Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Ackattack

I think I'm going to have to get a new crossmember where the trailing arms bolt up to. I was thinking of using the ECE extreme drop crossmember. Anyone else use this?

I have one that I aquired in a parts deal & it seems to be a well made part.

[GREASEMONKEY72]

need more pics of the sandblasting

[Ackattack]

Originally Posted by GREASEMONKEY72

need more pics of the sandblasting

Sorry, I didn't think it was too interesting, so I haven't taken any pics....I'll get some tonight.

[Ackattack]

Well I got some pictures of the frame tonight




and here is the crossmember that I'm going to remove because of the large crack in the top of it and the mutilated bottom (someone tried to weld it together) I'm going to go with an ECE extreme drop crossmember.



And then I got the axle stripped down to pretty much the bare housing (diff and gears still inside) I also got the upper and lower a-arms torn apart. I was hoping to get to sandblasting all of this, but one of the ball joints was being a royal PIA and didn't have time.



I took off all the drum brake stuff cause I'm going with LT1 camaro brakes. I ordered the backing brackets already. I'm going to do some powder coating for a guy in trade for his calipers.

I also need to get on ordering some POR-15 so I can start painting the frame and other suspension component.

[Ackattack]

Sandblasting is complete!!!!

The cross member is cut out. So I guess it's time to start putting it back together.

I was blasting the lower A-arms and noticed they were damaged, so I went out to my parts pile and tore off another set. I'm not sure if they're the right year, or maybe they're for 73+. I guess I'll post some pictures and/or compare them to my 72 GMC's.

In laws were in town for a week and today's my 6th anniversary...so not much work has been getting done. I'll get more pics later.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Ackattack

I was blasting the lower A-arms and noticed they were damaged, so I went out to my parts pile and tore off another set. I'm not sure if they're the right year, or maybe they're for 73+. I guess I'll post some pictures and/or compare them to my 72 GMC's.

Pretty easy to tell. Later model (73-up) have the shell w/a larger rubber bushing & press fit into the a-arms.

64~72's have rubber-lined steel bushings & 'thread' into the a-arms.

[Ackattack]

Well after doing some looking, it looks like the upper arms are from a 73+



And now I'm using a lower arm from up to a 72. So is this combo of parts going to cause me a problem when I go to get a drop spindle?

I also started painting some stuff with por15. Basically I was just seeing how hard/time consuming its going to be. I'll get some serious work done on Sunday.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Ackattack

Well after doing some looking, it looks like the upper arms are from a 73+

And now I'm using a lower arm from up to a 72. So is this combo of parts going to cause me a problem when I go to get a drop spindle?

Just use the correct ball-joints for the spindle & you'll be fine.

[Ackattack]

got the frame painted with POR 15 today. 2 coats of the por 15, and 1 coat of chasis black. Also did the axle housing.







I also welded one side of the control arms. I was very impressed that my welder could keep up with welding continously for as long as it took me. I'll do the other side too.

[cstm68]

Originally Posted by Ackattack

got the frame painted with POR 15 today. 2 coats of the por 15, and 1 coat of chasis black. Also did the axle housing.







I also welded one side of the control arms. I was very impressed that my welder could keep up with welding continously for as long as it took me. I'll do the other side too.

this

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by cstm68

this

rigidity... Stiffens up the arm a bit...
At least thats my guess.

[68 short step]

looking good, did you ever tell us what fuel injected engine your going with?
sorry if i missed it.. keep up the work... once everything is painted and ready to be re-assembled thats when it starts to pay off...

[Ackattack]

Originally Posted by 68 short step

looking good, did you ever tell us what fuel injected engine your going with?
sorry if i missed it.. keep up the work... once everything is painted and ready to be re-assembled thats when it starts to pay off...

GenIII of some sorts. Probably an LS1. I actually bought a 98 Trans Am for the engine and tranny, but I got such a good deal on the car, I'm now instead going to sell it and hopefully make enough on it to buy an engine/tranny outright.....of course I also have a line on a totalled camaro that I may get....we'll see.

[Frizzle Fry]

Looking good. Wish I could take my 69 down to that level. Some day it'll get a frame off. Go for an LS2

[ChevyDude]

Looks goood!!!! I'm a bit behind ya on my 68'. But will be sandblasting soon! I'll be watching your build!!! Keep up the good work.

