68 C20 Build.

[eagleuh1]

Guess I ought to start a build thread. Started with a 68 C20 survivor. Pretty much all original. Paid $1200 and $200 rental of u-haul truck and trailer to haul home. She ran after changing fluids and a tune-up, letting soak overnight with marvel mystery oil in cylinders. Not very well though, but she drove around the block.

Where she ended up after losing brakes while unloading from trailer. Ran over a ramp, missed garage and trees before hitting parking brake.

[eagleuh1]

After some clean-up and engine rebuild of the 327, new tires and wheels.

[eagleuh1]

I'm now at this stage. Decided the 327 and T400 weren't enough, and have decided to pull the 327 and T400.


Some of the rust to deal with.

[eagleuh1]

And replace with this. 2005 5.3 and 4l60e with 20k miles I had in my 96 S10 Blazer for 2 years.

[eagleuh1]

Some more of the rust and body issues. Nothing to bad. Probably replace passenger inner fender and repair the core support. I have repair panels for the rocker panels, outer floor and rocker, back cab supports and pilars, front pilars and both cab corners. Also have patch panel for rust area on bed floor. All tri-plus from Tri-Pro, a vendor on here. Thanks, look to be good quality and packaged real well. Real Satisfied with the parts so far. After the 5.3 is in, I'll be starting body work. Got to order the e-fab videos though, cause ain't never done body work before.

[eagleuh1]

More rust.

[burb71]

What did you do with the original 327 ?

[eagleuh1]

Sitting in my garage waiting for snow to melt. Should be able to move it out today to my flatbed trailer and cover it. Then I can move my truck back in garage to get the 5.3 transplant. Don't have plans as of yet whether will sell or save for another project down the road. Any suggestions?

[burb71]

I may need a 1968, 327 not sure yet.
The truck that has the engine I was to use in my build is up north in Springfeild, Mo.
I did not winterieze it, I did not even think about it living down here in south Florida.
Anyway my father-inlaw said the the last time he started it all the fluids ran out, so I am thinking the worst.

Thats my sad story so I am just trying to get ready if I do need one.
How much whould you sell yours for if you did let it go.

[eagleuh1]

Haven't decided if I'm going to sell it or keep it yet. I try not to think farther ahead than I have too. Gives me headaches. I've been looking for a shortbed roller frame local to put it in, but no luck yet. Just had it rebuilt like 1500 miles ago. I'm always looking for something else to work on.

[eagleuh1]

Well, finally got the 5.3 and 4l60e set in place. I think it's in its final resting place. Ordering headers today if they have them done coated. Doug Thorleys for LS engine in C10-20 pickups. I used 6 cyl frame stands in the back set of holes, with the square adapter plates that I made. This moved the engine back pretty good, but still allowed room for the truck intake to firewall clearance, and the tranny clears the low hump tunnel without mods to firewall. I will clearance the vent line at top of tranny by knocking the lip on the hump seam over some. I moved the tranny crossmember forward about 1.5 inches and used a TH400 rubber mount for the 68 C20. Have to drill new holes to bolt the crossmember to frame, but that will wait to see if headers fit this way. Only interference now is the AC line from compressor, needs frame notched a little, and had to bend power steering return line up and behind pump some to clear frame. Will have to check to see the drive shaft fit. I think a new one is in order, or cut this one down.

[eagleuh1]

I'll be removing engine and tranny to install torque converter and cleanup and paint the frame and firewall if it warms up some soon. Also need to remove shifter assembly and install Lokar cable shifter and the remove gas pedal and install electronic gas pedal.

[eagleuh1]

Well, headers finally came in. These Doug Thorleys are real nice. Fit great with the 6cyl engine stands and square adapter plates. Only problem right now is the headers dump in front of and close to the emergency brake line and the tension rod for the line on the passenger side. Taking care of that. Need to shorten the drive shaft too.

[msgross]

cool build... BTW that's a 50th Anniversary edition truck.. Gold and White,


Can you give me the intake numbers off that 327 intake and 4bbl carb? I ditched my original intake on my 68 and want to find another set for authenticity...

