Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Hey Mike I was reading back a couple of pages and looking at the picture you had of the snout of the crankshaft with the bolt broken off in it. A couple of years back when I worked at the machine shop I seem to recall an older SBC that we built that flat out didn't have the end of the crank drilled for a balancer bolt. I seem to recall my boss saying that the early ones didn't have balancer bolts and the correct way to install the balancer was with a hammer and a brass drift.

a quick search brought up this thread. http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138380

if you haven't already, you might want to run the numbers on the block and make sure it's the year you think it is, and that it's a 327.

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

The sm465 is a good working tranny, not much of a speed shifting trans though but has held up very well on my truck and my last 71 both with big blocks in the 500hp range and I abuse all my rides, why not Hp is for fun. I would step up to the Vortec headed engine for the few changes is worthwhile to not have to change heads and intake later.

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

I love my sm465, but it's more fun if you pair it to the right engine. After blowing up my zillionth 700r4 I put a sm465 into my then 2wd c10 with its hot street 383 and found it wasn't very easy to race. Even if I could knock off a decent shift (and I got compliments on my shifting abilities from
Some of the veteran drivers when they found out it was a sm464) the huge gear spread completely knocked the 383 out of its powerband on every shift. I was much happier when I detuned the 383 with a slightly lower compression and a cam with a wider torque curve.

I really think a mild crammed vortec 350 would be perfect.

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

I agree on both, just go vortec and then your ahead already, can still do upgrades in the distant future but starting a step ahead of the base 290/5.7.

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Sorry for the lack of response, I agreed to wire a buggy that we're finishing for a friend who passed away a couple of years ago. I have decided (at least today :lol:) to go with a run of the mill crate 350. I still haven't talked to my local machine shop, but I'll do that before I pull the trigger.

Here are the pics of the current project for the next few weeks.

Attachment 1169321

Attachment 1169322

Attachment 1169323

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Looks like a fun buggy, nice for you to help out, will mean a lot.

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Yeah, I think this thing will be a screamer with the 2.0 WRX turbo. Cancer sucks by the way. He was only 43 when he died.

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Nice work on the buggy! Sorry to hear about your friend.

I totally rewired my brothers sand rail a number of years back, sure was nice that everything was so easily accessible.

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Thanks! Yeah, it is nice that everything is easy to get to.

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

So Mike, are you still thinking 290 HP 350? That's about what mine ended up being after the rebuild, actually. Funny how these decisions can totally suck the momentum out of a project. In the engineering world, we call that analytical paralysis...:lol: And speaking from experience, the only thing worse (better???) than beer while standing there staring at your project locked up in analytical paralysis is a couch in the garage to recline on while "thinking".

Mild 350 crate will probably rock. Plus you can have fun upgrading it when you finish with the rest of the truck. Then again, maybe you've decided to go Cummins by now or something...

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Come on man! Don't be like me lol. Get some progress on! At least your baby is in a garage. Mine is on hold until I get some time off from work and/or it gets warmer with more daylight. :( been working 60 hours a week all this month

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

I don't know what I'm thinking anymore :lol: I've been watching the local ads, and saw a '97 350 out of a wrecked Tahoe with 77,000 for $1,000. That got me thinking...what about mating a 5.3 to this ol' 465 :lol: So, the moral of the story is that I'm still in the drinkin'...er I mean thinking stage.

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Ha...mine is still over at my dad's while I finish up this wiring project. That has been a challenge just to make sure everything is ran neatly and working. ;). This weekend probably won't see much progress either since it is single digit temps...even in the garage. My heater has a hard time keeping up with that kind of brrrr :lol:

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

NOOOOO! lol I've never been a fan of LS swaps in these trucks, not that I haven't considered it, or that I don't like LS motors. I just always thought it ruined the look with all the wires and modern junk. I'd rather put a LS into something like an 88 Porsche 944. It's already full of wires, has a rather dinky little engine, and it really wouldn't look out of place while scaring the crap out of a lot of newer sports cars. That's just one man's opinion though. Many on here would disagree with me. :lol:

and I thought the 36 degree weather down here in Texas was bad :lol: unfortunately I have to be out in it. My new daily driver decided to break down after I bought it new tires. After work I'm going to be out in the parking lot changing a crank position sensor and possibly an ICM :waah:

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Mike:

Glad you posted on our UT forum, so I could find your build and get inspired.

A few things I am stoked on now...running my own brake lines, trying out welding, and a few others.

Id love to check out your roller and see it first hand. Let me know if your up for tours haha.

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Haha. Thanks for checking out the thread! You're welcome to check it out anytime. It's currently at my dad's, so it will need to wait until I get it back here :lol:

It really has been a fun and frustrating process. I probably could have had it back together if the "mightaswell" virus didn't get me ;)

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Haha, tell me about it. What did the rough estimate of hours spent take on getting them bent and installed (either the rough fit or final fitting)?

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Are you talking about the brake lines? I think it took me about 4 hours of actual work. It takes me a long time because I have to keep my work to beer ratio balanced :lol:

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

December was a busy month, but unfortunately it wasn't spent working on my projects:-). I'm still working on getting this buggy out of here, but let me tell you, I am getting pretty good at running wires :lol:

Here's where I'm at. I hope to take it as far as I can this weekend so that the truck can return.

Here's the back of the panel.
Attachment 1198419

Panel is attached. Tightening up of the wires begins.
Attachment 1198420

I could not help but to test the dome lights out, now that a switch can control them :lol:
Attachment 1198421

And now, on with a flick of a switch...well, two switches and three relays :smoke:
Attachment 1198426

On the truck front, I have been actively searching for a powerplant. I may have found one locally. 350 with the TBI, headers, exhaust for 1600. Has 35k miles on it, and he is selling because the Blazer it was in was totaled.

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

SCORE!!! Just put a deposit on a new to me 350! 35k mile crate with a transferable 100k warranty. Comes complete with computer, TBI, headers, power steering pump, brake booster and master cylinder and fuel pump. $1400. Not too bad of a deal IMO.

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Oh yeah and all the AC stuff!

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Good score on the engine and parts, what do you think the buggy will weigh when complete with powertrain and add ons. Should move pretty good with the 350.:burnout:

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

The buggy will probably be around 2500 lbs I think. It's powered by a 2.0 turbo wrx engine. It will be a mover for sure.

The engine will be put in Ol' Blue when I get the buggy outta here.

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Great score! Sounds like you got all the goodies out of that. Get all that wiring figured out so you can help me when I get to mine:lol:

Re: 69 GMC "Ol' Blue"
 

Those TBI motors are pretty good. Lots of low end torque and decent fuel mileage. Should be plenty fun!