5.3 Turbo swap 68 Stepside C10-Project Sky Dogggg maannnnn

[downbytheriver]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-290108/overview/

Fits like a glove. I had to cut the tank straps that I bought with it, and wallowed them out for bigger bolts, but it's a good cell for these trucks.

[Joe Cool]

you can change the spring in a few minutes with the proper tool.... Go to LSM tools for the LS engine

[Joe Cool]

here is the tool

[Joe Cool]

This one uses the factory rocker bar...they have many other styles

[vsoree]

Originally Posted by downbytheriver

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-290108/overview/

Fits like a glove. I had to cut the tank straps that I bought with it, and wallowed them out for bigger bolts, but it's a good cell for these trucks.

Thanks that would be a better deal for me, since I have so much stuff to buy

[Hart_Rod]

Nice build.

[downbytheriver]

Okay, so a lot has changed in the last few years, and I'm actually nearing completion of the truck after changing my mind/direction 750 times and destroying my bank account. Prior to this project, I've had very very little experience working on cars, let alone restoring an old vehicle. I barely even had tools, which can probably tell by looking at the last few pages. What this means is that I've got to now go back and make up for ignorance and idiocy

I moved, bought a datsun, picked up a ton of old (good) tools, learned how to tig weld (sorta), and have really come a long way with the learning process. I've had to make a ton of custom stuff, which has been a real eye opener. That being said, here's where the truck sits now.

First, I brought her home again and started tearing down. I picked up a 2003 4l80 that I installed a transgo shift kit in, and did a full rebuild with a few little tweaks. I also made a transmission holder that fits on my engine stand. You don't really need any special tools, I got by with a press (essential), a pair of clamps to lower the center section assembly into the case, and assorted standard tools.

[downbytheriver]

I also made a double seat bracket, a battery holder for mounting on the firewall, a fuel pump cage for how low the pump needs to be, and trailing arms, because I HATED the idea of the stock arms being pressed together. At first, I was just going to run a bead down the middle (good welding practice!), but I decided to go balls out and just make some. Turned out surprisingly well!

Seat bracket made of 3/16" structural angle and flat stock. It uses the original floow mounting points to bolt to. I'm pretty sure you could lift the whole truck up with this thing





Battery box that I'll also mount the catch can to:




Fuel pump cage:

[downbytheriver]

The trailing arms are made of 2x3 square tubing with a 0.188 wall thickness. They're burly as hell, and were pretty fun to make actually. I gusseted both sides where the arms were angled for some strength. The ends are super thick pipe, with a 1/8" strap welded over the boss.

I still need to make lowering blocks out of 2x2 square, and machine the bushings out of some acetron. I think I'm going to have to make eccentric bushings to correct any differences between the two arms. That'll allow for some adjustibility, too. I came up on a 1930s South Bend Model 9 lathe recently, so it'll be great to put her to work





Making the boss/strap:





End result:

[enduroride]

Originally Posted by downbytheriver

Okay, so a lot has changed in the last few years, and I'm actually nearing completion of the truck after changing my mind/direction 750 times and destroying my bank account. Prior to this project, I've had very very little experience working on cars, let alone restoring an old vehicle. I barely even had tools, which can probably tell by looking at the last few pages. What this means is that I've got to now go back and make up for ignorance and idiocy

I moved, bought a datsun, picked up a ton of old (good) tools, learned how to tig weld (sorta), and have really come a long way with the learning process. I've had to make a ton of custom stuff, which has been a real eye opener. That being said, here's where the truck sits now.

First, I brought her home again and started tearing down. I picked up a 2003 4l80 that I installed a transgo shift kit in, and did a full rebuild with a few little tweaks. I also made a transmission holder that fits on my engine stand. You don't really need any special tools, I got by with a press (essential), a pair of clamps to lower the center section assembly into the case, and assorted standard tools.

If you dont mind me asking, were did the torque converter come from and what did it cost? Im in need of one for my 4L60E
Thanks in advance, Wade

[downbytheriver]

A while back, a friend with a mig welder talked me into doing the stainless turbo manifold the wrong way, and that led to the hideous hairy caterpillar monstrosity you saw a few pages ago. Now that I know better, I decided to re-do the entire thing, the right way. It was pretty fun, and it's a shame it'll be wrapped because it turned out really nice. Almost finished...need to get the wastegate flange and dump pipe on, and then build a 4" stainless downpipe.





I figured I should do the lifters while I'm at it because of the new cam, so I purchased ls9 head gaskets, chinese head studs (from Jegs!!) and went to work. Also did the comp cams trunion upgrade, which was damn near as tedious as the transmission rebuild.




Picked up some speedhut gauges and a matching wideband as well.

