How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

Understated beauty. No flash, all business, LOVE IT

Originally Posted by rustytruck50

Great job on the retro & simple look on the engine...just goes to show you dont need copious amounts of billet & chrome!!!

Thanks, and hope you guys like the finished look of the hood hinges as much as I do. I think they should have come this way:

[gringoloco]

I also installed the painted accessory brackets and came to the conclusion that I will need to paint those shiny bolt heads black, too

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Thanks, and hope you guys like the finished look of the hood hinges as much as I do. I think they should have come this way:

Curious, how did you mask the holes off so the paint made it into the surrounding hole, but not hit the silver bearings? They look great btw

Originally Posted by gringoloco

I also installed the painted accessory brackets and came to the conclusion that I will need to paint those shiny bolt heads black, too

Work Work Work, all day long, work work work while i sing this song..... Gonna paint these bolts, no more shine, gonna take off the spray paint with turpentine..... Sorry, old school sandler and spade CD's reminder for me.... Building purdy means HARD WORK! Looking great man.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

I also installed the painted accessory brackets and came to the conclusion that I will need to paint those shiny bolt heads black, too

While I like the minimal bling effort, I feel painting the bolt heads creates areas for future failure. Plated bolts are fine (quality plated) & you don't have the chipping/peeling issues if something requires adjustment. Food for thought.....

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

While I like the minimal bling effort, I feel painting the bolt heads creates areas for future failure. Plated bolts are fine (quality plated) & you don't have the chipping/peeling issues if something requires adjustment. Food for thought.....

Sage advice, as always, Scot. Maybe I’ll find some black oxide replacements

[aggie91]

The hood hinges turned out very nice!

paint that rusty damper bolt too...

[darkhorse970]

I love the overall theme! I feel the same way about scuffing brand new billet parts for satin paint, it just fits...bet it makes some folks skin crawl though!

[knomadd]

Nice work! I have to wonder why you did all that work though, aren't those hinges offered in black powder coat? Mine did, but I have the Eddie Motor Sports hinges. Either way, it looks good, and the engine is turning out nicely!

[smbrouss70]

I'm Lovin' It!

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by aggie91

The hood hinges turned out very nice!

paint that rusty damper bolt too...

Thanks! That bolt is the old one, used to press the balancer back on after the cam swap. It will be replaced with a new stretch bolt that is shiny and silver (and will probably get painted black, too).

Originally Posted by darkhorse970

I love the overall theme! I feel the same way about scuffing brand new billet parts for satin paint, it just fits...bet it makes some folks skin crawl though!

Thanks buddy, I just hate polishing

Originally Posted by knomadd

Nice work! I have to wonder why you did all that work though, aren't those hinges offered in black powder coat? Mine did, but I have the Eddie Motor Sports hinges. Either way, it looks good, and the engine is turning out nicely!

All-American offers these anodized black, with machined silver edges. I likely could have had them done in all black, but it was a $150 up charge and I’m cheap I was re-thinking that savings part-way through this project, though...

Originally Posted by TA_C10

Curious, how did you mask the holes off so the paint made it into the surrounding hole, but not hit the silver bearings? They look great btw




Work Work Work, all day long, work work work while i sing this song..... Gonna paint these bolts, no more shine, gonna take off the spray paint with turpentine..... Sorry, old school sandler and spade CD's reminder for me.... Building purdy means HARD WORK! Looking great man.

Very nice, love me some old-school Sandler! Though saying it that way makes me feel old

For the masking part, I used no tape, mostly stuff I had laying around. Pictured below are some of the tools; the washers fit perfectly in the bearing-face holes, held by the counter-sink screw and nut which fit perfectly in the backside of the bearings. All other threaded holes had bolts installed, or 3/8-16 j-hooks which were used to suspend the parts while spraying.

Originally Posted by smbrouss70

I'm Lovin' It!

It’s like a McDonalds commercial

[C10_ustacould]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

All-American offers these anodized black, with machined silver edges. I likely could have had them done in all black, but it was a $150 up charge and I’m cheap I was re-thinking that savings part-way through this project, though...

Hey Chris, were you cheap before OTS or just after??

