My first project... 1968 GMC lwb fleetside

[Odaroloc]

Awesome work!

[Sicksty8]

Got a surprise package today! I wasn't expecting this but I got the package I ordered last last week with the rest of my front end parts. So I got down to business.

Had a great time working with my brother putting it all together (I'm the one in the toque). Packing bearings was the least favorite part even wearing gloves. For some reason I just hate having that much grease on my hands. Anyways I got the rotors on but I couldn't put the callipers on cause I didn't have any high temp grease for calliper pins. I'll do that tomorrow oh well.

Big milestone today being that I put it on it's 2 front tires for the first time in over half a year! Super happy with where it's going so far. Hopefully I can get the rear arms done before Christmas and have this thing rolled out and the cab in its place.

[Advanced Design]

Looke really good!

[mooseknuckles]

lookin good, great progress!

[Sicksty8]

This week was a pretty damn good week. I went shopping and got all the window rubbers and door seals, stainless sill plates all my light lenses, rear bumper and everything affiliated with it. Front bumper and brackets are on order. I'm getting second thoughts on the front bumper, My parts guy showed me a smoothie bumper and it started me thinking. Looks damn good expecially with a GMC front end. But one problem, in Manitoba you need to have a front plate and the last thing I want is to have it sitting in the window. I'll have to make a decision but any feedback would be awesome.

That aside, I started work on fixing the rusty fenders. This is the first time I attempted bodywork and I have to say it turned out better than I thought it would. I'm gonna need a lot more practice with the hammer and dolly but it'll get there. Still gotta do the passenger side but that'll be tomorrow.

[Odaroloc]

Nice!

[Sicksty8]

Was trying to make some room in the shop today so I decided to start doing the engine harness. I broke the harness down into seperate circuits so I can reroute the whole thing. Trying to hide it the best I can. I turned the injectors in and wired everything under the fuel rails. The harness will be going through the firewall and I'm thinking of mounting the PCM either under the glove box or up near the pedals. I'll finish it off with painless braided loom.

[Odaroloc]

Sweet! Im terrible at wiring and electrical lol, took me a couple days to figure out how to wire a couple toggle switches for like fans and fuel pump in my Camaro lol

[Sicksty8]

Originally Posted by Odaroloc

Sweet! Im terrible at wiring and electrical lol, took me a couple days to figure out how to wire a couple toggle switches for like fans and fuel pump in my Camaro lol

Haha yeah I know what you mean. I'm not the greatest at wiring but I know my stuff, at least enough to get the job done. I'll be redoing all the wiring in the rest of the truck as well so I'll need the practice.

[Sicksty8]

I was off work today and decided to finish tidying the harness rework up just have to add the coil and maf connectors. Speaking of, made me a couple coil relocation brackets. Good thing for CAD, cardboard aided design worked nice and I'm hoping they'll clear the firewall.

[SaltyC20]

Those coil mounts look cool. Great build.

[Odaroloc]

Awesome! Nice job man!

[Sicksty8]

Originally Posted by SaltyC20

Those coil mounts look cool. Great build.

Originally Posted by Odaroloc

Awesome! Nice job man!

Thanks guys!

After countless grueling hours of cutting, soldering, shrink wrapping, then repeating many times over I finished the coil pack harnesses. I can say it was quite a pain to make it look good but the final product was well worth it.

[71Sleeper]

I think it turned out great! I just might steal this one.

[Sicksty8]

Originally Posted by 71Sleeper

I think it turned out great! I just might steal this one.

Thanks! Go for it! If you end up figuring out an even better, cleaner way let me know because I'm still not sure if this will clear the firewall.

I picked up a pair of 0 mile ls3 manifolds on the cheap today from a local LS swap shop and they fit a million times better than the stock truck manifolds. The clear all the way around with plenty of room over the engine stands. These are the best fitting factory available manifolds I can find and I'm overall very impressed with them. Time to get the exhaust routed

[Metaldoc]

[QUOTE=Sicksty8;7465633]Thanks! Go for it! If you end up figuring out an even better, cleaner way let me know because I'm still not sure if this will clear the firewall.

I was going to ask if you checked for clearance to the firewall, your engine mounts are in the front holes on the frame so that will add more room at the firewall. I've got about 3-4 inches gap, but the engine is the old 283 and it looks to be in the same location as your install. Hope it works they look good and nice score on the manifolds

[Sicksty8]

[quote=Metaldoc;7466060]

Originally Posted by Sicksty8

Thanks! Go for it! If you end up figuring out an even better, cleaner way let me know because I'm still not sure if this will clear the firewall.

I was going to ask if you checked for clearance to the firewall, your engine mounts are in the front holes on the frame so that will add more room at the firewall. I've got about 3-4 inches gap, but the engine is the old 283 and it looks to be in the same location as your install. Hope it works they look good and nice score on the manifolds

I haven't lowered the body on since it came off in april I'm using holley 0.5" forward conversion mounts on the stock V8 towers meaning the bellhousing flange is moved forward s if you've got 3-4" then I think I should be good. Thanks! I was very lucky to find them for the price I did!

[Sicksty8]

The last couple of days I decided to shave the valve covers and I gotta say I like them. Costed me a whopping $50 which is even better. It's not the first thing you'll notice but it was well worth it

[Sicksty8]

Got most of the exhaust done today. Still not sure about where they'll exit but thats for another day. That's about it for now

[Sicksty8]

Started the floor replacement today. I got both rockers off but thats about it. I broke the spot weld bit so I cut it short today.

I believe there is supposed to be a rocker panel and a cab corner or two on there. Oh well

[Odaroloc]

Very nice, keep it up

[Metaldoc]

Originally Posted by Sicksty8

Started the floor replacement today. I got both rockers off but thats about it. I broke the spot weld bit so I cut it short today.

I believe there is supposed to be a rocker panel and a cab corner or two on there. Oh well

I have never used a spot weld bit, I just use a 5/16 drill bit resharpened to a much flatter profile like 10 deg . This way I can reuse the drill over and over again, just resharpen. Keep at it looks good

[Sicksty8]

Originally Posted by Odaroloc

Very nice, keep it up

Thanks

Originally Posted by Metaldoc

I have never used a spot weld bit, I just use a 5/16 drill bit resharpened to a much flatter profile like 10 deg . This way I can reuse the drill over and over again, just resharpen. Keep at it looks good

Thanks I'll have to try that it's probably a lot cheaper than buying $50 spot weld bits after I mangle them

[b.sharp]

I like the relocation of the coil packs but it seems they will be very hard to replace once the body is back on. No room to reach the top one or get a ratchet/socket on the bolts due to the firewall. Just an observation but they look great without a cab in the way.

[Sicksty8]

Originally Posted by b.sharp

I like the relocation of the coil packs but it seems they will be very hard to replace once the body is back on. No room to reach the top one or get a ratchet/socket on the bolts due to the firewall. Just an observation but they look great without a cab in the way.

Yeah I kinda though of that too but well see because I'm not even sure they'll clear the firewall. If they do then I'll just hope and pray they don't have to be replaced