Project Pancho Villa - 1978 SWB

[BruthaMan]

Update should be coming in the next few weeks.

We moved from Amarillo down to San Angelo last summer. I own a software company that focuses on software for Ebay and Amazon associates and lots of changes came out (including some current ones) and I've been hunkered down in a development mode.

I'm SO ready to get past it and get back to work on the truck. It's been sitting ever since. (in the garage, of course!).

Just finished ordering a round of parts. When I originally purchased a new aluminum radiator, I purchase the 17 inch tall version not knowing there was also a 19 inch tall version. Suffice to say, I had the setup for the 19 inch tall one, but didn't exchange it. So I bought the correct radiator.

I had purchased flex-a-lite 210 dual fan setup, but it is not enough to keep the beast cool, which is the primary reason I haven't driven it. It overheats. I've done the bleeding and from all indications, it simply is not getting enough air at low speed or stops. So I purchased a Lincoln Mark VIII fan and went with a dakota digital 70amp fan controller (seems to be one of the popular ones that will handle the spike of the Mark VIII Fan).

Have an electrical leak somewhere, as the battery will last about two days without starting. It's probably in the stereo deck/amp setup.

Hope everyone has been doing well. Have really missed everyone here. Too much work, not enough play. Time to turn the tables on that setup!

[Cherub]

looking back at your build thread. looks good.

[JohnC]

Glad you popped in and kept us up to date on what's going on. Let's not make it so long before the next one though.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Glad to hear your doing well.

[o0oabizaio0o]

the double fuel tank switch/valve harness its included in the painless wiring kit? good luck!

[Low84]

Truck is turning out beautiful, and that paint on the hood is on point!

A couple of questions:
Is that console stock?

And did you hunt down all those NOS parts or is there a dealer selling OG GM parts?

[BruthaMan]

Originally Posted by o0oabizaio0o

the double fuel tank switch/valve harness its included in the painless wiring kit? good luck!

I"m not sure. We used a single tank setup.

Originally Posted by Low84

Truck is turning out beautiful, and that paint on the hood is on point!

A couple of questions:
Is that console stock?

And did you hunt down all those NOS parts or is there a dealer selling OG GM parts?

The console is a stock console. It was in pretty good condition (ebay purchase). Touched it up with some SEM plastic paint.

The parts mostly came from Ebay. Watching the auctions on a daily basis. I have a bookmarked url that is preset for 73-80 parts:

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/Parts-Accessories__73-1973-74-1974-75-1975-76-1976-77-1977-78-1978-79-1979-chevy-chev-chevrolet-truck-pu-p-u-pickup-pick-up-silverado-cheyenne-c10-c-10-manual-book-brochure?LH_Auction=1&_nkw=%2873%2C%201973%2C%2074%2C%201974%2C%2075%2C%201975%2C%2076%2C%201976%2C%2077%2C%201977%2C%2078%2C%201978%2C%2079%2C%201979%29%20%28chevy%2C%20chev%2C%20chevrolet%29%20%28truck%2C%20pu%2C%20p%20u%2C%20pickup%2C%20pick%20up%2C%20silverado%2C%20cheyenne%2C%20c10%2C%20c%2010%29%20-manual%20-book%20-brochure&_trkparms=65%253A1%257C39%253A1&_sacat=6028&_sc=1&_sc=1&_sop=10&_trksid=m194&ssPageName=STRK:MEFSRCHX:SRCH

During the course of the build, I would come across things I knew we were going to need, and as money was available, made purchases from Ebay.

Update:

Mechanically, the truck is now sound. Had to fight with the ebrake on the rear calipers quite a bit, to get it to pass inspection.

Unfortunately, I have to repaint the fenders again. Long story, but both got nicked up. One from going to far into the clear coat when taking out a chip, the other from "someone" who moved a folding workhorse to the side of my truck in the garage, that I didn't know about. Left a nasty, deep scratch when I pulled it out last week. Never seems to end!

Ordering some AFR heads next month to replace the stock heads. Wanted a mild 383 when I had the motor built (it's not mild, despite the stock heads), but realize now there is so much potential by getting some better flowing heads.

As well, have been caught up in another Ebay update (I develop software for Ebay affiliates) and have had little time the past few months, while implementing the changes in preparation for a major update.

[Low84]

Good looking out. I'm gonna have to start looking into some buckets now

[luifer76]

awesome build man keep those pics coming....

[BruthaMan]

It's been a while. Finally made some time, with the help of a friend, to get some things going.

First up, we tore the 383 Stroker down. It had less than 500 miles on it. When I had it built, I didn't know enough about motors (which is why I had it built), so I had them put mild heads on. Boy, were they mild! Dart 165cc heads. Tiny little buggers. At a dyno tune last year, it was clear that the heads were seriously restricting performance.