[RoadDog]

I want one!!
Looks like Ack had a good mentor!!

[Ackattack]

Progress has been slow, I did manage to get the rest of the control arms welded together and started painting the engine crossmember.

I also started practicing shaving the drip rails on the "extra" cab I have.http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=256827

Hopefully I'll get to some welding on it this week.

[Ronin8451]

Looks like a nice project ! Just to let you know, you can re-use that sand over and over if you screen out the big chunks before pouring it back into the pressure pot . We use Aluminum oxide here at work on aircraft and oilfield parts, but it works the same. Just chunk it after it gets so fine it doesn't cut anymore. All the sand does is break down into finer and finer grit as you go. Good luck on the project !

Rick

[Ackattack]

I know I could reuse the sand, but it took to long to screen it, so I just bought more....my time is worth more than the cost of a bag of sand.

I did make a deal on a 5.3L engine yesterday, basically the long block. Then I found a harness and computer.

Still going to need an intake, throttle body, and maf. I also started researching wire harness modifications. The harnesses (2 of them) are for throttle by wire throttle bodyies, but I think I'm going to switch to a regular cable actuated, so I'll have to do some wiring and programing mods.

Oh, and then I was reading about boring the 5.3L out to 5.7L. I'll probably do that once I get the truck on the road. I'll get it all running and trouble shoot with it in its stock configuration, then pull the engine back out for modifications

[Palf70Step]

This will be an interesting one to watch. I love your truck as a LWB, can't wait to see it shrunk down.

[Ackattack]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

This will be an interesting one to watch. I love your truck as a LWB, can't wait to see it shrunk down.

Hey thanks

Plans have changed, the LWB is for sale so you better just buy it....just going with a straight SWB.

[Ackattack]

As some of you may be aware, I'm putting a 5.3L into the 68 chevy pickup

Well, mad a deal for the 5.3L long block, but it does not include the intake, tb, fuel rails, ecm or computer.

So I found a guy on the "performance truck" part of LS1tech that has the wiring harness and ECM I need. In fact he is sending me two wiring harnesses. One from a truck with a 4L80E and one from a 4L60E. I wasn't aware at the time that I made the deal with mark, but the trucks are drive by wire like the corvettes are. I thought and pondered and read about my options. I finally decided to go with drive by wire. For a few reasons. One the wiring harness is already set up for it, and then I can easily do cruise control. It just so happens that the same guy with the harnesses aslo had an intake/thottle body/ and fuel rail off the same truck so he's sending that too.

The other parts needed to run "drive by wire" are a gas pedal assembly with the little reostat, a TAC box (controls the throttle I guess) and the wires that go between the two. So this morning I scored those two things a salvage yard.

The only other part I still need for the engine to run is a MAF. I believe the trucks use a 5 wire one though. Have to do some checking.

I then went to another salvage yard (since it's my day off and I don't get the chance to go real often) Anyways for the 68, I need a hood, grill, all the bracketry for the hood release, and hood hinges. I found a truck that had all this stuff on it and it is in great condition. There's a small dent in the hood, and a small dent in the grill, but otherwise they're almost perfect. No rust or anything. I figure for the $135 buck I spent on this stuff, it would have cost me about $1000 for new parts (not to mention shipping)

The only other parts I was on the look out for was an original AM radio, but they wanted $50 for that...not worth it, and a set up LT1 camaro rear brake calipers. Oh well, maybe next time.

[Ackattack]

Picked up the engine yesterday. It has corvette accessories on it, which look like they'll fit no problem. Although I don't have the A/C compressor bracket/pulley set up yet....working on that though.

It also has a corvette oil pan on it. Think I'll have to find a truck oil pan.







and here's the grill I got

[Ackattack]

ASSEMBLY HAS BEGAN!!!!!
Though its not much, I did get the front engine cross member bolted in today. My first piece of re-assembly.





I also got the A/C bracket that I needed (though I have to get a pulley for it) so I decided to see if it was going to clear the frame rails.







looks like I'll have to notch out the drivers side frame rail to clear the power steering pulley. It looks like the A/C compressor will fit down into the frame rail. But, I don't have my engine stands or engine mounts yet, so it's kinda hard to tell for sure if I'll be able to slide it in there while its hanging on the cherry picker.

[pcmcobra]

s&p does have a "high side" a/c relocating bracket kit. Comes with a belt also, I think. As with all from s&p it's pricey.