Prepping for a BBC conversion

[87Lowrider]

Originally Posted by BigRedSled1985

ken, i just read through this thread, all four pages worth, and i gotta say, your dedication and perseverance through the little bumps and small irritating stuff really is great! and the reward... WOW!!! that engine sounds mean and nasty just sitting there, i would love to hear a quick "fly-by" or "down-the-road" type of vid to hear that beauty changing gears and scaring the old ladies of your neighborhood!

very great write up on a great project, I only hope when the time comes that my truck ends up as nice as yours!

shaun

I'll see what I can about scaring the neighbors for ya... Thanks!

Stay tuned...

[70stroker]

wow man is it bad i love your truck way more than mine? Looks amazing, my favorite ride on this board.

[87Lowrider]

70Stroker - i read through your thread too... your's is pretty nasty too!!!

[ttjordan25]

LOVE THE TRUCK!!!!!! What kind of wheels are those??

[ttjordan25]

Where did you find them in a 20"? I've only been able to find 17's, and did they bolt right up without and modifications to the hub or spacers?

[ttjordan25]

also what drop setup do you have on your 87. I'm looking for about the same stance, but am having trouble figuring out if i shoud go with drop spindles or dropped tube control arms (DJM)?

[87Lowrider]

I bought them from a board member, but you can order them from tirerack.com or summitracing.com but they are special orders so it takes a few weeks to get them.

The stance is static. Bags soon, but for now, it's got a flip in the rear with shock extenders, 2 1/2" drop spindles up front and 1 coil removed from the springs. Rubs a bit on fender wells but not that bad.


Kenny

[menace121978]

kenny, awesome build! i'm not sure how i missed it without posting. that big block sounds sick and the paint looks sweet! nice job and cool thread!! Dennis

[87Lowrider]

Originally Posted by menace121978

kenny, awesome build! i'm not sure how i missed it without posting. that big block sounds sick and the paint looks sweet! nice job and cool thread!! Dennis

Thanks, and thanks for the props too!!

Gonna do the interior next.


Kenny

[grinch4om]

do you still have that 76 body?

[ttjordan25]

I am working on a 76 body.

[87Lowrider]

No, all I have left is the radiator, washfluid container, intake, carb, exh mani, etc... truck was sold for parts by original owner.


Kenny

[87Lowrider]

Here's the lowrider next to a buddy's '87 4x4 during a car show (her first) last year. Won "Best Truck" out of nearly 200 in the field. Not bad for her maiden voyage.

[STOCKISH]

Well deserved. Sick truck man. I love the flat black.

[baclay9]

Very nice man. I am fixing to start a 454 conversion in my 83 1/2 ton and your thread has been very helpful. I hope you dont mind me picking your brain as I go.

[87Lowrider]

Originally Posted by baclay9

Very nice man. I am fixing to start a 454 conversion in my 83 1/2 ton and your thread has been very helpful. I hope you dont mind me picking your brain as I go.

No problem.. This board was a tremendous assistant to me when i was putting it all in the truck. Bunch of great folks here!!

[lo72]

Hey 87Lowrider sweet truck, what type of headers are you using? thanks!

[87Lowrider]

Originally Posted by lo72

Hey 87Lowrider sweet truck, what type of headers are you using? thanks!

Thanks, right now, they're dynomax, but I'm getting ready to switch to hooker or something else (stainless or coated, not sure). They rusted really bad and look terrible in the engine compartment so I'm putting some nice shiny ones in there.

[lo72]

Video of your rat idling is like music...what are the specs on the cam? Baclay9 didn't mean to jack your thread!!

[baclay9]

It's not my thread bud...get after it!!!

[baclay9]

When you installed the Becool radiator I noticed you said you used the upper mounting hardware from your SB radiator. What about the bottom hardware. Do I need to come up with the BB radiator supports and stuff for the bottom?

Do you think if you would have been running the dual electric fans with the 4 core BB radiator you had originally they would have cured your overheating problem?

[87Lowrider]

Originally Posted by baclay9

When you installed the Becool radiator I noticed you said you used the upper mounting hardware from your SB radiator. What about the bottom hardware. Do I need to come up with the BB radiator supports and stuff for the bottom?

Do you think if you would have been running the dual electric fans with the 4 core BB radiator you had originally they would have cured your overheating problem?

I didn't have to change the bottom support. The radiator fit perfectly.

I didn't try a dual fan on the original radiator so I'm not sure of the results. But, the BeCool keeps the engine temp around 175-185 when driving above 40-50mph. Otherwise, it gets up to around 200-210 in town.

I don't let it do that without having to stop anyways so it's no concern for me. If it gets too hot for my tastes, I either stop or find an open road and cool it off.

[baclay9]

Hey Kenny, are you still happy with your cam choice? Is it making plenty of vaccum to run your power brakes and such? It is hard to tell from the video but does it have a fairly choppy idle?

I ended up scoring a set of 781's and I think I am going to go ahead and have them opened up to 2.19/1.88 as you did. If you had it to do over again would you have some porting work done or are you happy with the performance as is?

If your setup is working well for you I would like to copy cat it so I will more or less know what to expect when I fire it up the first time. LOL

Also, are you running a hydrualic flat tappet cam?

I can't remember if you said or not but what stall are you running with that setup?

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks man!!!

[87Lowrider]

Originally Posted by baclay9

Hey Kenny, are you still happy with your cam choice? Is it making plenty of vaccum to run your power brakes and such? It is hard to tell from the video but does it have a fairly choppy idle?

I ended up scoring a set of 781's and I think I am going to go ahead and have them opened up to 2.19/1.88 as you did. If you had it to do over again would you have some porting work done or are you happy with the performance as is?

If your setup is working well for you I would like to copy cat it so I will more or less know what to expect when I fire it up the first time. LOL

Also, are you running a hydrualic flat tappet cam?

I can't remember if you said or not but what stall are you running with that setup?

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks man!!!

No problem.

The cam is pretty "choppy", people comment about it every time I take it out, which is a couple times a week. I've noticed a few times that the brakes are a bit hard to press on but it's only in the morning when I back it down the driveway. Once I get it warmed up, it's fine.

Several of us around here have a running joke about the cam... "I've got to get that miss fixed"

Since this is my first "hot rod", I don't have anything to compare it against. The heads came with the motor so I was lucky to get what I got. I'm sure I'll do something different when I get the '57 done. But, this motor has all the power I need. The Cam is like a Big German Shepard. Even the ponies stay away!!

The Cam is a hydraulic flat tappet. Somewhere on here should be all the part numbers I used when i ordered the top end for this motor which is (was) all new. The bottom end was sound so a rebuild of the heads was the only other thing I needed.

Valve train is a bit noisy but some say that's normal. I've got about 6000 miles on it now.

Here's some more vids from my youtube page;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSJNDRFIfsc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=560iXjyBWCs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwNTx6WS7QU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VqpqF69t_4

Here's a link to a local thread with new paint on the truck back in the spring.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=402574

Good Luck!

Ken

[Gordonr1973]

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