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by rustytruck50

Chris, the black finish on the hinges is just what the doctor ordered

Thanks for the input; I’m very happy with how they turned out.

Originally Posted by C10_ustacould

Hey Chris, were you cheap before OTS or just after??

I’ve always been a cheap-a$$, but now I can afford better parts

[rustytruck50]

Chris, the black finish on the hinges is just what the doctor ordered

[aggie91]

You could always get a small brush to paint them once they are installed and tight. If you ever need to remove them, then you would have to touch up the paint...

[SCOTI]

Blue Houndstooth? What's the color/info on the other material? I'm on the hunt for retro (appearance & color) blue material that doesn't break the back.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by knomadd

You need to make a trip to Lone Star Thorwdown (LST) next year, when it's finished. It's out here just north of Houston in February.

Ha, you’re more optimistic on schedule than I am. We are definitely planning on hitting all of the good stuff once we’re down that way

Originally Posted by smbrouss70

Very nice!

Originally Posted by Kronald_70GMC

Damn! Them some fine looking pieces you got there. Good work!

Originally Posted by C10_ustacould

That interior is going to be outstanding! Nice job

Originally Posted by TA_C10

Sweet! Those look great and will compliment your truck nicely.

I want to upgrade all my stuff now.... It's hard to resist the urges, heck my stage 1 build is already more like a stage 1 and 2 combined.....

Thanks guys, it never ends...

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Blue Houndstooth? What's the color/info on the other material? I'm on the hunt for retro (appearance & color) blue material that doesn't break the back.

Look for ENDURATEX Madrid 2309 CLASSIC Metallic Medium Blue Vinyl

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Look for ENDURATEX Madrid 2309 CLASSIC Metallic Medium Blue Vinyl

Have you found a rattle can dye that matches the vinyl?

[knomadd]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Ha, you’re more optimistic on schedule than I am. We are definitely planning on hitting all of the good stuff once we’re down that way

You can do it! It doesn't have to be "done." It doesn't even have to run, but it's a lot easier to get in and out if it does.

[smbrouss70]

Karl is right, you know. There's a reason that I have a couple of bottles of black finger nail polish in my tool cart. And no, not to touch up my finger nails, they get black enough on their own.

[SCOTI]

Agreed. Excellent ideas.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by aggie91

You could always get a small brush to paint them once they are installed and tight. If you ever need to remove them, then you would have to touch up the paint...

Originally Posted by smbrouss70

Karl is right, you know. There's a reason that I have a couple of bottles of black finger nail polish in my tool cart. And no, not to touch up my finger nails, they get black enough on their own.

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Agreed. Excellent ideas.

This is kinda what I was thinking, using my favorite brand of semi-gloss nail polish:

[knomadd]

I agree with Scoti. I've painted my fair share of bolts and all of them have chipped or peeled at some point. Most have failed very quickly (days or weeks). Plated bolts may work, but the black oxide I've seen hasn't been black for more than a few months. They rust.

The touch up paint idea is a good one, but if it stands out like a sore thumb in polished form, it will be easily spotted if it's touched up too. Just keep that in mind. This is exactly why I try to leave all of my bolts raw (stainless), unless they will rust (steel).

[smbrouss70]

Powder coat is more durable than paint, but it doesn't pay off unless you have a DIY setup at your digs.

[gringoloco]

With the engine somewhat complete, I decided it was time to get it ready to stab. First up, pull it off the engine stand where it’s been for months and swap the flex plate for a flywheel.

This setup is super simple and straightforward, using a PRW part# 1634680 which is drilled for both LS and big block clutches. Since I’m using an old Muncie (for now?), I’ll use the early style disc with 10-splines. Also installed an LS7 style pilot bearing, which thanks to GM’s consistency throughout the years, fits the old Muncie pilot shaft perfectly.

[gringoloco]

...and then stalled at the point of having the engine mounts in place. I had assumed that the bell housing would bolt up no problem. Silly me. It hits the rear cover bolts, so I’ll either be grinding on it a bit, or ordering a new one. Oh well, the engine looks good sitting there being held up by the picker and a jack...