American in Austria 83 Build
 

Hey guys,

I figured I would start a build thread. I am an American living full time in Austria. I have owned 2 other 81-87 pickups, a c30 and a k20 (which is now a rock crawler)

Anyway, the truck I have here is a 83 C10 with a 305/700r4 and a cracked frame! That was extra. The truck is not in bad conditioning by any means, just some shautty ass work from the previous owner to fix frame cracks and some body damage. Check out some of the purty welding the last owner accomplished.

The plan for the truck, powder coat the frame, CCP front suspension (2" coils and spindles), the previous owner already put in 6'' shackles in the back (not sure what that gets me for lowered inches). Rebuild the 305 a bit, runs fine, but I am going to put a cam, heads, intake, headers, dual exhaust and probably go with EZ EFI. I am putting a boyd tank in the rear. Basically its a full resto with modifications. Going to run either 18's or 20's, probably the boss 338 wheels. I am also running all Wilwood brakes, front and year with their proportioning valve. Well No need to list any more, you will see as I go. I am pretty excited to get this going. I have a fair amount done so far. The Frame is at powder coating at the moment, so in the mean time its cleaning and painting.

I have wanted to do a restoration like this for many years, just didnt have the time or the place to do it. Who would of thought I would have the right place to do it living in Austria.

Enjoy guys.

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Some pics of the frame fix:

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Few more pics of the axle clean up. Its getting new bearings (going to run the all in one seal/bearing). Got a new diff cover with the load deflector thingers.

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Here are the pics

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Some pics of the 700r4 clean up and paint. Didnt take pics of it before I started cleaning it, but i thought it was already painted black! I found a cleaning product over here that said its to clean motors. I figured i would try that before brake clean. Works very well and doesnt dry instantly like brake clean does. You can see the difference in the first photo of the side I wiped down with the motor clean product and the side that wasn't. I finished it up with brake clean to get the residue off and shot it with primer and gloss black.

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

I got my frame back from powder coating and it looks perfect. I am very happy with the result. Today I was able to get all of the front suspension on. But I do have a concern. I was able to get the upper and lower control arm together without using a jack to compress the spring. So right now, I have the spindle all bolted together and I am able to still move the spring around. Is this normal? I figured it would be like stock where I needed to compress the spring in order to put the spindle and control arms together.

All of my front suspension products are direct from CPP, 2" drop springs and spindles with their control arms . Can someone enlighten me on this? Am I missing something, Pics of my set up are below.

The other thing, I put all of the camber shims back in as they came out. On the driver side I have almost twice as many shims and the diver side rear shims are stacked so much I have zero threads showing through the nut. I have also attached pics of this.

Last thing. the pass, side spring has even less tension on it than the driver side, it basically flops around. Why would the pass and driver side have a different amount of spring tension? Both castle nuts are tightened down completely.

Please enlighten me. Thank you!

Paul

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Alright back on track with this thread for now. Thanks to many people helping me understand a few things and bringing light to my questions.

So moving on. I have just about the entire brake assembly put together. I can't find red loctite here in Austria!???!?!! So I have to bring some back from the US when I go next week. Wilwood suggest using red loctite to secure the rotor hats to the rotor. Or maybe I just use blue loctite and also wire the bolts together.

But this weekend I hope to clean up my leaf springs and get some fresh paint on them and assemble the rear end.

I just got some timken bearing/seal set in the mail today, so those will also being going in.

I am waiting on my inch lb torque wrench to show up, so I can make sure my pinion pre load is where is should be. Right now I have it tighten down until I coudn't move the nut anymore (all done just by a ratchet). To be honest I think the preload feels good by spinning the pinion, but I figure since I am doing a complete restoration I might as well do everything the right way.

I should be picking up a few more parts from powder coating tomorrow or friday and then the frame will be all back together with crossmembers and motor mounts.

My Boyd tank should also be here friday, looking forward to mounting that bad boy up.

Ill get some pictures up tomorrow or so of the brake assembly.

Till next time

Paul

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Got a few more things done over the last couple days. Finished up installing the front Wilwood brakes. I need to order more shims to get the caliber centered on the rotor. I used all four that they provide but i need another 1 or 2 shims and should be good.

