55 TF Stretched Cab/Fleetside/LSx/Trailblazer Frame

[Advanced Design]

Ricky that was a great buy on the seats! Looking forward to start up.

[Bomp]

Man what I wouldn't give for 6 hrs a week to work on my truck. And I'd double that to have some of the LS knowledge you have locked away.

Can't WAIT to see the vid!

[Hart_Rod]

Kewl build

[ChuckDriver]

Looking forward to hearing her run!

[dsraven]

just checking out your online pics. you know the hood is supposed to go over the ENGINE, not the ROOF, right? ha ha
looks good. are accy drive relocator brackets a necessity or more a personal preference thing? nice job anyway. can't wait to see the body come together. mine is still waiting.

[ricott]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

You make this LS stuff look like Tinker Toys! Can't wait to hear it.
:

Thanks for the comment. The LS engines are pretty straight forward - especially after you have done it once - and have a good schematic!

Originally Posted by Kim57

Looking good.
Hope you get it running soon.
Kim

Thanks Kim. I really hope to hear it run this weekend.

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Ricky that was a great buy on the seats! Looking forward to start up.

Thanks AD. The seats and carpet will work great for this project. They are in storage now, but I hope to install them at some point this year (even if on a "temporary" basis). I am really thinking about heading up to your "metal meet" this fall.

Originally Posted by Bomp

Man what I wouldn't give for 6 hrs a week to work on my truck. And I'd double that to have some of the LS knowledge you have locked away.

Can't WAIT to see the vid!

Thanks Bomp. I hear you on the 6 hours! Garage time is my relaxing time (mostly). Last year everything in the world seem to come first, and I always put this project off, waiting for "several days when I was going to hit it hard" that seem to never come. This year the wifey and I agreed that one afternoon/evening a week would be mine to work in the garage - there may be more, but at least I know that time is mine. For the next couple of months, Thursdays are it, so after work I head home and work in the garage until I'm tired, without any requests to do anything else. It will make me a lot happier camper!

Has a date for Clemdaddy’s get together been set?

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Kewl build

Thanks for stopping by. I love your surburban.

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Looking forward to hearing her run!

I hope I have the video/AUDIO proof this weekend!

Originally Posted by dsraven

just checking out your online pics. you know the hood is supposed to go over the ENGINE, not the ROOF, right? ha ha
looks good. are accy drive relocator brackets a necessity or more a personal preference thing? nice job anyway. can't wait to see the body come together. mine is still waiting.

That's funny. I'm covered up in junk in my garage right now, and even the roof of the truck is being used for storage. Once I get the engine running, I will move the chassis out of the garage to free up some space for welding.

As to your question about the brackets, my initial mock up looks like the "truck" pulley system would be too tight to use the Camaro duel fans. I really like that setup because it cools the GTO without ever a problem. Once I get the cab welded and installed, I will revisit the pulley system. If i can make the truck brackets fit, I will use them and give the "corvette" stuff back to the 58 Corvette project.

[dsraven]

I hear ya. I will be interested to see what brackets you end up with. I am doing the envoy frame as well, so interested yo see how it all turns out. hopefully feb will have some time for the project.
keep up the great work and, of course, the great documentation pics. we ALL love that stuff.
dennis

[dsraven]

just curious, when it comes time for body welding, what are you using? mig? tig? oxy acetylene? I will be using mig but have heard that sometimes the welds can show especially on a hot day. different expansion contraction ratios from weld material to sheet metal donor materials.

[ricott]

Originally Posted by dsraven

just curious, when it comes time for body welding, what are you using? mig? tig? oxy acetylene? I will be using mig but have heard that sometimes the welds can show especially on a hot day. different expansion contraction ratios from weld material to sheet metal donor materials.

I will MIG weld this project. I can TIG weld, but I haven't done it in at least 5 years, and I don't have a machine (but one day - if I live long enough - I will). I could probably burn up several panels trying to get the foot/hand/eye coordination of TIG welding down again!!! MIG welds will crack if you work them too hard (shrinking/stretching), and I have had to reweld areas in the past. I have never had a problem with welds showing, and it can get hot here!

I really hope I can go back to the "factory" brackets on the Driver's side of the engine, although I will probably be using the aftermarket Passenger side AC bracket on this build.

