68 Build Thread**Better Late Than Never**

[AustinScott]

SO I noticed today after doing a search, that I have never started a build thread for our truck.
So I will fill in the blanks from past to present...and start using this thread for all my updates.

Truck was bought December 2007.
She was an all numbers matching truck,
This is what she looked liked when we brought her home.


















DEC-31st 2007
MOD#1 - Steering column - shorten by 1"

[AustinScott]

JAN-6th 2008
MOD#2 - New Steering Wheel

My Son and I where at the auto parts store and he noticed the steering wheels on the top shelf of an isle.
he asked if we could get one & I said, if we where to get one, which one would you get...
He picked a simple cheap grant wheel.
SO we bought it and the adapter kit to install it.















THE NEXT DAY....









OOPS! A tad bit crooked

[AustinScott]

JAN-13 - 2008
MOD#3 - HEI Install

Next Up was the HEI. As in the past, my oldest son wanted to help, so I put him to work....
he pulled to old "sub-woofer" out of the garage stood on it, and got to work.

[FL71C10]

Wow, he gets right in there, doesn't he? It's cool that he's so interested. How old is he?

[AustinScott]

MAY- 25th 2008

well the day has come to rebuild the motor, so out it comes.

[AustinScott]

we have a million pictures of this engine being taken apart,
but because I'm trying to "catch" up with the thread,
I will only post a few pictures.
Besides it will be completely rebuilt so what it looks like before isn't to relevant


MAY-28 2008
Engine TearDown





























And off to the machine shop............

[AustinScott]

JUN-8th 2009
First Purchase from 67-72 forum member

We couldn't pass up a good deal, so we bought some NASCAR Trailing Arms from forum Member Jkade
$80.00 + shipping.... grand total... $103.00











They have not yet been installed, due to having to fab up a bracket for the E-brake cable.(2012)

[VA72C10]

Cool father/son project!

[VA72C10]

Looks great so far! Glad you are getting around to posting this up! I really like the black and orange with a little pop of chrome paint scheme on the engine! Looks like factory with an upgrade

[Chevyman680063]

Can't wait to see more pics. I'm on board for this build.

[northern 85]

Very cool! Love the step by step with all the pics

[darkhorse970]

Cool truck and it looks like you and your son are really getting some quality time together with it. Very cool!

[Mr Chevorlet]

Looking good, and its great to have the kids involved

[AustinScott]

AUG 6th 2009
FireWall Paint

Well before we put the engine back into the truck, my son asked if we can "wash" the inside of the truck.
So we power washed the inside of the engine compartment & then we somehow just started to clean and paint the firewall.
Truly I have no idea how it started but we went at it, with what we had.

[AustinScott]

SEPT 7th 2009
Engine/Tranny Install

well the day has arrived for us to put the heart back into the beast.
My son was at soccer, so he missed out that day.
The one day I COULD OF USED HIS HELP, he wants to play sports

[AustinScott]

Sept 9th 2009
Engine First Start

Today is the day! we hear her run for the first time after a LONG year of rebuilding the engine.













Here is the video............

SHE LIVES

She fired right up with no problems, other than large air pockets in the cooling system, it was a smooth first run

-=scott

[VA72C10]

Nice!

[AustinScott]

MAR.-19th 2011
FRONT GRILL PAINT

[AustinScott]

Ok time for bed, more tomorrow.

[AustinScott]

APRIL 6th 2011
DRIVE SHAFT REPLACEMENT

well looks like the "stock 2 piece" drive shaft was just not up to the task of moving out truck anymore.
On March 27th we had just got off the freeway, sitting at a light on the frontage road & the drive shaft gave out.
Light turns green, gave it some gas... and "DING.. BAM..BAM..BAM..BAM."
I was like.... O great! got out and looked under the truck expecting to see the drive shaft sitting on the ground.
But to my surprise, it was still in place and connected to the rear end and the carrier.
So I figured I must of broke the transmission... but it sure was loud!

So helpful folks helped me push the truck off to the side and into an ikea parking lot driveway.

After getting towed home... I investigated some and found that I did indeed break the drive shaft, but it was the "front half" that broke..
leaving the back half still in-tacked and looking normal... FOOLED ME!!!




Here is what it looked like under the truck broken...








We had a new 1-piece drive shaft made for the truck...





