NICE
Looks at home in the snow!Any updates?
Looks at home in the snow!Any updates?
Build 1981 Pickup build up
- Thread starter Landcruisin'60
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #62
Not really, been avoiding dealing with the charging issue. I think I'm going to upgrade to a GM alternator. I did rip it around in the most recent snow we got. I also need to buy tires for it, RCV's and put the FJ62 housing up front, which means regearing.
Awesome build!
- Thread starter
- #65
So over the last year since I updated this thread I've done a little work to the truck...
Last fall I bought a set of 37" MTRs to replace the Iroks that I had. They work a lot better on the truck. I also got tired of only having 22re power. So I've been working on changing that. I'm copying and pasting posts from a build thread on another forum until I get this one up to speed. Don't hate me.
I dragged home this 86 K30 today. I've been searching for a TH400/NP205 to buy for months. I finally gave up and bought a whole truck. I've had a 5.3 sitting in my shop waiting for a while. Hopefully I can get everything swapped in before wheeling season starts.
Now I have to decide if I'm going to run the tons also. I had been gearing up to put a built FJ62 axle up front and a FF FZJ80 rear axle in it. My plan is to keep the truck on 37s, so I think the Cruiser axles would be sufficient. But I now have a set of tons...but I'll probably just sell them.
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I received a bunch of parts from Ruff Stuff and Lowrange this week. So I'm now able to move forward. Yesterday I pulled the old drivetrain out and started mocking up the 5.3, TH400 and NP205. I'm going to need to do a lot of cutting to get it up and back where I want it. If you remember from earlier in the thread I built the floor 2in lower than the original floor for more headroom...
I'm hoping to start cutting and get some mounts tacked together tomorrow. Hopefully someone will buy the old drivetrain so I can order up engine parts!
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Well I've been picking away at it over the week. I got the engine set where I wanted it and started making mounts. Then decided that if I was spending the money I was going to really do it right. So out came the air saw and most of the firewall. The engine is now set behind the front axle, basically the crank pulley will be directly above the axle. I would have gone back further but I was limited by my subframe I built for my seat mounts. As it sits the rear most exhaust port is inside the cab. I have a lot more cutting and problem solving to do before this thing is done. But it appears to be possible.
Obviously its just roughed in. The biggest sticky point is the driver side header to steering shaft clearance. You can see how close the head is to where the steering shaft goes through the firewall. I'm also going to need to run a car intake manifold instead of the truck manifold. Which is a bummer because I was hoping to maintain good low end torque.
Last fall I bought a set of 37" MTRs to replace the Iroks that I had. They work a lot better on the truck. I also got tired of only having 22re power. So I've been working on changing that. I'm copying and pasting posts from a build thread on another forum until I get this one up to speed. Don't hate me.
I dragged home this 86 K30 today. I've been searching for a TH400/NP205 to buy for months. I finally gave up and bought a whole truck. I've had a 5.3 sitting in my shop waiting for a while. Hopefully I can get everything swapped in before wheeling season starts.
Now I have to decide if I'm going to run the tons also. I had been gearing up to put a built FJ62 axle up front and a FF FZJ80 rear axle in it. My plan is to keep the truck on 37s, so I think the Cruiser axles would be sufficient. But I now have a set of tons...but I'll probably just sell them.
----------------
I received a bunch of parts from Ruff Stuff and Lowrange this week. So I'm now able to move forward. Yesterday I pulled the old drivetrain out and started mocking up the 5.3, TH400 and NP205. I'm going to need to do a lot of cutting to get it up and back where I want it. If you remember from earlier in the thread I built the floor 2in lower than the original floor for more headroom...
I'm hoping to start cutting and get some mounts tacked together tomorrow. Hopefully someone will buy the old drivetrain so I can order up engine parts!
----------------
Well I've been picking away at it over the week. I got the engine set where I wanted it and started making mounts. Then decided that if I was spending the money I was going to really do it right. So out came the air saw and most of the firewall. The engine is now set behind the front axle, basically the crank pulley will be directly above the axle. I would have gone back further but I was limited by my subframe I built for my seat mounts. As it sits the rear most exhaust port is inside the cab. I have a lot more cutting and problem solving to do before this thing is done. But it appears to be possible.
