Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop

[CC69Rat]

Dad and I have been working on the rear frame rails, cleaning things up and priming for paint. I'm thinking maybe Gloss black for the frame rails and a dark grey for the Porterbuilt pieces ? Upper / lower shock bar, track bar, misc brackets, etc. Should I do grey or maybe a satin black to have a little contrast in places? I don't want it to look like I just hosed it down with gloss black. I like the details with good clean, new bolts and make it look like each piece was carefully placed and thought out. It will be, but just to someone else that might look at it I want it to have that appeal.

We have all the stock rivets and brackets out of the way. Are there advantages to replacing the frame cross supports with Porterbuilt? Exhaust clearance / overall looks? I had to knock out several rivets as you know so I have some very minor grinder scratches in places on these cross bars.

[shawno72]

A nice subtle change in color between the pieces is how I would go to. You going with all grade eight hardware? I like the look or color of the grade eight stuff on the dark colors.
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[CC69Rat]

Yeah. All Grade 8. My springs are dark grey too. Considering PB drop arms too.

Hotchkis Anti Squat also on the maybe list.. I am at least doing the TA flip, possibly the full Hotchkis conversion at the Xmember. Not bagged so I'm not worried so much about super low, .. just super resilient to lateral flex and binding if you know what I mean.

[shawno72]

Maybe a few runs around the track??
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[CC69Rat]

Gonna need something other than a 255hp / 3OTT .. but yeah. Quite possibly. I have been eyeballing an SSR in a local yard .. it was hit pretty hard in the passenger rear. I'm thinking a carbed LS2 in the near future. I could put a tilt in it that way too if I got rid of the column shift for 4L65E

[Zoomin]

Why carbed?

[CC69Rat]

Jus Cause that's what I know.. I'm a bit intimidated by the fuel injection / computer and things like that. I've just never done it.

I hear if you can find an Escalade and get the 6.0 with 4L65E, computer, pedal, etc. (?) I'd be starting from square one. I'm an old Big Block guy. I know nothing about the LS setups .. (well, very little)

[Zoomin]

If you get the entire deal from the SSR it would be a great time to learn. I haven't done one, but I sure would like to learn from your experience.

[CC69Rat]

It would be spring time before I can do anything. Superfly took all my money.

[gringoloco]

It's generally cheaper/easier to use the factory fuel injection. There's a wealth of info here in the LS swaps forum as well as on LS1tech and Lt1swap. I vote do it

[CC69Rat]

Summit has GMPP LS2 crates for 4500 or so.. can you get complete pullout / swaps for that?

Again... Maybe. . An extension to my family may be coming soon and that will put both trucks on the back burner for a bit. I am also talking to a friend of mine about painting my stepper. The LS swap is kinda down on the list. It runs perfect now and gets 18mpg or so.
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[shearjs]

From the looks of some of your previous work on this truck, I feel confident you could tackle the LS as well. I was lucky and found a 6.0 LQ4 w/ 4l80e, computer, and harness for 1700. It can certainly be done!

[CC69Rat]

Originally Posted by shearjs

From the looks of some of your previous work on this truck, I feel confident you could tackle the LS as well. I was lucky and found a 6.0 LQ4 w/ 4l80e, computer, and harness for 1700. It can certainly be done!

Hey man .. thanks. You should head over to Chattanooga sometime


Here are a few pictures of the frame rails. Dad painted them this morning. He and I worked over the weekend to clean and Epoxy prime the frame / supports after getting it ready for the Porterbuilt treatment. The Trackbar bracket has been removed, of course upper shock bar, etc. We're just painting and cleaning as we can. The rear housing will be a dark cast grey color and I mentioned the PB stuff earlier. Not really flashy .. just keeping it clean and subtle.

I may have to tweak my exhaust a little when she's dropped .. we'll see. What would you think about running it out to the side right in front of the rear wheel? I'm thinking a small flat type exhaust tip. Maybe the black ones that were on the 93-2002 Camaros ?

