Project "Insert Really Cool Title Here"

[66chevy43]

NICE...I like the turn signals. Thanks for the update. So if you see a black 1966 C10 LWB chasing you around town that will be me trying to look at your truck. The only thing is I don't believe I will be able to keep up with that sweet 454 TURBO!!

[kerber63]

Originally Posted by 66chevy43

NICE...I like the turn signals. Thanks for the update. So if you see a black 1966 C10 LWB chasing you around town that will be me trying to look at your truck. The only thing is I don't believe I will be able to keep up with that sweet 454 TURBO!!

Right on, I'll keep an eye out for you.

[Ta2Don]

Turbo… and the video of it at idle...

[kerber63]

It's been a while since I've put any updates up. In the last year I've changed jobs, moved, and had a baby. Things have been busy, but good.

I decided to swap out my Qjet with a holley. I loved the Qjet, but I couldn't figure out how to get more out of it. It was good up to about 5 psi, then the boost started messing with the vacuum circuit. The mix would never richen through the secondaries. After trying and trying, I decided to test out a mechanical secondary. I hunted around and picked up a holley 830 double pumper. I tore it down and built it up and slapped it on.

I've been running the holley for a few months now and am very happy with the change. I've had it up to 12 psi with no problems. I plan to richen the jets a little the next time I have it open.

[kerber63]

I haven't been on the freeway much, but I got out Saturday afternoon and went for a run. Here's a pic of the tach - uphill in 6th gear, 6" vacuum (no boost!), running steady. That motor makes tons of torque.

When the turbo does kick in, it gets up and goes. I've blown the tires off a couple times in 5th when the boost starts climbing - it's and odd feeling.

Sorry about the glare.

[kerber63]

Well it was fun for a while. The motor let go a few weeks ago. 2 broken pistons = lots of smoke and terrible noise. So it's off to the machine shop for some work. Fortunately there was no major damage to anything. The block's going to be worked over another .010" bringing it to .030" total. The crank will be polished, new forged turbo pistons installed, and the whole shebang balanced. Hopefully it won't get stuck at the shop for too long.

[sixty4bigwindow]

Originally Posted by kerber63

With my new expertise in the relay wiring world, I wired my dash gauges to act like turn signals. 5 relays hooked up just right lets me use the 2 left gauges as left turn indicators, and the 2 right gauges as right turn indicators. They blink on when the headlight switch is off, and blink off when the headlight switch is on.

Ok now THAT is a badass mod!!!

[Robert Haas]

16 months with no update, bummer.

[kerber63]

Originally Posted by sixty4bigwindow

Ok now THAT is a badass mod!!!

Thanks! It took some serious thinking to map out how the relays (5 post) interact with each other. The first relay is triggered by the headlight switch - when the running lights are off, the first relay is open and sends power to 2 relays which close with signal from the flasher and energize the gauge lights. When the running lights are on, the first relay closes and sends power to the other 2 relays which open with signal from the flasher and de-energize the gauge lights.

This was one of the mods I did that I’m most proud of.

[kerber63]

Originally Posted by Robert Haas

16 months with no update, bummer.

Sorry.

Update! I got the block back from the machine shop bored out to .030 total. They also faced my flywheel, polished my crank, put new forged turbo pistons on my rods, and balanced the assembly. I got everything home and started slapping it all back together again. I got a comp turbo-spec cam and matching springs this time around.

I had been running a Summit mini starter, and I found that it had only been engaging about 25% of the ring gear. The ring gear was shot, so I popped it off and heated a new gear on. I dumped the mini starter and went with a high-torque corvette starter. It has a much longer throw and engages the whole gear.

[kerber63]

I decided with this rebuild that I’d try to improve on things that I didn’t do the first time that I wished I had. I ran coolant crossover lines from the rear to the front of the intake manifold; I ran the turbo oil feed line from above the oil filter and stabilized it with a mount on the block; I replaced the standard vacuum advance pot on the distributor with one from an ‘84 Volvo 240. It advances timing under vacuum, and retards timing up to 6 degrees under boost. I had to make my own rod and modify the distributor base to remove the negative stop. The Volvo pot is quite a bit bigger than the standard gm one, so I had to mount it to the outside of the distributor housing. It looks good and works great!

[kerber63]

So I got everything together and fired the motor up to break in. No problems, it was a relief to hear it fire and run again! I slapped the motor back in and got to work hooking everything back up. Then I ran into issues caused by the tiny changes I’d put in place. Coolant crossover lines - now in the way of accelerator linkage. New vacuum advance pot - now have to reclock the distributor to clear the firewall and intake manifold. Stupid little things that took a few minutes to put in but hours to make work again.

[kerber63]

I picked up a stainless coolant overflow tank. I figured the best place for it would be next to the radiator, but that pesky battery was right in the way. So I pulled the battery and tray out and mounted the tank on the radiator baffle. Looks good and works just like it’s supposed to. I modified the battery tray and moved it under the bed just behind the cab on the driver’s side.

[kerber63]

I got all the little things cleaned up and got back on the road. I had to tweak my idle circuit a little bit to get the air/fuel mix where I wanted it. But it runs great and has power for days. Turbo response is sharp and boost is impressive. I’m getting up between 6 and 12 pounds depending on how hard I go. It was clear and dry for a couple weeks last month so I was out and about quite a bit. The turbo loves the cold.

[kerber63]

So that’s where I’m at. It’s wet and slick now and probably won’t stop for a few months. I’ll get out and enjoy it when I can, but this winter I’ll be working on my suburban (other build thread).

Hopefully I can throw some more updates and pics on here before 16 months passes again!

[rusty76]

Cool I’ll be checking out the sub