Black Gold Build, v2.5

[burnie6bt]

Hey guys, I am in the process of "refreshing" my 1972 C10 Longbed. A bit of background on me and the truck.

Me: I am married with 3 kids (6yo, 3.5yo, 2yo....Boy, Girl, Boy), my wife and I own a business (she runs it and is her day job, I have minimal involvement), I also work full time in the manufacturing engineering field. Needless to say we are busy!

Truck: This has been in the family for about 35-40 years. This was my Grandfathers farm truck, he passed in 1990 (red truck). Then my father restored it in 1995-1998 time frame (black with chrome smoothies), v1. Then it was keyed all the way around, so the truck was repainted, badges, shaved, and 20" chrome wheels added v1.5. I have made some upgrades, rear disc brake conversion and holley sniper fuel injection.

Plans for v2.5 minus a lot of details:
-5.3LS Swap
-4l80e
-Lowering to a 4/6 or 5/7 drop (currently around a 2/4 if I were guessing)
-22" white transport wheels, 3/4 ton square body dog dish
-305/40/22 tires all around (need to work on fitment/trim)

Lots of little details and items that will be added as part of the build:
-Seatbelts
-Gauges
-potential bumpers etc.

PSA: Progress will be slow, target is by summer to be running. When it hits 70 degrees. So in Michigan it will be late July

[Shifty One]

I'll be watching your re-fresh!

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice truck and cool history minus the keying. This definitely sounds like a great winter project!

[burnie6bt]

So first mini step in the project! I got some Intellitronix gauges for a good price. I will be repainting them to look like original gauges. The letters and ticks green, faceplate satin black, and the needle orange! Here are some pictures of the start! Any color recommendations? I have heard Krylon Jade Green Satin and fluorescent marker orange. Just going to do a satin or flat standard black.

[burnie6bt]

So I have some of the painting done! I used a Krylon Sea glass Seafoam for the ticks and numbers and a satin black for the face plate. I am waiting on the transparent orange and red for the needles, high RPM, and high temp marks. The seaglass is like a frosted green, I was hoping to still let light through as all of those are backlit.

[burnie6bt]

Pictures

[burnie6bt]

This is the last picture, waiting on my transparent orange and red. Then I can paint the needles, high RPM, and high temp marks.


In other news, I got my transport wheels and tires, the guy at the local belle tire quoted $60 per tire to mount and balance a loose 305/40r22. That seemed steep, what are you all paying for 20/22" mounting and balancing??

[burnie6bt]

Waiting on paint for the gauge needles, but got a new engine!

5.3 rebuilt by a local machine shop, balanced, heads, ARP hardware and head studs, BTR forged pistons, gen 4 rods, and valve springs.

Swapped the sloppy stage 2 cam for the MaddMaxx I had for the build.

Also got my 22" transport wheels, they are at the tire shop getting 305/40/22 on the rear and 265/35/22 on the front 👍🏻

[burnie6bt]

Got my gauges out back together, rear transports on, and working on all new front end. Rotors, wilwood d52 calipers, 3"drop spindles, upper and lower ball joints, tie rod ends, SS brake lines, and a new proportioning valve. Much dirtier than I thought!

Progress is slow but there, I may have picked up a few engine goodies

[raggedjim]

Nice work on the gauges. Truck looks like it is in great shape.

Good luck, Rg

[burnie6bt]

Front end is all torn apart. Need to do some clean up and paint then reassemble, I was hoping it would warm up here in Michigan to paint but I'll have to give it more time to dry. I have 3" drop spindles, wildwood d52 calipers, and some Bilstein shocks along with all the other stuff to freshen the front end up.

I have a quick question on turbo setup if anyone knows.
Current setup purchased: 5.3, tsp Maddmaxx cam, 76/65 .96ar turbo, 1211 PAC springs, 3.07 rear end gears, and 4l80e trans.

Two questions:
What's y'all's opinion on a 4l80e, 2800 stall, with the 3.07 gears and 30" tire? Hoping to have a fun street setup, may see the track playing around but nothing serious on this setup!

Planning on running non intercooled with a water meth injection, anyone have experience? I have a snow performance kit. Planning start injection at 3/4 psi and full injection at 8 psi. Need to get a nozzle and figure out if I was to go pre or post turbo.

[bnorth]

I think that rear gear is pretty high and a 3.73 or 4.10 would be better fit and still ok cruising in OD. That said you should be making enough power that even with 3.07's it will have no problem burning tires off.
I have never used water/meth but expect it would be a bit more work to tune than with an air to air intercooler.

[burnie6bt]

I have heard mixed reviews on the gear. Some people say that 3.07 is decent with a turbo. Helps load up for spool and not blow the tires off the line. I don't think it will matter much. Tires wont hook for awhile I'm assuming!

I'll try the 3.07 and if I find it miserable then I'll go 3.73.

[burnie6bt]

Progress is slow but progress none the less.

Got 1 side almost back together, have 90% of the parts for the engine parts, engine primed, and did some paint sampling on one dog dish. I am liking the metallic gold. Prolly going with that and the same with the front bowtie.

[burnie6bt]

Wow realized I haven't posted in a long time!

Progress is slow but there. Definitely am not going to be done by snow. Hoping to get it mobile by end of Oct to do a street run but we will see! More parts collected.

Got a good deal on a set of bags so that delayed the front.

I have the bags in and the front is almost done. Had to make some sway bar modifications so it didn't hit the bag and bind the bushing when aired out.

I shortened the sway bar and made a "tongue" with a hole. Found a sway bar link from an Infiniti or something that was the right length and had ball joints on each end 90 degrees from each other. Pictures are not great but you can sort of see.

Starting to the the engine together to go in. Intake, accessories, etc.

Ordered my Terminator X Max, once the front end is together it's going on the ground and I'll start the engine bay clean up and prep engine. Hopefully set it in after!

A couple questions:
Anyone have shock measurements on a bagged truck with stock A arms. I have 3" drop spindles. Just trying to gauge if I need different shocks..... Don't want to bottom out when aired out and have decent stroke at ride height. Obviously I need to take measurements to be sure!

Anyone have input on how to get the LS lower and back. I know the sliding plates to get back. I am thinking lower perches and sliding plates. I can't seem to find a "dropped" perch, of one advertised at least!


Thanks in advance!