Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

It was a good day for "the beast"! We fired her up for the first time in 2-3 months now (after draining and changing out the fuel) it had been sitting on a full tank for a few months and went bad. We also had to charge up the battery before it would turn over.

The inline fuel filter on the carb and all the hoses are "mocked up", I say mocked up because I decided to get the chrome upper and lower radiator hoses. For now we put some water in the radiator and wired the electric fans in (they worked great by the way). We are going to need to adjust the belts, pulleys, and upper alternator bracket a bit more so it fires up perfectly.

I also had these yellow wires for the test fire, but I have some gray wires and we are going to "hide" the wires a bit so the engine can be seen more easily. We are going to wire the front 2 wires through/under the manifold to the dist and the back 2 wires behind the heads in the back so you can't see them as much. The gray color should help them be a bit more hidden.

Took pictures of the new trans cooler and radiator overflow bolted in. also the new battery tray all bolted in and snug =)

here are my updated pics thus far....

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

electric fan, distributor in, mock wired...

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

.....

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

I have some iphone videos of the engine fired up, sounds like a champ!!!! except I can't seem to upload them :dohh::dohh: dangit. I have a few videos that are all downloaded in .mov I am trying to upload them just like a picture but it won't upload.

Can anyone assist?

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Got some new exhaust pipes welded on. Also got some really nice flex couplers

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performan...oductId=831438

so the pipes stay flowing well with all the vibrations from the new engine!!!!! I also ordered some new copper head gaskets, unfortunately one of the headbolts were leaking a bit, so my buddy had to pull everything apart and put some copper gaskets and re torque everything.

Also got an oil pressure and water temp guage...
http://www.jegs.com/i/Auto-Meter/105...oductId=745219

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Truck feels great! Lots of power, good response, gets up to higher speeds really quick. Exhaust sounds good and it growls a lot more than it used to.

Got the gray taylor wires all in and hidden and tucked away... I thought this looks better than the yellow wires everywhere. Also, ordered some chrome plated stainless steel radiator hoses for the upper and lower from Spectre. So I will be replacing the black hose you see now. Cleaned up the inner fenders just a bit, and now just need the oil pressure and water temp gauges and rear bench seat belt and she will be finished up FOR NOW =)

I will send the final pics with the chrome plated hoses... awwww yeyah!!!

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Badass Man!! :metal:

Sure will be fun to drive...get some vide for us! :lol:
:mm::chevy::mm:

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Ok so I finally figured out how to upload videos on youtube =) going to upload a few links for your viewing pleasure. Most are short because I wanted to be able to send them to my computer/email account...

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Just a little cruise =)

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Just a few more last little details before I bring it back to the house =) I will probably get it in the field a couple times before dove season is over. Opening season and I was blessed with 3 limits (top to bottom... Thursday, Friday and Saturday). Me and the wifey went out today but it was too windy, we only got 4.

Here are some pics for you hunters out there :metal:

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Sweet vids!!!!! Love dove hunting too. Whose place????? Now that you're back on the road we got to plan a Blazer meet, plus it's starting to cool off a bit.

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

I got on a lease this season southwest side of town. Totally down for a meet, I'm excited to cruise! Should be all done by this weekend :)
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Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

The chrome radiator hoses are in...

Also, I added a picture of my buddies 720hp motor 355 with 6in rods 14-1 compression. It was after seeing his motor that I wanted to rebuild mine and use the same colors! I'm sure you can see why.

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Nice! Looking good!

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Well I almost had some pictures of my beast cleaned up and detailed top to bottom. But plans changed when the header gaskets decided to blow out and fail. Ordered some copper header gaskets and that should do the trick. For now it sounded like a motorcycle with the high pitch exhaust leak.

Little more tweaking... but it runs freaking nice and drinking all the gas in sight!:metal:

Breaking the engine it a bit and have put 180 miles on it so far!!!!

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Hmmmm, my header gaskets (felpro) blew out and when I ordered and put these round port copper replacements:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Mr.+Gasket/720/7150/10002/-1
the exhaust leak got worse :waah:


The head ports are squared and the header ports are round, so does anyone have any insight... If i order these Square port gaskets:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Mr.+Gasket/720/7153/10002/-1

Will I still have the same issue? Anyone had these problems or know the fix?

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

I used Fel-Pro gasket, the one that is double thick and has a piece of metal in the center of the thick gasket. I also bought Stage8 locking header bolts to keep the bolts from backing out.
So far so good...oh I have Thorley Heders
:mm::chevy::mm:

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Thanks for the advice Burt, the 3rd set of gaskets blew out today :Own:

The 3rd set was a set of squared out manifold gaskets my buddy had. They were put on Wednesday and I thought they were going to hold.... But they held for about 50 miles and just blew today =)

The 4th set I ordered and going to try are these:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Percy%26%23039...68020/10002/-1

If I have to order the 5th set, I am definitely getting the Stage8 locking header bolts you are talking about Burt...

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

bull, all else fails high temp RTV silicone too man...

