Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[Bennett68C10]

Looks great Vic

[mcbassin]

Engine looks great!

[jeh]

Looks great Vic, this is going to be one sweet ride!!!!

[ls1nova71]

[QUOTE=Vic1947;7758969]
The tech surmised it was related to EGR and I should just delete it and reprogram the computer. AYFKM?!! He also stated their alternator would probably not play nice with the computer either. No instructions, no fixes ...just a suggestion to Google what to do. <sigh>

QUOTE]

I was over at Chip's today and he told me about this build thread, so I just spent a few hours skimming over this build. It's turning out really nice!

The thing on the head is an EVAP purge solenoid, it's used for emissions since the Connect and Cruise is an emission legal swap engine. You won't need it around here, but if you lived in a state that does emission testing it would be required.

I'm subscribed to this thread now and will be in for updates!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

I was over at Chip's today and he told me about this build thread, so I just spent a few hours skimming over this build. It's turning out really nice!

The thing on the head is an EVAP purge solenoid, it's used for emissions since the Connect and Cruise is an emission legal swap engine. You won't need it around here, but if you lived in a state that does emission testing it would be required.

I'm subscribed to this thread now and will be in for updates!

Glad you're watching, Eric. I'll benefit greatly with an LS wizard looking over my shoulder. My electronic skills are ancient... proof below. My BIL Rick built me a nifty open source charger for my wife's Volt. My only requirement was to wire the power coming in and the plug going out. Been working great for quite a while, but quit the other day. It would appear that yours truly failed to get the line connections tight enough. So feeding electrons to the LS and other gizmos I have planned will likely stretch my skills beyond their limits.

[Vic1947]

I haven't been keeping up with my posts recently. Had surgery on my left eye the week of Thanksgiving and was recovering nicely when I came down with an a$$ kicking cold. But I'm gonna live, so here's a few photos of my intermittent progress. On the third try, I got the engine in the exact spot I wanted. I had Mike at Precision squirt the intake and coil covers so I needed to get them back before finalizing everything.

Didn't like the Corvette script embossed in the rail covers, so I whipped up a couple of polished aluminum strips and covered the offending areas. Topped off the strips with the old Chevrolet script which I like better.

Chip called and needed his bed cart for a project he's doing for a customer. I happened to notice that if you squinted real hard at the LS3 shipping crate I had left over, there appeared to be a cart lurking in its bones. Some deck screws, a piece of plywood leaning up against the wall and 4 HF casters later, I had my replacement. Which is a good thing as Chip says there is now a waiting list for his cart.

[Vic1947]

I'm trying to get the exhaust revised for the LS engine, but ran into a minor issue with the frame to manifold clearance where the exhaust pipes bolt to the stock manifolds. It appeared the manifolds could benefit from angle milling to tuck the EP flanges closer to the block. My little mill was not up to the task, so I sent it to my buddy Bruce down in Houston. He took them to his old shop and milled 3 degrees off each of them for a perfect fit. The new shop owners drive Ford trucks so they thought it would be cute to set my Chevy parts on fire and send me a text with a photo. All I could see on my postage stamp sized screen was the bonfire, so I made a panicky call to them which only increased their amusement. The final product turned out great however, and I now have plenty of clearance for the exhaust tubes. Once they get done, I'll blow them all apart again and send the pieces to Jet Hot for ceramic coating.

[swamp rat]

Did you mill the script into the strips?? Don't know if you have an NC mill? Nice to have connections for favors too! Color looks great.

[sduckworth13]

Everything looks super Vic. I dig the valve cover script too!

[Oregon 1967 GMC]

your exhaust tucks in nicely right there by the frame. Shaping up to be totally beautiful.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Did you mill the script into the strips?? Don't know if you have an NC mill? Nice to have connections for favors too! Color looks great.

Thanks, Mike. For the script I tracked down an image on Google and sent it to my sign painter bud, Steve, in Sedalia. He imported it into Sign Lab, cleaned it up, made it the size I needed and cut it out of silver vinyl. I did something similar on the 68 step I built.