Obviously its just roughed in. The biggest sticky point is the driver side header to steering shaft clearance. You can see how close the head is to where the steering shaft goes through the firewall. I'm also going to need to run a car intake manifold instead of the truck manifold. Which is a bummer because I was hoping to maintain good low end torque.
- Thread starter
- #66
I got my front axle mocked up. I had to notch the housing to make clearance for the passenger Ruff Stuff perch. I still need to finish modifying the passenger perch, cut and turn the knuckles, truss it, armor it and such before its done. I'm also going to have to modify the truck oil pan a bunch, that pinion is going to be really close to it. I think I'm going to take a couple inches out of the height and maybe contour the passenger side for more DS clearance. I'd love to buy a fabricated pan, but I'd like to get the truck back up running and driving asap and I didn't budget the $4-500 for an aftermarket oil pan when I started the project.
I also dragged home a Tahoe and started pulling the engine. The engine I've been using for mockup is a 4.8 with blown head gaskets. I got it a while ago and never got any accessories, intake, coil packs etc. So the Tahoe has all that and a running 5.3 that I'll freshen up with some bearings, gaskets and valve train parts.
I'm trying to decide if its a bad idea to run DBW. From a reliability standpoint I'd rather run a cable. But I have all the DBW stuff already and no DBC parts. I've never forded any deep water and don't plan to ever. But it would be a real bummer to have the pedal electronics fail and render my truck immobile.
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Update time.
Last weekend I completely stripped the 5.3. Turned out after 212k of service the cam bearings were trashed. So Monday I dropped the block off to get cleaned and have the cam bearings replaced. I also dropped the heads to get hot tanked. They were supposed to be done by Friday so I could reassemble the engine this weekend. Didn't happen. I also lapped the valves before I brought them to be cleaned. The intake valves and seats are in good shape. The exhaust were pretty pitted. I was able to improve them a lot by lapping. I didn't plan to spend this much money on the engine. Honestly if I was going to reuse the stock cam I probably would have just run it until catastrophic failure and then put a lower mile engine in it. But, here we are.
Other than that I bought some used headers and started cutting the passenger side up to make my exhaust. Drivers side fit fine, mounted in the normal fashion. Passenger side I'm redoing the header to exit forwards, going to run the passenger side in front of the engine and around the drivers side. (used my mig to tack the runners on the truck, headers will be fully tig welded after mockup) 2.5" off the headers into a single 3" out the back.
I'm stock piling parts so when all the fab work is done I can pull everything apart, finish weld or rebuild parts and put it back together fairly quickly. In terms of fab work I just have to finish the exhaust, mount the radiator, PS cooler and trans cooler, finish my trans/t-case mount/skid plate and rebuild my firewall and floor. I'm still hoping to have it together by the end of the month.
Some pictures.
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The machine shop finally got my block and heads done, a week after they said they would be ready. But anyway...today I got some work done on my truck. I got the passenger header all tacked up. I assembled the heads, nothing special just some Comp beehives do go with my baby Comp 220/224 cam, both of which I bought used. I decided to pick up a ball hone from Summit and a new set of rings. So I honed the bores, as far as I can tell it turned out fine. I also painted the block to spruce it up a bit. Hopefully tomorrow I can get the complete long block assembled.
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Feels like this thing is just dragging on and on. Finally was able to make some milestones the last couple days.
Last night I got the front portion of my exhaust all tacked up. All stainless, 2.5" off each header merged into a 3" that will exit behind the cab. It hangs kind of funky on the drivers side at the merge. I may adjust it.
Got my front axle cut, but not yet turned.
Tonight I finally was able to finish assembling my long block. Seems like it took 4 times longer than it should have. It has a Comp 220/224 cam, Comp beehive springs, LS7 lifters (replacing the 212k stockers :laughing
and Thunder Racing pushrods. Obviously nothing overly exciting, should make for a good engine to break the RCV's.
