1964 GMC 3/4 ton build :D

[Johnny_Lamebridge]

I just found your build. You sure don't see many 8.1 swaps. Nice job with all that wiring.

[sdwolff98]

Hi Johnny,
Thanks its fun for me but a ***** for others lol
Sean

[sdwolff98]

been busy the last week getting the trans cross member assembled, front to rear chassis harness done and the cooler fittings for the Allison in place. I also picked up a complete programming harness setup from EFI connection to get my computers access and reset for stand alone use. Had to do a lil bit of electrical massaging to their setup to make it compatible with my ecm and tcm setups.

Sean

[sdwolff98]

Some pictures of the 65 automatic cross member and Allison cooler fittings lol the no leak kind like the factory problem childs lol

Sean

[sdwolff98]

While waiting on a few things to come through and around start finalizing the interior harness and making a few minor changes here and there. Got my remote mount trailer brake controller setup and wired in, rear deck speaker wires are in, and changed the gauge cluster connectors so they take up less under dash space.
Body guy will be finished with all the metal work in another week or so and start painting the cab so ready to have it home and start the interior stuff installing lol. Still have to work on the ac ducts and a vents but need to cab here to maek that happen along with the ABS glove box idea I am working on.
Sean

[sdwolff98]

Last week got the class 5 trailer hitch in and somewhat mocked up on the frame. My body shop guy is going to do a lil welding to it and I am going to have to get some 1/4 inch plate steel to make it fit the frame properly but after trying 4 different salvage yard hitches this is the closest yet to fitting :/

Sean

[sdwolff98]

Last but not least finally got a set of headers that fit really well and quite happy with them have to do a few minor mods to some things here and there but fit awesome in the frame. I tried a nice set of chevelle headers but they ran to close to the trans cooler lines for my comfort. Took em back to the shop I got them from and order the hedmann elite big block truck headers and they are definitely a good fit for the 8.1 in the 63-87 frame setups. I will have to move the Knock sensor on the driver side but luckily Dirty Larry already went through that so its basically a run to the auto parts store for the one that fits in a different spot in the block. Other thing I am gonna need to do is build a heat shield for the shifter cable its just far enough away but I will feel more comfortable with some shielding around it lol. Also got water pump and starter in last week but have yet to get around to messing with them. Will be throwing the water pump on my pain table and getting to that pretty quickly.

Sean

[Captainfab]

Are those headers for the '73-'87's?

Originally Posted by sdwolff98

Last but not least finally got a set of headers that fit really well and quite happy with them have to do a few minor mods to some things here and there but fit awesome in the frame. I tried a nice set of chevelle headers but they ran to close to the trans cooler lines for my comfort. Took em back to the shop I got them from and order the hedmann elite big block truck headers and they are definitely a good fit for the 8.1 in the 63-87 frame setups. I will have to move the Knock sensor on the driver side but luckily Dirty Larry already went through that so its basically a run to the auto parts store for the one that fits in a different spot in the block. Other thing I am gonna need to do is build a heat shield for the shifter cable its just far enough away but I will feel more comfortable with some shielding around it lol. Also got water pump and starter in last week but have yet to get around to messing with them. Will be throwing the water pump on my pain table and getting to that pretty quickly.

Sean

[sdwolff98]

Hey Capn,
67-87 actually but close enough lol.
Sean

[sdwolff98]

Well got a few more electrical things in and done frame wiring harness is just about completely done minus having the cab and bed in place to make the final connections. Landed some nice usb chargers to install somewhere in the cab. Waiting on a power switch assembly and mounting pods to come in to see if this idea will work. Gauge cluster got a few slight revisions to the connector setup in last few days. The new connectors take up a lot less space now . Interestingly enough the usb setups I found can use a 67-87 brake switch connector once the clips are trimmed off lol. I through it in a box along time ago thinking hmmm I will need that one day *chuckles* and shore enough the day has come now just need to chase a second one down in a junkyard for the other usb charger setup lol. Cab goes in the paint booth next week since he has about finished all the metal work and is getting the visor holes drilled and custom holes into the cab setup.

Sean

[sdwolff98]

Also got the transmission cooler mounted to the frame today since I don't have enough space behind the grill for it. mounting brackets turned out quite nice for it just some simple aluminum strap from the local hardware store worked great! may possible throw a power steering cooler down there as well not quite sure yet still thinking about it!

Sean

[sdwolff98]

got the heater pipes in and the transmission thermostat in a couple of days ago. Thermostat is mounted just waiting on fittings and clamps to come in at this time to get that all finished up.