Good work on the swap,

[eagleuh1]

Not a 50th. It's saddle and white. But its going to be probably more gold when it gets painted. I'll look on the intake and carb for numbers on Friday. Working too many hours to look at anything else right now.

[colinlx]

Nice project...that 5.3 looks pretty sweet! I wish I had one of those power steering pumps like you have on the 327, I warped my pully and can't find one here in Canada for the life of me.

[eagleuh1]

Well, back home and working on again. Ordered an Aux. Battery box from Scotts trucks in Canada. Got a few more things to do before can drive. Gotta hook up the tranny cooler lines and wire the electric pump, mount computer and fuse box and wire harness.
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=IMG_0541.jpg
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=IMG_0540.jpg
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=IMG_0543.jpg
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=IMG_0545.jpg
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=IMG_0546.jpg
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=IMG_0547.jpg

[eagleuh1]

Sorry about the no pics, just links. Little bit of work accomplished.

[eagleuh1]

Well, she finally started for the first time with the 5.3 last night. No problems. 1 minor leak from tranny cooler line at radiator. Also, had put the battery power feed to the DLC connector in the wrong plug in fuse box. No power to DLC means no scanning. Sucks being blind and having to read those tiny letters and numbers on the terminal blocks on bottom of fuse box. Fixed and scanned. No issues. Got to go get exhaust today and a shroud made of aluminum for fans. Might just go with engine driven fan for weekend. Then its just finishing up some wiring for torque converter lockup...

[eagleuh1]

[Rokcrln]

Looks very nice I have the same 05 5.3L eng/trans set up for LowBuk. What did the headers set you back?

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[eagleuh1]

About 2 months I think, waiting on them. They were worth it though. They are really good quality. I think I paid about $480 all together. There was a board member selling a pair on here, he got tired of waiting from 1 dealer and ordered from another and forgot to cancel his 1st order. Also Shon sells em at a good price. Fit was perfect on mine, I used 6 cyl stands set in back set of holes and clearance was good on everything. They did dump pretty close to tranny crossmember and parking brake bar on passenger side because engine sits farther back than with V8 stands. Next time I would go with aftermarket or homemade tranny crossmember for more clearance.
First drive was without fans. Engine driven fan wouldn't fit because of upper radiator hose routing. Sheet metal shop was closed so no aluminum shroud for electric fans. Guess I'll have to wait. Monday or Tuesday. Did blow off upper radiator hose because I used a pinch clamp thast wasn't tight enough. Luckily in front of Walmart and Autozone, so new clamp and plenty of water. Stopped for dinner and my battery neg clamp had come loose, so no start when time to leave. Easy fix. Overall great test drive. And the overdrive makes me maybe want to keep the 4.56 rear end gears. Got to program the computer for the gears and 33 inch tires so HP tuners shows the right speed.

[Hart_Rod]

Nice install! How bad was doing the tune yourself with the HP setup?

[eagleuh1]

Hart Rod, I haven't tuned it yet per say. I've only used the HP tuners to set easy stuff like the gear ratio and tire size and fan on temps and eliminate emissions stuff and check set codes. I also use it for my gauges like speedo and tach and temps, since only my oil gauge and amp meter are hooked up and working now. Hopefully I'll get some time and a wide band O2 sensor so I can do some tuning soon. Lots of body work to start on now too. When you moving to Arkansas by the way?

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by eagleuh1

Hart Rod, I haven't tuned it yet per say. I've only used the HP tuners to set easy stuff like the gear ratio and tire size and fan on temps and eliminate emissions stuff and check set codes. I also use it for my gauges like speedo and tach and temps, since only my oil gauge and amp meter are hooked up and working now. Hopefully I'll get some time and a wide band O2 sensor so I can do some tuning soon. Lots of body work to start on now too. When you moving to Arkansas by the way?

Cool. I'm thinking about buying their setup and would like to do my own tune's so keep us updated on how it's working. I'm still trying to get on with Tyson, they're a tough nut to crack..... In the meantime, I took a management position with Target.