All that's left for mock up is the cooling system. Then I can tear it all apart, rebuild the trans and t-case, finish weld everything and then hopefully hear this thing come to life!
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Checked a few things off the list.
I almost finished mocking up my exhaust, just going to change how it exits. One thing I dont like is the 3" vband after the muffler is the lowest hanging point on the truck. I'm afraid its just going to get mangled. I need to have a joint in the exhaust there so that I can snake the mid section over the crossmember and under the seat mounts. I might have to go to a band style coupler, though I don't want to. I also got the front axle back under the truck, knuckles turned and the spindles and tires on. Wanted to double check steering clearance before I burned anything in. All thats left for mock up is a radiator mount, modifying the brake pedal to move it over to the left and mounting the throttle pedal. I missed my first deadline of having it done by the end of May, so now I'm hoping for the end of June.
Interestingly enough my ride height has increased in the front. I guess getting the v8 behind the front axle made that big of a difference. I cant imagine that drivetrain is lighter than a 22re with dual cases.
I also picked up a Swag HD finger brake. I'm stoked to use it.
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This thread is now up to date. I haven't worked on it in about a month. I've been slammed with work in my shop. But I'm hoping I can get some time to work on it soon. My original goal was to have it done in May, then June, now I'm just hoping its done so I can wheel before winter.
I also dragged home a Tahoe and started pulling the engine. The engine I've been using for mockup is a 4.8 with blown head gaskets. I got it a while ago and never got any accessories, intake, coil packs etc. So the Tahoe has all that and a running 5.3 that I'll freshen up with some bearings, gaskets and valve train parts.
I'm trying to decide if its a bad idea to run DBW. From a reliability standpoint I'd rather run a cable. But I have all the DBW stuff already and no DBC parts. I've never forded any deep water and don't plan to ever. But it would be a real bummer to have the pedal electronics fail and render my truck immobile.
------------
Update time.
Last weekend I completely stripped the 5.3. Turned out after 212k of service the cam bearings were trashed. So Monday I dropped the block off to get cleaned and have the cam bearings replaced. I also dropped the heads to get hot tanked. They were supposed to be done by Friday so I could reassemble the engine this weekend. Didn't happen. I also lapped the valves before I brought them to be cleaned. The intake valves and seats are in good shape. The exhaust were pretty pitted. I was able to improve them a lot by lapping. I didn't plan to spend this much money on the engine. Honestly if I was going to reuse the stock cam I probably would have just run it until catastrophic failure and then put a lower mile engine in it. But, here we are.
Other than that I bought some used headers and started cutting the passenger side up to make my exhaust. Drivers side fit fine, mounted in the normal fashion. Passenger side I'm redoing the header to exit forwards, going to run the passenger side in front of the engine and around the drivers side. (used my mig to tack the runners on the truck, headers will be fully tig welded after mockup) 2.5" off the headers into a single 3" out the back.
I'm stock piling parts so when all the fab work is done I can pull everything apart, finish weld or rebuild parts and put it back together fairly quickly. In terms of fab work I just have to finish the exhaust, mount the radiator, PS cooler and trans cooler, finish my trans/t-case mount/skid plate and rebuild my firewall and floor. I'm still hoping to have it together by the end of the month.
Some pictures.
-------------
The machine shop finally got my block and heads done, a week after they said they would be ready. But anyway...today I got some work done on my truck. I got the passenger header all tacked up. I assembled the heads, nothing special just some Comp beehives do go with my baby Comp 220/224 cam, both of which I bought used. I decided to pick up a ball hone from Summit and a new set of rings. So I honed the bores, as far as I can tell it turned out fine. I also painted the block to spruce it up a bit. Hopefully tomorrow I can get the complete long block assembled.
-------------
Feels like this thing is just dragging on and on. Finally was able to make some milestones the last couple days.
Last night I got the front portion of my exhaust all tacked up. All stainless, 2.5" off each header merged into a 3" that will exit behind the cab. It hangs kind of funky on the drivers side at the merge. I may adjust it.