Mounted the thermostat where it will get plenty of airflow along with the cooler assembly. Going for completely separate systems since the new radiator has no transmission cooler capabilities being a triple crossflow. Also picked up a set of stainless steel flex pipe for the cooler lines themselves and use rubber hoses for the unions between the sections

Sean

[sdwolff98]

And in addition to everything else going on my usb console chargers are finally mounted took forever to get the switch kit from the electric window conversion place. but they are done and turned out very nicely. the switch pods needed a dremel work to get the usb pods to fit but quite happy. All that is left now is getting another 67-87 brake switch plug and I can finish the wiring to them and the power tire hoist switch.

Sean

[sdwolff98]

water pump is on and done radiator nearing completion, now all I need is the body back so I can start getting the interior and a few other things finished

Sean

[sdwolff98]

got the fuel line template made for the shop to make here on Thursday Also got the radiator mostly ready to mount just needs a little more insulation foam around the one edge.

Slowly coming together. Body shop is getting closer to layin pain on the cab he has been slowed up due to personal problems but its getting there

Sean

[sdwolff98]

Also dynacorn has apparently released a smooth wiper cowl for the 60-66 trucks I bought one and got it in yesterday!!!! fits dam near perfectly. Will know more when I get wiper studs remounted to check the clearance on them parts number is 1106zb runs about 216 from restoration performance out of cali.

Sean

[Captainfab]

That's cool about the cowl panel. I am anxious to hear how it fits with the wiper studs in place.

[sdwolff98]

Captain will be taking the wiper transmission arms and studs over on my next day off to fit them in place to check clearance on them. Hopefully they fit fine will be finnaly be nice to have at least one after market panel that doesn't needs multiple fixes lol

Sean

[sdwolff98]

well while waiting on body shop (the cab is finally in for primer and painting.... hallelujah!!!!!) got to looking at my bump shifter idea and scrapped it. Well come to find out someone has designed one for the corvette 6l80e transmissions at RA designs in Washington state using a winters art carr transmission shifter setup. I got the switch kit to mount in the shifter in just waiting on the winters shifter specific for the Allison 1000 transmission to come in but really nice quality on the bump shifter switches and indicator plate. here are a few pics... the circuit board I had made for my particular setup since the Allison uses its own resistor range setup for the trucks (truck 6l80e/6l90e use the same resistor ranges). It has taken multiple resistors tries to get it within .01 k ohms of the GM specs but I finally got it. the truck tap shifter ranges are: 1.87 k ohm upshift, 2.97 k ohm down shift (1.87 + 2.10 k ohm) and total resistance across the circuit is 6.84 k ohm (1.87 + 2.10 +2.87 k ohm resistors in series) so tickled to see this thing work like I know it will. considering the mountainous area I am in it will be a big boon having this moving back to texas lol. next project will be after shifter arrives to integrate it into the existing terrain console and make it look good. hopefully by that time my garage heaters is fixed and 90% of the body parts are curing in the garage at a nice balmy 85 degrees

Sean

[sdwolff98]

Also in the near future found out through a friend Darryl Nichols that dynacorn is going to release and floor board low hump for our trucks here very soon he has some pics of it on his facebook page. going to be interesting to see if it is a good fit or not

Sean

[sdwolff98]

ok been busy since I got back from a lovely cruise with my wife. Will be receiving a 1964-1989 brazillian truck parts catalog in the near future kind curious to see what all they did with the inline 6 engines down there :P . Also got my winters Allison shifter in and started installing the bump shift kit from RA Designs. its coming out awesome. just need to make a cover plate and it will fit the terrain console nicely

Sean

[sdwolff98]

here is a shot of the switches installed into the shifter housing really nice machine and concept.

Sean

[sdwolff98]

Well started nagging at the body shop guy about when he is gonna have my truck painted and he keeps saying soon lol. He is getting ready to drop a couple coats of hi build primer on the body here soon so hopefully after Christmas bring the body home and bake it in the heating area of my garage .
Ready to get this done but having to plod along is maddening at times lol.
Sean

[sdwolff98]

Also finally got the ra designs shifter and bump shifter circuit board finished and assembled into the console setup. quite happy with how it is all turning out in there
Also got valve covers and coil pack harnesses rebuilt. Needing to replace a couple the coils it looks like oh well after Christmas.
Sean

[sdwolff98]

and lastly the coil pack harness setups turned out really nice using some stuff I dug out of the Delphi catalogs lol

Sean