Project Suspended License: 71 C10 SWB LSx swap

[BigMike]

Nice build! I would LOVE to put an LS motor in my truck, then turbo to boost are you kidding me! Awesome. Next time you decide to "smolder" the tires take a video for all of us to enjoy

Mike

[mcbassin]

Awesome build! love the boost!

[Jon01]

I'm terrible at updating.
I pulled the front cover and all the piping off, added a -12 drain, now no more smoke.
All of the PB stuff arrived over a month ago - tubular rear components, Mild DM setup/rack/etc...
I'm going to try to get the rear stuff painted and stuck up under it this weekend if time allows - have to do the yard, tune a H/C Trans Am and I imagine the wife will want to do something.

[Low Elco]

Originally Posted by Jon01

Oh yeah? Tell me more if you don't mind.
The ratio on the stock box is pretty pathetic...like they took the manual box and didn't change the ratio when they added power to them. At highway speeds it's pretty sketchy.

Hey, sorry for not checkin' in. Chip @ Power Steering Services in Springfield, MO. Great work, reasonable price. I've had his work, very pleased.

http://www.powersteering.com/

[Low Elco]

Aw hell, you got a rack. Sorry!

[Jon01]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Aw hell, you got a rack. Sorry!

No worries man! Thanks for stopping back in!

I've had it back on the road for a couple of weeks now, as some of you may have seen on FB the rear tires are worse off.
Since some fun was had I decided to tear it back apart for rear suspension stuff.
Pulled the rearend and stuck it out of the way.

Then broke out the grinder and cut the old springs off and cut the bolts with a sawzall (retainer cup bolts were rusted solid).


I eyeballed the trailing arm x-member hard and decided it's going to really suck grinding out all 16 of those rivets laying on my back so it can wait for tomorrow or Thursday night.

Pissed off wife:


It's going to get the static drop stuff for now, I may go air over the winter, we'll see how I like the stance and ride.
I'm excited to get the better parts on the rear and have new exhaust put on. Open down pipe is fun around town but I like taking this thing on road trips, I imagine it'd get old after 20-30 miles.

[Jon01]

Didn't accomplish much Wednesday or yesterday nights. I got rid of both bumpstops, canned the upper shock mounts and cut the old exhaust out from under it Wednesday night.
Haven't started on the t/a x-member. Grinding out rivets flat out sucks.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Jon01

Didn't accomplish much Wednesday or yesterday nights. I got rid of both bumpstops, canned the upper shock mounts and cut the old exhaust out from under it Wednesday night.
Haven't started on the t/a x-member. Grinding out rivets flat out sucks.

Use an air chisel.

[mcbassin]

Looks like a bunch of new goodies

[Jon01]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Use an air chisel.

Does it work as well as people say it does?
I tried using one on the carrier bearing mount and it sucked but it was a buddies cheapo hammer/bit. His plasma worked much better.
I've been using a 4" grinder and it takes 4-5 minutes per rivet.
I would happily buy a a good one and a good chisel bit but some folks say they work great and others say to just grind them out. This would honestly be the only time I would use it. My Mopars are bolted together.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Jon01

Does it work as well as people say it does?
I tried using one on the carrier bearing mount and it sucked but it was a buddies cheapo hammer/bit. His plasma worked much better.
I've been using a 4" grinder and it takes 4-5 minutes per rivet.
I would happily buy a a good one and a good chisel bit but some folks say they work great and others say to just grind them out. This would honestly be the only time I would use it. My Mopars are bolted together.

You will be amazed with a snapon or matco air chisel. Money well spent!

[Jon01]

You talked me into it, just ordered the biggest Mac they make. Even if I get a wild hair and finish this round before it gets here I'll need it for the DM and tubular x-members I have a feeling.

[Jon01]

Man, Rob, you weren't kidding. This is the ONLY way to pull these rivets. I did 8 in 1/2 hour. 2 more and I just have to pop the heads out and the x-member will be done.
Upon disassembly of the rear stuff I found the pigtails on both springs were broken so I decided to put the static stuff on it. Unfortunately that meant the front had to come apart too so it didn't look like it was dragging ass.


So, looks like it'll be going back together quite a bit lower than it was when it came apart. 5/7 is what it will end up with.

[Jon01]

Victory! Trailing arm x-member is now laying on the garage floor!
Have 3 more rivets to grind flush with the frame and pop out then reassembly can start.
Going out of town tomorrow/Friday for the holiday but will be back early Saturday. Hopefully I can have the rear done Saturday and maybe the front Sunday. I can't wait to see how it sits with the drop.

[Jon01]

So I was a little hungover getting back to town Saturday and didn't accomplish as much as I would have liked.
Front is pretty well back together - just have to do a little finnagling and mount the sway bar up and put the brakes back on.
The rear is not much progress - it looks like I'm going to have to do some frame drilling to get that T/A x-member mounted and my Dewalt cordless is NOT up to the task.
My dad brought over his air drill last night, I'll fire up the a/c when I get home tonight and get after that.
It'll be back on the ground before the end of the week, have to get it in for exhaust next week and may take it up to the cities next weekend for Car Craft.

[Xeen]

Did you end up getting the high pressure line fixed on your power steering, I read through and didn't see anything about it after someone mentioned the 1980 box.

[Jon01]

Fixed enough, it still weeps a bit but not much, just enough to make the fitting damp.
It's getting a DM setup this winter so I'm not worrying about it any more.

[SufferInTruth]

Jon, does the downpipe clear the inner fender on the passenger side?

[Jon01]

Yup, tucks between the frame rail and trans. 5".

[Jon01]

Back on the ground.
I need to get the rear up about an inch or the front down an inch, maybe the front springs will settle.



Next is alignment and exhaust and lots of miles and fun.

I've been thinking about selling the DM setup I bought for it. Just bought a boat with a toasted 454, that $ would go nicely towards a 502 for it.

[Jon01]

No news to report other than another so far trouble free summer of fun.
The rear tires are nearing replacement necessity and a few friends' neighbors aren't impressed with me (but the blacktop on their streets is nice and fresh). Mission accomplished.

[orngsikL]

I think it took me all of 20 minutes to do all the rivets on my frame.

Cut a "X" into the rivet head with a grinder. Then take the flat bit and chisel the head off. Then take the pointed chisel and push the rivet out the frame.

[Low Elco]

Man, that's tight! We will need pics of this boat. That's my secret love that I will one day have.

[HSRACER]

How about some pics of the finished engine compartment?

[Jon01]

I'll try to get some of everything. Been just crazy busy lately...
To be honest, I've been thinking casually about selling it. Building them is fun to me, this one is about done once the rack and exhaust go on.