Project "My Happy Mess"

[litew8]

Installing the intake -


























Tackeling the (front) frame before dropping the block/transmission (after lines).
Proper breathing apparatus and ventilation used and recommended.


Coat 1 complete, moving onto the 2nd coating -















Finished. Will hit the underside with rubber in a can before engine/transmission.


Real quick...
Pan/transmission before -







After -
First coat Zero Rust Red for oil pan (second coat will be a black of a different product) -



Cast





south side!

[oldman3]

Looks like you've been busy, nice.....Jim

[99-LS1-SS]

You're making good progress. I wish I was moving along like you are. The sandblasting was the way to go.

[litew8]

Thank you.

The experience gained growing up wrenching on cars/engines helped put things into better perspective/execution for a first restore. Sand blasting def. cost me, but now as I undercoat I can see the payoff

So far today, I've undercoated (zero rust) the rest of the underside. In an hour, I'll be spraying under body rubber/liner to top it off for good.

[litew8]

Weekend update -

Got the oil pan and tranny pan painted. Used bed liner.
It filled in the pits on the oil pan nicely, looks new now.








Here's the brand shock I'm using. Monroe Reflex.





Finished spraying the underside with rubber/liner.
This is not the same liner I used for the oil/tranny pans,
and looks A LOT better in person.

Recap: underside has primer, 2 coats Zero Rust and a thick layer of bed liner!
If this doesn't extend its life, I don't know what would.

Sweet!






Have some touch-ups to do with the liner still.
Otherwise, the brake/tranny lines should arrive tonight.
Get those in, then we can place the engine/tranny.

Once this hurdle has been jumped, on to the sheet metal...

Thanks for looking all!

[VA72C10]

Looks good!

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice progress and it's looking great!

[oldman3]

Looks good....Jim

[litew8]

I've already been offered a 70 (?) Nova trade (while the truck is disassembled). lol

[litew8]

Got brake/transmission lines. Finished undercoating the cab. Picked up my cleaned (blasted) parts.

[litew8]

Been a great afternoon w/good weather here.
Got things painted and put together. Ran into an issue where my water pump doesn't mount due to it hitting the timing chain cover. :/ wth

[bollybib]

Originally Posted by litew8

I need a sound off of people still following this thread.

Just so everyone knows, my project name "my happy mess" was ripped from an internet race horse naming site that generated different names. I thought it was fitting because 1) I had bought the truck from a girl that raised horses and 2) I want it to go fast and 3) It's a mess!

Update pics coming up.

I've been following. I should post now and again to say so tho. I enjoy watching your engine build a lot cuz I've never done one..,some day I hope. Nice work.

[VA72C10]

Looks great! I've heard issues with mounting a short water pump with a billet timing chain cover. I've seen guys grind down the nuts on the back of the water pump for it to fit. The only other options is going back to the steel cover or a chrome one.....or going with a long water pump but that means different pulleys/brackets...

[litew8]

Thanks! Glad the info can be useful to others. Thank you for looking, feedback welcome good or bad.

@va Don't have the old to compare, given as core exchange. Before taking drastic measures, we decided to replaced bolts on the back plate with round head screws and it fit like a glove. Then we find out that the original (1991 gm goodwrench crate engine), freshly painted, pulley bolt pattern is LARGER than that of the water-pump's mount.

....

More pics later. Lesson learned and note to self - always compare (first) pulley with water pump pulley mount before purchase.

[litew8]

I think I need this type with a universal bolt pattern for the mount where there's a set of holes in a larger diameter. Maybe my 91' engine is a GenII?


http://info.rockauto.com/getimage/ge...TFW43106-1.jpg

[litew8]

Sure enough...

[Dieselwrencher]

At least it's an easy fix. Swap your round head bolts in the new pump and install the new pump. I've had to take a grinder and grind down the back plate on the water pump before to get them to fit. Your truck is looking awesome! I love the look of your heads. Saweet!

[litew8]

Thanks Ryan. I've already got it taken care of (as of 1/2 hour ago). Used the bolts that came with the ARP kit for the pump. Went and bought some others for the pulley. I should have referenced the 91' crate engine when purchasing the water pump. Got the right one this morning and installed. This one come closer to mounting without having to switch out the back plate bolts. It's a very tight/snug fit and the top back plate bots smash into the timing chain cover slightly, but are unnoticeable. Next thing to not fit right - the wire loom kit (arrives mid week). Watch and see, some dumb reason and they won't work with stock exhaust manifolds mounted, even though all the desc. mentions is 1955 to date.

Pics later.

[oldman3]

Isn't it fun working on these old trucks, look at all the chances we get to change things...Jim

[litew8]

[litew8]

A quick fyi comment - I'm pretty certain my 91' crate engine was sold as a direct replacement for the original 71' engine (trucks). Which is why the majority of my accessory parts resemble the originals.

[litew8]

Prior pics

[chevy2racr]

looking pretty good man

[litew8]

Put some calyx on the master cylinder, prob. should have just painted it or left it patina look much like the upper portion of the firewall will remain. Some small areas on the engine may need touched up w/paint. Notice, the alt. bracket isn't on right - I didn't do it. Almost certain now the plug wire looms in route aren't going to work. And the clearance from the exhaust manifolds to the heads better not cause any grief with fitting the valve covers (also in route)

[JDeere550]

hey this is a nice build, that engine is a bute. i havent read much but i look at the pictures ! and i was just wonderin why you didnt put headers on more over the exhaust manifolds, just keeping an original look to 'er?