Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB

[Rusbuilt]

Progress!! There are always bumps in the road! lol

[CC69Rat]

Do you have roller rockers? Stock height valve covers might not work (?)

Take a look at mine, I notched my firewall to clear. That area is pretty easy to cut and just make a piece to tack back in there. PRetty much where it is rounded out from the factory, it just needs to be rounded more 'in' for the Big em Block.

Looking great man. Keep at it.

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

Progress!! There are always bumps in the road! lol

Thanks yeah nothing is ever easy.

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

Do you have roller rockers? Stock height valve covers might not work (?)

Take a look at mine, I notched my firewall to clear. That area is pretty easy to cut and just make a piece to tack back in there. PRetty much where it is rounded out from the factory, it just needs to be rounded more 'in' for the Big em Block.

Looking great man. Keep at it.

No roller rockers or stud girdles so stock height cover will work just fine. I'm not interested in touching the firewall unless I really have too. I would need to clearance it quite a bit to fit those big ole Chevrolet covers in there, plus my brother and I are then concerned with trying to get a valve cover off with the motor installed. Just seems that the stock height covers are a better choice. I'll keep you updated.

[CC69Rat]

Maybe its the DM but yours looks like it is hitting more than mine. .. the more I look at it. Mine has fabbed mounts and the 73-87 swap so the engine is sitting a little different it looks like..

Either way buddy.. its looking awesome

[Bennett68C10]

Thanks Chad, the DM is definitely the reason as it moved the motor up a little and back but I don't know how much cause I didn't measure it before and after. I can tell you that I have about 2" more room to the radiator then I had before. In the picture of the firewall I have the trans jacked so far up that the yoke is hitting the cab floor and the covers are still that close. They are like 5" tall right in the center and that is my problem. The stock ones are only like 2.75" and slope forward at the back. If I could have done this over again I would have been better off going with that one piece firewall that Eric (superflysteiny) has used on a couple of his builds.

[mikeleeshields]

Keith, I haven't looked at your thread for a while but I am definately feeling you on the rust for sure. I'm sure you are fearing this freakin cold weather as much as I am. It sures puts a damper on things, even though I have a heated garage.

Good job so far on your build though. Keep it up.

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by mikeleeshields

Keith, I haven't looked at your thread for a while but I am definately feeling you on the rust for sure. I'm sure you are fearing this freakin cold weather as much as I am. It sures puts a damper on things, even though I have a heated garage.

Good job so far on your build though. Keep it up.

Yeah not looking forward to the winter, I bought an area heater last week for my garage to keep it warm. I'll need it as I plan on a lot of long days and nights in there this winter. Need to get this truck done Of course I need to get my truck moved over to it first, but hoping to do that in the next couple of weeks

[67ctener]

Are you on big block mounts? Here's mine with stock height covers

[67ctener]

Are you running a short or long pump?

[Rusbuilt]

Keith is running a dropmember with big block mounts.

[Bennett68C10]

Yeah I'm running a dropmember with Big Block mounts and a long water pump. If I changed the water pump then I would have to change my front accessory drive as well and I don't want to do that. I think the stock covers will work. Thanks for the picture.

[Bennett68C10]

Today I got the valve covers swapped out for a set of stock height covers. This worked perfectly as now I have plenty of room from the covers to the firewall. Decided to go with the ZZ502 valve covers because they match the look I'm going for better. I think they look pretty darn good on there.

Once I got that done, I finally bolted the cab back down. Then I decided to throw some sheet metal on the old girl. I bolted the fenders back on and aligned them the best I could for now. Tomorrow I plan on installing my Slosh Tubz so I can lay her out. Hopefully will get the door bolted back on too. She is finally looking like a truck again

[Bennett68C10]

More

[Bennett68C10]

Love the way it is looking, I'm really excited and feel like I'm finally making some progress

[jmking9]

Truck looks GREAT! I LOVE everything about this one.

[gofast68c20]

Looks great Keith, thanks for making me jealous!!

[sduckworth13]

Awesome job Keith. The truck looks great, glad you didn't have to modify the firewall.

[Rusbuilt]

Oh yeah! Nice Keith!

[big_al_71]

love the progress........

[67ctener]

Thing looks awesome. Love the stance and really like your new valve covers. Keep it up

[mcbassin]

Dang that looks good Keith. I like the short valve covers too. You mind if I borrow your wheels for a few months just to see if I like them? J/K... I really like that style

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by jmking9

Truck looks GREAT! I LOVE everything about this one.

Thanks, hope to have more progress tomorrow

Originally Posted by gofast68c20

Looks great Keith, thanks for making me jealous!!

that's how I felt after seeing your new pics you posted on your thread, made me want to run out and start bolting some sheet metal on

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Awesome job Keith. The truck looks great, glad you didn't have to modify the firewall.

Yeah I'm not a fan of bodywork at all and the thought of redoing my firewall was sickening. I'm happy the short valve covers worked out.

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

Oh yeah! Nice Keith!

Thanks Rus, hopefully will have some better pics tomorrow

Originally Posted by big_al_71

love the progress........

I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere with it, seeing it look like a truck again is really motivating.

Originally Posted by 67ctener

Thing looks awesome. Love the stance and really like your new valve covers. Keep it up

Thanks I think the new valve covers worked out perfect, I'll have the other ones up for sale soon. If you like the stance now, just wait until I clearance the fenders and lay it on the ground.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Dang that looks good Keith. I like the short valve covers too. You mind if I borrow your wheels for a few months just to see if I like them? J/K... I really like that style

Sure Mike but I don't think the blue will go with your Red come to think of it, I think I know of a guy in your neck of the woods with the same wheels They are an awesome wheel you should go for them.

[jeh]

Keith, I just checked out your build this evening... Your doing some awesome work. I really like the direction your headed, can't wait to see it finished. (Bet you can't either)
PS: If you buy another set of wheels you don't want, you can send them to me....

[Bhelton]

Very nice build, I'm in

[Rochlow]

Rock on, buddy!!