Before I installed the drive shaft I figured I would replace the tranny rear seal.
Doing this in the truck in not impossible, but it requires a lot of patience, and a home made install tool...









I also had to cut out the carrier mount.... what a painful process, rivets do not like coming out.
I found drill of the heads to be the quickest route. I just bought a few drill bits to do the job...













And if anyone is wondering... Notice something missing form the pictures?

Yep you guessed it, MY SON!, he decided to leave this job to dad...

Thanks Son!

-=Scott=-

[AustinScott]

MAY 29th 2011
HOOD PAINT TEST

So we decided to play around with some olivedrab paint today..
As as normal... the hood was the victim.... This time my son did the spray job.
Forgot to get any pics of him doing the job.. it was really just to spontaneous to think about the camera.


BEFORE:




AFTER:






-=Scott=-

[AustinScott]

OCT 16th 2011
FRONT DISC CONVERSION

well after a long wait, it came time to just bite the bullet and buy a complete new front brake system.
So we decided to go with POL's front disc brake kit with 2.5" drop spindles.
We also about all new front brake lines
We also purchased a new power brake booster & master-cylinder combo.

So we start by tearing everything down.













AND SHE IS BARE!!!



Next comes the booster/MC















HERE IS A LINK TO MY BRAKE LINE REVIEW POST.

FRONT BRAKE LINE REVIEW THREAD/POST

NEW WHEEL & DISC CLEARANCE... GOING TO BE TIGHT





HERE IS HOW I TOOK THE LOWERS APART.





HERE IS MY SON GIVING IT A SHOT... A LOT HARDER THAN IT LOOKS.





STAY TUNED MORE TO COME.....

[AustinScott]

NOV 23rd 2011
FRONT CONTROL ARM PREP

We picked up our control arms form the blasters today.
$25.00 to blast everything.. not cheap but well worth it.

Now time to make a mess.... Notice how my son is up for this one... hes good at making messes...





















WE HAD FUN THAT DAY.....


-=Scott=-

[AustinScott]

OK WE WE ARE TO THE POINT IN THIS THREAD THAT WE COME TO THE TRANSMISSION SWAP.

This is happening right now & it is a pain in the BUTT!

[AustinScott]

MAR 17th 2012
TRANNY INSTALL DAY

Today was the day. lets get this thing mounted.

LIFTING TRANSMISSION OFF GROUND TO GET JACK UNDER IT.
WE USED A CLEAVER METHOD WITH TWO RATCHETING STRAPS.
WORKED LIKE A CHARM!










MY SON LOVES... BELL HOUSING BOLTS.... GETS HIM REAL DIRTY




CROSS MEMBER SLID RIGHT BACK IN PLACE AND ALIGNED RIGHT UP TO NEW 200-4R
NO MODIFICATIONS NEEDED.





THIS IS THE NEW TRANSMISSION MOUNT WE BOUGHT FROM AUTOZONE $24.99.
THE MOUNT FOR THE TH400 IS ABOUT 3/4" TO WIDE ON THE TRANSMISSION SIDE.



HERE YOU CAN SEE THE PAINTED SURFACE VERSES THE NON PAINTED SURFACE
IT WAS AMAZING HOW IT LOOKED RIGHT OUT OF THE CRATE. ALMOST DIDN'T PAINT IT...
BUT WE KNEW BETTER


3/16" GAP BETWEEN FLEX PLATE AND TORQUE CONVERTER... PERFECT!



TIME FOR THE DIPSTICK.
BEING UNIVERSAL IT HAD TO BE TRIMMED TO FIT.
1-1/4" OFF THE TOP PLEASE..





I LIKE HOW IT SITS IN THE BAY, NICE AND TUCKED AWAY



COOLING LINE TIME.
THEY COME PRE-BENT AND LONG. SO YOU HAVE TO TRIM THEM TO FIT.
I HAD NO PROBLEM TRIMMING THEM WITH THE TUBING CUTTER.
THEY FIT PRETTY WELL.













MORE ON THE COOLING LINES IN A BIT,
BUT NOW WE GO T MY SON AND HIS ADVENTURE WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT & SLIP YOKE....



BLACK FINISH NEW 200-4R YOKE,
METAL FINISH OLD TH400 YOKE






























STAY TUNED MORE TO COME....



-=SCOTT=-