Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Nothing to exciting. Built a couple brake lines to complete the installation of the rear brakes. Tweaked the emergency brake cables to work with the Wilwoods.
Measured twice and ordered an aluminum driveshaft.I should have it next week. The output of the transmission is 3 degrees down. That's the best I could get it. The rear is 2 degrees down without shims. I will leave it for now and adjust if needed after a road test.
Mounted the supercharger coolant pump and routed the lines. It fit very nicely where the old steering box was.
I am starting to design the cold air intake and radiator fan shroud set up. The tube and the shroud are fighting over the same space so it's going to be tricky.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

What did you do with the parking brake I'm getting ready to hook mine up to my Ford 9" with the internal park shoes.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

I already had a Lokar Ebrake set up from my prior set up. I just needed to shorten the cables and order an adapter to convert from the ball end to more of a clevis style that Wilwood has.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Oh ok I bought a wilwood cable kit just need to adapt it to my cable that comes from park brake

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Installed a new aluminum driveshaft. I was going to go with a 4" but ultimately went with 3.5 as it should be able to handle the power . I am glad I did, the clearance with the top of yhe crossmember for the trailing arms is really close the suspension is fully compressed. I've also started mocking up the air intake and the layout of the cooling fans and shroud. Hopefully I can get the shroud built in the new year.
Like most people I have put off the wiring for too long. I am going to try to wrap my head around how to integrate the LT4 harness in to the stock set up. I had planned to move the battery under the box but for now I am going to leave it in the stock location. With a big airbox planned for the driverside I think leaving it in the stock location might make the engine bay look a little more symmetrical.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

That looks awesome :metal:

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

..oh ya I've started messing with the fuel tank. This pump is out of a CTSV. This pump will feed the high pressure pump on the engine.It's going to take a bit of work to make it fit properly. I was a little nervous cutting into the tank as I used it all year with my old set up. I rinsed it with hot water a number of times and let it vent for a couple weeks first. ..I'm still here.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

I can see your concern with cutting into the tank. Glad your still here too!

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Looking good!

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Got the dbw pedal bracket finished up and installed. I got a little lazy and welded the stock pedal to the arm.
...I'll probably regret not bolting it on.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

What an awesome truck and a nice job with the fab work.

I'm watching daily for updates.

Miles

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

great build so far!!!

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Thanks for all positive feed back!

I guess I'm in the dog days of the build now. I am waiting for some aluminum to be broke for the fuel tank conversion and for the fan shroud set up. In the mean time I have been tinkering with wiring. I've rerouted the wiring up front to go under the radiator instead of above and have added a couple wires for the electric fans and oil cooler fans. All the wiring is removed that crossed up by the cowl. Mounted a couple of the Dakota Digital components in behind the gauges. The main control box is held in place by a bracket attached to the steering column brace and industrial strength double sided sticky tape. (the gorilla tape is holding the insulation secure!) Plan to start wiring it in the next few days.

..found an issue with my light switch

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Nothing glamorous...
Wiring is actually going better than I thought. I've got the Dakota Dash wired up, battery cables ran, starter hooked up,alternator feed connected. I am not suggesting I will not have some electrical gremlins when It comes to starting it but it is progressing faster than I had planned.
Found a little ambition and started working on the metal work to the tunnel to get the huge wiring cable into the truck and placed under the seat.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Those rear Michelin's don't stand a chance against the torque they're about to deal with... If I see correctly, they're a 345/30/20? I'm running the same width tires you're running (275 fr/345 rr), but on a 19" rim.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Correct 345/30 20 on the back.
I'm running a 275/40 19 on the fronts.
I regret a little bit going with a 12" rim on the back. It really limits tire options.
If I did it again I 'd go with 11" wide and run a 305/35 drag radial. Still could I guess but it would look a little goofy.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Got around to unboxing my Ididit column. (sold the original shift column with the old engine and trans)
Should there be a notch/slot cut out to align the column to the dash bracket? I purchased a 67-72 column but it came with universal instructions. I am surprised it didn't come with a slot to align it.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

My Flaming River column didn't come with any locating notch/tab/mark either. I installed it loosely and rotated it around until I thought it was 'straight'. Maybe the Ididit is similar in that regard?

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Finished modifying the fuel tank for the pump and Holley hydramat. I can't take credit for the nice welds. I am only set up to mig weld aluminum at my garage. Unfortunately it didn't pass my pressure test after I installed the mat, pump and fuel sender. I found two pin holes in the corners. Once I get those fixed I'll connect the fuel line, vent and electrical and mounted it back up into position. That should be it for the fuel system.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Fan shroud is built. The ECM comes with a 2 fan relay set up which is nice. I've got a monster 2 speed fan and and a little guy to help out. The 17" comes on at 195 I think and high speed and the second fan will activate at 212 I believe. The factory settings are higher than I am comfortable with coming from a big block but I'm sure the GM engineers know what they are doing.