Got my front axle cut, but not yet turned.
Tonight I finally was able to finish assembling my long block. Seems like it took 4 times longer than it should have. It has a Comp 220/224 cam, Comp beehive springs, LS7 lifters (replacing the 212k stockers :laughing
and Thunder Racing pushrods. Obviously nothing overly exciting, should make for a good engine to break the RCV's.
All that's left for mock up is the cooling system. Then I can tear it all apart, rebuild the trans and t-case, finish weld everything and then hopefully hear this thing come to life!
----------
Checked a few things off the list.
I almost finished mocking up my exhaust, just going to change how it exits. One thing I dont like is the 3" vband after the muffler is the lowest hanging point on the truck. I'm afraid its just going to get mangled. I need to have a joint in the exhaust there so that I can snake the mid section over the crossmember and under the seat mounts. I might have to go to a band style coupler, though I don't want to. I also got the front axle back under the truck, knuckles turned and the spindles and tires on. Wanted to double check steering clearance before I burned anything in. All thats left for mock up is a radiator mount, modifying the brake pedal to move it over to the left and mounting the throttle pedal. I missed my first deadline of having it done by the end of May, so now I'm hoping for the end of June.
Interestingly enough my ride height has increased in the front. I guess getting the v8 behind the front axle made that big of a difference. I cant imagine that drivetrain is lighter than a 22re with dual cases.
I also picked up a Swag HD finger brake. I'm stoked to use it.
----------
This thread is now up to date. I haven't worked on it in about a month. I've been slammed with work in my shop. But I'm hoping I can get some time to work on it soon. My original goal was to have it done in May, then June, now I'm just hoping its done so I can wheel before winter.
seen quite a few 5.3 in Cruisers, but not many in first gen trucks. Liking this a lot. did you sacrifice that classic old iron just for the t case and transmission?
- Thread starter
- #68
The 5.3 definitely fits better in a cruiser. The engine bay is super tight on this, hence why I cut the fire wall wide open and stuffed it in so far.
Short answer is yes. I searched for a long time to find a TH400/NP205 set up, but then I saw this on CL and bought it. The truck itself is a rot box, rockers are gone, floors are gone, interior is disgusting, 50% of the drivers side is pounded in pretty badly etc etc. The engine ended up, or is on its way to ending up in a friends street rod, the plow I sold and then set it up for a skidsteer. Unfortunately the rolling chassis is still sitting next to my shop. But I'll be cutting the axles out and bringing the rest to the scrap yard. Basically it was too far gone anyway and was only good for parts.
Short answer is yes. I searched for a long time to find a TH400/NP205 set up, but then I saw this on CL and bought it. The truck itself is a rot box, rockers are gone, floors are gone, interior is disgusting, 50% of the drivers side is pounded in pretty badly etc etc. The engine ended up, or is on its way to ending up in a friends street rod, the plow I sold and then set it up for a skidsteer. Unfortunately the rolling chassis is still sitting next to my shop. But I'll be cutting the axles out and bringing the rest to the scrap yard. Basically it was too far gone anyway and was only good for parts.
This is an excellent project. Your work screams of building, with the word "buying" a scarcely understood swear word. Well done.
- Thread starter
- #70
I've been swamped recently and have only found a few minutes here and there to work on my truck. But I modified and mounted the OE DBW pedal, got the exhaust all tacked together and now I'm building hangers for it and started on the radiator mount.
My plan is to use springs to isolate the radiator from the core support so it doesn't crack. Yeah I'm aware the radiator is on the small side. It looked bigger in the catalog
Going to run it and see what happens and upgrade in the future.
I also received my Winters shifter and twin sticks. So I've been running through ideas of how I want to redo my trans tunnel/console area.
My plan is to use springs to isolate the radiator from the core support so it doesn't crack. Yeah I'm aware the radiator is on the small side. It looked bigger in the catalog
Going to run it and see what happens and upgrade in the future.I also received my Winters shifter and twin sticks. So I've been running through ideas of how I want to redo my trans tunnel/console area.