I got the new steering linkage installed, other than the steering box and pitman arm. I am thinking about getting a cpp 500 box to replace my stock box. Seems like there are many good reviews on the box. My box is leaking and has some play in it, so it might need a rebuild anyways.

I pulled the leaf springs apart, cleaned and painted them up. Put in new poly bushings. Also installed my boyd fuel cell. I still need to get some grade 8 bolts and some rubber to completely mount the cell.

Here are some pics

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Looks good are parts ready available over there how do you like it over austria

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Looks like you are doing a great job. Keep the pictures coming.

Parts are not available at all over here actually. I can't even get grade 8 standard bolts over here. **** I can't even find red loctite. I either have to order everything or I bring it back when me when I got to the us.

But it's nice living over here for sure. My girlfriend is from Tirol. We live in the mountains, it's a beautiful place actually.

It's funny when people saw my c10 they thought it was the biggest truck they have ever seen. Imagine if the saw my long bed 4 door f350 I have back in the U.S. Haha
Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks buddy. I am really excited about this build as I always wanted to do a full restoration. But never had the time nor the place to do it.

I am leaving to the us on Tuesday until x mass so nothing will get done. But I will
Be collecting some parts to bring back. Hopefully the steering box, oil pan, trans oil pan, rear main seal, grade 8 bolts and red loctite ha.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Sounds like a nice place to live in I've thought about moving but i don't know if I could part with my trucks

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

its a different world there for sure ... i have spent many of year(s) living and working in europe ...

and not many people over there have ever seen or ever ridden in these vehicle(s). its like a luxury vehicle to a point if you ask me in having one of those over there ...

it would be neat to see the surrounding around that you live in ( as in these so called mountains ). could you post US some photo(s) =0)

When I get gone I will snap some pics. But if you google Austrian alps or the valley in live in "oetztal" you can see a bit of where I live. I am a ski coach so it works perfect for my job. We have a glacier we train on 15 minutes from my house. Soelden glacier.

Where did you live in Europe? I have been living here for a total of 6 years now. With a little break in between.
Posted via Mobile Device

Here is a pic of our town. I actually live in a small village (about 20 houses) off to the side.
Posted via Mobile Device

Ok this will be the last update until after Xmas. I'm heading back to the us for work until Xmas. Will give me sometime to collect parts to bring back.

Yesterday I switched my upper ball joints so they now sit on top of the control arm. It also helped to bring the two control arms closer together taking a lot of the slack out of the springs at full droop.

Also started cleaning up my 305. Just have the before pictures right now. It's an oily mess. But after a couple hours of motor cleaner and a steel brush I can see bare metal again.

I did some research on the cpp 500 steering box and it seemed to get more bad reviews than good reviews. So I am going to look into other options. Being in Europe I can't afford to not have the box not work properly.

Till next time.

Paul
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Build looks great and will be following!

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Thanks man!

paul

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Subscribed to Follow the EZ EFI Install. :metal:

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Right on bud. I have installed two of these kits already. Pretty straight forward.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Hey guys, Was hoping to get a bit of help.

I need to get new bolts for the engine crossmember as well as the support that goes from the frame to the crossmember (what the engine mount bolts to), but I did not have time before I left to take those bolts out to check the size. I am back in the US and I can finally get some grade 8 bolts.

I believe the engine crossmember bolts are either 7/16 or 1/2" but I am not sure. I also need the length. Maybe 2.5" long.

And the support going to the crossmember, i believe they are 3/8", is that correct? Maybe 1 or 1.25" long?

Thanks guys

Paul

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Nice work so far. I sat at a table and drank a few beers while my wife and kids went skiing there. Spent 3 years in Vienna, Austria. Tirol is a beautiful place.

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

No kidding, what were you doing in Wien for so many years? Its always a good time sitting down and getting a bit lose with the locals here. They drink like fish.

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

I am not sure to be honest, and I don't have a frame here to check. I would imagine 7/16.