[downbytheriver]

Here's where things get interesting. After I upgraded the transmission, I decided to go a little nuts and build the rear end. Several questionable decisions and a large amount of money later, I received a Strange Pro 3.50 9" with an s-trac, Moser axles, and a narrowed fabbed 9" housing from Quick Performance. I still have to weld on the back brace, but it's certainly a piece of art. WELL worth the money, and Mike was great to work with.





The whole reason I did that was to stuff these bad boys under the bed...390/45/15 M&H drag radials on Bart super trucker wheels. I figure they should hook nicely, and they fit, too!



With a little cutting...it's only metal!

[downbytheriver]

Originally Posted by enduroride

If you dont mind me asking, were did the torque converter come from and what did it cost? Im in need of one for my 4L60E
Thanks in advance, Wade

Wade, it's a Circle D converter. They were great to work with, and I'd highly recommend them to anyone.

[Green67Stepper]

very glad i just found this thread. loving those back tires. Lots of meat... great work so far!

[roushinator]

Nice work! I was thinking about doing the same with my seats

[DBK81]

Wholly .........HELL from the start to where it is today is mind blowing, funny where these trucks take us, I badly want to Turbo/Twin Turbo my ZZ4 SBC, but I'm sceptical of some of the kits out there and too cheap for the other ones, hahaha.

Those rear tires are something!

[low69chevy]

Keep up the good work i sure wish mine was atleast where yours is keep the piks coming

[downbytheriver]

Thanks guys!

Just got done in the garage, and the lowering blocks are done, the trailing arms are fully welded, and everything was test fit on the floor. Everything seems to check out, and the panhard rod looks like it'll fit, which is a huge relief.




The blocks were made with a 1942 Milwaukee Delta drill press I picked up a few months ago for $100. It spent its life at the local navy base, where it was probably pressed into service for the war effort. It's a really cool piece of history that's more than paid for itself already. My next project after this truck is to fully restore it to its original glory.



Question for any real welders that may be reading: how do you prevent this little tit from happening at the end of the weld? Am I pulling the heat off too fast, or is there some secret I don't know about? Kind of blows the cover pass up when it looks like this :/

[downbytheriver]

Side notes about tools:

I've been really interested in old tools lately, mostly because as I've learned, I've found that the tools being produced now are, for the most part, utterly terrible Chinese ****. I always have my eye open for old tools that nobody realizes the true potential of. My friends and I actually split an early 30s South Bend model 9 lathe (that's them in the picture below), and we've been turning little things out here and there.



I mentioned the drill press above, but I also found a 1941 Wilton vise for a song and a dance. After a through cleaning with a wire wheel (which only took about 8000 hours), re-greasing and some paint/polish, she turned out pretty damn nice. Perfect little job for me to sidetracked off of the truck with Hell, in one of the pictures you can even see the truck grille being ignored in the background!






My next purchase is a Bridgeport mill if I can find one for a decent deal. Then, there's really no limit on what I can make!

[knomadd]

Nice work on the truck! I have to ask, where are you finding all these cool tools?

[downbytheriver]

Originally Posted by knomadd

Nice work on the truck! I have to ask, where are you finding all these cool tools?

I just hop on craigslist every day and search for old tools. Sometimes you get lucky and they don't know what they're worth, or they just want to get rid of them. I picked the drill press and the vise up for less than what their new chinese counterparts would cost today, and I think we all know which ones will last longer.

One man's trash...

[crazycrew]

Awesome build so far man!

[swamp rat]

I like old tools too, always have. Nice work on the truck too!

[mcbassin]

Excellent progress! Nice Tig welds too. BTW, I have that same bench vice, very nice restoration!
Keep up the good work.

[Metaldoc]

Originally Posted by downbytheriver

Thanks guys!

Just got done in the garage, and the lowering blocks are done, the trailing arms are fully welded, and everything was test fit on the floor. Everything seems to check out, and the panhard rod looks like it'll fit, which is a huge relief.




The blocks were made with a 1942 Milwaukee Delta drill press I picked up a few months ago for $100. It spent its life at the local navy base, where it was probably pressed into service for the war effort. It's a really cool piece of history that's more than paid for itself already. My next project after this truck is to fully restore it to its original glory.



Question for any real welders that may be reading: how do you prevent this little tit from happening at the end of the weld? Am I pulling the heat off too fast, or is there some secret I don't know about? Kind of blows the cover pass up when it looks like this :/

Nice work, Did you put tubes through the holes for the U-bolts? The 2x2 and 2x3 hss so when you tighten the u-bolts it doesn't crush the hss tubing.
If you put a small tack weld at the end where your weld will finish. Weld to the tack and stop on it. Allow some gas to cool the weld after arc is out. This should help with the crater at the weld end.
Derek