it, washed it off, and went to the aircraft stripper instead. It started bubbling like a cauldron the instant it hit the paint, letting me know why I had to spend $30-something for a gallon of the stuff.

Have to finish it up tomorrow in a couple spots the stripper didn't get applied properly, but I'm pretty happy with the result so far. I'll touch up the marker light socket with the media blaster or else just let it go since it won't show anyway.

Any thoughts on undercoating? These fenders were dealer take-offs in 1971 and still have the factory undercoating and it appears to be in good condition. The question is whether it's worth the time and effort to strip it off just to have to redo it, or if I should just leave it alone.

Pics follow....

[killer71]

Just discovered your build. I see where you've had some frustrating times but your hard work is definitely paying off....your gonna love the ls1! Nice Truck!

[my67chevytruck]

nice progress..... keep at it!

[VA72C10]

Looks good...I'd leave the undercoating if it seems to be in good shape.

[brossow]

Quick update: still working on figuring out the fuel supply stuff. I may be PMing a couple of you guys for tips. Specifically I'm wondering what you LSx guys did with the fuel supply at the rail -- fittings, routing of the line, etc. I've got it more or less figured out up to that point. Also wondering what y'all did for power steering lines. I've got the LS1/F-body lines still and they're in good condition. But I haven't checked fitment as far as length and angles to the PS box, and I assume at the very least I'll need adapters from the F-body lines to the PS box fittings. Source for those?

Got the suspension finished this weekend. Doetsch Tech shocks all around. Pics attached.

Worked out a deal with my buddy from high school for the bodywork and paint. If he's happy with the deal, I'm well beyond thrilled. We picked out paint last Friday and picked up primer, etc. to get him started. Parts will start going to his shop this coming weekend. I'm VERY excited!

At the same time, I realize just how much I still have to do before this thing's ever gonna move under its own power. Tranny, torque converter and cooler lines. Driveshaft. Engine cooling system. Computer reprogram. Headers and exhaust. Interior. The list goes on....

[msgross]

tough call on the undercoating. What would you replace it with, professional line-x or Raptor do it yourself coating?

If you do remove it get a propane torch and a putty knife... should come right off...

[brossow]

I'm gonna consult with my buddy on the undercoating and go with his recommendation. Don't want this to be the corner I cut on the project.

[brossow]

Quick update: Spent the last week planning and purchasing. Several items are on their way, including everything for the fuel system (hose is backordered for another week ), Thorley headers, Lokar dipstick, Moroso plug wires and NGK plugs, torque converter and flexplate, taillight housings, and probably some other stuff I've forgotten. Hasn't been a good week for my wallet, that's for sure! But I've gotta have this stuff to finish the truck, so I don't have much choice.

Didn't get the bed parts to the bodyshop as expected because my buddy ended up with a ton of overtime at his regular job and now it'll be a couple weeks more. Bummed a bit about that because I was really looking forward to seeing paint or at least primer on the bed, but s*** happens.

No new pics of progress, unfortunately. Guess I could post screen shots of my credit card and PayPal account activity. Nah....

[glock35ipsc]

I may be too late, but I just found your post on fuel system stuff in the engine sections and posted my $0.02.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...12#post3436612

[brossow]

A little late, but I appreciate the info just the same. Fittings all arrived yesterday and the backordered hose shipped sooner than expected and will be here Friday. I've got a very minor question I'll post in that thread to keep it all together for future reference to help someone else.

[my67chevytruck]

Great progress!