Another OLD BLUE Build Thread - 71 Chevy

[OldBlue71Chevy]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Just keeps getting better! Hope to see it at the Nats this year!

PS- Checked out your site- pretty neat stuff!

Thanks. Now that it is more reliable, I hope to get it out a lot more this year.



It's Alive!


Here are some teaser photos. I am still getting the rest of the pics together.

[Low Elco]

Congrats! always a good day.

[OldBlue71Chevy]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Congrats! always a good day.

Amen to that!



Here are some pics of how the dashboard turned out.

MMMmmmm LED's


Mostly finished dash


I like it... Rearview camera shows the receiver hitch when backing.


I was going for simple, and I think I got pretty close. I still have A LOT of stuff to finish up, but almost everything is functional and it felt really good to drive it.

Check out the rest of the pics here: 5.3 LS Engine Swap into Ol' Blue 1971 Chevy Truck Part 8 | DIY METAL FABRICATION .com

[OldBlue71Chevy]

I forgot to tell you guys about this.

The guy that bought my 496 engine, bought it fully knowing that he was going to have to tear it part. We still talk from time to time and he sent me this pic the other day.

It was exactly what I thought it was. A roller lifter had failed and took out the cam too. He was going to put something less radical in it anyways for his street project (I think it was an old Nova or Camaro, I don't remember which)



I still think I made the right call. Fuel injection rocks...

[OldBlue71Chevy]

Mostly finished and runnin' good.

Made a dome light. This sucker is BRIGHT.




Has a 3rd brake light now. Made from two of the same kind of LED's just red.


Converted the muffler to dual-inlet.


Now has a Y pipe behind the t-case and Flowmaster 70 series (MUCH quieter)


Check out the rest of the pics and more details here: 5.3 LS ENGINE SWAP INTO OL' BLUE 1971 CHEVY TRUCK PART 9 | DIY METAL FABRICATION .com

There is also a video clip of the exhaust sound on the above link, but I haven't figured out how to embed it on here yet



I have been driving it quite a bit lately. It is a TOTALLY different experience than with the other engine. This one just fires up and works every time (cold start or not). Not quite as much power, but not disappointing either. Sounds good, runs great, I am really happy about it so far.

Best of all, I just filled up after driving 100+ miles and averaged 11.2MPG which is over double of the ~4.6 I got with the big block. My goal was double digit MPG's so I am satisfied. I'm sure it could be even better if I drove it nicer.

[OldBlue71Chevy]

Started on a winch bumper. The goal was to get it tucked back in as far as possible so I don't lose any approach angle.

This picture is with the winch and fairlead just sitting on the winch plate.


This picture is my current status. 1/4" winch plate finish welded between the frame rails, two receiver tubes for snatch blocks, and the bumper tube.





I still need to add some reinforcement to the outer bumper tubes, mount the winch, and add some gussets/finishing touches.

Check out all of the pictures here: Custom Tube Front Bumper with Winch Mount for ‘Ol Blue Part 1 | DIY METAL FABRICATION .com



I bought another toy last night, actually more of a daily driver. '02 TrailBlazer on 20's so cheap I couldn't pass it up. So I spent most of last night working on it instead of Ol' Blue. I'll have to get some pics of it today.