Project Burro Viejo

[mcbassin]

Very nice progress!

[steinepstein]

Started chopping up the frame and installing the PB mild notches. As installed, I'm off by 1/4"...tough finding the exact center with the notches, but not bad. I'll be doing a little more cutting to get it squared up this weekend. Looks like I also installed the crossmember in the forward position and it needs to go to the rear position. I guess I should have mocked up first...chalk it down as a lesson learned...more painting to come!

I also dropped my Entropytec radiator off at Rad Rides, they welded some brackets on it and it will be hard mounted to the radiator/frame brace, excited to see the outcome, I'll post pics when I pick it up.

[mcbassin]

That frame is going to be sweet with all the P/B bling. Sorry to hear of your 1/4" error. No big deal it's just metal, right. BTW, cool score with the Hurst shifter! Keep the pictures coming!

[VA72C10]

Progress is looking good!

[steinepstein]

Had some parts made a for a custom panhard bar setup. Using 1.75" DOM 0.120 wall tubing for the crossmembers. The panhard mount is basically an extended ECE lowered shock mount. I could have used the ECE kit but I wanted to bar to run parallel to the rearend and stay level to the axle at ride height. So I will be making a bracket to keep the bar as low as possible, more to come...

[steinepstein]

I picked up this 4L80E for a nice price. Need to clean up and rebuild when I have some time. Should be a good backup if the 700R4 goes.

[mcbassin]

Very nice Progress! Looks like a good score on the 4l80 too!

[steinepstein]

Not too much going on, still working on the rear suspension, haven't got too much time off lately.

I also put the engine and tranny back in for fitment with the I-6 mounts. Engine seems a little high to me and the angle may be a little more than I want.....4 degrees, approx.

I put the 700r4 up for sale in the parts section, starting to think I want the 4L80e in there....since I have the hitch in the back. I still have some time until this thing is done and should probably do this stuff now!

[steinepstein]

I did pick up a LY6 from a local yard with 19,000 miles, for a good price.

I popped off the manifolds and oil pan to check things out a rotate the motor. Everything looks really good so far. I'm not going to tear down anymore than here, maybe a new cam, that's it. I need a harness, and front accessories to run it...something to do over winter.

Not sure what I'm gonna do with this right now, but they are making huge power with these things. Might do a T56 hooked up to this and retrofit something, partial to 60s Novas and Camaros.....

[steinepstein]

Before I start setting the rear shocks and panhard in place I need to properly set the instant center and pinion angle. Putting the cab back on and setting the correct ride height should get me there. I'd love to do a 26" front tire and 29" rear tire, but it's not looking so good...if you want the bed level. May look at a 28" tire and 29" rear.

These pictures are the 26" front tire flush to the wheel well.

[steinepstein]

The last picture of the rear end is the amount of travel with a 26" tire in the rear, very tight.

[kvn1011]

nice!!! i want to get the same motor, but the pricing has not been in my neiborhood!! love the build!!

[steinepstein]

In with the Rick's tank, out with the hitch.

If anyone wants to weld in this hitch and have a hidden hitch, I will send it to you free if you just pay for shipping.

I am looking for the original rear crossmember for a 68 GMC leaf spring setup....this one doesn't appear to fit correctly, probably from another style.

[steinepstein]

I had these lowering spacers fabbed up from 2x3 rectangular tubing. On the passenger side, I extended it and cut it at an angle and threaded the inside (simple explanation). My panhard bar will bolt into this and run parallel to the rear axle. On the other side, I will install a dropped bracket which will keep the panhard low and parallel....should improve handling.

[mcbassin]

Man that looks great, I will take the hitch if it doesn't cost too much to ship thanks!

[steinepstein]

McBassin,

It is a pretty heavy piece, I'm guessing $25-30 to ship. If this is ok, I will move forward.

Thanks,

Jon

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by steinepstein

McBassin,

It is a pretty heavy piece, I'm guessing $25-30 to ship. If this is ok, I will move forward.

Thanks,

Jon

Thanks Jon, I'm gonna pass for now. I forgot how heavy that thing is.

[steinepstein]

Got some goodies this week.

[steinepstein]

Thanks to Greg (lynnfield) for getting me the proper rear crossmember.

Now I can finish off the rest of the frame. The Rick's tank is pretty sweet.

[RCbowtie69]

Nice build!!!!

[VA72C10]

looking good!!!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Nice new goodies..

[steinepstein]

Started to "shave" the firewall. All of the electrical components will be mount up under the dash. I had some female threaded blinds made out of 3/4" solid round. You can see two of them attached to the MSD coil. They are being welded under the dash to mount the components, so no screws or bolts are coming out of the firewall.

[steinepstein]

Panhard bar mocked up.

[steinepstein]

Continuing to mount all the electrical components on the underside of the dash. My ECU (Motec) is going to mount above the radio, so I cut out the old speaker pass-through and will be tacking in a solid piece.

Credit to "bad bagged 68.5" on the inserts he made on page 15 of his build, great idea. I will also be shaving my dash and not running a dash pad, thanks! Awesome build by the way...