jimbosprint 1972 C20 - the good, the bad, and the ugly

[jimbosprint]

Drove it to a friend's house to watch football. I love my new truck!

[swamp rat]

Glad to hear!

[jimbosprint]

Better pics.

[Xeen]

Now that you have a nice shiny new engine in there it draws attention to the parts that are rusty, don't ya just hate it when that happens?
The cool part is you can pull all the rusty parts out of the engine compartment all at once, restore them and reinstall them the next day, or if you like a more casual approach you can do one or two parts at a time.
It will give you something to do when you get bored.

[jimbosprint]

I think (hope) I'm done for a little while under the hood. Next on the list is tires and fixing the bench seat.

[jimbosprint]

Truck got some new shoes today. 4 barely used Goodyear Wrangler LT245/75/R16. Tire shop threw in the chrome caps!

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by jimbosprint

Truck got some new shoes today. 4 barely used Goodyear Wrangler LT245/75/R16. Tire shop threw in the chrome caps!

Score!
I bet if you looked around you could source a original paint dent/rust free long fleet bed side for $200.
It doesn't matter if it is the tool box version or not because if you want to keep it you can just get out the sawsall and cut the opening for it, then source a new door or fabricate one.

[jimbosprint]

Fun to drive a little, but fixing the brakes is now a priority. Pads are gone in the front, grooves in the rotors. Doesn't shake or make noise, but I have been very cautious about driving it.

People already tring to race me, even in my beat up sleeper truck.

[jimbosprint]

Here's pretty much all the tools I used for this project (and my last one 15 years ago). The electrical tools aren't the best (they're ancient), but they were good enough. The only tools I bought just for this are the oil priming tool and flywheel turning tool. I borrowed a harmonic balancer installer for free from Autozone, the engine hoist from my next-door neighbor, and a pressure washer from a friend.

Not pictured but essential for parts cleaning: 20gal parts washer, a whole bunch of cheap wire brushes, bench grinder with wire wheel, and a drill with wire wheel. I think I used about 3 gallons of de-greaser in the parts washer and a gallon of Simple Green.

[jimbosprint]

First oil change this morning at 35 miles on the new engine.

[no1udknow]

Originally Posted by jimbosprint

Here's pretty much all the tools I used for this project (and my last one 15 years ago). The electrical tools aren't the best (they're ancient), but they were good enough. The only tools I bought just for this are the oil priming tool and flywheel turning tool. I borrowed a harmonic balancer installer for free from Autozone, the engine hoist from my next-door neighbor, and a pressure washer from a friend.

Not pictured but essential for parts cleaning: 20gal parts washer, a whole bunch of cheap wire brushes, bench grinder with wire wheel, and a drill with wire wheel. I think I used about 3 gallons of de-greaser in the parts washer and a gallon of Simple Green.

Oil priming tool?... I just always used a drill with a long flat head screw driver tip. Sometimes even a speed wrench with an extension and a 3/8 drive flat head tip. I didn't even know they made such a tool.

[no1udknow]

Is your truck disc or drum? I might have some drum shoes, I have to see if they are the right ones for our trucks. When I got my parts truck there was a brand new box full of drum shoes.

[jimbosprint]

Disc up front. I still need to look at the back brakes. I know I need rotors and pads for the front at least.

The oil priming tool wasn't too expensive (~$20 I think from Jegs) and seemed to work well. Kinda sucked to buy a tool to use once, but it seemed like good insurance for the new motor. Anyone near me is welcome to borrow it if they need.

[jimbosprint]

Taking the truck in to the muffler shop this morning for 2.25" dual exhaust and turbo mufflers. Can't wait to hear it!

Photo gallery was updated last night - 293 photos.

[no1udknow]

Originally Posted by jimbosprint

Taking the truck in to the muffler shop this morning for 2.25" dual exhaust and turbo mufflers. Can't wait to hear it!

Photo gallery was updated last night - 293 photos.

Nice! Im running 2.5 myself and a set of long tube headers and 22"glaspacks... love the sound

[jimbosprint]

Thanks to mechanicalman for running my engine specs on his Desktop Dyno software.

It estimates (if tuned properly) I could have ~230hp/330ft-lb under the hood. Plenty it seems to me, and a nice improvement over the stock 175hp.

[Xeen]

I dunno Jim if GM says it's 260 HP then it's 260 HP they would get called out pretty fast if people found out GM was lying and overstating their HP by 30, I think it's unlikely it's anything less than what they say it is.

[jimbosprint]

Originally Posted by Xeen

I dunno Jim if GM says it's 260 HP then it's 260 HP they would get called out pretty fast if people found out GM was lying and overstating their HP by 30, I think it's unlikely it's anything less than what they say it is.

Easy to get there with headers, but not manifolds. I read somewhere that was part of the advertised HP rating.

[jimbosprint]

Just picked it up from the muffler shop. Sounds real nice. I'll try to get a video up soon.

[jimbosprint]

Pulled the radiator this morning and took it in to fix the leak.

[jimbosprint]

Here's a few pics of the exhuast. The mufflers are AP XLerator turbo mufflers.

[Saclandman]

Lookin' slick there, Jim. What did that put you back, if you don't mind me asking?

[jimbosprint]

Rough cost breakdown of the project:

Truck $1700
Crate engine $1260
Carb, intake, distributor, other engine parts, fluids, paint ~$1000
Transmission rebuild $800
Driveshaft work $200
Tires $350
Exhaust $600
Radiator repair $85

~ $6000 total

[flashed]

That's a lot of truck for $6000 and you know what you have ,great build .

[jimbosprint]

Originally Posted by flashed

That's a lot of truck for $6000 and you know what you have ,great build .

Thanks! I feel like it was definitely worth the time and money. It should be a very reliable, long-lasting truck.