Project -underfunded - '68 shortstep/carb'd LSx/200-4r build

[mcbassin]

I have a question, where did you buy your rear stabalizer? Do you have any more pictures that show how it is set up on the control arms any from the rear?

[68GMCCustom]

Sure...it came from CPP. I bought their suspensions and handling kit that provides drop springs, shocks, adj. panhard, and 1.250" front and 1.125" rear sway bars. I'm probably going to wind up moving the whole sway bar back a few inches to help it work better... after I drive it some. The frame holes used for the end links were already there and if I tried to go where the instructions said the hole was supposed to go....my frames old leaf spring bends were in the way. these pics are all I could find....if you need a particular angle let me know and I'll try to take a pic for you.

[mcbassin]

Hey thanks! I'm thinking that will work pretty good for you. How much drop did you go with in the rear? Your truck chassis so clean! Really first class work.

[68GMCCustom]

Thanks! Did it by hand....next time I think I'll have it blasted.
I'm starting with a 3.5"/4.5" drop...and will go from there until I get it exactly like I want it.

[cooter472]

I seen your having questions about fuel pump location, I've been racing old trucks for about 15 years now on the street and track. You will need to mount your electric pump as close a possible to the tank. Also inlet of pump needs to be at least the same level of the pick up in the tank or lower. When I was a kid I burnt the heck out a bunch of good pumps because of this. For electric fuel pumps check Mallorys web site, they give very good info on mountings, plumbing, and wiring of pumps. By the way your truck is going to be an awsome ride. Hope you have lots of fun with it. Hope your back gets better.

[matthew20061]

I am really liking the looks of that sway bar setup. Might be time to add something like that to my truck front and rear now that its lowered. Do you think its a worth while upgrade to add the rear sway bar? Or would just the front sway bar be enough to make the truck corner nice?

[68GMCCustom]

Thanks cooter. I don't see how other folks with this style tank are mounting their fuel pumps as low as the fuel outlet/pickup tho. On these tanks the outlet is just a bung in the bottom passenger side front corner, so there's no pickup but there is baffling internally. If I mount the pump as low as the bung, it will be subject to road debris and everything else w/o a box or something to protect it. The low point on the frame is roughly the same elevation as the bung... tho its probably 30" further forward or more. Thats been my delimma.....too high....too far away...or too exposed and just a bad location.


mathew...If you don't have a front....adding one will make a BIG difference.
I'm goign for handling....so I wanted one out back too.

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

mathew...If you don't have a front....adding one will make a BIG difference.
I'm goign for handling....so I wanted one out back too.

Glad to hear, I'm sure adding one will make it a totally different driving truck. I happen to have an extra one front one so I'll get some bushings and install it!

[68GMCCustom]

as an example of the difference.....my wife went with me to Lowes in my truck before it had a front sway bar. When I made a "spirited" left turn....she squeeled because she thought the truck was going to flip over...and said that she could see the pavement out her window!

not so once I put in a front bar. With the changes I've made to the chassiss now....I'd expect it to feel more like the "sport truck" I'm looking for. A track terror and super street truck.

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

as an example of the difference.....my wife went with me to Lowes in my truck before it had a front sway bar. When I made a "spirited" left turn....she squeeled because she thought the truck was going to flip over...and said that she could see the pavement out her window!

not so once I put in a front bar. With the changes I've made to the chassiss now....I'd expect it to feel more like the "sport truck" I'm looking for. A track terror and super street truck.

Haha thats hilarious! I'm definitely going for the "sport truck" feel, although with those lowering springs from CPP and shocks it rode quite nice. I'm sure it will be way way better with added sway bars.

[Pop's C-10]

Dose that trans. bold right up..i think i read somewhere you have to use a spacer if you run a 3 speed. Does that apply to 4 speed OD also?