I've got it mocked up but have a ways to go with mounting it in.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

awesome build so far!!!

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

I've got the high hump trans cover notch finished and mounted back in the truck. It will be interesting to see how well the carpet fits. Power steering lines built for my experiment with hydroboost using a Mustang set up. I think that's it for plumbing!
I am still messing around with a cold air box on the driverside and still haven't come up with a real good plan yet for mounting the GM fuse block. I wish the harness was another 4 inches longer.:confused:
I need to get some ambition and finish a bunch of things that I've half finished.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Wow! What an amazing build! I have been away from the forum for quite awhile and man am I glad that I found this thread! I can't wait to see the final outcome!

Joe

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

....the dog days of February.
A pic of the tunnel and pass through for the ecm harness.

Not much to report. Still working on the airbox. Somehow it's turned into a complicated piece. Once it's done I think I am done fabrication and can send off a bunch of pieces to powdercoat. Bench bled the m/c.Power steering fluid is in. Finally came up with a place for the GM fuse block. It requires some billet hood hinges to allow it to fit where I want. Battery cables are built. I lied when I said I as done the plumbing. Still waiting for a fitting for the hydraulic clutch and the A/C system still has some head scratching to do .

I am wanting to paint my radiator, condenser and heat exchanger. Obviously powdercoating those pieces are not an option. Can anyone suggest a good product that will bite to bare aluminum?

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

....3rd times the charm:dohh:
Finally got the correct hydraulic clutch connection for the T56 Magnum.
With a little luck I might get a few pieces back from the powder coaters tomorrow and do some final assembly for the radiator ,supercharger heat exchanger and air box.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

It's looking great so far. Hopefully you found a paint solution to share with the rest of us.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

I don't have a blower or heat exchanger, but I did paint my aluminum radiator in same base coat & satin clear I used on everything else under the hood. It's held up well so far.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

I have had good success with Eastwood Radiator Black. I used their Satin Black. Lay on thin coats and spray the fins from multiple angles. I took the shroud off and painted it as separate pieces so I could get all the surfaces coated. Don't spray it in direct sunlight on a hot day or onto a warm surface . . . that can cause the finish the be rough as the paint will start to dry too quickly. This product is more sensitive to that issue than other spray paints I have used. Nice truck by the way.

https://www.eastwood.com/ew-radiator...in-finish.html

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

I think I have the rad in for the last time. Air box is done except for a small lexan window I need to glue in. New hood hinges are expensive as hell but are a high quality piece. I now have room to mount the GM fuse block between the passenger hinge and a/c. Time to throw some fluids in!

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

That is slick. Looks factory... like it came right off the GM assembly line.

Nice job!

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Could you tell me what brand the hood hinges are and where can I get them. Your build looks awesome!

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Thanks for the positive feedback.
I ordered the hinges from Ring Brothers. They are bloody expensive but they are very high quality and the only ones I could find that would work with the factory ac/heater box.
..I emailed them for a discount and they sent me a 10% off code.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Ok perfect I was looking into ring brothers but wasn't sure how they would fit .

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

x2 on the Ringbrothers hinges. I put the black anodized 'air frame' hood hinges on my truck a few years ago and the are very nice. Open & close very smooth and look great.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Wow!
I just read thru this, very nice work you are doing there. Very cool you are going with the Tremec. I'll be using a TKO in mine.
Is that the Capt Fab master cyl kit?

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

It is. It's well thought out.

Filled the circuit for the supercharger. It took almost a full gallon. That's way more than the stock set up.No leaks! The Afco heat exchanger holds a ton of coolant. I am hoping to get away with no reservoir. We'll see if I can get all the air out.
Might throw the engine coolant in also.
...What I really need to do is get to finishing the wiring.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

...Well one step backwards today. I put some juice in my radiator and come to find out it doesn't hold fluid. I must of poked a hole in it when I welded tabs to it for the shroud. And I found out when draining the rad it pours all over the frame and some cooler lines. It made for a nice mess. I'll take the time to move the petcock so I can actually drain fluid with out making a mess.

The GM fuse panel fits snugly in its' new home. I glued a tab to the steering column bracket for a switch to allow the ecm to take fuel away when I drop the clutch. It helps to decelerate the engine and makes upshifts quicker and easier. It will also control a relay for a safety when starting

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

It's alive!
I only ran it for a few seconds as I was by myself and didn't have a spotter for potential leaks. Surprisingly enough no leaks so far. I am sure I will have plenty of glitches to work out but as for starting the first time I turned the key I was pretty happy with myself. Hope to heat cycle the engine later this week if all goes well.
The dash is all hooked up. There is a bit of a learning curve to get it configured correctly but I am starting to get the hang of it.
Waiting on a shifter stick and a couple low profile ac fittings from Summit to finish off the plumbing.

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

Congratulations! Is there a video available so we can hear that BEAST?:metal:

Re: BBC Turbo 400 to LT4 T56
 

That's awesome. Keep us posted.