Anyway, the springs are a dark grey. Not sure what I'll do with the trailing arms just yet. We are planning to blast them.. just not sure what color.

The black on the frame rails is the VHT Epoxy. It turned out really nice.

[VA72C10]

Looking good! What's this "family extension" you speak of?

[Rusbuilt]

Oh yeah! Nice and clean! Love it

[shawno72]

Once again Pops and you have done some really nice work!!

[NoNeck]

Are you gonna' get new U-bolts for the rear? I was thinking about using that Makita Cut Off Saw to get them babies out of there. Even a strong, muscular guy like me couldn't get those nuts to turn.

POP

[shawno72]

Originally Posted by NoNeck

Are you gonna' get new U-bolts for the rear? I was thinking about using that Makita Cut Off Saw to get them babies out of there. Even a strong, muscular guy like me couldn't get those nuts to turn.

POP

Cut them and get new ones, don't waste your time or super strength messing with them. Might as well get ahold of Boris (way2lo2) for some blocks and bolts.

[lolife99]

X2.
Get new u-bolts.

[CC69Rat]

Yep.. cut em. I had planned on new ones.
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[CC69Rat]

I'm looking for a good paint to use on my PB stuff. I'd like to go with a dark cast / battleship gray color. What could I use? Does anyone make anything in either rattle can or 2 part, I can do either. I just want something that won't chip, etc .. Ideas?

[CC69Rat]

Help me out.. I have a couple questions / confirmation.

6" drop rear spring, but we have .25" x4 adjustability in the rear spring. (Hotchkis sends .25" plates so you can get anywhere between 5 and 6" total drop.

+.75" with the trailing arm flip mod.

Add 1.5" blocks. That put's me at 6.75" total drop. Correct?


I have 295/45 rear tires which are pretty tall. This added height would essentially lift the 'look' of the drop a little. (about .5 ") in the rear. So it would still have a little over a 6" drop eye appeal to it. .. but the tires will tuck a bit more.

In the front I will have 2.5" drop spindles, 2" drop springs, and 255/45 tires.

My question is, will this drop combo sit relatively level, or just a slight rake to it? I don't want the rear lower than the front but I really don't want to go lower than 4.5" total drop up front. .. just for the LCAs, and overall drivability of it.

I'm thinking I go with the 1.5" drop blocks and if it's too low I just add a spring spacer to adjust it to be 'perfect' ?


Also, I'm looking at the CPP rear trailing arms. My question is would Nate's brackets for the lower shock bar and track bar work with the CPP arms? Does Nate offer drop arms with the brackets / tabs already installed?

Has anyone had any experience with the Hotchkis trailing arm mount Swivel Max bushings?

[lolife99]

Just my 2 cents.
If you are going to add Nates notch and rear shock brackets,... I would just add the PB trailing arms with the 1" drop.
That way you know everything works together.
Plus you get the Super Pivot adjustable bushing at the front end.
These are the "straight" trailing arms that Nate sells.
http://www.porterbuiltfabrication.co...iling-Arms-499

The rest are just copies of the factory trailing arm that you will have to add a lowering block to.

[Bennett68C10]

I would go with Nates trailing arms to match his notch and shock bar. You can get the arms from him with all the necessary mounts already welded to run the shock bar and track bar. Just give him a call or send him an email, he is very helpful.

[NoNeck]

Cut them and get new ones, don't waste your time or super strength messing with them. Might as well get ahold of Boris (way2lo2) for some blocks and bolts.
__________________
Shawn

X2.
Get new u-bolts.
__________________
Keith

OK, OK... you guys didn't mention the AMAZINGLY LOUD POP the U-Bolt makes when you cut through that first side! HOLY SMOKES!!! I thought I was SHOT! That think sounded just like my Dad's old 12 gauge shotgun when it snapped apart.

Now that I have changed my Fruit of the Looms and hosed down the garage floor, I can try to find all the tools that scattered when that thing let loose.


POP