Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Haven’t made much progress. Welded up the rear shock mounts and cross bars. And started working on exhaust hangers. Also found a much tighter bend aluminum pipe so going to be redoing my intercooler piping again

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Driveshaft hoop for the trailing arm crossmember is tacked in. All kinds of room now.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Haven’t got much done in the past couple weeks. Caught up on some house projects and put in some new lights in the garage. Now I need to clean up again.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

I guess I did get more done than I thought. I got the hoop almost completely welded in. The exhaust rings are welded in. Rear exhaust hangers are welded in. Made some brackets to hold bump stops so the axle isn’t resting against the frame when aired out. Made some progress on the exhaust crossover to go under the driveshaft. Had to rig up some pipe to allow me to make the tubing into an oval. Also decided to make the gas tank flush with the top of the frame after putting the rear bumper on it won’t be hanging down below it.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Finished racking the exhaust crossover tonight and threw the other side on. Starting to actually look like something.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Got the derale trans cooler mounted between the front frame rails. Hopefully this will do a good job at keeping the 4l80 cool. Also got the vintage air mini unit mounted. Had to run the mini to fit under the impala dash. But this will also allow me to hide the heater hoses and ac lines better.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Well done on this one I’m inspired

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Thank you!

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

After going to sema and coming back my silicone elbows have bothered me. I don’t know why but they have. So I got reducers and found a company that sells much tighter radiused aluminum elbows than what I was using. Much happier with it now that it’s all tucked in better. Also got the upper radiator hose together.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Got a couple things done this weekend. Got the bov flange tacked on to make sure I like the location. Also got the inside of the fire wall in epoxy so I can work on getting the dash welded in.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

I just got giddy looking at that engine bay. I want, I want lol

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

I feel the same way every time I go out to the garage!

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Got a 14x22 vintage air condenser and got it mounted up. But In order to do that I had to make the mounts for the radiator to find it’s final resting place. I lowered it down and moved the bottom closer towards the engine and the top closer towards the core support. The upper radiator supports still need trimmed up. Also tested out a bead roller I bought a while back on some aluminum tubing.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Started back on the dash. Took another 1” or so out of the depth. Decided to focus on the dash and get it fully welded in this month. That will be a big mental step for me.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Still working on this dash..

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Working on the end caps for the dash and it will finally be ready to weld in. Threw the gauges in for inspiration.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Lookin' real good! Inspiration always helps... :chevy:

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Looking good! Here's some inspiration for you:
Attachment 1880823

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

That’s definitely some inspiration! I’d like to do an aluminum trim piece like that.

Pretty much finished up one end cap. Hopefully the other side goes faster.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Found a home for the vintage airi controls. It’s just roughed in right now. But I think this will work out well. I think I will also add a USB port and auxiliary port below the controls.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

That's a pretty cool location. Nice and clean when closed, easily accessible to the driver, I like it!

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Thanks! now to figure out some sort of hinge to keep it closed and open. I had to cut off the spring steel thing off the back which kept it opened or closed.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Picked up a flaming river tilt column today for a real good deal. The only thing I’m not sure about is the neutral safety switch it’s right in the way of the brake bracket. Solved my issue of needing a tilt but now I have that issue lol. Never ending.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

It's always something with custom work. You've gone this far, I'm sure you'll have a solution soon. Wish I had an idea to put out there for you.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Finished up the drivers side dash end. Started Shaving the factory heater control opening. Also got a set of CHE trunion bushings installed after having some bad luck with the BTR trunion bearings. Very happy with the CHE kit. Going to be dropping these off at the machine shop Friday and the. Hopefully my engine will finally be getting wrapped up.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

I love that dash. Looks great.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Thanks!

Tonight I got the steering column mounted using the factory mounts.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Working on the dash more. I bolted the gauges in and ser a seat in there and I’m not liking how far the steering wheel seems to be coming into the cab not sure if this is how it normally is or not.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Pushed the truck aside to give some love to the c7. Dang it I need a bigger garage.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Spent pretty much all last week getting the c7 cleaned up, polished and then ceramic coated. Hard to take a picture of a white car but it came out great!

Today I worked on something easy and got the coolant overflow mounted.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Couldn’t figure out a way to keep the door closed after hacking up the factory stuff from the impala so i completely redid the hinge style and door and the way the controls were mounted. Came out a million times better than it was before. I have some air vents on the way to try out then Hopefully maybe possibly this dash will get welded in.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Haven’t worked on the truck much the past couple months. I got a billet specialties steering wheel. Also change around the turbo side intercooler piping one last time so I could move the wastegate location so I wouldn’t run into any issues with the heater hoses.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Finally got the engine back from the machine shop. It is basically brand new now. Everything has been gone over and replaced. Wiseco Pistons, k1 Rods, arp main studs and bolts, arp rod bolts, arp head studs, btr stage 2 turbo cam, Che rocker bushing kit, btr valve spring kit. Hoping this will all be worth it to not have to worry about anything. Sprayed it when I got it home so I didn’t have to worry about the surface rust. Also finished up the wastegate tube goin into the downpipe.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Completely tore down the truck. Hopefully the frame will be painted by the end of the week. I made a makeshift rotisserie with my engine stand and borrowed my dads. A little sketchy but it gets the job done lol.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

2 coats of black epoxy primer and 1 coat of summit racing satin chassis black and the frame is painted.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Mission accomplished! Nice work man.:metal:

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

thats one accomplishment. many more to go lol. Thanks

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

I finally settled on this location for the airlift manifold. Had to weld it to the purty Trans crossmember but sometimes that’s the way she goes.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Got the frame pushed over to the house garage and started running the air lines and airlift wiring.

Re: 72 Swb starting from the bottom
 

Thats one bad mambajamba brotha. I like the bracket that holds the airlines straight and steady into the manifold. I need to make one for my application.:chevy: