Phlebmaster's 1972 C20 Evolution***56k- NO WAY!

[Phlebmaster]

Hello,

My name is Aaron, I am new to this forum, I have a 1972 Chevy C20 I picked up after selling my Datsun 240z project. I have been updating my C20 project thread on the Datsun enthusiast sites (you can google my username if you are curious) and thought I should post this up here. Be aware that this post will be long and full of pics to get you up to speed on my project. Thanks for your time. Aaron

Please forgive the multiple posts.

Here we go........11/17/09

Well, I did what I said and picked up an older Chevy truck after I sold my 240z. I just got it home this morning.

I now have a 1972 Chevy C20 3/4 ton Camper Special. I paid $600.00 for this beast. She needs a few things but there is very little in the way of rust and I just happen to have an extra 350 sbc to throw in once it is re done.

I have not had time to look every little thing over...but the truck has a 350 and I am not sure if it has the TH350 or TH400 since it is a 3/4 ton. But it runs good, sounds good, and shifts nice.

Ok...here are the pics.











I can tow stuff now.

Not the prettiest example of a classic Chevy truck...but very functional and workable.

I picked this up! Edelbrock Performer intake.

[Phlebmaster]

Here is how the engine looks now....kinda ugly. I will take pictures of the "after" I make my changes so you have a comparison.

Before...


This is what is going on the 350.





This is a Comp Cams 270H with a 112 LSA and 4/7 swap. I can't wait to get this in.

[Phlebmaster]

Well, after much research and discussion with those who know about what I plan on doing with my engine I have decided to do this one step at a time rather than all at once.

Tonight I put my new intake and Holley 750 on. I will install my cam once I get heavier springs. I can tell you this about the stock crap that was on my truck...the intake had a bunch of loose bolts and all of the fittings were not tight either. It is a wonder it even ran! I fixed that though.

I will not be able to test this new stuff out until I get a new water fitting that runs from the intake to the heater core.

Here are the obligatory pics of the swap!

So it begins,,,,






Now that feels better already! Damn that thing is heavy!!







All finished for tonight...I can't wait to start her up tomorrow!

[Phlebmaster]

I started to tear apart my motor tonight so I can put my new heads on and make sure my cylinder walls are ok.















I have dished pistons so I can get away with the small chamber heads I am going to use.



A little paint for show....


The 624 heads that were on my truck are the 1.72 valve!! I am glad to not have to use them any more. Now I have a set of 1.84 1.50 valve 58cc heads. You can compare the old head on top with the 58cc head below.

[Phlebmaster]

Progress tonight!

I put on the new heads and got them bolted down. I followed the correct torque sequence and procedure for getting them done right.

Feels good to make some progress! Now I just need the friggin carb that works. lol

[Phlebmaster]

I made more progress tonight....


I got me a new Edelbrock 1404 500 CFM carb tonight that is actually NEW!! Thanks to Blackice280z and kamakazi620. I also have a good Q-jet coming tomorrow....so I will have two q-jets (one good & one worn out) and one new 1404 carb at my disposal. I am very happy about that.






Funny thing...it says Weber on it! lol

[bigguy69]

looking forward to the video!

[Phlebmaster]

Just in case anyone was curious about how I acquired my Chevy project...I posted my previous projects here: Projects from Phlebmaster's past

Lots of good info there about me and my journey before I got my truck. Enjoy!

[dccarpenter]

Thanks for posting these, those pics were awesome. It was great to see the process photographed for those of who may be doing the same thing at some point soon.

Hope you continue documenting the rest of the work on your truck.

[Phlebmaster]

Originally Posted by dccarpenter

Thanks for posting these, those pics were awesome. It was great to see the process photographed for those of who may be doing the same thing at some point soon.

Hope you continue documenting the rest of the work on your truck.

Thank you

I like to document my projects just for the reason that it may assist someone else like me who is researching/planning something they have never done before. Pictures always speak louder than words for me, and I like to make videos/slide shows of everything anyway...lol

Stay tuned, because there will be more to come thanks to the help I am getting from this forum!

[Phlebmaster]

I am ready to swap in the headers and so here is the "before" sound clip. I am running the stock rams horn manifolds with a Y pipe and 2 1/4" single exhaust. I will post up the "after" sound clip as soon as I get it done.

