Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[Orange67]

Vic, I love your build! Amazing stuff man. I really love the TTII's, love the dark or black chrome look. Awesome!

[jeh]

Looking good Vic, nice choice on the wheels also. That really stinks when you pay good money for parts and still end up with a struggle to get them to work...

[Xeen]

Vic I purchased CPP's Deluxe bent bar and it adds a good deal of clearance and it should even clear that monster cover.
Don't hold me to it but if I remember I will get a picture with a tape showing how much clearance there is with it installed.

[swamp rat]

Love then wheels!!!! style and color both!

I admit I debated on the caddy calipers but read some horror stories on the forum here about them, something about if you don't set them very frequently they end up malfunctioning somehow. If I start hearing more good stories about them then I may be persuaded to give them a go in the near future.

[mcbassin]

Killer choice of wheels and tires! congrats on those puppies

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Nice looking wheels Vic!

Originally Posted by Orange67

Vic, I love your build! Amazing stuff man. I really love the TTII's, love the dark or black chrome look. Awesome!

Originally Posted by jeh

Looking good Vic, nice choice on the wheels also. That really stinks when you pay good money for parts and still end up with a struggle to get them to work...

Originally Posted by Xeen

Vic I purchased CPP's Deluxe bent bar and it adds a good deal of clearance and it should even clear that monster cover.
Don't hold me to it but if I remember I will get a picture with a tape showing how much clearance there is with it installed.

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Love then wheels!!!! style and color both!

I admit I debated on the caddy calipers but read some horror stories on the forum here about them, something about if you don't set them very frequently they end up malfunctioning somehow. If I start hearing more good stories about them then I may be persuaded to give them a go in the near future.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Killer choice of wheels and tires! congrats on those puppies

Thanks everyone! Here's some progress photos. The CPP bent panhard bar went in with no issues... for which I'm grateful. There were a couple of minor issues with the dust shields on the front brakes, but nothing a flap disc couldn't remedy.

As you can see, the suspension is pretty much assembled. Had to modify the SS lines I'd bought for the drum brakes because the line kit that came with the CPP rear brakes seemed more suitable for a Studebaker. Not a problem, though. I just cut about 5" off the original lines and re-flared them. A few tweaks here and there and they worked out great. Besides, I'd rather have the SS lines than plain steel anyway.

From here, the next step is to get the AccuAir E-level remounted and the lines run. Once I get air in the bags, I'll be able to move on to the engine. I took the intake and coil covers to Precision this week for paint. I'll be posting up some photos of the March serpentine drive as I install it. Stay tuned.

[Vic1947]

More pics...

I think the 18's are about the right size wheels for this brake package. 20's really need bigger calipers and rotors to fill the space behind the rims. Just my $.02 worth.

[Oregon 1967 GMC]

wowee, took me awhile to get updated. Very intensive and you're really doing it up right. I'm envious of your garage and what you're able to do in there. Outf..standing! Can't wait for the final shine on that baby but then again it never really ends.

[jlsanborn]

That is coming together sweet!! The finish on the wheels is really cool.

[Low Elco]

Spiffy!

[snipescastle2]

Hey Vic!
Looking good my friend! I can't wait to see that chassis come alive! Are you still going with your original paint scheme? Or have you decided on a different color combo?
If you need a hand with anything be sure to let me know, my overtime finally dried up and I'm back on regular hours.
My nieghbor has a friend who has no less than five times asked me to sell him my truck, he asked me what I had tied up in it, and I said I had somewhere north of $18k in it, and if I couldn't get at least that, it wasn't happening.
Of course the wife said " Oh hell no!" " I put up with you building that truck for three years, you're not selling it, and your not buying another project!" I think she has since softened her stance on selling it, although, I'm not sure if that's what I really want to do. I always wanted an 80's corvette. My biggest issue with owning this truck is seeing it parked, .vs- driving it, it's just not economical move to drive it a lot.
I am looking to change the cam to a much milder one, maybe even run the FItech fuel injection on it to see where that gets me. Oh well, just a thought.
Hope you're feeling better and your vision improves!
Have a good one!
Ben

[Low Elco]

Originally Posted by snipescastle2

Hey Vic!
Looking good my friend! I can't wait to see that chassis come alive! Are you still going with your original paint scheme? Or have you decided on a different color combo?
If you need a hand with anything be sure to let me know, my overtime finally dried up and I'm back on regular hours.
My nieghbor has a friend who has no less than five times asked me to sell him my truck, he asked me what I had tied up in it, and I said I had somewhere north of $18k in it, and if I couldn't get at least that, it wasn't happening.
Of course the wife said " Oh hell no!" " I put up with you building that truck for three years, you're not selling it, and your not buying another project!" I think she has since softened her stance on selling it, although, I'm not sure if that's what I really want to do. I always wanted an 80's corvette. My biggest issue with owning this truck is seeing it parked, .vs- driving it, it's just not economical move to drive it a lot.
I am looking to change the cam to a much milder one, maybe even run the FItech fuel injection on it to see where that gets me. Oh well, just a thought.
Hope you're feeling better and your vision improves!
Have a good one!
Ben

Start saving for the LS swap! DD reliability and mileage, tire fryin' fun!