Summit to the rescue! Order a set of 195cc AFR Street Eliminators that should be in tomorrow. Also ordered the new Gen IV Vintage Air system. I had replaced everything with r134a system, using the Pro6Ten compressor (looks like the old A6 Log, but setup for 134a) and it didn't last long.

Ordered a Lunati Voodoo 284 cam. Was running an XE168, which was really nice, but figured we could squeeze a little more with the Voodoo cam.

Mike Garza, the gentleman that painted my truck, came down from Amarillo to repaint my fenders. Had a couple of "boo boos" on them and I trust Mike. Haven't been in San Angelo long enough to know anyone that does really good work. Here's the front fender with fresh paint:



Here's the motor torn down:



Picture of the old heads:



Going to clean those up and put on craigs list. They are just a little more flow than the stock heads.

The parts table:



Going to clean all this up later today.

And since I was taking pics, here's some spare ribs I've been smoking since this morning:



Have a big pot of beans cooking up as well!

Parts will start flowing in tomorrow and will update with pics.

[franky69c10]

man the truck is coming out sick

[BruthaMan]

New AFR 195cc Street Eliminators:





Heads and cam are in. Cam is a 284 Voodoo Series.



Removed the entire AC system in preparation for the new Vintage Air Gen IV system. Should be here any day now.

Polishing up all the aluminum/chrome to go back on the engine today.

A cool front is supposed to come in tonight. Should only be 101 tomorrow. Why the heck we moved down to hell, I don't know, but this heat is miserable!

[3r!c84]

Drooling over those afr heads ! So jealous. Let me know how you like them!
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[BruthaMan]

Thanks 3r!c84. It was tough to let go of the money, let me tell ya! Everyone seems to swear by them. Compared to the little Dart heads I had on before (which were respectably fast with the XE268 cam), these should really open her up!

One more pic. Air Gap intake is back on with one valve cover. Calling it a day. Bruh'man ain't used to this heat!

[MTCK]

The truck looks amazing! Great build! Too bad about the weather - I always do better with cold then hot (obviously). Happy Wife, Happy Life!

[juiceman650]

Awesome truck man, just finished going through the whole thread. One question though, what year is it again? Can't wait to see more updates on this one, keep up the great work!
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[BruthaMan]

Thanks guys!

The truck is a 1978.

We're about to put the intake on, hook up the headers, distributor, then maybe start on the vintage air install today. More pics later today.

[BruthaMan]

I have a ton of pics and will have a video of the startup sometime tomorrow.

Motor is rebuilt and we did a quick fireup tonight. Man, it sounds mean!

We're going to do the cam break-in, tomorrow morning around 10am (give the neighbors time to sleep in).

I'll shoot a video of the startup and exhaust. I have some pics of the Vintage Air install as well. We have a few more pieces for it, but overall it's been fairly straight forward.

Two of the AC hoses will need to be crimped, and it needs to be vacuumed, so will probably take it in for that once everything else is finished. I don't have the tools for that and not sure I want to invest in them, for a one-off setup.

[77BBGMC]

Just read through the build, impressive!!
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[73gmc454]

I've spent my morning reading the complete build , Wow you did alot in a short time frame , everything looks great , those AFR's should wake upthat small block !

[MTCK]

Sounds good! Sounds angry! Can't wait to see it tearing up the asphalt...

[77BBGMC]

Sounds good!

[bluex]

It sounds good, send that corsa muffler my way if you dont want it!

[BruthaMan]

The Corsa mufflers sound very good on it. On one hand, I love the sound. It is unlike anything else and sounds like what you would expect a race car to sound like, when you open it up. On the other hand, it's just too loud at my age, for how I want to use the truck.

An update, but no photos. Pete added a trans cooler with it's own fan, in front of the condenser. Put the rear of the truck on stands and let it run for a while to get the trans fluid circulated and the torq converter filled.

And then we took it out for a ride. I cannot even begin to describe the difference the heads and cam swap made. Mostly the heads, because the cam was just a little bigger. OMG, those AFR heads brought Pancho to life!

It was unbelievably fast and I didn't even take it to WOT. Scary fast. Pete said he thought it could hang with his '03 Vette, easily.

My face hurts, I was smiling so much! Still reeling from the adrenaline rush!

[bluex]

Originally Posted by BruthaMan

The Corsa mufflers sound very good on it. On one hand, I love the sound. It is unlike anything else and sounds like what you would expect a race car to sound like, when you open it up. On the other hand, it's just too loud at my age, for how I want to use the truck.

I understand that, I dont like them quite as loud as I used to either. I doubt I'll be able to afford them, but keep me in mind if/when you get'em off...