[68GMCCustom]

Trans bolts up. For LSx motors if you want to use the older 3sp and 4sp automatic "pre-electronic" transmissions you need a crank to flexplate spacer (.400) and a special flexplate (w/older torque converter bolt holes). The "adapters" only deal with the crank to torque converter connection....as the genI/II and the genIII/IV blocks have roughly the same (except for one or two upper holes) block to transmission/bell housing bolt patterns and do not require a plate or anything to bolt together.

[68GMCCustom]

Made some progress finally and finished most of the exhaust. I had to cut the CPP trailing arm cross members oval exhaust outlets some to give enough clearance for the exhaust to move up and down with the 3" pipes. They're really only made for 2.5" unless you plan on using the openings as hangers....which I think might resonate back through the frame.
I have decided I need flex pipes tho between my headers and the system. I'll add them when I put in the h-pipe.

Started back in on the fuel system. Finished the 1/2" hard line from front to rear with -8AN ends connected to -8AN s.s. flex to the regulator and from there thru the 2nd filter and then the carb...so at least one ends done....unless my hoses are too long.
My fuel pumps instructions say the pump should be close to the tank and the fuel exit but not more then 24" above the top of the tank. Based on that I'll run it like it is...but plan an upgrade soon.

[85burb]

Good to see ya back at it again. Do you remember what length bolts you used to mount trans to engine? I know the thread size but dont know how long they need to be.

[Pop's C-10]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

Trans bolts up. For LSx motors if you want to use the older 3sp and 4sp automatic "pre-electronic" transmissions you need a crank to flexplate spacer (.400) and a special flexplate (w/older torque converter bolt holes). The "adapters" only deal with the crank to torque converter connection....as the genI/II and the genIII/IV blocks have roughly the same (except for one or two upper holes) block to transmission/bell housing bolt patterns and do not require a plate or anything to bolt together.

Thanks

[matthew20061]

Glad to see your getting back at it! Nice progress!

[68GMCCustom]

fuel system finished except for tank end of -8AN 1/2" hose as the bung needs tapped and I'm out of hose ends. Its 1/2" aluminum hard line with 1/2"/-8AN s.s. hose and -8AN fittings.
Exhaust finished except now I want to add some 6"-10" long 3" s.s. flex pipe behind each header to protect them from pipe movement. Oh...and finally buttoned down my new CPP tubular trans x-member I recently installed to help put the 3" pipes where I wanted them.























3" ehaust:


had to open up the CPP x-members to give the 3" pipe to move up and down:

[68GMCCustom]

...and the tubular -xmember:






what the exhaust would have looked like bring it put behind the rear tires. I decided I'd rather have it heard then seen.











one thing I've really noticed tho....the longer it goes on with all the grinding, etc....my truck already needs a bath and it hasn't even been finsihed or outside yet!

[85burb]

Looking great. Pepboys sells hose ends.

[68GMCCustom]

ahhh....I'm not going to replace the red/blue ends right away. It'll work for now as I'm going broke trying to finish and get it running.... and not building a show truck.

[85burb]

They sell the black ones at mine.

[68GMCCustom]

I'll have to remember that. I don't have a Pepboys nearby, but there are those times that Autozone and O'Rielly's don't have what I need.
I usually order from Summit, Jegs, Speedway, ot where ever...but if I get down to the wire one weekend and a part means firing it up or waiting for several more days.....I'll be trying to find that part!

[85burb]

I spent 3 hours sunday trying to find 3inch to 2.5 inch exhaust reducers. Went to every parts store that was open....found 1. Did not buy. Figured exhaust shop should be ablet to do something with it. Hate parts stores in this town!

[68GMCCustom]

well I've gotten some more done. Got the trans TV cable and throttle cables and linkages all setup. also wound up pulling out the heater box to replace my fairly new heater core. Evidently the bottom tube wasn't soldered very well. Anyway.....gave me a chance to "look underneath" and do some cleaning up and rust preventative. Pics later.

[85burb]

Good to hear of progress was getting worried there for a min.