[swamp rat]

Vic its looking awesome and the 18' wheel are perfect!

[jeh]

Everything is looking great Vic. Anxious for more updates

[sduckworth13]

Nice work Vic! Everything looks so nice and clean! I like your wheels too, they look great.

[mcbassin]

Looking good Vic

[knomadd]

That looks sharp! Nice work Vic!

[Low Elco]

Good stuff, Vic! I dig the black chrome.

[Vic1947]

Thanks for the encouragement and support, everyone! I'm finally heading in the right direction, I think. Funny how much you forget, though. What order do the parts go back together, which fasteners go where and how are they oriented? I've obviously slept too much since I took this puppy apart. According to my photo folder numbering system, it will be four years in January since I white-knuckled CRLS home in sub-freezing temps. Still way ahead of the 25+ years it took to finish that Ford.

Oregon mentioned the shop and I have to say I've been truly fortunate when it comes to that. Over the years I've occasionally helped other guys with projects in single car garages and it takes a special kind of patience and organization to work in such a small place. I once painted a car for a guy in a tiny shed with a dirt floor and a salamander for heat in the dead of winter. Never again!

The fuel tank, trailer hitch and air system are all back in place. I haven't fired up the E-level yet because I have to have a running vehicle hooked to the 12V battery via jumper cables when the compressors are pumping. The amp draw is too much for the battery alone. Even adding my Sears battery charger in jump start mode won't keep them from cycling. Knowing this, I ordered a 320 amp alternator as an option with the March serpentine setup. Figured there was no way a stocker could keep up.

[snipescastle2]

Vic,
Looking good my friend! Very clean and detailed!
Ben

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by snipescastle2

Vic, Looking good my friend! Very clean and detailed! Ben

Thanks, Ben. I'm with Chip regarding Serious Black... an LS would scratch that "project itch" better than starting over with another truck.

I reinstalled line clips and routed air lines today until I had to stop off to order parts. Turned my attention to the serpentine drive and started setting the kit parts loosely into place. First crack out of the box, the bolt for the crankshaft drive hub was too long. Had to whack 3/8" off it to keep it from bottoming out in the crank snout. Harbinger of things to come.

Next up, the water pump had to be replaced with the one in the kit. After getting it in place with the fasteners just barely snug, it occurred to me that I remembered something on the March website about needing button head screws for the back of WP. No instructions whatsoever regarding the pump, so I pulled it back off and could see that the bolt heads had already made some light impressions in the cast aluminum timing cover. Swapped out the bolts and put the pump back on. At this point I discovered the thermostat and its housing were not correct for the new pump. Again, because there wasn't any remarks in the instructions about the WP, I was forced to call March to see what gives. Turns out the kit pump is off a 98-02 Corvette 350. The pocket where the thermostat sits is .275" shallower than my LS3 plus the housing bolt pattern is slightly different. So now I need to schlep off to the auto parts.

[Vic1947]

I did get the PS/Alt brackets trial and idler pulley assembled before knocking off work. Gotta go get Dad and bring him back home for the evening. Hopefully, there won't be too many setbacks as the accessories go on. Still a lot of parts left on the table.

[knomadd]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

...Turned my attention to the serpentine drive and started setting the kit parts loosely into place. First crack out of the box, the bolt for the crankshaft drive hub was too long. Had to whack 3/8" off it to keep it from bottoming out in the crank snout. Harbinger of things to come.

Next up, the water pump ... it occurred to me that I remembered something on the March website about needing button head screws for the back of WP. No instructions whatsoever regarding the pump, so I pulled it back off and could see that the bolt heads had already made some light impressions in the cast aluminum timing cover. Swapped out the bolts and put the pump back on. At this point I discovered the thermostat and its housing were not correct for the new pump. Again, because there wasn't any remarks in the instructions about the WP, I was forced to call March to see what gives. Turns out the kit pump is off a 98-02 Corvette 350. The pocket where the thermostat sits is .275" shallower than my LS3 plus the housing bolt pattern is slightly different. So now I need to schlep off to the auto parts.

I wish I had known you were looking at March before you bought it. I would have warned you about their "quality" parts. This sounds like par for the course with them. I have one of their kits on my GTO... Not happy with them, or their idler pulleys. Just a heads up: the idlers they use are made in China. They're sealed units and all 5 of the one's I've used (3 on my kit) had developed an annoying (and embarrassing) squeal. I now have various OEM replacement idlers from many different year and manufacturers vehicles. Oh, and the clear powder coating has started to chip on my brackets. To be fair, it is about 15 years old. Their parts do look nice though.

Everything else looks good though, Vic. Keep it up!

[Xeen]

With all that weight savings with the aluminum block and heads, tubular control arms, air bags and the engine sitting back closer to the firewall, sway bars and the lower center of gravity that little pickup is going to corner so much better it will feel more like a Camaro than a C10, sounds like a hell of a lot of fun to me!
Just a thought here that would cause you more work because I know how much you love that haha, how bout fabricating a tubular inner frame stiffener?
Everything looks great and hey aren't you almost back to where you were before you found out the frame geometry was irreconcilable?
How are your eyes doing?

[jlsanborn]

That is nice looking stuff! Too bad the fitment isn't what it should be. You're the one to figure it all out though!