- Travis

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Thanks Travis,

I think its 7/16'' as well. I imagine 2.5" is plenty long enough.

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Wife worked for the US Gov. I ended up working at the embassy for the Diplomatic Security Office. If you ever get the chance, go to the Prater (amusement park) in Wein. I can't remember the name of the restaurant but it seats a couple hundred people. They have a pork knuckle that just melts in your mouth and the beer is great and plentiful.

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Right on man, I'll remember that. I don't make it that far east usually but when I do i'll check that place out.

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

You'll enjoy it, I guarantee it. Now I made myself hungry. Gotta go dig around the fridge.

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

haha, get after it buddy

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Thanks Chaplain!

I was thinking of cleaning mine up as well. But since the rest of the frame is getting all new hardware I wanted to be consistent with the rest.

I think you are right that they are slightly longer. In my head (memory) I am thinking the 1.5" to 2". But probably not any longer. Between the frame and the support it cant be much thicker than 1/2"

Thanks again!

Paul

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Hey guys, I am back in Euro Land meaning I can work on my project again. Got some small things done yesterday and today. I brought back about 10 lbs worth of grade 8 hardware to finish bolting the front end together as well as permanently mounting the fuel cell in the rear.

I did the final assembly on the front brake system which entailed, loc tighting the rotor/rotor hat assembly together as well as safety wiring the bolts down. Lastly I added one more .035 shim to the front caliper to get it centered on the rotor.

Put new wheel bearings and seals in the rear end, and began to put the rear brake system together. This is where I ran into a snag. The caliper mounting bracket is to thick so the caliper can't be centered on the rotor. So I need to take it apart and have about 3.53mm shaved off it, then it should be good to go. Other than that, I have the axle back under the truck, bolted in, the carrier is bolted back up and diff cover is sealed.

Next on the list is to mount the motor back on the frame so I can figure out where I need to drill the frame for the new transmission mount. Once that is done, its time to tear the motor apart and get it ready for the machine shop.

I brought back basically an entire motor worth of parts from the US. I bought a rotating assembly with a forged scat crank, mahle pistons and rods, new bearings, rings. Going to run a Lunati roller camshaft (mild cam, about 490 lift, with 1:5.5 rockers should be around 510 total lift), so very streetable. Going to zero deck the block , bringing compression to around 10.2:1. I bought a set of Trick Flow specialties aluminum heads, 7 qt moroso oil pan with all of the goodies, deep cast aluminum transmission oil pan, double roller timing chain. Only thing left for the motor is the ignition system, fuel system, harmonic balancer, scorpian roller rockers, and intake manifold.

I am staying with the 305 the truck came with. I think with this set up I can get the power numbers in the 300s or so. Nice thing is here in Austria, they offer 95 octane and 100 octane at the pumps!

Ok just a couple pics for you guys. Till next time

Paul

You can see in the first picture of the rear brake assembly, there are three allen head bolts that hold the caliper mounting bracket to another bracket that is bolted to the assembly, It is the thicker bracket that I need to machine down, which will allow the rotor to move inboard enough to center the caliper and rotor.

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

FYI on your octane rating.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf-OYXlhJis

Truck looks great!

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

I was going to say that octane is rated differently there. My impression is the fuel is fairly similar, although I don't know if they have as much ethanol in it.

Do you mean your roller rockers are 1.55:1? 1:5.5 doesn't really make sense. Is this a factory roller cam engine or are you converting it?

Some good info on the fuel. I'll look into it more.

Yeah sorry a typo. 1.55:1 rocker. And no it's not a factory roller. I'm converting it to a roller.

Posted via Mobile Device

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Ok, so I ran into an issue today trying to fit my motor back in for some mock up. the problem is, is that I cant get the motor back in. I am new motor mounts and I cant get the holes to line up no matter what I try. The new mounts came with some metal tabs that must act as stop for the clam shell. First those were getting in the way not allowing me to even get the motor close to position. So i ground those tabs off and i could get the motor to fall into place. The issue is that once I have a bolt in one side, the other side is about a 1/2" off (the mount needs to move outboard a 1/2" or so.

