Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Truck is looking great , the seats outstanding and the master cylinder reservoir and lines are now correct. Great job !

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Seats look great.
Kim

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Hi okgmc4 nice looking truck was wondering where you got your grill from also the hood one Thanks Denis

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

The grill was bought on ebay several years back so not sure if they are still available. It was intended to fit a 55 or 56 chevy truck grill shell. My front end is a little bit of a hybrid. Nobody makes the hood grill so I made templates and my father in law machined the pieces and had a friend TIG it all together for me.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

staggering!:clap:

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Spent 5 hours on the truck today. Pulled the 5.3, swapped oil pans, prelubed the 6.0 and filled it with oil. Had to make one trip for a tool I needed but otherwise hard to tell much got done. I love these shows where they build an entire car in 30 minutes! The best part of a truck is that you can store all the parts you removed in the back. Try this with a Camaro.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Getting close.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Haha, why does it take every tool from the tool box for a simple job? Why don't engineers build an engine that only takes 2 tools to install? Otherwise, looking good!

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

fast work!

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

In a way it's our fault too. Half the truck is old enough to be standard but all the new parts I've installed are metric. Even so, most new GM stuff is 10, 13, and 15mm but they sprinkle in a 12mm here and a 14mm there. Just enough you have to crawl back out and dig through your tools again!

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Bought a little console meant for a Jeep. It’s a Rampage 32001 and seems to fit ok and gives me some storage and a cupholder.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

And the engine is in and runs good so far. Tuner said to drive 500 miles before doing the dyno tune to get the rings seated. It’s a 6.0 bored .020, flat top pistons, and a Texas Speed 224R cam on 112 centerline. Got a little lope in it now.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Congrats, looks great...Jim

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Took the truck to the dyno for a tune. Didn’t get finished. Idle, trans shifting, part throttle pretty much done but full throttle not so much. Not enough fuel pump and goes lean above 5k. Will install a 255 lph pump and get it back up there. I can tell you this ...the 6.0 is WAY more powerful than the 5.3 was. Not even close!

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Enjoying the new engine. Definitely faster than with the 5.3, blew the 4L60E up after about 4 weeks. Had it rebuilt and upgraded. Have had to take it back twice but still under warranty so we’ll see how that works out. I’d hate to bad mouth the tranny shop but now I don’t trust it like I used to. Super tired of polishing bare aluminum so I think I’ll try some Rocket Racing Booster wheels. First one fit great so I ordered 3 more.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

wheels look super great, a lot more appropriate than the C4 wheels for sure!

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Got em on.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Looks great...Jim

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

beauty! even if the tires are the same size, the new wheels look bigger!

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

The 4L60E doesn't have a great reputation for longevity behind horsepower. I'm not clear if it ever came behind the LS7 from the factory but GM sells the 4L70E paired with the LS7 - may or may not be higher spec internals than the shop put in.

I wouldn't necessarily think bad of the shop, just gotta recognize, a cammed 6.0 with flat tops really is at the upper limit of what a 4L60E series transmission is going to survive.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Thanks guys. I think the chrome version might have looked even better but the Hypershot gray wheels will be pretty much zero work to maintain. Nothing looks worse than a chrome wheel when it starts pitting and peeling.

On my 4L60E it's supposed to have the hardened sun shell, better clutches, shift kit, etc. My confidence was undermined when after the initial install I had no reverse. They fixed it no problem. Then it started shifting super hard. Like, shot gun going off, feels like running the frame up on a curb hard. They said a check ball was in the wrong place and something in the valve body needed adjustment. Then the truck had erratic shifting and started bucking like a stick shift if you slow down but don't push in the clutch. Was starting to get really frustrated. I read that a faulty throttle position sensor can do that so I put on another one but I'll tell ya...when the old one came off there was actually milky condensation and oil behind it! Seems to be running and shifting better now. Have my fingers crossed!

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Made another sacrifice to the god of speed yesterday. Will find out today if I need more than just a new u joint.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Whoa...Jim

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Ouch!

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

New slip yoke, 2 new Spicer life series 1310 U joints, and a rebalance - $154 and back on the road. Could have been worse.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Great news...Jim

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

god of speed, was that maybe the patron saint of burnouts instead? haha

glad its fixed

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Had a huge issue where my 6.0 was eating oil as fast as possible by sucking it into the intake. Made a post about it and also how I fixed it here...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=786311

might be handy info if your LS engine also has an oil consumption problem.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Haven’t really driven the truck in a couple years. The trans I had rebuilt was a joke. Shifted way too hard , smells burnt at full throttle. Started shuttering and stuttering real bad going down the road. Warranty also a joke. Was up there 3 times and it was always “ well performance cars don’t drive like normal cars, it’s your stall converter, it’s your tune, blah blah blah”. I just gave up and parked it. I got a 4l80 to replace the 4l60 and picked up a frame yesterday to replace my cobbled together slightly bent frame. This time I’m going to brace it up properly and try to order the flat out engineering front member to replace the sheet metal corvette cradle that flexes so much. Other plans too but going to work on the frame first.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

just went back thru the thread, nice truck and it'll be awesome to sort out!

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Sorry to hear about your issues. I built a 67 Nova wagon for a friend a few years ago and he wanted to put a 60e in it because ti would fit easier. I cut a hole in his floor and made him get an 80. He wanted turbos and I knew too many people that fought 60s so I made the choice for him. That 60 never would have lasted. It sounds like you're going to have a stout frame this go around. Will you do that this winter?

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Ordered a No Limit x brace kit yesterday and started hacking rivet heads to remove unwanted brackets. Don’t want to wait til next winter. Miss driving it. Thought about using my turbo stuff from my c10 project but my intercooler likely won’t fit. Considering doing more to the 6.0l. I do want to move the engine behind the steering rack like it’s supposed to be on a corvette but I’ll have to absolutely murder the firewall, looks like it would be nearly 6” of setback. If I could pull that off it would really help the weight distribution. I’d ultimately like to have the option to auto cross or even better, run it at Hallet Motorsports. I live near that track and after getting to drive a Nissan GTR there I’m convinced a road track is way more fun than 1/4 mile.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Got a No Limit X brace installed. Top notch quality there. Started transferring the IRS brackets off the old frame. Waiting on my Flat Out engineering crossmember to come in so I can start the front end.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

shoot ... you twist that and you've got other problems!

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

WOW ! ,if plans change, I think you could use that for a Railway bridge.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

Looks good and strong for sure.
Curious if anybody who boxes frames makes allowances for water drain off. I have seen a few stock factory boxed frames with rust issues. Granted, these were trucks used daily in winter climates with salted roads and, judgi g from the restof the trucks, not cleaned regularly.
The X frame support will make exhaust routing fun I suppose. No biggie though.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

I was thinking that as well. I was kind of wondering why the part of the X where the exhaust tubing would be routed through doesn't have oblong cutouts in it.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

I don’t know about other 55-59 trucks but my exhaust is totally below the frame rails. Both when I ran manifolds and then when I switched to full length headers. One answer to draining a frame box might be notching the boxing plates every few inches? Wouldn’t look show ready but would be functional.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

In your photo there, what type of front suspension is on the truck? I have an TCI MII style and run full length headers, but they do not stick down below the frame.

Re: Yet another GMC build
 

As long as the headers are not below the steps you’re good .

Besides who needs exhaust heat near the cab floor .