And so it begins.... 65 shortbed, lay frame, LT engine build

[HSRACER]

So I have been looking for a cool patinaed 64-66 truck with porterbuilt suspension and LS in it for sale for a few years and never could find one that fit my budget or was done how I wanted it.

So I have been gathering parts knowing someday I will find a good candidate truck to build myself. Just to let everyone know I do not consider myself a full build or restoration expert at all so any help or suggestions will be welcomed.

I will post up some pictures to let you all see what I have to start with.

Here we go!

[HSRACER]

Here are some of the parts gathered so far.

[HSRACER]

My plan is to get the frame, suspension, engine, trans, brakes, exhaust, brake lines, fuel tank and lines all mounted up,and ready before actually starting to work on the truck itself.

I drive it at least once a week around town and like to enjoy it.

Here are a few more progress pictures.

[HSRACER]

Few more of the painted rear section on the frame.

[HSRACER]

The LT install will bring plenty of challenges as the aftermarket is just starting to catch up to our hobby and not that many bolt on parts are out there but I really wanted to have the gen 5 engine in this one as the plan is to keep it a very long time.


The modified wiring harness with the relocated fuel control module has been completed by a friend of mine, Travis at Pro performance has been wonderful to work with on buying the needed parts like the Boyd’s tank, vintage air, Dakota Digital Gauges, and my buddy over at LT swap supply has been a great source of info on the LT engine.

My good friend Aaron Boese has been gracious enough to allow me to work on the thing at his Hotrod shop and it helps that he has done 3 LT swaps himself so his experience will be of great benefit as we go forward.

Good to have others to bounce ideas off of.

[Ronzo]

Beautiful.

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by Ronzo

Beautiful.

Thank you. It will be a long journey and I hope you watch as it comes together

[Clyde65]

What is your plans for fuel, pump etc.
The LT’s have a high pressure pump on the back of the engine, thanks

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

What is your plans for fuel, pump etc.
The LT’s have a high pressure pump on the back of the engine, thanks

Hotrod magazine did an article where they used a areomotive 340 pump and controlled it by the pulse width modulated fuel control computer. That is what I ordered from Boyd’s tanks so I didn’t have to cut in a Tahoe or Silverado stock pump.

My friend over at Ltswapsupply.com use the Camaro ZL1 pumps in there installs.

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

What is your plans for fuel, pump etc.
The LT’s have a high pressure pump on the back of the engine, thanks

Here is the link to the article I was referring too.

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/unde...stem-swapping/

[Clyde65]

Sweet, so is the pump controlled via the PCM? Yes?

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

Sweet, so is the pump controlled via the PCM? Yes?

That is what the article says and I hope it works! I have ordered the pump and have the control module ready to be installed.

[Clyde65]

Ok, please keep me or...us posted. I’m thinking I may need to do this on my dad’s crew cab. It has an LT L83/6l80 also.

[vet57air]

I plan to run an LT also. Bought the GM 23377989 pump from ZR1 Camaro

[Kermitt47]

Looks like a fun project.

[rwade]

This one will be fun to watch. Going to be a sweet ride when your done.

Wade

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by vet57air

I plan to run an LT also. Bought the GM 23377989 pump from ZR1 Camaro

That will work great and it has an internal regulator so you only have to run one line to the engine.

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by rwade

This one will be fun to watch. Going to be a sweet ride when your done.

Wade

Thank you!

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by Kermitt47

Looks like a fun project.

It will be both fun and frustrating at the same time. I am not sure I have the patience for a long build but I really don’t have any other options right now.

Wish I could find one done that I like and fits my budget��

[HSRACER]

So here are a couple pictures from the last two days worth of fun.

Can’t get the engine where I was hoping since the frame is the older generation porterbuilt version with the rack up high. I learned today his newer versions have the rack 2 inches lower now.

I will most likely have to cut the fire wall and will definitely have to cut the floor full length to get the engine and transmission under the truck body and still lay frame.

Looks like a full cut and chop is in order and I really wasn’t planning on that much modification. Really hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

[HSRACER]

I have completed a few things on the truck in the last 2 weeks. Seems like things go slowly for quite awhile then a bunch of parts show up and the fun trying to make them work begins.

We started to position the LT engine and the massive 6L80 transmission and found that it had to sit way higher than your typical LS engine. We had to add an inch and a quarter to the porterbuilt LS mounts and you also have to buy LT base plates as the bolt pattern is different from the LS.

Positioned it 1/4 inches above the rack and pinion. I guess the newer porterbuilt built front ends now have the rack mounted 2 inches lower than my older version. Not sure it would have helped much as the transmission pan was the lowest point on the drivetrain. Had to raise the trans mount to the top of the frame to get enough clearance when the frame is on the ground.

Enjoy the pictures.

Let me know what you think and feel free to post your thoughts. Thanks!

[HSRACER]

Here are a few more shots of the engine mounts and the correct side to side angle

[HSRACER]

Here are some pictures of the final engine mounting position.

[HSRACER]

So the driveline angle and the height of the transmission is causing a big issue with the standard two piece driveshaft mount as the trans is lined up with the top of the porterbuilt trailing arm support.

We are most likely going to have to tunnel the cab and we decided that if we are going that far we might as well eliminate the two piece driveshaft. Going to modify the cross member support. Porterbuilt has a nice one but it is pricey and is 2 months out if you do order one.

I will show pictures as we modify it to remove the top bar of the cross member. More to come on that in the near future.

[HSRACER]

The next step was to get our shocks mounted up and then verify they didn’t bind as we raised and lowered the suspension.

Instead of bolting the front mounts we will be welding them up.