Re: A '54 named Busty
 

looking good! you could maybe keep that mechanical fan if you moved that motor back a little or a lot.

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

been chassin' exhaust manifold threads like a Boss last night

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

got the modified C10 4x4 transmission crossmember on for the final time

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

"Gregster"

Looking good, strong work, good flow, fun to follow!!!!!!!!


Nutz

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

Wow, thank you so much for the kind words. I just want to show folks you don't have to be a master mechanic nor fabrication expert to have fun with one of these great old trucks.

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

so this is embarrasing but although I have built a small block Chevy or two in my lifetime I did not realize there is a special tool to put on the harmonic balancer, now I knew there is a tool aka a pulley to take one off but not to put one on

so this is how I stripped the harmonic balancer 7/16-20 fine thread bolt, the darn starter got stuck in the flex plate and as I was tightening down the harmonic balancer I thought the engine would eventually turn over and nothing bad would happen to that bolt

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

yup, seen that before. some guys will also hammer it on. whaddya think that does to the thrust bearing?
I have some threaded rod that I screw in and then use a stack of lubed flat washers for that fancy pants bearing with a nut on the rod to pull the balancer in. the end of the rod is beat up from the special tool (vice grips) I use to remove the rod after. works like a charm. it was a home made late at night tool.

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

I never knew that either, I did a timing chain on a 98 and just used the bolt!

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

so this is how I spun the engine over to ensure it still rotates freelie

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

and than the dance began - no matter how many taps and dies I have you never have the one you need, and this being a rare fine thread, we had to go shopping

Top Tip: a magnetic tip screw driver really helps extract the metal shavings

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

nice

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

and here's how I kept it real for the rest of the day, removing rivetes to install a proper battery tray

some I even had to drill out a little center hole to releave 70 years of pressure, man they sure built things to last back then

Fun Level = 0

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

I know this thread is really boring right now, I promise it will pick up, here I was shortening that timing tab, it's the little things on a project that exhaust you

I know that thing was chromed so I sanded it off and tried to tach weld it but my welds didn't stick and I had to be gentle as not to burn through it, so I went the rivet way and Bob's your Uncle

Top Tip: I drill a hole on the 0 mark as on some tabs it's hard to see / find the zero

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

Nice tip.

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

yep. I need a drawer for all the taps I needed just once. :lol:

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

Good One! ;-)

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

so my -6 AN Russell adapters for the power steering box showed up

going to run a steel braided high pressure line and a regular rubber return one but use -6AN hose ends on both lines since I had to cut the end off of the tube coming off of the power steering pump and use a compression fitting on it so that it would point the right way

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

and here's what the pump looks like

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

so things were going great until it was time to install the radiator with the electric fan

the darn Vortec water pump sticks out 7" and interferes with the electric fan

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

so back to square one, short water pump and mechanical fan, plenty of clearance now, I am even going to add a 1" spacer to move the fan forward a little bit closer to the radiator and fandangle some sort of shroud for it

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

Love that "TIPS"!! Entertaining build. Keep it coming....

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

Thanks mate I appreciate that... sense of humor is important or these trucks will tear your heart out

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

OK, so let me just say that having three trucks things get a little confusing sometimes and I forget what goes with what and how. An '01 LS swapped '74, a 71 cab on a '69 chassis, and than this 99 Vortec engine in a second gen '78 Camaro subframe on this '54, so cut me some slack ha ha

so now that it is all coming back to me, I realize that non of the three alternator mounting bracket sets that I have will work, because they are all for the long water pump (one of the three shown below)

I think sometimes in the 70s GM decided to switch from mounting the alternator on the driver side to the passenger side, and the general rule of thumb is and I may be totally wrong, keep in mind I am only talking about the small block here, also they decided to mount the alternator bracket to the long water pump, I HATE THAT, I hate it when one component hangs off of and needs to depend on another one, WHY?

short water pump = alternator on driver side

long water pump = alternator on passenger side

Re: A '54 named Busty
 

Is it a push or pull fan. Could you move yours to the other side? I have my fan on the front of my rad and it leaves plenty of room between the rad and water pump. Just a thought.