New guy with 52 AD project.

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by bjcaldwe

Do you have a pic of your sway bar mount?

I hope these pics. help. I have not mounted the sway bar mounts to the frame but you can see how they mount to the lower control arm and frame. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

[ratty 46]

You & me both ... I've been known to fab a few things on the weekends ...



Paul

[slimneverdies]

Im patiently waiting to see how your T56 shifter is gonna be setup. I have the same setup and was about to pay about $300 for my buddy to put the shifter in the other opening. When do you think you'll have that part of your build together.

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by slimneverdies

Im patiently waiting to see how your T56 shifter is gonna be setup. I have the same setup and was about to pay about $300 for my buddy to put the shifter in the other opening. When do you think you'll have that part of your build together.

It will be a few weeks before I have the engine and trans in the truck. I am using a late model S10 bench seat with a cup holder cut out. The shifter location will be perfect for this seat. I have one photo showing the T56 through the hole in the cab floor. The shifter will come up through the floor 1-2" past the rear access panel. Sorry this is the only pic. I have.

[slimneverdies]

I can't really tell but are you saying the shifter will be on the inside of the original seat platform. I guess I'll have to wait and see your s10 seat . Thanks
Posted via Mobile Device

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by slimneverdies

I can't really tell but are you saying the shifter will be on the inside of the original seat platform. I guess I'll have to wait and see your s10 seat . Thanks
Posted via Mobile Device

Sorry, I know it is difficult to see. From what I can tell, the shifter will be right in line with the forward seat base/platform. I am not using the seat base so this is not relevant for my application. I will have more details going forward but it will be several weeks.

[Kabwe]

Looking good and keep up the good work.

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Looking good and keep up the good work.

Thanks Kabwe. I am following your build also. I hope to be back in the garage working on the 52 in a few weeks.

[Tuned55]

Nice Build! Your gonna love the 6 speed. I've got an LS1/T56 in my 55 with 4.10's it's a blast to drive

[masshole]

where did you get the motor mounts from..i like them

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by masshole

where did you get the motor mounts from..i like them

Chassis Engineering Inc. Super good guys to deal with. I was not sure which mount I needed so I call and they hooked me up. Check out their web page.

http://www.chassisengineeringinc.com/index.html

[cap n crunch]

Those motor mounts do work out well, I'm using the same ones on my project. Rat52 what headers are you planning on using?

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by cap n crunch

Those motor mounts do work out well, I'm using the same ones on my project. Rat52 what headers are you planning on using?

I have a new set of Hooker LS block hugger style headers but I am looking for a full length or long tube header that will fit.

[ratrodmiller]

Looks really good man,You will prolly have to get a ls1 oil pan for clearence like i did .If you do make sure to get windage tray ,pickup tube and dip stick.Im going to swap to 6.0 this summer ,gotta have that fat 4inch bore dude!!

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by ratrodmiller

Looks really good man,You will prolly have to get a ls1 oil pan for clearence like i did .If you do make sure to get windage tray ,pickup tube and dip stick.Im going to swap to 6.0 this summer ,gotta have that fat 4inch bore dude!!

I have been looking for an F body pan but everyone is proud of them. I will find a deal on one eventually. I was going to cut my pan but I don't like the idea of loosing oil capacity and volume.

[ratrodmiller]

I dont think i like the idea of cutting the pan. Man my truck sat so low with that mustang 2 suspension. I had to get ls1 pan and stronger springs !I found my ls1 pan on craigslist and paid 200.00.

[ratrodmiller]

Is that a tci mustang ii ? Im trying to figure out which sway bar i need for mine.It looks identical to what your running.stock width?Did it bolt right up?

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by ratrodmiller

Is that a tci mustang ii ? Im trying to figure out which sway bar i need for mine.It looks identical to what your running.stock width?Did it bolt right up?

