Project Budget Build

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by blazerboy_4life

Well currently I am looking at good old harbor freight. 40lb soda blaster is on sale for $149 and a 110 90 amp wire feed is currently on sale for $149. I have only had the chance to price out sand blasting so far and the place I talked to said they wanted $200 to blast my frame. At that price I could buy a blaster but I dont know if thats a good rate or not. This is my first restore.

You have to consider all the media you buy and the cleanup afterwards as part of the 200...plus your time that could be spent on other aspects of the build. What else would you blast?

Also, whatever you decide...there has been a $20 off anything over 100 coupon posted on the site...think it ends soon but it's worth looking into...

[blazerboy_4life]

Well Today was amazing! It was 70 degrees here and I got all kinds of stuff done! I got to wear shorts for the first time in 4 months, I got the bike started and went for a ride after not even maintaining the battery since october. I got my rear brake line plugged up so I can at least move it until I get all of the rear lines replaced. I went to the Hot Rod Institute and talked to the guy whos building my motor. I test fit my headers on his truck (66' lwb) He agreed that to use these headers I would have to notch my frame. Not ideal but it works for now. Then I hopped back on the bike rode home and notched my frame a little bit. Before and after pics below. Then I actually got to drive my baby for the first time in a few months! Let me know what you think of the new headers.

[STOCKISH]

Headers look like they fit great. I wouldnt worry about that little notch at all. Looks good!

[blazerboy_4life]

Originally Posted by 1972SuperCheyenne

Headers look like they fit great. I wouldnt worry about that little notch at all. Looks good!

Sorry those are the old ones. The collector and about 2 inches of pipe were all blown out beyond repair. They fit perfect but I dont know what make they are and I cant find them. Heres a pic of the old and new together.

[blazerboy_4life]

Heres the new ones installed.

[franciscocl7]

Originally Posted by blazerboy_4life

Heres some pics of the new one next to the old one after I sprayed some rust reformer and some undercoating on the new arm. I cant be certain, because I bought the trucks without ever having seen them first, but if I had to guess I think this truck may have been sitting in standing water for a little while. That whole side of the truck is pretty bad.

Is amazin how the corrosion deteriorates the steel...!!!!!!! Its a good sample of a corroed part.

[blazerboy_4life]

Well I picked up my cam today. After spending some time at "The Speed Center" (our local hot rod shop) I settled on an EPR mc1713. The guy tells me this should make the truck sound real nice and getbup and scoot just fine. Well see. Anybody currently using that cam?
.050 duration
intake 223
Exhaust 223

VALVE LIFT
Intake 447
exhaust 447

Ill recap what I have for the motor now too.

Its a 79' 4 bolt main truck motor, with stock heads fresh valve job, hardened valve seats and new exhaust valves. Block is bored. 040 over. I have an edelbrock performer rpm aluminum intake and im planning to run an edelbrock 1406 carb. Flat top (eyebrowed?) Pistons. Also Have HEI and Im going to be doing an MSD 6A Box

Is there a way to calculate horsepower without using a dyno based on the specs I've given? Finally, now that I have a new cam should I change the springs? They're all very tight. Thanks in advance everyone!!


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[blazerboy_4life]

So I ordered the carb (Edelbrock 1806) and water pump today. Hopefully Ill pick up the motor from the machine shop tomorrow. Just need to pick up push rod bearings and plugs and wires and It should be fired up by the end of the week!! According to "Desktop Dyno" I should be pushing 300hp and 400 ft lbs of torque. No idea how accurate that is but it sounds good.

[blazerboy_4life]

Well I just talked to the machine shop a little bit ago and they said I can pick up the motor tomorrow morning! I also came across a coupon in the back of a maxim magazine while at work the other day for a welder from Harbor freight for $89! its a 90amp 110v wire feed Chicago Electric. Also Also came across a 27gal 5hp air compressor on craigslist for $90 so In a few weeks (weather permitting since I have no garage) Looks like I should be well on my way to making some good solid progress! Ill post pics of the motor as it comes along.

