Family Project 65 C10 SWB "Old Blue"

[JamieGallien]

Originally Posted by Homebuilt Hotrods

Very nice work! Love the engine mount idea!

Thanks! It really was a "go with the flow" thing. I think God just led us into it. We didn't really plan for it to work out as well as it did. :-D

[JamieGallien]

I got the tank in last night. Took some pics to show the fill tube clearance with the tank spaced down 3/4" (top pic) and 1/2" (bottom pic). The 1/2" spacers lined everything up nicely with the bend clearance in the frame. I like the way it turned out. Video to come showing the detail of how I worked out the side fill tank install.

[JamieGallien]

We put the shiny coat on the power steering pump. Turned out nice.

I ordered PTFE braided fuel line and AN connectors today from HotRod Fuel Line (board member). Also ordered compression -6A to 3/8 and -6AN to 5/16 hard line adapters and adapter for the 5.3 truck fuel rail lines from Summit.

Oh, and a pair of Borla 40364 - Borla ProXS Mufflers! Can't wait to hear it run!!

[JamieGallien]

Got some parts in yesterday. Borlas Pro XS mufflers. They will definitely flow well, although I wonder if they're going to be too loud. No, I don't plan to run them like in the pic, just thought it was neat looking...stainless everywhere!

[JamieGallien]

Mounted the fuel pump and installed a -6AN to 3/8 hardline adapter on the fuel feed from the tank.

[JamieGallien]

I'm planning to reuse the factory 4l60e transmission lines. They made contact with the header and needed adjusted. Had some help cutting off the extra and capped the lines. I used the 10 finger tubing bender to get the lines cleared from hitting the header. That's when I noticed...the head is actually hitting the block and not sitting flush on the head! I'm going to have to grind down what looks like a casting block to get clearance...

[JamieGallien]

So back to the issue on my last post, the header hits where I have circled in red. I'm thinking this is just casting blocks left over? Anyone know if there's some crazy oil passage going through there that would keep me from grinding this down to clear?

[JamieGallien]

Took the cover off the rear to check everything out, looks good as new!

Fabbed -6AN PTFE hoses for the fuel system. Progress!

[JamieGallien]

Finished plumbing the fuel system last night. I still have to add hangers for the lines and filter. More progress!

[The Rocknrod]

You know bending the frame for the fuel fill, most people would call that blasphemy. I say you were thinking out of the box for sure, good job! I would have never thought of that.

[67pete300]

Just read through the whole thread. Great project. Love that your kids are so involved. I'm looking to do the 5.3/4L60 swap on my 65 soon so watching with interest.

Where did you get the gas tank?

And what are you planning for the steering column? I have to switch from the original manual 3 speed column.

[JamieGallien]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

You know bending the frame for the fuel fill, most people would call that blasphemy. I say you were thinking out of the box for sure, good job! I would have never thought of that.

I figured it would be stronger that way rather than making a cut as most do. That remains to be seen I guess. I doubt I can get enough load in that that corner to matter anyway, lol.

[JamieGallien]

Originally Posted by 67pete300

Just read through the whole thread. Great project. Love that your kids are so involved. I'm looking to do the 5.3/4L60 swap on my 65 soon so watching with interest.

Where did you get the gas tank?

And what are you planning for the steering column? I have to switch from the original manual 3 speed column.

The tank is from Brothers. It's the 67-72 Blazer tank. The truck is step-side, so I plan to come out under the left fender and put the fill in the rear of the fender with a Challenger/Charger gas cap (pic below).

I'm moving from the 3 spd column as well. About the only good solution I've seen is the ididit columns since they fit pretty much like a glove. I may also keep the original column with the lever removed and just put a B&M Quicksilver in the floor. I drove the truck that way for years and loved it.

[Captainfab]

Your 3 speed manual column can also be converted to shift an auto trans.

[JamieGallien]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Your 3 speed manual column can also be converted to shift an auto trans.

I would be interested in hearing about that. I did run a 700-r4 with the 3 speed column for a while, but I didn't have reverse or park detents, so no hand shifting allowed! lol

[JamieGallien]

I put the rest of the steering together last night. I just snugged everything up to see if I could remember how everything went. I plan to torque it all down tonight and put the wheels on it.

I'm still trying to decide what to do about power steering. I'm thinking Captainfab's bracket, but I'm not sure what PS unit I currently have. It's supposedly from a later model C10, but I haven't been able to verify yet.

I'm also not 100% sure that my link bar will work with the pitman arm that's on the ps unit. More learning to do...

[JamieGallien]

So...looking back at my build pictures, I ran into something that i hadn't noticed. The tie rod ends have a inner and an outer designation, two different part numbers. I thought all four where identical. I'll have to double check what part I put where when I put the front end together last night.

ES370R is the inner tie rod end.
ES350L is the outer tie rod end.

Here's hoping there are easily identifiable part numbers on them, lol!

[JamieGallien]

Thinking of going with 2 1" DD x 3/4"-30 universals instead of the rag joint set, just to get any misalignment out of the way up front. Anybody got input on this idea?

[67pete300]

Originally Posted by JamieGallien

I would be interested in hearing about that.

Me too.

[Captainfab]

All '68-'86 C series and '87-'91 R series steering boxes are interchangeable. The steering box you have there will work.

[JamieGallien]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

All '68-'86 C series and '87-'91 R series steering boxes are interchangeable. The steering box you have there will work.

Awesome! Thanks for the info. PM sent for info on ordering the PS bracket btw.

[JamieGallien]

Go the fuel lines clamped down. Fuel system is done!

[JamieGallien]

Got her back on all fours and rolled out of the garage so I can work on my wife's Yukon for the day. BIG step to have it rolling again!

[JamieGallien]

A couple of pics of the header clearance once I cut off the casting blocks from the block. I also cut off the corner of the starter bolt boss and ground it round/smooth. The top pic is the casting block, right at the top of the pic. The bottom pic is the start bolt boss. Still tight, but enough clearance once I have the header gaskets in place.

[JamieGallien]

Figured out that the only difference between the inner and outer tie rods is the thread direction...

Originally Posted by JamieGallien

So...looking back at my build pictures, I ran into something that i hadn't noticed. The tie rod ends have a inner and an outer designation, two different part numbers. I thought all four where identical. I'll have to double check what part I put where when I put the front end together last night.

ES370R is the inner tie rod end.
ES350L is the outer tie rod end.

Here's hoping there are easily identifiable part numbers on them, lol!