YouTube- Stock exhaust with magnum 270h comp cam...

[VA72C10]

sorry bout the other block but glad you found another reasonably priced...

[Phlebmaster]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

sorry bout the other block but glad you found another reasonably priced...

I don't think I mentioned the price...but yes it was reasonable. I got all of this for $30.00 from a guy who just wanted it gone. lol I was blessed for sure!

[Phlebmaster]

I started the tear down of my new block tonight. I documented each step so this will hopefully be helpful to the next guy.

I also picked up 2 sets of 350 heads and will install them on the new block rather than the 305 heads I am running now. I now have 4 sets of heads, the 305 heads in my truck now, the 896 power pack corvette heads, a set of cracked 487 heads,(good for parts), and a rebuilt set of 624 heads with 1.94/1.50 valves.







Here is a bad picture of the crack that runs from the exhaust valve...


Here are the power pack heads...


Here are the rebuilt 624 heads that I will use on the new block.

[Phlebmaster]

Here are the pics of the 350 tear down......And so it begins... lol



Dished 4 valve relief pistons...meh






This looks as it should for an engine that sat for a long time. The stuff is only surface and wiped off easily.


Main bearings are not too bad



Got everything marked and lined up....



I even remembered to mark the main caps before removing them.

[Phlebmaster]

Progress!!

Honed the cylinders and degreased the block then painted it. I will rent the cam bearing tool and do some research on how to use it. I also did some block modification based on my research to aid the oil return process and oil flow efficiency from the pump.

Here are the obligatory pics......

These are required texts for this project...thanks Paul!


Put a set of junk heads on so I can protect the cylinders



Opened up the oil return holes in the block.


It did not take much to open both sides up.


Here is the rear main cap where the oil pump mounts...I opened the pick-up tube port up and smoothed out the oil path.

Before...


After...

[eagleuh1]

That will be a neat surprise for a future owner to open up his engine and see the inside painted. Never seen that done before. looking good.

[73chevyman]

I'm impressed with everything ur doing the painting were the oil lies scares me due to fact if it don't hold up it will get into ur parts and possibly start problems. looks great awsome build

[Phlebmaster]

Originally Posted by 73chevyman

I'm impressed with everything ur doing the painting were the oil lies scares me due to fact if it don't hold up it will get into ur parts and possibly start problems. looks great awsome build

Thanks!

You are right about the paint. I was a bit concerned about that too, but I made sure I cleaned the block very well and used the correct type of paint. I have scrubbed on the paint with a brillo pad and it seems to be stuck on there pretty well.

[Phlebmaster]

I picked up an old school LT1 intake today!! The engine is getting close to being ready. I test fitted the HEI because I had an idea that there might be clearance issues, and there are. I don't know if I will be able to shim the distributor the 1/4" it needs to clear the top of the rear runner.

[nuke1]

Looks great, as for shimming the distributer that is a bad idea, you loos contact with the oil pump shaft, there would be less contact btn them and the distributer will not mesh as well with the cam, if anything find an old points distributer and put a pertronix ignitor in it, you do not want problems now after all that hard work you have just done.

[70k52wd]

If you could find a mallory unilite for cheap, that would solve your clearance issue also.

[Phlebmaster]

I have pulled the intake off of my engine in my truck to verify that the crack is indeed leaking. I will be picking up the re-ring kit next weekend and assembling my new block.

[Phlebmaster]

I decided to get rid of the HEI because I would rather use my new intake. So I traded it....for a almost brand new set of 350 heads that were run an a rock crawler with a 490 lift cam. These heads are set up for a large cam which is good since I have a fairly large one.

Here are the GM Goodwrench valve covers, I am going to use them.


I decided to paint them....even though they did not need it.






Painted the valve covers too. lol






I got a reground crankshaft too. Mine old one was beyond just throwing a new set of bearings and running it. I guess it is better to do it right the first time.


Last but not least...I chased all of the threads on my new block and heads. It is just a good idea

I can't wait to get this beast up and running!!

[Phlebmaster]

I finally broke down an purchased a brand new Weiand Stealth intake. This is new technology vs the old school C3BX Z28 style intake I had planed to use.



This intake seems taller than the other intake too.