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Everything looks super Vic. I dig the valve cover script too!

Thanks, Scott.

Originally Posted by Oregon 1967 GMC

your exhaust tucks in nicely right there by the frame. Shaping up to be totally beautiful.

One of the key reasons for doing this was get additional distance between the manifolds and the lines and wiring running along the frame. I may still need to add some shielding, but it's much better now.

[Bennett68C10]

Wow that motor looks awesome Vic! Very clean!

[Low Elco]

Seen it in person, and the pics literally do not do it justice. This is gonna be so nice. Thanks again for the bends, they worked well!

[knomadd]

Looking good Vic!

[jlsanborn]

Nice touches there Vic!

[snipescastle2]

Awesome progress Vic! Love the valve covers!
Ben

[tune_1]

Vic Work looks great and I like the Chevrolet script. Glad to hear that you are recovering from the eye surgery. Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Dwight

[Possmguts]

Daaaang Vic... Im speechless on the progress you have made since I last checked in on you! Amazing!

[Elliot949]

Man Vic... that is looking AWESOME!!!!... Have you fit the bed yet???

[snipescastle2]

Vic,
Looking very nice! I hope you are doing better and that you and Kathy have a wonderful Christmas!
Ben

[Vic1947]

Thanks everyone. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I've mostly been doing exhaust work recently, nothing exciting. Spot faced the manifolds and welded out all the V-band joints. It's complete except for the high temp coating. I got a quote from Jet Hot for $830 plus shipping for the entire system from manifolds to exhaust tips. Thought I might run down to Crosslink over in KS and see what they estimate for their silver Cerakote. I may end up using BBQ paint.

I thought they left the O2 bungs out of the C&C kit, but after ordering some replacements on eBay, of course I found them buried down in one of the boxes. I welded in four bungs, two for the computer and two more for the AEM A/F gauges I planned to use for the original Gen I SBC. My dash is already modified for them, so might as well proceed.

Next up is to do one last fitment of all the body parts before moving the chassis to the upstairs garage and getting busy with bodywork. Also rec'd the one piece windows from Brothers this week and will need to install them. Stay tuned.

[jeh]

Merry Christmas Vic, I just got caught up on your build again, looks like your making good progress. I'll have to say, I really like the valve covers. Looking good man, keep it up.......

[roushinator]

Nice work!!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jeh

Merry Christmas Vic, I just got caught up on your build again, looks like your making good progress. I'll have to say, I really like the valve covers. Looking good man, keep it up.......

Thanks, Jason. You been able to put any miles on yours since the big thrash or has the weather been uncooperative?

Originally Posted by roushinator

Nice work!!

Thanks!

The cab and bed are back on and lined up pretty good without having to wallow out any of the mounting holes... which is always a good thing. The cab and body lines didn't match up all that well, so I machined four Delrin bushings to space the cab up 3/8" on the passenger side and 1/4" on the driver side. Now everything lines up nicely.

In retrospect, I made an ill considered decision to modify the bedside I bought from Classic. Wasn't their fault, but the way the inner wall was welded to the outer skin was wrong from the factory. At first, I thought it was just the wheel well and corrected that. Instead, I should have returned it right then. Later when I placed the bed on and had the problem between the front panel and the back of the cab, I cut the inner panel completely out and shifted it to pull the bedside rearward on the passenger side. Still wasn't enough and the final piece was fixing the frame. Could have saved a lot of time and trouble by shopping around for a bedside that was put together right to begin with. Some of that 20/20 hindsight.

The final piece of the puzzle is the front clip and if it goes on and adjusts properly, that will be a big relief. Will keep you posted. Below are some pics of it sitting at normal road height (50% travel on the AccuAir bags). When I get the front clip on, I'll drop it down to fairground cruise height and post up. Later!

[Elliot949]

Man that is looking great Vic. Front clip tomorrow???... LOL