Lost My 65

[LostMy65]

[Palf70Step]

I like that look

[LostMy65]

Getting ready for the auto swap.
Pressure washed the frame.
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Used my leaf blower to dry it off, then pulled it back into the barn.
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[66-PMD-GMC]

�� cool update

[66-PMD-GMC]

What is the casting date on the block?

[LostMy65]

Where would I find that?

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

Where would I find that?

The other side of the block opposite the casting number. . A letter and 3 numbers

[LostMy65]

Ok,
I'll check tomorrow.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Letter is month.. then a 2 digit day.. then the year digit..
Example E216 would be May 21 66.. since the block is a 60s we know 6 is 66.. :-D

[LostMy65]

I had to go look.
G76 perhaps?

[66-PMD-GMC]

I confuse Pontiac info with chevy sometimes.
This is from a chevy site.
Casting Date*
Small block casting date is located on driver side rear of block on flange forward of bellhousing. Big block on the right side of engine above the oil pan rails.

Casting Date Example: E038*- (E = Month, 03 = Day, 8 = Last digit of model year (1978)).

Month: A = Jan, B = Feb, C = Mar, D = Apr, E = May, F = Jun, G = July, H = Aug, I = Sep, J = Oct, K = Nov, L = Dec

[LostMy65]

Ready to cut out the bellhousing cross member.
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[LostMy65]

Also got my Power Steering Box mounted.
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[LostMy65]

I've been spending a lot of time in the 'Engine & Drivetrain" section of the forums. I don't know much about automatic transmissions. I bought a summit th350 from a local guy. Included was the flexplate and torque converter. As I started mocking things up, I noticed the flexplate he included wasn't going to work. Fortunately I still had the larger flexplate left over from the 79 donor I had from my 66 service truck build.

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From my research in these forums I learned depending on which flexplate you needed, determined what starter you needed. Fortunately I had the correct starter also.
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Next I started reading up on torque converters. I first checked to see if the torque converter he including would bolt up to my larger (14") flexplate. It did.
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So now my only concern/question is what stall torque converter do I have.
I'm going to take my chances and see how it goes.
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I've also been reading... related to the stall of the torque converter is my engine/cam. My engine has quite a lope to it, and it requires premium octane.

[Captainfab]

What rpm does your engine like to idle at?

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

What rpm does your engine like to idle at?

I really don't know.
I got the starter and flexplate mounted today.
Cranked it over just to see if all was good.
Tomorrow I plan on mounting the radiator support and radiator to start it up and run it for a short time.
I'll hook the tachometer up also and see what idle is.

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by captainfab

what rpm does your engine like to idle at?

750-1000

[Captainfab]

It sounds like you need a 22-2400 stall converter.

Originally Posted by LostMy65

750-1000

[LostMy65]

When I poured the slab in my pole barn to have a clean dry area to work on my truck, I didn't consider the height of the loft above. Fortunately I had only tacked the sheathing down. So I pulled up a center section of the sheathing, rearranged the joists, and now i have an area that I can hoist things through.
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[LostMy65]

So, I was mocking up the Th350 so I could figure up my driveshaft length, and as many times as I checked, I never really felt comfortable getting a driveshaft made/shortened for the Ho32 knowing I eventually will be swapping it out for a 12-Bolt. Although it's only around 5/8" difference, I figured I might as well go ahead and do that swap now also.
I didn't want to dig this far into it at this time, but it just makes more sense to do it all now.

[Palf70Step]

I would go ahead and do the swap now. No use redoing the shaft twice.

BTW I think your idle is a bit high. mine is around 500

[LostMy65]

Yep, doing it now.
That's the 12-Bolt sitting behind the bed.
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Too many of the upgrades that I've been wanting to do, all make sense to do now while I have it tore down.
As I mentioned before, I don't like taking on too much for fear 'life' will get in the way and the truck sits out there torn apart.

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

Yep, doing it now.
That's the 12-Bolt sitting behind the bed.
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Too many of the upgrades that I've been wanting to do, all make sense to do now while I have it tore down.
As I mentioned before, I don't like taking on too much for fear 'life' will get in the way and the truck sits out there torn apart.

That kinda happened to me, but I agree that I'd go ahead with that swap as well while you're there.

[66-PMD-GMC]

The key to getting that project done.... in focused steps.. break it down into bite sized chunks. I focus my efforts on my current project by setting up 6 hours every Sunday morning with 1 or 2 goals in mind.. since doing this.. I've made significant progress.

[LostMy65]

Got Captainfab's axle perches/saddles mocked up today.
I approached it very similar to how I did the 14-bolt on my 3/4 ton service box truck.
I propped up the back end - bracing the trailing arms with 2x6 wood members. Removed the Ho32, and then made a template out of plywood (wafer board) - marking the existing axle perch holes. Then I lined my template up under the 12-Bolt. I was hoping I wasn't going to have to remove the existing perches from the 12-Bolt.
As you can see from the pics; I pretty much have Captainfab's axle perches slapped up against the existing 12-Bolt perches. I'll tac them on and then test fit it before welding them on permanently.
The pinion angle will remain the same.
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