Project Whiskey Dent (Take Two..)

[hewlett2002000]

Some of you may have seen my build thread i started a long time ago. since my plans have changed alot since then i figured i would start a new one. I went yesterday and picked up a 6.0l vortec and a 4l80e transmission from a 2001 1500 complete with computer and wiring harness and all accessories for $900. That is whats going in. I still need to rebuild the complete front suspension and steering as it is totally shot. I am going to have to get my drive shaft cut down. I need gauges, and im going to have to do something with the wiring. I dont have the money for a new harness for the 6.0 nor do i have the money for it to be reworked so i am going to be doing it myself. I will keep this thread updated step by step as i finish things. i only have a few months to get my truck on the road so it will be at a fast pace (if things go as they should). I welcome and appreciate any and all advice. i will take recent pics of my truck tomorrow and post them.
John

[ChiefRocka]

So.....are we getting it going this time ??

Just messing with u man...that thing is gonna be sweet with that drivetrain !

What's the mileage ?

[retodd7711]

Gonna have to change your signature
We really need pictures, my friend.

[TR65]

Hey Hewlett,

I am using the factory harness on a 2005 6.0L. I got the service manuals for the exact car the engine came out of. Using the manuals I have slowly figured out all the wiring, I think. No smoke test yet though.

TR

[hewlett2002000]

80k miles. miles are a little high but it will be fine. my foot aint that heavy,,, lol

[protrash64]

80k is barely broken in on those new set-ups. Sounds like a good project and it should test your skills, if not your patience.

[ChiefRocka]

Yeap...80K aint nothin....

[hewlett2002000]

ive been going through all the wiring and removing what i dont need. grueling task. im going to use the bcm because i want to keep the vats in one form or another. when i get paid im gonna order the adapter plates for the motor mounts so i can get it bolted in. heres the ones im gonna go with.
http://carshop.carshopinc.com/produc.../86959/C/S2349

if you have any other suggestions then feel free to let me know.
im also going to get all the parts i need to rebuild my front end and get that done before i drop the engine and tranny in. im also going to have to figure something out about a drive shaft because the yoke for the 4l80e takes a bigger u-joint than the stock style. im gonna do some research and see what i can come up with. also im going to add power brakes, and power steering while im at it. so i have a busy couple of months ahead of me. ill keep yall updates as i get stuff done.
John

[jgarverick]

thats a great deal man, i want an ls style motor with a stick so bad.... o well guess that will have to wait. those 6.0 motors are awesome. have you looked into the l92 heads? they're like baby rectangle port BBC heads, freakin sweet.

[Captainfab]

Originally Posted by hewlett2002000

im also going to have to figure something out about a drive shaft because the yoke for the 4l80e takes a bigger u-joint than the stock style. im gonna do some research and see what i can come up with.
John

You might be able to find a U joint that will allow you to connect the trans yolk to your driveshaft. But since you'll need to shorten the driveshaft anyway, consider having a different yolk welded on your driveshaft. That way you can run a standard U joint.

[nuke1]

just to let you know, you can get adapter u-joints, like a 1330 to a 1350, look into it at your nearest driveline place. that is what i have done.

[hewlett2002000]

thanks for the u-joint tips. that helps quite a bit. i hit a bump in the road. i know my truck had been wrecked before. front end collision. me and a friend were looking at it today and realized how tweaked it is so we measured it and found out theres a 2 inch offset. so its crooked as a mofo, seeing as gm allows a 1/4' difference tops. lol but good news is i found a 66 lwb frame just like mine less a rear end with new ball joints and bushings that has a 88 1/2 ton crossmember under it for $75. so i got me another frame. i guess it saved me money in a strange way because i needed to rebuild all my front suspension and steering. gonna be a bit more work though. oh well.
John

[Captainfab]

Well look at it this way....better to find out now than after the get the 6.0 and 4L80E all in there.

[hewlett2002000]

well i went and got my new frame today and found out its really a 66 GMC frame so it has leaf not coil. well he also had a 3rd member from the same 88 chevy that the front cross member came from, for $50 bucks!! i couldent pass it up. so for $125 i got a complete rolling chassis. im starting work on getting it all in shape to drop my cab on it. im going to clean up and paint the frame and all the suspension parts. when i pull my cab im going to clean the bottom of it and coat it with bed liner, along with the cab floor. ive still gotta unload the frame from the trailer so ill take pics then. i thought it would be heavy but me and another guy picked up the frame by ourselves.
pics soon to come (tomorrow).
John

[19GMC63]

Nice! You've been coming across some good deals here lately.

[hewlett2002000]

Originally Posted by 19GMC63

Nice! You've been coming across some good deals here lately.

yep please dont jinx me. theres still stuff i need......

oh i also forgot to add that the frame also came with a power steering gearbox thats like new. so im happy.

[shrunken66stroker]

There's your buck and a quarter right there. Nice pick up.

[TimE]

Good score!

[hewlett2002000]

heres the pics i promised. got it on the jack stands. before i bolt anything up its getting a few coats of black rustoleum (after some prep work). also a pic of my old frame, notice how bad its bent. also the new frame has no carrier bearing mount, im debating on putting a strait drive shaft in it. should i just take the mount from my old frame and use the carrier bearing?
thanks,
John

[Captainfab]

I would try and find the bracket for the bigger and better carrier bearing that bolts on the bottom of the crossmember. There's been a couple of guys on here that have had trouble with those light duty ones that hang from the top. If you can't find one locally let me know I may have one.

[Alan's Classic]

Nice scores and progress

[hewlett2002000]

Thanks Guys. i need a little help as im having trouble finding any info. im looking for a yoke for my 4l80e and it looks like it requires a fixed yoke. the po kept the one that was on it which makes me think it was a slip yoke that was on it. that and the fact that it was a truck. i dont care eaither way i just dont know which yoke to order. i do know its a 32 spline yoke and the one from a th400 will fit but ive also read that some yokes wont work right and will not go in far enough and some fixed yokes hit the tail housing and will not tighten down and im confused. any help would be greatly appreciated. i have decided im using the carrier bearing and not going with a 1 piece.
thanks for any assistance,
John

[Captainfab]

Well since you're going to be using a 2 piece driveshaft, a bolt on (fixed) yolk would be the correct one to use. I'm not an expert on 4L80E's but I would think a yolk for a TH400 would work just fine.

[hewlett2002000]

never mind. I did a little more reading and went out and pulled the tail housing and my output shaft has splines all the way back so i can use a bolt on or a slip yoke. and a th400 yoke will fit just fine. so its off to the junkyard.
thanks,
John

[LILRED66]

Good luck with the new venture and keep us posted on what you found that would work for your application.