Project White Lightning

[03TKMRacing]

The build is on a 1968 Chevy C20 Longbed 2wd with a teenagers budget. I originally go the truck from a family friend who had gotten it from the church nearby and he didn't want to do a full rebuild and this truck was better than the one I already had. I had a 1968 C10 without a single straight panel.

Since I got it from a family friend he gave me a month to pay him $1500. I sold the C10 to a guy who wanted to do a full build without the engine and tranny for $1500. When i first go the truck we knew that the engine would need to be rebuilt but I soon learned how bad it really was. It would smoke and pop more than Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and would stall about every 30 seconds. Luckily I had already built a mild engine for the C10 and never installed it so we swapped out engines in a weekend. Turned out that one of the oil valley plugs was taken out by the machine shop just behind the head and I missed it.This made us take off the head and after that we were ready to start it up.

First thing we realized was that it had a terrible valve ticking and was leaking oil through the valves. We changed the seals and left it like that for a while so I could just drive the truck every now and then while checking the oil level liberally.

At this point I decided to start on suspension a bit and put on the lowing springs I had from the last truck.They were 4" in the back and 2" in the front. The front springs ended up being a little too soft so i got Moog stock C10 (1015 lb/in)springs and chopped them to lower the truck 2". This gave it a much better feel.

After that I decided I didn't like the drum brakes and did a 2 1/2" lowing spindle in the front and converted it to a 5x5 bolt pattern and I replaced the master for one out of an El Camino to get power brakes. The front tires are Mickey Thompson 275 65 15 and this is what I'm using on the next set up.

At this point the truck was running well and handled ok but I wanted a good working truck. So I took the truck out of commition and replaced cross members, trailing arms, and the rear axle Dana 44 from an 68 F100 and calipers from an early 2000's Ram with 2 1/2" spaces to convert the axles from 5x5.5 to 5x5. This also lines the tires up perfectly with the front tires.
Now I'm building the engine with a 284HR cam and Scorpion Products 210cc intake runner aluminum heads.

For temporary use I am using an NV3500 5-speed from an S-10 until I can afford a T56 6-speed. This is now where I'm at, with the truck apart and a few more parts to get. Updates and pictures to come soon.

[skchevota]

pictures! Pictures! Pictures! Lol

[03TKMRacing]

Here’s some of the pics.

[03TKMRacing]

This is the last of the previous pictures.

[zicc1835]

I’ll get in the passenger seat

[Ol Blue K20]

I'm in to watch

[03TKMRacing]

Now it’s been a while since I last posted but there is still progress that had happened with the truck. I fit the engine and grant into the truck and continued to strip the truck down to put in the roll cage and to get it ready for paint. Currently in the middle of rust repair too. I also put the fuel tank in to figure out where lines are going to be routed. For a while I focused on the truck souly but the next race season is coming up for Colorado National Speedway so I had to jump ship a bit and focus on the race car for the upcoming race. Though that is a bit of a set back for the truck I recently started talking to my metals teacher at the high school and since I am nearly done with my current project he might allow me to weld in my rollcage at the school. If that works out I’ll have access to all the metal tools they have like a plasma table and tubing bender. I’m going to strip the inside of the bed sides and have no bed floor and have the panels supported by the bed roll cage so this equipment would really help. I’ll send pictures in a separate post because the forum isn’t letting my upload them now.

[03TKMRacing]

Ok these are th pictures so far

[03TKMRacing]

Since my last post my shop teacher has allowed me to bring my truck in and I’m in the process of teaching in pieces of the roll cage. I’m having to replace some parts of the floor in the front due to rust but the rear hoop and halo are tacked together with the bottom of the hoop a going through the floor to tie it into the frame. It’s been a bit slow going because I’m working outside and I’ve had many days of snow, rain, or cold wind but the roll cage is still coming along. I don’t know why but the forum never lets me upload files the first time but I’ll keep uploading them in separate posts.

[03TKMRacing]

These should be the pics for the last post.

[03TKMRacing]

Well it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. Been too busy and for a while just plain forgot to but a lot has changed with the truck. Since getting it back to my shop I decided to shorten the frame and do a short bed conversion. I then found a good deal on a low miles 12v Cummins and pulled the trigger. I swapped injectors, upgraded the valve springs, 4K gov spring with the fuel pin, and put on head studs. I also advanced the timing a bit and went with a 2nd gen manifold and hx-35 turbo I had lying around. I sold the old engine and trans and built a beastie 47re for the truck. It has z pack clutched with an extra clutch added, Kevlar band, 48re 6 pinion planetaries, 48re overdrive unit and pump, billet servos/accumulater, transgo shift kit, triple lock BD converter, and an Sfi rated flexplate. During an annual swap meet in my area I picked up a full float 9” that was made for an asphalt late model. I had some extra 3.00 gears and carrier, got a full spool, and a big pattern Dana pinion support to handle the torque. I ditched the radiator support for a full cage connected though the firewall to the main hoop. I plan on using a one piece fiberglass front end and fiberglass bedsides with a custom bed cover. I will put up pics later