It is a Heidts IFS with 5/8 narrow "A" arms. Heidts supplied the sway bar but it was in a Chassis Engineering box. I have seen better but it will work for my application. It is a direct bolt in sway bar. The Heidts and TCI seem to be the same IFS set up. Check out http://www.chassisengineeringinc.com/ for the sway bar. I also got my motor mounts form Chassis Engineering.

[52 Rat]

A few update photos. I am about finished with the cab.

[52 Rat]

[LEEVON]

TCI sway bar is mounted on the backside of the MII crossmember and snakes up through the control arms. It's also tiny. Poor design in my opinion...yours makes much more sense.

How were the cab corners, did you find them easy to replace? I'm about ready to start on my cab too, that will be the first task.

Oh yeah, don't follow my lead on the LS1 pan. I put an add on Craigslist and the guy gave me everything but the block leftover from a bombed LS1 for $20. Great deal I though, the pan looked good, but then I had to degrease, clean, degrease and clean more only to discover it had a broken tab. I then had to dispose of two greasy crates worth of bombed engine crap. I took the pan to a boat place and the guy said he could weld it up no problem. They were supposed to call with a quote but didn't call until it was done and wanted $250!!! I told them to keep it, guy says bring $200 cash and I was really wanted something to show for all my effort so I paid along with a couple of suggestions about how to communicate with customers. I had to grind the gasket surface too, and I'm not sure if it will actually work. Now I wish I had just gone to the parts counter and paid.

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

TCI sway bar is mounted on the backside of the MII crossmember and snakes up through the control arms. It's also tiny. Poor design in my opinion...yours makes much more sense.

How were the cab corners, did you find them easy to replace? I'm about ready to start on my cab too, that will be the first task.

Oh yeah, don't follow my lead on the LS1 pan. I put an add on Craigslist and the guy gave me everything but the block leftover from a bombed LS1 for $20. Great deal I though, the pan looked good, but then I had to degrease, clean, degrease and clean more only to discover it had a broken tab. I then had to dispose of two greasy crates worth of bombed engine crap. I took the pan to a boat place and the guy said he could weld it up no problem. They were supposed to call with a quote but didn't call until it was done and wanted $250!!! I told them to keep it, guy says bring $200 cash and I was really wanted something to show for all my effort so I paid along with a couple of suggestions about how to communicate with customers. I had to grind the gasket surface too, and I'm not sure if it will actually work. Now I wish I had just gone to the parts counter and paid.

The cab corners were not that bad. Make sure you have the doors on when fitting the cab corner. This will allow you to set the door to cab gap. I also installed the inner cab corners. Be patient and measure three and four times, then make the cut. Leave your cut a little short so you can fit the cab corner. You can grind or sand the cab or panel to fit.

I got tired of searching for a F body oil pan so I order everything for the GM dealer. I have a dealer account that saved me a little. I purchased the pan, pick-up, windage tray, dipstick and dipstick tube. The pan comes with bolts and a gasket. Everything was $270.00. I ordered my standalone engine harness from PSI, it arrived today. I also got a good deal on a new Wilwood clutch pedal with high-volume clutch master cylinedr and a stainless X pipe. I decided to go with the welded Thrush two chamber mufflers. They seem to be made good and for $29.00 they are worth trying. Let me know if you need any help or detailed photos.

[52 Rat]

A few updates. I removed the standard spindles and installed Heidts 2" drop spindles. The standard spindles were not dropping the front low enough for my set up. I mocked up the bed and fender so I could get a good measurement for the ride height. This should be close to the finished ride height. The fender is lined up so it is a little high in the front. I also had to change the tall truck oil pan to a new F body pan.

[ChuckDriver]

Nice progress!

[52 Rat]

I finished the floor of the cab, notched the floor to clear the T56 six speed and put the S10 bench in for a trial fit. I had to raise the seat up 4". I will cut the back frame down on the seat before recovering. I need to remove the head rest and 3" out of the overall height of the seat back. I don't want the seat above the rear window. Now its time to install the truck trailing arms and crossmember.