Greg's 50 Build

[Root2812]

Originally Posted by w70442

Nice build. Enjoying the thread.
I'm at a similar spot in my build though I'm using an '88 S10 frame with an LS1. Normally, there's plenty of room for the LS1 on an S10 frame but due to the way I'm positioning my engine, I'm having the same water pump to radiator issue as you. One thought I've had is to install the electric fan in the space your radiator would currently occupy and move the radiator forward of the original radiator brackets. I'll probably leave the original radiator bracket where it is since it contains the fender and hood latch mounts on it. Then just build a radiator mount/bracket in front of the original rad mount. I think there will still be enough room behind the grill to do this.
I'm sand blasting my frame at the moment so it will be a while before I actually get to this. I'd be interested to see what you think of the idea.
Good luck,

Thanks for posting. Do you have a thread going?

This weekend I got my frame stripped back down and sent off for blasting. I am not sure what I will do with the radiator yet. Either a pusher or move that radiator forward like you said. Time will tell. I have to figure out my motor right now. My engine was "supposed" to be a runner but when I pulled the head I found an inch and a half of water in one cylinder and rust in most of them. The engine still spins so I am sending it off to the machine shop.

I'd like to see your build.

[Root2812]

Originally Posted by skymangs

Root, Have you thought about using Trailblazer SS manifolds? They are the tightest manifold I've found. Inches tighter than the truck manifolds.

I have the exhaust manifolds from a ZO6 corvette with the LS6. They worked really well but lightly rubbed my boxing plates so I had to clearance the boxing plates some. I just cut a hole in the boxing plate so they didn't rub.

[99 to Life]

ahh man sorry to hear about the engine, its always something man, big or little. You'll get there. how is the baby coming?

[Root2812]

Coming along well. Thanks for asking. We have about 2 1/2 months left before she is born. My wife is doing pretty good so far but its going to be a hard summer for her with the heat and her being big.

[99 to Life]

baby girl, congrats man. You will absolutely love it. Though my girl didn't sleep through the night for the first year, it was hell up 3 times a night and guess who had night shift???? She is 15 months now and thinks she runs the show already. This home stretch will def be a rough one for your gal, but its worth it. Rub her feet and you'll get to do many more things than you imagined!! Hope you get your engine ironed out soon.

[mikec4193]

Hey Greg

Love the finish on your truck...looks like a winner for sure..I will be following along as it goes along...

I really like the one you are keeping more original..this project looks cool too..

Thanks for sharing the journey on here.

MikeC

[Root2812]

Today I ordered a steel tank from Brothers. They are running a 10% off sale all month. I was leaning toward it and then I saw Iceburgh's set up and I was sold. I am still deciding on either an external pump or putting in an Aeromotive Phantom pump. I don't think the tank is baffled so maybe the aeromotive phantom is the way to go.

The frame is at the blasters and won't be ready until the end of the month. That's too close to my kid's due date so I won't be going up to work on anything until September I think. When I get up there again I'll tear into the motor. I had a goal of having a runner in the chassis before the baby was born and it looks like I'll miss that goal by a little. New goal is to have it running by new years.

[Atommik]

Hey Greg,
Is your original truck still drivable? I thought we could maybe meet at a show, or Anoka this summer.

Tom

[Root2812]

Yep its still going. Its running like a champ but I think the 64 year old clutch has about had it. It will make it till the end of the summer so I think I'll go to a few more Anoka shows this year. Let me know when you go. I'll be gone next weekend and then I'll be having eye surgery the Friday after that, so it will be a few weeks before I can go.

I plan to tear my truck down and start on the body this winter. If we get together I'll let you get behind the wheel so you can compare stock to what you got now. Haha

Have a good 4th

[Root2812]

Small update. I was going to run the truck accessory drive because of cost. the F-body or corvette stuff was too expensive after you buy the PS pump and everything else. Well a local auction came and I scored a box for $45. In side this box was a complete LS2 accessory drive from a 2006 GTO, the fuel rail covers, oil pan, exhaust manifolds, and some other stuff. Ill save some parts for the LS swap into my dad's 67 GTO and sell some but that accessory drive is going on my truck. Its the same spacing as the F-body stuff so now I'll have the clearance I need. I'm excited to get all that for cheap.

I also got my fuel tank from Brothers truck parts today. My frame is still at the sand blasters and my uncle is going to build my motor for me. Hopefully it will be running by Christmas.

[Root2812]

Well as I prepared for my LS swap a kept feeling guilty about pulling the 216. After all it ran great and was all original. Notice the past tense?

Today I was on my way to a car show, cruising along at 30 mph when I start to hear an odd noise. I was only 4 miles from home so I turned around. 2 miles from home my noise turned into a knock. Before I could even pull over I hear a loud BANG! Then lots of smoke. Turns out my #1 piston rod wanted to see day light and the side of the block got in the way. The 216 is toast. There is a 2 inch wide hole right behind the fuel pump.

I got it on a trailer and towed home. It was a really sad day. I'll miss the old girl. I can't wait to get the build done and get it back on the road.

[oldman3]

Root, sorry about the engine, I know you wanted to wait to the last moment, it can rest in peace now...Jim

[99 to Life]

I'm a believer in everything happens for a reason. Sad or good, a reaction will occur. Turn that 216 into some yard art or furniture and enjoy the beauty of it. Good luck with the future engine.

