Here we go, 70 C-20 with a 5.3

[oteixeira]

Today I started to put things back together. I have to say it is a weird feeling! By the way, I did put the rest of the bolts in after these pics were taken, in case you were wondering.





Next is to install the tie rods, motor mounts, and figure out new front brake lines, turns out the old ones don't work at all for this front end.

Orlando

[oteixeira]

Well,

Time for another update. I have the entire front end back together, minus the inner tie rods (so the entire tie rods are missing in the pics). I went to work on trying to do something with all of the scaling rust on the back end. I did a lot of wheel work, and then sprayed what was left with a spray on rust converter. I included one picture of that as well. Once the tie rod ends I ordered come in (on the 9th) I will have that finished. I just ordered a MIG welder, so wish me luck. I have never MIG welded before but I figure this will be a good time to learn, with the amount of rusty panels and other things I need to plug as I move the tank and go with aftermarket A/C.







Orlando

[drman929]

Hurry up and get that motor in there! I absolutely love mine!! I don't think I'll be able to go back to a carbed engine ever again!

[oteixeira]

drman,

I am so tempted, but I figured while I had it apart, I needed to do some of this work, the frame is really rusting up, so this is something that I hope will help it last as long as the engine. One of my trailing arms is flaking like a damn pilsbury biscuit, so I guess I have to add those to my list of parts to get as well.

Orlando

[va_tlc]

looking great, glad that you are not afraid to tackle such a job,i bet it will be sweet when its all finished up.

[drman929]

Yeah, I did a quick cleanup too, but I had already done a pretty thorough cleanup a year before...haha. Get a new trailing arm, cause you'll definitely need it with the new power!

[oteixeira]

Haven't posted in a while. Just thought I would follow up. I am saving up spare change for new trailing arms and a disc conversion for the rear. In the mean time I went back to the front and started working on the firewall. Here are some pictures:






I know I don't work nearly as fast as some other guys, so I understand if you are like "what the heck, this guy fell off the face of the earth".

Orlando

[Matt72blaze]

nice man! did that crossmember just bolt in? and you say it was from an 80's burb?

thanks!
matt

[oteixeira]

It was a '78 burb and it bolted right in except for just one hole. One other hole needed to be slightly elongated. It was about as straight forward as I have ever done.


Orlando

[71cadc10]

starting to look like a 'show truck' to me ! Keep it up I would like to see the motor mounted. I'm planning to use the same stands and mounts you have on yours in the pic to mount a 6.0L

[oteixeira]

I go slow! Here it is, I am done, it's not show, but it's way better go then it was...



Orlando

[oteixeira]

Holy crap I need to update this, let me get some pictures on here for you. In the last while I have put the motor in, the rad support is back in, the driver inner fender is there. Custom mounted a jeep battery box so I can use the original air box from the motor, mounted the fuse box and computer, and started work on the A/C pass through block.













More to come.

Orlando

[oteixeira]

As soon as the camera is charged I will show y'all what I played with this week...

Orlando

[1LoC10]

coming along great

[GCncsuHD]

Nice work, good to see another NC 5.3 conversion. Hope mine doesn't take this long though, the better half gave an ultimatum for it to be done by September for our wedding.

Where did you pick the 5.3 up at? I've gathered almost all the parts I need except the actual engine, which I'm trying to get complete with all accessories, all the yards around here seem to scrap all the accessories and brackets and sell just the long blocks. (Should have just convinced my mom her 02 Tahoe with the 5.3 was totaled last year when she wrecked it, instead of fixing it for her)

[oteixeira]

GC,

I got it from Youngs auto salvage. Look on car-part.com, you have to really push them, they just want to tear the engine out and hand it to you. I made it very clear that I wanted all the wires, computer boxes, etc. Another hang up is you should go get some 98 F-body exhaust manifolds. The truck ones I needed to cut the frame up to make fit. I am going to box in around it, but if I had it to do over again I would have just got the other manifolds.

PS: I wanted it done quicker too, but it turned into basically a frame off rebuild (the cab is coming off soon for a new floor, cab corners, and rockers). If I just needed to put in a motor I am guessing about one month with the silly add on stuff I did (like moving the battery).

Orlando

[tim21391]

hey man i got faith in you to do that floor.. if you can weld up the firewall like that and get it lookin good and also do that front end and motor swap. i think you will have no problem doin the floor.. ids just fab up some braces before u cut it all out since your doin the complete floor so the cab dont twist on you

[oteixeira]

Tim,

That was the first thing I was thinking, lots of money on some box metal or something. I am guessing that I need to go forward and back, and corner to corner just to keep it all safe. That is why I was hoping to find a thread about someone else doing it, so I could see the procedure they used.

Orlando

[tim21391]

i have seen plenty out there that had to do hole floor.. maybe put out a thread askin for pics.. ive seen plenty of the last few months i just forgot the names and what not

[oteixeira]

Tim, I found one that is pretty darn nice. Thanks,

Orlando

[oteixeira]

OK, while we are waiting on the floor and corners, we decided to put the entire rear of the truck back together. I blew it apart because I needed "new to me" trailing arms, I ended up using all new hardware from LMC, and got brand new springs as well. The new shocks and my old but prettier track-bar will go back on tomorrow, then she'll be a roller again. We also put the gas filler panel in and started to grind on it.

[Dasani]

Very nice, take notes on the 5.3 install. I may need some help in a few months!

Tom

[oteixeira]

Well, this morning was spent getting her ready for doing the floor, corners, and rockers. Tom, you will notice a terrible welding job on the part you sent me, worked out great, just need to clean it up some.

Doors off:


Thank God, just some surface rust for once!!


Temp supports on both sides:




Damn, never realized the floor was that big!! It's like Christmas!!

[oteixeira]

And a couple more:

Again, just surface rust, and look, in the distance, it's that part I got from Tom! Thanks again man.


Looks ok right?? All four corners were shot in the cab, all the supports were like paper when I poked at them, and there was a 2 inch crack coming out of the area where the front passenger side mount bolt is...At least it will make some good metal sheet if I need to make a panel somewhere...





That all for now, I know it doesn't seem to exciting, but I feel like I am at least moving forward.

[smokinstang70]

may have missed it in your thread.. but where did you get your fuel tank from?
Any complaints? anything you would have done differently so far?

Thanks