47-55.1 My 53 GMC 3/4 ton project

[Nima]

More pictures!
I am trying to get the engine as far back as I can.

[8man]

That'll work!

[Rickysnickers]

Nice job on the engine mount!! Looks good.

[dsraven]

Have you mocked up exhaust manifolds or headers with the steering box in place? Plan to use original box or maybe a power unit from a donor?

[Nima]

Thank you guys.
No, I have not mocked up the exhaust. I made the mistake and pulled the engine out to finish the front end. I know there are some clearance issues based on what I read on the other build threads. I am hoping having the engine as far back may help a little.
The steering issue in regards to clearance is just wait and see until I put the engine and exhaust back in. I have heard some people move the steering box to the side a little ,have not seen any pictures unfortunately. It seems being 3/4 ton truck doesn't have any aftermarket support that I know of and I have been told 3/4 and 1/2 ton steering linkage (not the box) is different. I Plan to use an electric power steering conversion kit from junk yard (have I mentioned that I love to finish my projects with recycled parts) if I end up using the current box. I am open to all suggestions.
The plan for now is getting the firewall ready for engine to drop in for final time, I am running the engine on my home build engine stand to be sure it is okay. I will run seafoam in it and I change the oil couple of times and then I pull the heads off and replace just about any gaskets.
Sorry, this picture came out blurry!!
Cheers

[dsraven]

Wondering if you plan to go through the whole engine. If not you may want to investigate using any type of internal engine cleaner. I have seen guys use a high detergent additive and shortly after the engine was burning oil like crazy.

[Nima]

Originally Posted by dsraven

Wondering if you plan to go through the whole engine. If not you may want to investigate using any type of internal engine cleaner. I have seen guys use a high detergent additive and shortly after the engine was burning oil like crazy.

I really don't plan ( and hoping not) to go through the engine. I run the seafoam once and then change the oil and run the engine for a little, maybe the total of 45-60 minutes on my stand, and then check the compression. If my oil pressure is okay and compression holds up, I just take the heads and oil pan off for good cleaning and replacing the gaskets, rear main seal and the water pump.
That is the extend of my skill and knowledge in the engine department. I never rebuild an engine before.

[Nima]

I did the transmission tunnel couple of weeks ago. I am going to use a 4L60E which came the engine and I am debating about doing a minor rebuild/refresh on it. I made the tranny tunnel a little bigger than it needs to be at this point with the idea of possible future 4l80 swap if I want to use the truck for towing short distances around the area.

[Nima]

Now, getting the firewall ready. I cannot work fast enough to get the engine and tranny back in the truck to work on steering and exhaust which seems to be a challenge specially in 3/4 ton which doesn't have as much aftermarket support. I am still debating between floor shift and column shift. My preference is column shift since I love open floor space but I am concern about what I have been reading about the space issue after dropping a V8. Floor shift seems to make the thing a lot easier. I would appreciate your ideas.

[Nima]

Okay, finally my thread caught up with present time.
I have been working at few different fronts. Engine ran well on the stand and now it is time for cleanup.
One issue I have is finding an 8 lug wheels which doesn't rub against the tire rod. I want to stay with 16" wheel and the least BS that I have found online is 4" for an 8 lug 16" wheel, crossing my fingers.

[dsraven]

cross member ideas?

[Nima]

Originally Posted by dsraven

cross member ideas?

Sorry, been too busy around the house and Thanksgiving.
I made this engine crossmember prototype to get thing where I want it. I was hoping to get a tube bender and make a nice from this one since it locates the engine where I want it. I like this crossmember type engine mounts since I can move things forward, backward and also, I have clearance issue with headers and steering box, I can move or offset the engine to one side. Originally, I ordered a tubular engine and transmission mounts from classic industries which have been on backorder.

[Nima]

Basically, I have been doing some cleaning and beatifying, at least my version of it!

[Nima]

Also, I got a chance to play around few ideas for gas pedal type and electric power steering while the paint was drying

[Nima]

Engine is back together, and I rebuilt the engine mounts.

[Nima]

Finally, I got the classic industries engine and tranny crossmembers. They were on backorder for a while. Now that I have it, I think I like my crossmember with clamshell mounts better. They seem a lot beefier than what I got from classic industries.
Also, I covered most of the holes on firewall with a piece of aluminum sheet that I had laid around. It looks different! I covered the firewall with high temp under the hood head and sound insulator and then I covered it using aluminum sheet. I thought this might be more effective since the aluminum side reflect the head away from the cab, hopefully.

[Nima]

Time for tranny.

[6DoF]

yeah, i'd say your mount has quite a bit more beef than the CI one. what mounts was the CI piece using?

[8man]

I like the firewall.

I wish I knew about transmissions. I have a 700R4 that needs a rebuild.

[NorCalGal]

It’s like anything else Robert, take it apart then put it back together. I remember the first time I took one apart, I was thinking uh oh…….but I bought a book and figured it out.

[dsraven]

my last auto trans rebuild was a 700r4 but that was a few years back. I had a manual from atsg on that specific model. likely still available. try your local auto trans parts supplier or online. it was very detailed. maybe if your tans is pooched anyway the rebuild will be a learning tool and you will see what makes it tick inside. if it works out you have a rebuilt trans from it all. if it doesn't then you were only out a few bucks for parts and some time.

[dsraven]

heres a link to a video, never watched it but maybe somebody could comment.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/th...ssion-rebuild/

nima, you are sure coming along quickly. nice work. did you make the firewall emblem? bead roller?

[Nima]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

yeah, i'd say your mount has quite a bit more beef than the CI one. what mounts was the CI piece using?

It is their own relabeled in a plastic bag. Not a name brand.

Originally Posted by 8man

I like the firewall.

I wish I knew about transmissions. I have a 700R4 that needs a rebuild.

I thought to make something different with firewall!
This is my second attempt at 4L60E. First one was a year ago and it was a failure(!!) but I have some clues as what I may have done wrong. I have a book and also transmissionbench.com has very nice videos for 4L60E. I believe 700R is pretty much the same. I don't know if this transmission has any issues or not. So far the inside looks okay but I am changing all the seals and clutches anyways.

Originally Posted by dsraven

heres a link to a video, never watched it but maybe somebody could comment.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/th...ssion-rebuild/

nima, you are sure coming along quickly. nice work. did you make the firewall emblem? bead roller?

Thanks.
The emblem on firewall was made by just using a punch. Initially I thought I am going to use solid rivets instead of screws around the boarder and then use them to make the emblem. When I made the drawing and use the punch to drill holes for the rivets, I thought it looked nice the way it was with a lot less work! Then I decided to just use SS screws for the boarder, besides I needed additional hand for doing the rivets which I don't have.

[Nima]

So, I was about to put the tranny back together and I was debating about changing the case bushing since it didn't look bad but then I decided to change it anyways since I already had one in the rebuild kit, why not? Well, have you had those feelings that you are debating about doing something or not since it is not really needed but then you say "why not" and then, that little thing become a headache and comes back at you and bite you in the rear! I messed up the new case bushing when I was trying to drive it in. You can't buy this thing from local car part store. I ordered couple online and of course the shipment has getting delayed repeatedly by Fedex (what a poor service they are offering these days!).
So, I switched gear. I painted inside the cap:

[Nima]

Nest, I installed the brake booster and pedal mounting bracket. I also fiddled with gas pedal options and locations. It seems I have to cut and reposition the lower section of the pedal but first I need to find a brake pedal. Where do you buy these pedals? I have searched and came empty handed.