Blake's 67 GMC stepside build

[Advanced Design]

Mark, the paint is looking really good!

[sduckworth13]

Nice work!

[reaper71]

Thank you Guy's

[reaper71]

Ok, I have decided to do a small project with the engine...
Pic #1. This was just after I power washed it and it didn't look to bad.
The customer said he didnt want it over the top!

Pic #2. This was after it was pulled from the chassis. The intake is just plain UGLY!!
This has been done before but there is no real "how to" out there so here is mine....

Pic #3. This is the intake after a few things were removed, the plan is to "shave" the ugly off to make it more pleasing to look at. (I'm not going as extreme as some have done in the past since this is the first one I've done.

Pic #4. I marked off the larger pieces to be cut off.

Pic #5. I used a Rotobit and a small carbide bit for my dremmel for the cutting and cleaning. The Rotobit works awesome! it didn't melt the plastic at all.

Stay tuned.

Mark..

[reaper71]

Round 2..

Pic #1. After the large chunky pieces were removed.

Pic #2. The next pieces were the bungs or mounts for the OE cover.

Pic #3.All the casting lines removed and ready for sanding.

Pic #4. This was after using a DA sander with 220.
Guys are going a step further and removing the 6 humps on the sides as well and making it all smooth, this would require plastic welding in the large openings after the humps are cut off. And also relocating the breather and sensor to the back.

Pic #5. This was rd 1 of High Build primer, it's already looking better.
Will finish up tomorrow

Mark...

[knomadd]

That's some major improvement just removing that junk! Nice work!

[Advanced Design]

Nice straightforward intake smoothing there. So you can make a silk purse out of.....

Mark, what is the cradle arm holding up the powertrain? Looks pretty handy.

[reaper71]

Doug, if you talking about the stand it is from Speedway #91081137 for $44.99 comes with the bolts to secure to block (NO wheels) Then I made some small plates that have nuts welded to them to hold the bolts when storing the stands and I mounted them to the sides.

As for the intake another borrowed idea

Mark...

[reaper71]

Pic #1. This was after I blocked it out and revealed alot of low spots,used poly filler over the entire top.

Pic #2. At this point it's looking pretty good so far, will block 1 more time than shoot it in satin black.
(In hindsight I should have spent the extra time completely smoothing the entire thing. Bodywork took longer do to the ports)

Pic #3. sprayed in shopline satin black.

Pic #4. another view.

Mark...

[reaper71]

Knomadd, thank's..

They are a truly ugly intake all stock!! But once cleaned up they look pretty damn cool..

Here is one all smoothed and ready for bodywork.

Mark...

[knomadd]

Wow, Mark, what you did looks pretty good. Thanks for posting up all the pics of the process. I may use some of your ideas if/when I get an LS in the future.

I'm not sure about the whole plastic welding part on the other intake you just posted, but being completely smoothed like that looks almost like an aftermarket piece. If I can figure out plastic welding, that might be an option when I go LS.

[steelhorse]

I can't wait to see this done. It is going to be sweet.

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by reaper71

Doug, if you talking about the stand it is from Speedway #91081137 for $44.99 comes with the bolts to secure to block (NO wheels) Then I made some small plates that have nuts welded to them to hold the bolts when storing the stands and I mounted them to the sides.

As for the intake another borrowed idea

Mark...

Thanks Mark! Speedway should give you some referral fees as I ordered the stand and the brake pedal assembly you used in your truck.

[reaper71]

Knomadd as for plastic welding it's no more than using a soldering iron with a flat head on it and melt it together using scraps that were cut off the intake. Or you can fiberglass it as well.

Mark...

[reaper71]

Thank's steelhorse

[reaper71]

That would be SUPER Nice of them HUH!!! LMAO

[RockinKees]

Mark, you make it look very easy, to make such an ugly engine (sorry...) way cooler with this small modification!
Leaving those six humps on is also a good idea in my opinion.
I personally don't like the look of the modern plastic engines, but this is a very cool mod!!

[Oregon 1967 GMC]

Kinda reminds me of a Pommel horse. Looks a lot better, purty darn cool dude.

[reaper71]

Thank's again Kees!!
Im right with you on how ugly the stock units are!

[reaper71]

Back to sanding and polishing...

Pic #1. Passenger side all hand sanded with 2500 followed by 3000 & 5000 pad's.

Pic #2. All polished.

Pic #3. Passenger side fender polished (dark looking at this angle)

Pic #4. Alot brighter at this one..

Pic #5. And again a bit different outside!

Mark...

[reaper71]

Thank's Oregon67!!

[Oregon 1967 GMC]

Originally Posted by reaper71

Thank's Oregon67!!

You can call me "Ray". Looking dynomite reaper71

[reaper71]

Thank's Ray, Glad you like it.

Mark...

[jus2qwk]

looking good!

[reaper71]

Thank you Sir!