I'm really diggin your tube design. I'm about to go through this myself and can only hope it turns out half as good as yours. I have the bender and software but have only used it once with mixed results. Your main hoop looks just like i'd like mine to be, and was wondering if you'd change anything in hind sight?
- Thread starter
- #72
Thanks! Overall I'm pretty happy with the cage. I bounce back and forth between making the rear most section out of straight tubes and nodes rather than the one piece with two bends. I also sometimes wish I had done the diagonal tubes differently at the top of the main hoop. Instead of having them come directly diagonally off the main hoop have them come straight for 12"+ and then bend down. But both of those things are more to do with aesthetics than true function.
Fantastic write up- read it from post one... Glad you didnt reuse that 22r!
Cant wait to see the carnage that V8 will let loose on the rocks AND the drivetrain!
Cant wait to see the carnage that V8 will let loose on the rocks AND the drivetrain!
- Thread starter
- #74
Thanks!
Yeah I'm curious how long the RCV's are going to last. I'm planning to stick to 37s so I really don't want to go to 1 tons and lose ground clearance. I think the full float 80 rear with chromo axles will be pretty stout. I think my next step would be a hybrid front axle 9.5" 3rd with 80 series outers.
Yeah I'm curious how long the RCV's are going to last. I'm planning to stick to 37s so I really don't want to go to 1 tons and lose ground clearance. I think the full float 80 rear with chromo axles will be pretty stout. I think my next step would be a hybrid front axle 9.5" 3rd with 80 series outers.
- Thread starter
- #75
So it has been a while. I've been extremely busy at my shop and haven't had much time to work on this. Actually up until a month ago I hadn't touched it since my last update. I'm trying to get it done to wheel before winter.
I'll dump a bunch of pictures in this thread soon. But for now a video of it finally firing up today. www.instagram.com/p/BLFKZNjhSpz/
I'll dump a bunch of pictures in this thread soon. But for now a video of it finally firing up today. www.instagram.com/p/BLFKZNjhSpz/
- Thread starter
- #77
Well its been a while..
Yeah, had to clearance the cowl area a bit to get it to clear. But it wasn't too bad to do.
I've been slowly picking away at details. Got both 3rds regeared and the axles are completely assembled. I now have all the wiring run, it's just a matter of going back and looming it all. I also got my trans tunnel/dog house made and center console basically done. I'm planning to go back through and put some pinch molding on a few edges to make it look a little more "finished". I have to finish making a cover for the floor where I had to cut it out to fit the t-case. Other than that it's just a hand full of odds and ends. Need to modify the brake pedal some more and finalize my DBW pedal mount. My buddy should be swinging by to tune it in the next week or so. Then I think it's ready for a shake down run.
First time it's been outside since pulling the 22re at the end of March 2015
Yeah, had to clearance the cowl area a bit to get it to clear. But it wasn't too bad to do.
I've been slowly picking away at details. Got both 3rds regeared and the axles are completely assembled. I now have all the wiring run, it's just a matter of going back and looming it all. I also got my trans tunnel/dog house made and center console basically done. I'm planning to go back through and put some pinch molding on a few edges to make it look a little more "finished". I have to finish making a cover for the floor where I had to cut it out to fit the t-case. Other than that it's just a hand full of odds and ends. Need to modify the brake pedal some more and finalize my DBW pedal mount. My buddy should be swinging by to tune it in the next week or so. Then I think it's ready for a shake down run.
First time it's been outside since pulling the 22re at the end of March 2015
- Thread starter
- #79
Unfortunately not yet.
Awesome build man!!
I just purchased the RuffStuff 63" Chevy swap kit and was wondering what size/brand shocks you used and how you mounted them? I am keeping my stock bed (for now) and I don't want to modify the inner floor for longer shocks. I'm thinking 12" Bilsteins for the rear.
I just purchased the RuffStuff 63" Chevy swap kit and was wondering what size/brand shocks you used and how you mounted them? I am keeping my stock bed (for now) and I don't want to modify the inner floor for longer shocks. I'm thinking 12" Bilsteins for the rear.