The only thing i did not have on the motor which was exactly the same as when I took it out are those "spacers" that mount under the clam shell bolted to the motor.

I have the motor mounts bolted to the top two holes of the engine crossmember support bracket, or whatever you might call it. The part that bolts to the frame and the engine x member.

I was thinking maybe the frame was bent in, but all of the crossmembers and supports bolted right up, no problem.

Any ideas on what is going on here? Did chevy make an offset bushing part to the motor mount at any point. Is it possible that I have the wrong mount, even though it fits perfect between the metal part of the mount?

Thanks guys

Paul

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

I am thinking some how the driver side frame is pushed in a bit. If so, I think I have two options. One is to slot the holes on the 45 degree frame support (which the motor mount bolts to) that way I can get the mount to slide up the bracket the 1/2" or so I need.

Or option to, is to use some sort of jack and try to push the frame rail out.

The thing is, is when I got the truck it drove great, drove straight down the road. The frame was cracked from the steering box, right in front of the engine x member. So maybe the frame cracking tweeked the frame inboard a bit?

The truck did have a lot of camber shims, perhaps that was to account for the frame being a little tweeked, I am not sure. I have also seen many other trucks with a lot of shims as well. So it's hard to say.

What do you guys think my next step should be. Kind sucks slot the holes in the plate since it has a fresh powder coat. But I wont go very far without a motor!!!!

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Hey guys,

Havent had to much time to get work done on the truck lately but I have been working on my 305 rebuild. I also had about 3mm milled off the wilwood caliper bracket and now the caliper sits centered. So the rear brake system is finished.

In regards to the 305 rebuild, I am zero decking the block, actually going to leave the piston in the hole about .005", just for safe being, or if I need to mill it more in the future for any reason. The block is at the machine shop now. I already had the block aligned honed and bored .30 over. The motor will see about 10.23:1 compression.

I did some oiling modifications to the block. I actually didnt take many pictures yet, but I have some from the mods of the 5th main cap. Pretty basic and standard procedure modifications. I ground out a lot of the extra casting flash in the lifter valley and the oiling holes that go to the rear of the block. As well as enlarged the oil holes behind the timing cover to allow better flow back.

I still havent figured out what I will do to spread the frame so the motor fits back in. I guess when the time comes I will loosen all of the crossmember hardware and see what happens. I can't tell if the driverside motor mount frame brace stand thing is bent in a bit more than the passenger or what is going on. Or maybe just by removing all of the crossmembers for powder coating, the frame settled in a different location. We will see what happens when I loosen everything.

Anyone every experience this?

Also built a nice steel work bench, was getting tired of working on the ground.
I am slowly building up my garage/shop here in austria. It sucks, because I am basically buying or making everything i already have in the US. Have a big bench vise coming in the mail along with an airhose reel. I am going to weld a plate off the right side of the bench for a bench grinder as well.

Re: American in Austria 83 Build
 

Hey folks,

Finally got most of my motor built and actually got it to squeeze into the frame today. I am waiting on a few things for the motor that I will pick up next month in the US. So I decided to move ahead and install the motor and trans and get the new trans mount installed. Now I can work on the exhaust. Few other things done, new ujoints, sandblasted the driveshaft and painted it.

I gutted the cab interior to get ready for body work, acid dipped and e-coated. Found a few interesting items under the dash that I am not sure if they are stock or the previous owner put in. Two different boxes labeled AC. One was bright yellow and the other box was black. Then there was an ECU box (must be emissions control or something like that. Then also a red box that had a multi prong plug going to it. Other than the ECU box, I am not sure what these other boxes are. Let me know if you know.

Ran into one small issue with the motor. I got a new ATI damper, started installing it, got maybe an inch of it installed and it basically jammed up. I should have read the instructions where it tells you to mic the crank and the damper hub. Too much interference on the crank. Well now I can't get it back off. Already stripped out one balancer removal tool, got another one on the way.

I am not really sure what my next step is. I am going to try using a heat gun and seeing if that little bit of heat will expand the hub at all. I really do not want to break out the propane torch in fear of ruining the balancer. But i need to get it off. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks guys

Paul