My 54 Chevy 5.3 Turbo w/ C4 axles.....

[mavdog32]

Well I havent had much movement as the "side project" is freakin killing me. I did however have a change of plans.... Sicne I would like to drive this truck in the near future I am gonna run the 5.3 bone stock for now and I will build a 6.0 up on the side to throw those beautiful heads on to! I did however go through the 5.3 VERY thoroughly! I am throwing a gasket kit at it along with a used set of lifter/rockers/pushrods since I didnt trust what was in the motor. The machine shop mic'd the bore for me and honed it. New cam and rod bearing along with a new set of rings will be going into the rotating assembly. Fist I made it pretty though!

[mavdog32]

and main bearings too...

I will be purchasing my flat out kit mid December so I am excited to get some movement on the truck. I am really excited to get it into a rolling chassis. Call me dumb but that is seriously my favorite part of a built!

[98layinframe]

Interested to watch this build and mainly the suspension parts as I plan to run the same setup front and rear.
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[Wheelie]

looks like a clean build.I love me some turbo's!

[nebdrummer]

Block color is cool. Stock cam for now even? Are you going carbd or sticking with the FI?
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[BlueJeep]

Looks good! What did you use to clean up the heads where the intake will mount? I painted mine, and now I'm thinking I shouldn't have.

[mavdog32]

@nebdrummer , the cam is stock for now and keeping it EFI. At this point I just want to drive the thing so I am going as cheap as possible with the motor build for the moment. The plan is now a Super or turbocharged 6.0 as the heads I bought will work really well with that application.

On a side note, have you guys seen anyone run a cam in the 5.3 without changing out rockers/springs? If I could get away with that I would love a nice lopey idle and I bit more power!!

@bluejeep I just took steel wool to it after cleaning the hell out of the whole head and hot tanking it. I ended up taping the whole intake side of the head off, but I dont believe its necessary except the 1/2" or so around where the orings seal the intake runner off.

[mavdog32]

when i say the plan I am talking about building it on the side after I finish the truck.

[nebdrummer]

Rockers are usually fine for a stock ish cam. Anything more, then it's recommended to throw in the rocker trunion upgrade in the stock rocker arms. I will be doing that and new ls7 lifters. I'm also going NA for a season. But I'm going to go as big as I can on the cam.

I look forward to more progress!
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[mavdog32]

Progressive frame plating and front C4 IFS kit ordered, not just waiting. Gotta take time to get to my buddies house and get the C4 front from him.

I was thinking about cutting holes in the frame plating and taking the dimple dye to them, thoughts?? I think it would look good plus allow me to run the lines inside the frame and still have access to them for service if ever needed.

[4544speed]

Are you still planning to run the flat-out front kit? I just finished mine this past week. I would be interested to hear what you think of it.

[mavdog32]

No I did the progressive front, but Im either gonna fab the rear myself or buy the flat out rear. According to the guy at Progressive, you cant fit the C4 rear without narrowing the frame but according to the guy at flat out you can. I will have to see for myself once I have the front under its own weight and the frame shortened appropriately and plated. Ill get the rear put together then....

I like working in the garage in winter time so I should be banging this work out pretty quickly.

[4544speed]

I think it may be about the height. If you want any photos, you can PM me and I will email you some of mine with the kit installed. The crossmember comes up to the bottom of the frame. So, if you want it any lower than the flat out kit allows, then you will have to cut the frame. Also one of the lessons I learned was on the wheel base. I wanted to center my tires in the wheel well. The Flat out kit fits in specific places and takes modifications to change. I am not saying you can't change it, but that kinda' defects the purpose of a kit.

[mavdog32]

did you do flat out front and rear?

[4544speed]

yes, front and rear. with 92 components.

[48 GMC BURB]

Originally Posted by 4544speed

Are you still planning to run the flat-out front kit? I just finished mine this past week. I would be interested to hear what you think of it.

PM sent for pix please...sounds like what Shannon..xpickup is working on for me.
TKS
KC

[98layinframe]

For the guys running the flat out kit up front... do you have to run a high offset Corvette style wheel or would a standard 0 offset style wheel still tuck up in the fenders?


I like the flatout kit since it uses the stock rack I have, but the progressive kit is nice since it offers a narrowed track width with the additional cost of a Thunderbird rack.

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[4544speed]

I am at a disadvantage because I don't have my cab or front end at my house at this time (long story). I have been measuring off of a friends truck that has a camaro sub frame. Here is what I can tell you. With 255-50 X15 tires on 8 inch wheels (yea I know) with 4 inch back spacing. The width from outside to outside of tire is 71 inches. My friends truck has a width of 72 inches which is really a little to wide. The good thing is, I think you could run more backspacing with out a problem. I have not tried the corvette rims yet. The wheels mentioned above are too narrow for the tires so there is a lot of bulge on the tire that I included in the measuring. With a smaller tire the overall width seems like it could be 1/2 to 1 inch less.

[98layinframe]

Yeah I'm in the same boat. My truck is toren apart and sitting 2 hours away on the third floor of my dads warehouse so getting measurements is hard for me.

The reason I asked is I have a set of 18x8" with 4.75" backspacing wheels that I'm really hoping to use along with the 86 front suspension. The truck will be on airride so tucking and enough space to turn some while tucked is crucial to me. Guess I'll have to keep following others builds to see what wheels they're running before I'll know if mine will work. (Unless I beat everyone too it and get some measurements first.)
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[not2oldchevy]

Originally Posted by 98layinframe

Yeah I'm in the same boat. My truck is toren apart and sitting 2 hours away on the third floor of my dads warehouse so getting measurements is hard for me.

The reason I asked is I have a set of 18x8" with 4.75" backspacing wheels that I'm really hoping to use along with the 86 front suspension. The truck will be on airride so tucking and enough space to turn some while tucked is crucial to me. Guess I'll have to keep following others builds to see what wheels they're running before I'll know if mine will work. (Unless I beat everyone too it and get some measurements first.)
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I am building a 53 c4 5.3 4l60 and I have had 2 sets of wheels on it with 4" backspacing with room to spare.

[mavdog32]

Major score today, got a complete 5.3 with harness computer and all accessories for 200 bucks. Motor is seized from the truck running while on its side but all i care about is the peripherals!

[xpickup]

mavdog32, good score on the motor and the harness. Those aftermarket harnesses are expensive as hell. Just the harness was worth probably just that.

Shannon

[4544speed]

Keep us posted on the motor & wiring integration. I want a 5.3 also. They seem to be fairly priced. Not as good as your score... but still affordable.

[mavdog32]

Ughhhhh rivet removal night......need more beer

[panelrodder81]

Did I miss something? You only took 4.5" outta the frame? Is the difference between a short and long 9.25"? Would love more pics of that if you have them. About to get that same thing underway shortly for a replacement frame for my 1/2ton panel truck.

-Panelrodder