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Thanks Chevy2racr... as of now just waiting for the next set of gaskets to come in the mail.

Also wanted to send this pic my buddy got of a SCOUT in his parking lot. I know I know... it's no Chevy Blazer, but it sure is baaaad! He sent me the pic actually thinking it was an old school blazer like ours...

He said the wheels were 15x17" wide wheels and only 35" tires. Freaking crazy because they are so wide and massive they make the tires look like 38 inchers. I can't get over how wide this tire/wheel combo is and how huge they make the tires look for 35" high...

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Heck, I'd drive it!n
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Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

them mickey thompsons are like that I got a set of 39x15.5 on 16.5 rims but my rims are only 9.75 slots... but still theres a guy around town with an old ford thats for 39x17 on 15" rims and ya they look like 44s til you get up close and think about it....

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

So here are the latest updates on the gasket situation... after another set of gaskets blown yet again. We thought the weld/position of the pipes were welded to tight perhaps? So we took off the brackets and gave the exhaust pipes some more "play" so they could hang more freely just in case the exhaust wasn't on too tight and possibly pulling the headers away from the heads. No luck, we did this and then the gaskets blew again. The left header was fine, no issues since the first time we put them on, the issue was from the right side, same spot.

After all of this I think we finally found the issue... after looking more closely at the headers my buddy found one port wasn't a true round hole and off center. It isn't a round hole but more oval "football" shaped and was not matching up correctly. So at this point i'm blaming the dang hooker headers. AARRGGGGHH!

We put 2 sets of hardcore gaskets and sealant and it is holding for now. But I have a feeling this is just buying me a little time as opposed to a good seal. As of now it sounds good and feels strong, but it's probably only a matter of time before the seal breaks again. Dangit =(

Has anyone dealt with such an issue? Will HOOKER replace/refund a USED header if it doesn't function well?

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

So now that I finally got the issue resolved for the moment, thought a nice wash (inside and out) was in order :metal:

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Looks Good! :metal:

Now go get it dirty :uhmk: :lol:

:mm::chevy::mm:

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

haha indeed!

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Posting for TJsblazer he wanted to see the clearance for the taller valve covers... clearance is minimal for the dist and tall valve covers =) but it squeaks in there...

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Thanks for the engine clearance pics. Appreciate it !!

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Been wondering how your build has been going. So do you have it on the road yet?
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Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Nice K5, and real pretty engine as for the skills, no one had them when we started out, they will come. One good looking truck build.

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Yes sir, it is running good... Everything is running good except for the dang exhaust leak sounds bad. I was going to take it to a custom exhaust shop they told me they could take a look at it and see what they can do. From what i told them over the phone, the multiple gaskets, tries, off centered cut ports, etc, and processes I went through they think I may need a new set of headers.

I just haven't had any dang time to take it to them. I do however find some time to take it out mainly at night and on the weekends.

After I get the headers/exhaust leak figured out I will be adding a nice new set of wheels & tires!!!! I love my painted rallies but I want a wider wheel/tire and Like the 15x10 wheels and 35x12.5 tires. I think the stance should look a lot nicer. I almost did wider 15x10 rallies from stockton but thought I would "update" the wheels and bring a little closer to the new school just a bit.

Mickey Thompson Black Classic Lock wheels
http://www.jegs.com/i/Mickey-Thompso...50411/10002/-1

with the Baja MTZ Radial tires
http://www.jegs.com/i/Mickey-Thompson/672/5254/10002/-1

My goal is to stay close as possible to the current look and adding the wide tires. What do you think about the tire/wheel choice?

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Thanks MudMan! I definitely know a lot more then when I first bought it. I have at least the basic understanding of the parts of an engine from watching my buddy build mine. It was a great way to learn and love the truck so far!

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

I can't afford to pay the bills so i learned the skills.
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Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Let's go cruising!!!!!

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Good choice on the tires and rims, should really enhance the looks and pull it all together, just used those rims on a 77 F250 I lifted and they worked out as a real clean look, kind of stealth the black but still not stock. I will post some pic's of my truck I just bought back in a few days. It is a 71 K15 with 35 SSR radials and a 454 with over 500hp. Just couldn't let it go had to trade my 2000 Trans Am I just got a month ago for it again. At least the last owner a good buddy of mine paid for all the work, so I know who built it. Good luck on the truck, one of my most favorites.

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

I'm ready baby!

Excited to see your pics!

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Wish I could go along but I'm working all the time, hence got bills and little skills, and the truck is getting worked on.
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Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Havent updated anything in a long time... Ive just been driving the beast around. After several attempts with various gaskets finally got the headers seal. It was the headers ot the gaskets. One of the ports was slightly uneven. So welded it closed a bit and wallah, it got worked out. That was sometime back and never did get my wheels and tires. They are still coming, just not now. As soon as the current tires wear out.
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Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Uploading some recent pics, and hate to say it, but actually thinking of selling it.

Re: Some guys have skills and some have bills
 

Most recent pics.