72 K30 Build

[7dee2]

The goal was to have the oil pan bolted on but had the wrong oil pump pickup. While we’re waiting for a new pickup to arrive it’s a good time to paint.

[7dee2]

Picked up the seats from the upholstery shop and they did a really nice job. We also snagged another 4 bolt 454 block for our poor neglected Camaro project.

[swamp rat]

Nice!

[First c10]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

nice!

x2

[7dee2]

Thanks you guys!


Pickup arrived and pan is on, first time trying a one piece oil pan gasket we will see how well that works out. Had to use ¼” longer bolts at the timing chain cover and I read somewhere a daub of silicone in the four corners and you are good to go.

I was a little concerned that if I painted this Summit dampener you couldn’t read the degree marks. Thought about just notching it at zero and painting it anyway but after taking some thinner on a rag to one of the markings I found they’re on there really well. Decided to just clear it and leave the metal finish.

[First c10]

Looks like the same kind/type gasket I used on the SBC. I bought a Mr gasket oil pan bolt set and it had 4 longer bolts, 2 front bolts at the timing chain cover and 2 and the rear main seal.

[7dee2]

The front ¼-20x3/8 bolts were so short with the factory pan they could not reach the cover at all. The rest of the BB set is 5/16-18x5/8 and they all grabbed thread well enough to hold 25-30 lbs. hopefully they stay put!


Our intake did clean up good enough for me not to paint it, also installed a FlowKooler water pump and will use the thermostat they sell also. We’ve had heating issues in the past with some of our big blocks and I can tell you these water pumps work really well.

[First c10]

Hey Brett I have the same type rockers on the SBC I am putting in Jr. (Roller tips I think mine were ProForms)
I need to find that little Vacuum fitting that wye's on your intake. Where did you find it?

[7dee2]

The rockers are part of the Comp Cams kit, we got all their stuff even push rod guide plates, the dist. gear and fuel pump push rod. I'm guessing it’s an original factory fitting that came on our 72 402 and was moved to this intake when they swapped it on that motor. Back in the day Corvette and the truck line shared many parts so one of my favorite vendors is Paragon. Here’s a link to their vacuum fittings section, I think it would be their product# 1362. https://www.paragoncorvette.com/sear...Vacuum+Fitting

Hey looky there, some orange did make it even if only temporarily! Time to take it off the engine stand and mate it to the trans. I finally opened the box to get a look at our recon low stall converter. It’s almost ready to drop it in the chassis.

[First c10]

hey Brett thanks for the link. they have many configurations. motor looks about ready to drop in!!!

[Dieselwrencher]

It's looking great! Keep at it!

[mjensen]

Wow, I go away for a month and come back to some serious progress!!!

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by First c10

hey Brett thanks for the link. they have many configurations. motor looks about ready to drop in!!!

No problem Scott hope that helps, and yep that’s the update for today.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

It's looking great! Keep at it!

Thanks Ryan!

Originally Posted by mjensen

Wow, I go away for a month and come back to some serious progress!!!

Hey Mike, thanks glad your back, we have made some progress lately.



It’s in there.

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

No problem Scott hope that helps, and yep that’s the update for today.

It’s in there.

The biggest problem I see with this is that you have to put a cab on top of it... so pretty!

[7dee2]

Thanks Jim and congrats to you on your new truck buddy it’s a looker!


Took a little gas to clean up the transfer case and all that black paint just fell off (jk all Sunday afternoon with a tooth brush is more like it)? Man that was lucky (not)! Since we didn’t go orange on the block we didn’t go red for the TC either, kind of have a black and cast iron gray thing going.

I don’t know if I mentioned this before but our transfer case came in but was not the original to our donor 84 K3500. The cast date is 3/22/71 and it also carries a tag on the PTO cover that is dated 5/6/71 so it looks like it’s found its way back into a correct generation truck. And yes that is a piece of speedo cable stuck in the speedo gear.

[First c10]

Looking good Brett,
That motor in that looks huge even with the heavy running gear.....

I have a question as I have 2 transmission cross members. One is like the one you are using(from an 86 burb) and the other has a more of a drop(original 68 from the truck). How did you know which one to use?

[7dee2]

Thanks Scott, the Longhorn frame is kind of unique in that its section height is at its widest in that area (kind of pregnant). If we had used the gen2 correct ½ or ¾ ton TC cross member it would have needed to mount to a lower support pedestal to maintain the correct factory height or angle, same as GM originally did with the auto trans cross members in this frame. During mockup we figured this out that they both land in approximately the same place if the gen2 member is mounted under the upper flange and the later gen3 is mounted below the lower flange. So our decision was made it would be much easier and cleaner to use the later gen3 cross member. Using a gen2 ½ or ¾ ton frame I would think you would need to shim the gen3 cross member down some due to the section height of those frames to achieve the same angle which is more critical to carbureted applications.



A sling and cherry picker makes short work with the cab out of way.

[First c10]

Great information Brett thank you! I do have both gen crossmembers. One thing I noticed I will have to remove the carrier bearing drop bracket as it will get a 1 piece drive line when completed and is in the way.

Will you be using a 1 piece driveline? if so how long will it be in that frame? the hulk build drive line was 48 1/2" c to c of ujoints.

[7dee2]

Yep a one piece driveline is still our plan and if we were going to stop at the transfer case it would be about 67" c to c! I think our only hope to get any kind of gas mileage is the gear change we did and a Gear Vendors OD unit. The OD is unit 12 1/4" and utilizes a slip yoke it also replaces the 205 tail housing with an adaptor. My guess is we will end up around 52 ish when all is said and done.


Here’s a fuss bucket maneuver, been thinking we’d run spark plug shields just because they'll give a factory look and I happen to have 6 originals off the 402. They don’t repro these but the ones GM sells are kind of close especially with a little work. Going to run them in the front right position under the A/C compressor were you can’t see them anyway, told yah fuss bucket!

[First c10]

Quite over here HAHAHA!!
After installing the ram horns I may have to fab up some sort of shield like you have.

[swamp rat]

Nice work, keep at it!

[7dee2]

Been a little side tracked lately so we put the K30 on hold for a couple of weeks.

[flashed]

Im ready to see more when you get ready .

[First c10]

Hope all is well....

[7dee2]

No worries, Blue my C30 has decided it needs some maintenance (jealous of the K30 ), Mrs.7dee2 is loading me up with honey do’s and one of my boy’s is moving again so just life taking over.