[stich626]

cam's mighty small

[blazerboy_4life]

Originally Posted by stich626

cam's mighty small

Really? My understanding was that it was pretty big for running stock heads. What is considered a "Big cam"?

[blazerboy_4life]

Well I picked up the motor from the machine shop today. Didnt realize it but the heads didnt have the rockers on them any more and one of my pistons looked exactly the same but was different than the rest. That is I had 7 cast flat top pistons and one aluminum... Ill be heading back to the shop to pick up the correct parts tomorrow morning.

[blazerboy_4life]

So I picked up new pistons yesterday. http://www.jegs.com/i/Sealed+Power/844/H617CP/10002/-1

I have 78cc heads so it should run pretty nice. The guy at the machine shop estimates that i should be sitting right around 380hp and just north of 400ft lbs of torque with my setup. I now have all the parts I need and The hot rod institute will be building my motor starting this afternoon. In fact Im leaving now to go drop off my new water pump, new HEI distributor, and aluminum alternator bracket. Pics coming soon!

[blazerboy_4life]

Carb Came in today. Edelbrock 1806 electric choke. The motor is half assembled as of this evening. Ive got to pick up a few random bolts im short on and maybe I can get this thing done by tomorrow night... Well see.

[blazerboy_4life]

Well Im missing some head bolts so the build is on hold until monday when I can go pick up the new head bolt kit. Until then heres a look at what shes starting to look like. Its gonna be chevy red/orange and all aluminum.

[blazerboy_4life]

This is off topic a bit but today I came across a 69' Belair with a 327, 3 on the tree, and factory air and and I couldnt say no... Of course at a price of
$340 who COULD say no! Theres no dents to speak of almost zero rust and all of the chrome seems perfect! Ill be trailering it home in a couple days. I have no idea what I plan to do with it. I may flip it so I have more cash to put into my shortbox but for the price I couldnt let it get crushed. Thats what he was going to do with the car if he didnt sell it by today. Pics coming soon.

[blazerboy_4life]

Well here it is!! got it started up yesterday. The timing still needs adjust ment and the carb need tuned but otherwiese its done! Ill be installing it tomorrow. Let me know what you think everyone!


Click on the pic to play the video. My youtube is down

[blazerboy_4life]

Just scored some rally wheels too off craigslist. Cant wait till tomorrow!!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Was that the 1st fire up? If so did you guys break in the cam?

[chevy88]

Just caught this build, nice buy for the price.

[blazerboy_4life]

Originally Posted by FRENCHBLUE72

Was that the 1st fire up? If so did you guys break in the cam?

No that was the second time. We dont have a way to run it on the engine stand inside for as long as it takes to break in the cam so we started it a couple times for 30 seconds each and I will break it in tomorrow morning when its in the truck. I was told to run the motor for 20min at 2000rpm. Sound right?

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Sounds right to me..

[slick copper]

Been reading your thread, awesome deal on the trucks! Good to see you making progress. I have that same welder you were talking about from harbor freight. works good, but i've not used it for anything but tacking in panels and exhaust, don't think they're made to do heavy stuff like a frame.
I feel you on the working outside, i'm a shade tree mechanic myself!
Post us some pics of the completed engine in the truck when you get it in!

[blazerboy_4life]

Originally Posted by slick copper

Been reading your thread, awesome deal on the trucks! Good to see you making progress. I have that same welder you were talking about from harbor freight. works good, but i've not used it for anything but tacking in panels and exhaust, don't think they're made to do heavy stuff like a frame.
I feel you on the working outside, i'm a shade tree mechanic myself!
Post us some pics of the completed engine in the truck when you get it in!

Good to see its capable of body work. On the specs it says it will weld up to half inch. I wont really know until It warms up and I can get out and fab up some stuff for fun.

[slick copper]

Let me see what you're capable of with it, you're welding skills may be better than mine! I've started my build thread, you'll have to check it out sometime!