65 Short Step driver build

[1enick72]

I have decided to start a build thread after working on the truck for about 1.5years. This is what the truck looked like when I first brought it home, It started and moved so I drove it.








I got it home, put the panels and peices back on it and drove it until I figured out which direction I wanted to go. It was mostly original with the only changes being the trans had been swapped out at some point from a 3 on the tree to 4 speed with a high hump. For some reason someone had sprayed the whole truck with primer over the original green paint.
Here is the current state that it is in.


I will sort of put together a build with pics of course of what I have done along the way and progress from here out.
This picture is a quick photo shop of what I want it to look like when finished. I would like to get a nice rendering done by somebody with real talent

[boat]

Cool truck man dig the wheels
Posted via Mobile Device

[1enick72]

The following pictures of some of the work that has been done up to this point. The first thing was to add power steering. I had a hard time backing up a trailer with manual steering. The second thing I did when the 6 cyl was still in the truck was to swap out the big 4 speed for a T5. Since then everything has come together quicker since I collected parts for about 6 months for my suspension and engine project. I have install a L98 TPI 350 cu with mild upgrades.



I swapped out the dash and had to modify my sending unit to accept the correct level sensor

[1enick72]

The most recent part of the build was to make the ride better, lower and stop.




I used 2.5" drop spindles and 2" springs in the front. The rear has 2" blocks and 3" spings. The front end got all new ball joints, tie rod ends, bushings etc. I used CPP 6 lug rotors.

[1enick72]

So I started this build thread but have not posted anything since. I have decided to do another engine swap. Wifey thinks I'm crazy but I have had some drivability issues with the TPI engine so I have moved on to a Corvette LT1 that has been juiced up a little. The PCM is better the injection system is better. I will be doing a write up on the LT1 swap. I am waiting on some parts to show up before the install and then I will be back on this.

[Solo2002]

Lookin good i like that two tone look and the wheels are cool
Posted via Mobile Device

[Ta2Don]

Looking forward to watching your progress... Good looking Stepper!

[1enick72]

Finally got my engine bay cleaned up, the grease was the easy part, the undercoating on the firewall was terrible. I started with oven cleaner, moved to aircraft paint remover and then another product from Klean strip for paint, epoxy and poly. It took a few times of spraying and scraping, some places it was thick. I finished with the last step or spraying it down, let stand for 10-15 min and scrub with a scotch brite pad. If there is no rain tomorrow I will prime and paint.





Some needed parts for the swap came today also;



Engine getting close to going in, should be ready by the weekend.

[1enick72]

Needed to replace the radiator support so I decided to strip down the rest of the front end and clean and paint it right. Engine may not go in this weekend but it will be right when it does.

[Solo2002]

that engine is nice good work man

[Alan's Classic]

I'm late to the race. I just saw this build. Nice to see that you have a build now. Thought I would never see it. JK Making some nice progress. Subscribed.

Have you done anything with the hood that you got from me?

[1enick72]

Thanks guys.

Alan,
I have not done anything with it, too many other projects getting in my way. When the engine swap is complete (again) I will be back on to one panel at a time. Since the I have replacement doors and the hood I got from you they will be first so I can still drive it. I wish that I had a spot to do a complete tear down like you did but I don't (well I do but I need to work out of there every day ). I figure I can make it pretty nice and when I move back to Maine I can push it into a corner some winter and do it complete.

Much easier to clean all apart.





A little sanding tomorrow and it'll be ready for some primer and paint.

[Solo2002]

Sorry Man but just my 2 cents but while you have the front tore down as far as you do why not take the 3 bolts out the fender and the 5 on the inner fender where they bolt to the cab and do the whole firewall and under hood at one time just wondering. But nice truck it's gonna be fun with that motor in a stepper
Posted via Mobile Device

[1enick72]

Originally Posted by Solo2002

Sorry Man but just my 2 cents but while you have the front tore down as far as you do why not take the 3 bolts out the fender and the 5 on the inner fender where they bolt to the cab and do the whole firewall and under hood at one time just wondering. But nice truck it's gonna be fun with that motor in a stepper
Posted via Mobile Device

After looking it over last night I may just do that. I still have to get fenders in the near future so I could do it then. My plan is to make things pretty nice now and drive it for a while and down the road when I have room tear it down for a complete rebuild.

[Solo2002]

ya i hear ya on that. i was just wondering when i took mine apart i thought it was gonna be alot of work to get them off but 8 bolts and like 15/20 mins of work and i was like wahhhhh thats it huh that was easy lol and its well worth the few mins for a driver and you wont have to tear into it again till you wanna do a full resto

[1enick72]

Engine bay all clean and painted. Got my engine dropped in yesterday.





I also got my wiring all set inside the cab and mounted extra fuse block and relays.

[1enick72]

I had to make a small adjustment to the upper frame rail to make room for the idler and surpentine belt set up from the Corvette setup. The Camaro and Caprice all have the accessories on the passenger side with the AC compressor on the bottom.




I got the power steering line fabricated. I used the Vette pressure line which is a metric o-ring fitting. I cut off the end that would go to the gear, swapped the fitting and double flared the end. The space is a little tight but got it worked out.

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by 1enick72

I swapped out the dash and had to modify my sending unit to accept the correct level sensor

How did you modify your sending unit to accept the newer gauge?

[1enick72]

I cut off the old sending unit and then found the spot where the new level sensor needed to sit and be level. Clamped it in place and weld a couple spots on each end. The wire is really still like house wire so I ran the extra up the tube and coiled it around. Carful when welding since both parts are very thin, holes in your pick up tube would not be good. I checked mine with air pressure when finished. Here are some more pictures, not sure if they will help much or not.

[Torqueforce]

Love the truck, amazing progress. That thing should haul some serious ass!

[1enick72]

Thanks, I'm going to need to find a posi unit soon. I had traction issues with the TPI engine, it will just be worse now but fun.

I got the grill support and radiator supports sanded down to bare metal and sprayed with epoxy primer. I need to get get some regular primer and paint so I can spray the back sides before it all goes back together.

[Modges'66]

Regular primer? What's that?
If you have the drying time, & muscle to work the epoxy primer, you will be much better off in the end...No shrink over time, & much better anti-corrosive characteristics. IMO

[1enick72]

Originally Posted by Modges'66

Regular primer? What's that?
If you have the drying time, & muscle to work the epoxy primer, you will be much better off in the end...No shrink over time, & much better anti-corrosive characteristics. IMO

I'm new at the body and paint scene and was under the understanding that I still had to use another primer. I was told at the paint supply place that after sanding everything to bare metal than spray with epoxy. After the the epoxy primer is on go ahead and start any body work that needs to be done, prime seal and paint. I just used the epoxy primer on mini bike tins I was working on so I could get a feel for how it was to spray. After sitting for a number of days I sanded everything, so I know what you mean about the muscle. I still sprayed with standard primer and blocked again before paint. Is this wrong or do people re-prime because the the epoxy primer is so hard to work?

[kgmunro]

Man, I love the look of a tpi!

[1enick72]

Originally Posted by kgmunro

Man, I love the look of a tpi!

I love the look of it too. That system makes nice torque, ok horsepower but the ECMs are junk. I kept going through ECMs and there was always a hesitation on the initial hit of the throttle, not fun with a manual trans. I wanted to stay with fuel injection but did not want too much work right now so I bought an LT1 (complete Jasper engine) for what I sold the TPI engine for. Better power, injection system and still a small block,