[dsraven]

isn't it funny how that works. we want a tool but we make do with something less and the project gets done. then, when we are older and won't use the better tool as much-we buy one. it doesn't get used as much, if at all, but it looks good in the shop and we dream of what we would do with it. sometimes when we do use the new tool it is for somebody else. you gotta laugh.

[ricott]

Well last Thursday I spent almost six hours reworking the tranny mount. Because I'm using the T56 tranny, I needed to raise the perch area almost 3 inches. I mocked it up using my digital angle finder (on top of the tranny in the first picture). I used the center section of a second trailblazer mount to make the raised part. When the mount was finished and the tranny mounted, the Tranny angle was 2 tenths of a degree off (down) over the rear end angle. I could adjust it (raise the tranny mount using a shim), but it is close enough for government work!







I spent a couple of hours Saturday installing the clutch and gas tank, and mocking up the gas line. I'm planning to work late Thursday afternoon/evening - so I'm sure it will run then. As always, more to come.

Ricky

Time spent Thursday/Saturday: 8 hours

Total time: 168

[Kim57]

Looks good.
Kim

[jlsanborn]

Well done! What is your target angle with respect to level?

[ricott]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Well done! What is your target angle with respect to level?

The angle was 3.5 degrees at the pinion. I zeroed the angle finder to my garage floor, the placed the angle finder on the pinion yoke - it was 3.5 degrees. I then placed the angle finder on the tranny and adjusted until I got the 3.5.

[ricott]

IT'S ALIVE!!

I left work early and went and pulled two fuseblocks. Got home and hooked one of them up, then powered up the fuel pump and fixed a couple of drips.





I hooked up my four wires, then hit the starter wire relay and it fired right up. I only ran it a little because I don't have any coolant in the engine. Click on the picture below to hear it run.




I LOVE THESE ENGINES!! I'm headed to Dallas this weekend for work so it may be a couple of weeks before the cab welding begins. As always, more to come.

Ricky
Time today 3 hours
Total time: 171

[Kim57]

That sounds great.
Congrats.
Kim

[Advanced Design]

Sounds really good! Way to go Ricky.

[ricott]

Those that have followed this build from the beginning may recall that I said my primary focus in 2014 would be my wife's 1958 Corvette. Well, it wasn't. I got going on this truck and really put her (and her project) off – it has always been the "next" one. While in Dallas last week an acquaintance of ours that has been working (on and off) on his car project for a number of years was diagnosed with cancer and will not live to finish it. That really hit home, and I have vowed to get our 1958 Corvette (that we have owned since January 1985) in a running and driving condition in time for my wife to drive it around the block by her birthday in late August.

Here is the truck reassembled ready for welding to begin. I will put its cover on and let it sleep through this year.






Wish me luck - here are a couple of pictures of the Corvette frame. The first goal is to make this a roller. If anyone would like to follow along on the Corvette, click on the Corvette link in my signature.





And one of the car.




Thanks again everyone for your comments – and I look forward to getting back on this truck late this year - and possibly meeting some of you on the Power Tour this summer..

Ricky

[papastrk]

Looks like you have a great start on a very nice Vette for the better half there. It takes a very special woman to put up with us gear heads that spend way too much time out in the garage with our build projects. I am sure she will love the Vette. Take care.

[alaska gasser]

Originally Posted by ricott

Those that have followed this build from the beginning may recall that I said my primary focus in 2014 would be my wife's 1958 Corvette. Well, it wasn't. I got going on this truck and really put her (and her project) off – it has always been the "next" one. While in Dallas last week an acquaintance of ours that has been working (on and off) on his car project for a number of years was diagnosed with cancer and will not live to finish it. That really hit home, and I have vowed to get our 1958 Corvette (that we have owned since January 1985) in a running and driving condition in time for my wife to drive it around the block by her birthday in late August.

Ricky

Glad to hear you are doing it. On the same line, a friend of ours wife always wanted a '66 Mustang so he bought one years ago and it kept getting bumped down the list as well. Last year she started having medical issues and he moved it to the top of the list. He was able to finish it and she drove it a couple of times before she passed away. I'm looking forward to your new build.

[Bomp]

Following the Corvette. Make that lady happy.

[Advanced Design]

Great prioritization, love the Corvette and I will tag along too Ricky.

[Nut Case]

Good karma, your heart is in the right place. Well Done

[Kim57]

Nice Vette.
Hope you make your goal.
Kim

[jlsanborn]

I'll be following the Vette project!