69 GMC "Ol' Blue"

[rgunlock]

^^ agree ^^. How long do you figure until you have a roller again?

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by Mustard72

Looks dang nice, Mike. Keep it up.

Originally Posted by rgunlock

^^ agree ^^. How long do you figure until you have a roller again?

Thanks guys! I hope to have it rolling again this weekend. I have to start really working on this project so that I can finish it so I can start on my '47 Fleetline

[rgunlock]

woo-hoo! That will be a big step. I know what you mean about getting moving on it. I have my original 59 project waiting in the wings for me to finish the 78 so I can get back on it.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by mjensen

I received my spindle nuts today, so I tore down the driver's side again and replaced the nuts, then buttoned up the passenger side. Front end is all but done!!! I am so pleased with how it turned out.

Attachment 1139266

Where did you get the spindle nuts at? and were they the 3/8's or the 7/16's?

You have made some great progress on this truck!

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Where did you get the spindle nuts at? and were they the 3/8's or the 7/16's?

You have made some great progress on this truck!

Thanks! I hope to do some minimal things this weekend. I'm going to get my trans/splitter/bell housing sealed up and bolted together. Possibly even mount the tcase

The spindle nuts came from my favorite place to order items from...Rockauto . Looking at the specs, they are 3/8".

[mjensen]

I'm happy to report that she's finally a roller!!!









I'm hoping to get the fuel tank and lines put back on today.

[mjensen]

It is amazing what one can accomplish when he gets his butt off the couch I got the fuel tank and lines installed today. I know it looks like a repost, but this was the final installation

[SCHRUMGMC]

Looking great man

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by SCHRUMGMC

Looking great man

Thank you!

[rgunlock]

Looking really good! Drive train next on the list?

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Looking really good! Drive train next on the list?

Thanks Rick! Yes, I'm currently looking for a reputable machine shop in my area to take a look at my existing 327 and get it freshened up. I think once I have that back together, I can get the engine/tranny/tcase all mounted up and measure for driveshafts. That probably won't be cheap, so I'm not sure if that's going to happen this year. We'll see though.

[Mustard72]

Good to see it rolling around. Any idea what it's going to take to get the 327 back in service?
Posted via Mobile Device

[mjensen]

Uh oh rastro! So I decided to pull things off the 327 so I could replace seals like the rear main, timing cover gaskets ect when I noticed that the dampener pulley did not have a bolt into the crank. I don't remember if I took it off or if something else is afoot. Once I got the pulley off, I noticed that the bolt is broke off inside the crank. I am going to try and get it out, but this may have made my decision for me on the 400 or 327 choice.

[mud.man.rj]

Some times decisions take care of themselves. Still only a bolt if you work slow at it can be fixed...or pay.

[mjensen]

I'm really wanting to get the bolt out. I don't want to spend the money on the motor right now. I need to save money for the drivelines.

[mud.man.rj]

I have drilled many bolts out, but is slow precise work, can be done just need to know how. The thing is ...what is the rest of the engine like first. I would pull the pan and look at the bearings first before I maybe waste time on the crank.

[mjensen]

I'm going to pull the pan and check everything out. I drained the oil the other day and it looked great. Clean and no water. It didn't make any funky noises or burn any oil when I pulled it out, but 4 yrs of sitting could be a different story

I've read on this forum that some people run without the bolt, but I'm not sure.

[mjensen]

So, I'm thinking about a new engine option. I can get a Blueprint Engines fully dressed 383 complete with a 750 cfm carb and HEI distributor for $3,600 shipped. It is dyno'd at 330 hp/385 Ft lbs of torque. The monster 430/450 would end up $1,000 more fully dressed. I'm starting to think this may be the direction I end up going. Anybody watching the thread have any thoughts on this?

[cmabolt]

I say go with the 383 for the torque or say screw it and go LS. Of course I'm a little biased.

Chris

[mjensen]

I would go LS if I didn't want to keep my old 4 speed. I'm a little weird that way I still need to call my local engine shop to get his opinion and options, but I'm really leaning towards the 383 now. All I need to do is sell my motorcycle and I'm on it!

[mud.man.rj]

All I can say more is better, trucks aren't all that light, I big block everything myself, just love torque.

[swamp rat]

Rock auto to the rescue again! I'm gonna run to the hardware store and see if they have this kind of nut, if not then i'll order some. Thanks!

Found out too that the Barrel taper bearings are no longer made, all are converting to tapered roller, thanks for the help there too, it gets kinda frustrating when you spend hours searching for answers on the net.

[mjensen]

Glad I could help! I would think that any Napa or the like should have those nuts too, but I was ordering other stuff so I just threw them on the order.

I know what you mean about hours researching. I have spent the last 2 weeks obsessing and researching what I'm going to do for the powerplant. I'm now leaning towards just building my own. Seems like going with the cheaper Blueprint engine has been real hit or miss with others on this forum and others.
Posted via Mobile Device

[swamp rat]

I cant find them in Rock auto..

I have hopes on a 383 stroker that will run on mid grade, but right now the bank account says to just run what ya got, especially if its still running strong.. I rebuilt my engine back in 96 went with a 30 over, RV cam and some other standard stuff keeping in mind that trucks need torque, and the operating rpm range which i drive ect. The machine shop that did the balancing of my rotating assy said with all the parts he estimated about 335 hp, nothing too wild but that's fine, i don't want wild, but i haven't pulled a heavy trailer since then ether so when the time comes i figure it will be because i'm not happy with the power pulling a trailer or heavy load up the pass..

[swamp rat]

Oh, Blue printing is a lot of labor hours working up a piece of paper documenting all the particulars., I think its more important to put that money into having a machine shop balance the rotating assembly and buying good parts.