[Root2812]

Progress has been slow but I'm back on track. 7 weeks ago I had my first child. My little girl has been great but it took a while to be able to get up north to work on my project.

For those of you just joining... I have been building an extra chassis so that my truck didn't have to be torn apart as long and I'll just swap the body later.

Anyhow, I loaded up my truck to head up north because my modified chassis had just came back from the sand blasters. My daily driver (a 2000 GMC jimmy) barely had the balls to haul the truck/trailer but it got the job done. Unfortunately I got a flat on my 1950 chevy and had no spare. I have one of those 2 wheel tow dollys so it took two hours to swap a tire from the front to the back and put the flat on the front. Here are some pics of my misery.






We finally made it and I got to start painting the frame and rear end. I have some more parts to paint next time I go up there again but I'm happy with the progress so far. Once I paint the suspension parts I can bolt them back on. My motor is currently getting built so I am happy with where I am at. Here are some pics of the frame. (I used KBC coating its similar to POR15)




Yes I am missing some running board brackets but I'll snag those off my other frame.


Moving on.. My Jimmy started to crap out on me so I finally bit the bullet and got some LS power. On Monday I went and purchased a 2014 Silverado Crew Cab 4x4. Wow what an amazing truck. I was nervous to buy a $47,000 truck but in the end its just an amazing vehicle. I like having room for my family and dogs. The forest green metallic is a pretty color but the pictures don't do it justice because its cloudy. I really like the Gen5 L83 engine.

[oldman3]

Ditto, what I posted on the other thread...Jim

[99 to Life]

congrats on the baby. hope you she wasn't in on the tow journey. You'll have those dreadful trips, I'v had a few. Luckily the one car we were tow dollying 53' belair, takes a chevy s10 bolt pattern. the wheel fell off during the trip, rim was toast, so had a spare.

new truck looks real nice. little pricey but having reliability, comfort and convenience is great.

you truck is coming along well. congrats.

[Root2812]

My daughter was with that day but luckily so was my wife so they just sat in the car and relaxed. I really wished that I could have used my Jimmy's spare on the 50 but atleast I got back on the road. It was quite the ordeal but I got a good laugh out of it later. The new truck was pricey but they don't seem to be getting any cheaper so I did it and I'm glad I did. I hope to get 20 years out of it.

[99 to Life]

oh dang, if it were my baby it would be a mess. she was pretty fussy in the car. now we got a dvd player and she is a few months off of two years old so its getting easier.

truck is really nice. 20yrs, no offense I don't think new cars and trucks will last that long, its just not the way our society works anymore. I don't doubt the trivetrain. just the body and frame, like everything else. out east there is just too much salt and being in the rust belt so to speak, its tough on anything.

its nice to have the fam in a truck though, much safer IMO.

So whats up with your engine? when you plan on getting it back?

[Root2812]

Well the engine is getting built for nothing by my uncle, who works at my dad's shop, so I have to wait until work slows down so it can get fit in. So there isn't any telling how long it will take but the price is right.

[99 to Life]

root, cool. Hope it doesn't halt you getting the truck going. I'v been seeing really good deals on LS engines lately. Can hear most of them running which is nice. One I bought I didn't hear run, so I'm hoping there isn't too many surprises but price was real cheap. With SBC stuff I always tear completely apart, seems like alot of guys just plop and LS in and don't do a single thing to it. You'll be set with a fresh LS.

[Root2812]

The last two days have been productive. I got the 5.3 tore down and ready to go to the machine shop. The #2 piston was stuck but I got it out. I will need to have it bored .030 over. There was so much carbon in there that all 16 lifters were stuck. They needed gentile tapping to come out but they were not moving. The cam looked good but I saw a small scratch on one of the rotating surfaces. It was a hairline scratch that I could barely feel with my finger nail. My dad says it will be fine but I am not sure. What do you guys think. Below are some pics of the engine tear down and some of the finished chassis.

I got my suspension all back on the painted frame and my fuel tank mounted. I have the aeromotive phantom fuel system for the fuel pump but I didn't have the 3.25 inch hole saw so it has to wait. I will have to pull the front suspension back off when the truck is done because the springs will need trimmed but that can't happen until the full weight of the truck is there.

You may also notice that I have a donut tire on the front. That's because I had two of my wheels outside and someone stole one. The donut is all I had.

[iowaboynca]

I would say since you're completely rebuilding the motor, might as well replace the cam with a more aggressive one. If you go over to the LS swap section of the forum that's the first thing they say.

Frame looking good...too bad about the wheel.

[Angryman117]

While its apart put a stroker kit in it! Too bad about your wheel, pretty sad that we have to keep everything locked up these days.

[99 to Life]

nice progress, sux about your tire. My friend caught someone stealing a spare from under his truck, cause he guy got a flat and had no spare. What is this world coming to. as for the cam, if you are on a budget or just want to keep the project moving, I'd run the cam. If you get a new one, then sure get something with a little more ooommff to it.

[Advanced Design]

Looking really good! Bummer about the tire. Member in Oklahoma had a trailer stolen. Pretty fortunate around here...I often forget to lock the shop and nothing is missing.