1969 C10 SWB - Big Block project

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by NoNeck

What do you guys think of "7 Year Itch" for the name of Chad's truck? We started on it almost 7 years to the day that it was finished!

POP

The truck looks great!
Cool name too

[Bennett68C10]

Truck is beautiful and I like the name as well!

[FRCvette]

I like the name too.

[CC69Rat]

Just checking in, Pop and I have been working through a bit of a problem with the 68. 2-3 miles on a test drive and all 4 rotors were smoking they were so hot. Bad brake smell, etc. It wasn't a pretty sight. The truck felt like it was loading up on timing, cracking and popping a bit (more on this in a sec) and wouldn't shift to third. It was turning 4k+ rpm going maybe 20mph.

We found we had the clevis and pin on the pedal a little too far out. Pop dropped the steering column back down and we adjusted the pin. When you let your foot all the way off the brake it should have 1/2 or so "pull off" so it pulls the push rod off the MC. Ours was holding pressure (quite a bit actually) on the pedal. Basically we were driving with our foot on the brakes.

When we adjusted it back off, man the truck is like night and day difference. It will idle and just slow roll in gear doing that nasty choppy idle. It sounds really good. It's a different truck without the brakes on.

We have an HEI in this truck. What are your thoughts on running both mechanical and vacuum advance? Should we block one, maybe go to an MSD, etc? The cam is pretty big. It's the 60203 (I think?) Voodoo cam. Would you swap the distributor? On idle it's nice.. slow acceleration it's nice but it concerns me at the 4k rpm range it seems to have been breaking up a little. Was that just because it was working extra hard with the brakes on?

Something else to consider I have 2.5" tailpipe. The mufflers are Magnaflow, 4" x 14" long tube type. They're not very big at all. Could the cracking be coming from too much back pressure? Are the mufflers really big enough for the motor? Dad and I are swapping them out for some bigger ovals I guess we'll see. I just wanted to get some input on it.

Thanks

[68Gold/white]

Unless you have a strip only vehicle, you can benefit from vacuum advance, better mileage is not something I would give up. You do NOT have to use vacuum advance, though....

What power valve is in that thing, jets? Total timing. An HEI will work OK, till about 6200, but could use some massaging sometimes.

Tell us about your fuel system, line size, pump, all the way to the tank.........

[NoNeck]

What power valve is in that thing, jets? Total timing.

The carb is a Holley 3310 with 750 cfm. It has been blueprinted for the engine and uses 73 Jets. The Power Valve is 4.5" with a blow out preventer ball added.

Tell us about your fuel system, line size, pump, all the way to the tank.........

The truck uses a '69 Camaro tank mounted in the rear with 3/8" metal fuel lines throughout. A fuel pressure regulator is also used and is set at 5.5 psi. The fuel pump is a mechanical AC Delco.

[NoNeck]

We got a 4 wheel alignment on the truck today. It drives much nicer now.

POP

[68Gold/white]

Do you have any verification the the 5.5 psi is holding at the carb?

[diggerbob]

I just discovered this build thread after spotting your posts on windshield install tips (grrr) and driveline vibration (grrr). My wife kept asking me what I was spending so much time reading about on the laptop tonight. 39 pages makes for a long read, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. Beautiful color, interior and wheel combination BTW-loved the wood bed floor too. Now that your Dad has helped you finish this project, can you send him to West TN to help me sort out a few odds and ends on my 1970?

[papsoldblue72]

I would like to know how you did the license plate flip down in the back....

[knomadd]

Originally Posted by papsoldblue72

I would like to know how you did the license plate flip down in the back....

It's likely an old muscle car license plate bracket. Any car that had the fuel filler behind the license plate would have one.

[NoNeck]

Do you have any verification the the 5.5 psi is holding at the carb?

We installed an inline gauge to verify the psi and it actually read 5.9. It is now backed down to 5 psi and reads a constant 5.5 psi. Thanks for the suggestion.

Now that your Dad has helped you finish this project, can you send him to West TN...

Diggerbob, Chad's Dad here. I am glad you enjoyed the build on this truck. Now that the truck is almost finished my wife has this "Honey-Do" list a mile long. I imagine I will be busy for the rest of the year! :-)

[NoNeck]

I would like to know how you did the license plate flip down in the back....

Duane, I opened up the stock license plate bracket to access the filler neck with a metal cut off wheel. Then I located a flip down license plate holder from a 1984 Monte Carlo. After drilling a couple of mounting holes I bolted it up and it works great. Any GM license plate holder from '78-'87 Grand Prixs, Monte Carlos, Buick Skylark, etc. should work.

[nlped]

Hey guys, Kim & I had a blast hanging out this weekend! Truck looks & sounds AMAZING!!! Looking forward to GoodGuys!

[NoNeck]

It was a lot of fun Ed. Sorry I couldn't get to the Coker show, but these old legs just wouldn't cooperate. You guys are welcome anytime! Tell Kim we said hello.

POP

[CC69Rat]

High Hump! The boot is off a late model Jeep JK manual. I just cut the factory rectangle ring off of it and dyed it tan. It looks lighter in the picture than it is in person. Not sure why, camera flash I guess.

[NoNeck]

We worked underneath the truck this morning cleaning and detailing it for the Good Guys show on Saturday in Nashville, TN. Tomorrow we plan to shine her up a little and get some miles on the engine to complete the break in.

It will be FOR SALE at the show, so if anyone needs a beautiful one-of-a-kind C10, this is it.

POP

[nlped]

It’s a beauty!!!

[builtbyKane]

Originally Posted by nlped

It’s a beauty!!!

that is a truck I would love to have in my collection.

[CC69Rat]

Originally Posted by builtbyKane

that is a truck I would love to have in my collection.

It's for sale..

[CC69Rat]

Originally Posted by nlped

It’s a beauty!!!

Thank you my friend.

[NoNeck]

Another picture of the truck at Good Guys.

POP

[lolife99]

So VERY nice!

[CC69Rat]

Originally Posted by lolife99

So VERY nice!

Means a lot coming from you my friend. Thank you.

[NoNeck]

Chad's truck has been running a little warmer than we like, so we worked today installing high-output dual electric fans with shroud from DeRale Performance.

We purchased the DeRale 16927 Kit from Summit and the construction quality is really nice. The dual 13" fans flow a combined 4,000 CFM which should be plenty for the Big Block. This kit with shroud measures 18" H x 26" W and is 3.550" thick which fits the aluminum radiator perfectly. The fans feature 7 blades with maximum 1,680 fan RPM. Amp Draw is 49.60 amps for both fans.
Dual relay harnesses are included as well as an extra wire for air conditioning over ride.

We had to make a few minor modifications in order to use the factory 4-core radiator hold downs, but I think it turned out pretty nice. Next step is to wire in the relays, fill with fresh antifreeze, a bottle of Redline Water Wetter and pressurize the system. That will have to wait until Monday... it's two hot in the garage for us today.

POP