Jason's 70 Big Block SWB Project

[jeh]

Originally Posted by Farm Shop

Amazing build. Hate to see the issues you've had along the way, but it'll be worth it... especially with that healthy BBC!

Thanks, I've defiantly struggled along the way!!!!

Originally Posted by NoNeck

Nice work, Jason. Everything is coming together. I'm glad you didn't give up on the Big Block.

POP

Thanks POP, I'm not going to give up just get, but if something else major happens y'all might see it in the "FOR SALE" section of the forum
By the way, Chads truck is really turning out nice!!

[jeh]

Well, it's been awhile not much going on with the truck for some time. As far as an update on the engine, the machine work is all done, the bottom end is finished up, just waiting on some goodies that showed up today!!!!

[jeh]

I decided to call next Monday and have a local transmission shop to build me a turbo 400 for my truck. I know I'll miss the OD but at least it will be tough. He has been in business for years and a friend of mine that builds mud trucks has run a couple of transmissions from him and they held up great. So hopefully get the engine fired up and broke in here in a week or so

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by jeh

Well, it's been awhile not much going on with the truck for some time. As far as an update on the engine, the machine work is all done, the bottom end is finished up, just waiting on some goodies that showed up today!!!!

Very nice!

Originally Posted by jeh

I decided to call next Monday and have a local transmission shop to build me a turbo 400 for my truck. I know I'll miss the OD but at least it will be tough. He has been in business for years and a friend of mine that builds mud trucks has run a couple of transmissions from him and they held up great. So hopefully get the engine fired up and broke in here in a week or so

What about a 4L80E with a stand alone controller?

[jeh]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice!



What about a 4L80E with a stand alone controller?

I wasn't sure about a 4L80E with a low hump. Not sure if there were any clearance issues. The main factor is the price of one. It almost seems that I've wasted a lot of money on this truck without doing my homework first

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jeh

I wasn't sure about a 4L80E with a low hump. Not sure if there were any clearance issues. The main factor is the price of one. It almost seems that I've wasted a lot of money on this truck without doing my homework first

I ran into interference issues with the 200-4R I used in the silver truck. But it was primarily because I used the rear mounting holes and towers meant for the six or a small block with manual trans. Physically the 200-4R looks a lot like a 4L80E. (photos here) YMMV, but I'd think the forward mounts for the BB would place the trans bellhousing far enough forward to clear without issues.

The 4L65E that I'm installing in CRLS has a ton of room around it with the engine set back as far as it can go via the adjustable mounts. Maybe you could borrow a bare 4L80E case from a yard or a tranny shop and bolt it to your bare block and set it in place as a gauge.

As for the whole money pit thing... I'm the last guy on the planet you'd want to advise you on that.

[jeh]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

I ran into interference issues with the 200-4R I used in the silver truck. But it was primarily because I used the rear mounting holes and towers meant for the six or a small block with manual trans. Physically the 200-4R looks a lot like a 4L80E. (photos here) YMMV, but I'd think the forward mounts for the BB would place the trans bellhousing far enough forward to clear without issues.

The 4L65E that I'm installing in CRLS has a ton of room around it with the engine set back as far as it can go via the adjustable mounts. Maybe you could borrow a bare 4L80E case from a yard or a tranny shop and bolt it to your bare block and set it in place as a gauge.

As for the whole money pit thing... I'm the last guy on the planet you'd want to advise you on that.

Thanks VIC for the info, as far as the money pit quote, your truck might be one also but I sure like the direction it's headed!!!!

[jeh]

I called the transmission shop today and he is going to get started on a "tough" TH400. He already had some cores so that saved me the time of finding one to rebuild. As far as the engine it should be ready to test fire in about a week. I need to get my hind end in gear and get a lot of the little things all buttoned up. Still need to bend some brake lines to the new Wilwood master cylinder and make a fan shroud for the electric fans.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jeh

I called the transmission shop today and he is going to get started on a "tough" TH400. He already had some cores so that saved me the time of finding one to rebuild. As far as the engine it should be ready to test fire in about a week. I need to get my hind end in gear and get a lot of the little things all buttoned up. Still need to bend some brake lines to the new Wilwood master cylinder and make a fan shroud for the electric fans.

If you need a front driveshaft yoke for the 400, I have a nice one I took off CRLS when I switched to the 4L65E. Just let me know and it's yours.

[jeh]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

If you need a front driveshaft yoke for the 400, I have a nice one I took off CRLS when I switched to the 4L65E. Just let me know and it's yours.

Thanks Vic, I'll let you know, but l will probably take you up on the offer.

[Bennett68C10]

Can't wait to see this beast fired up and back on the road. You can always add a gear vendors overdrive unit later down the road if you want that overdrive gear!

[jeh]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Can't wait to see this beast fired up and back on the road. You can always add a gear vendors overdrive unit later down the road if you want that overdrive gear!

I hear ya on the "getting back on the road" part. I'm not to worried about the overdrive right now, I just need to get to cruise it some instead of throwing money at it and setting in the garage all the time. I've worked 12-14 hours a day since last Tuesday so hopefully this weekend I can get some of the small items buttoned up to get ready to put the engine/transmission back in
Looks like your moving right along with yours despite the wheel issue.

[sduckworth13]

Looking forward to seeing you get the engine/transmission in and finally be able to relax and enjoy driving your truck Jason.

[jeh]

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Looking forward to seeing you get the engine/transmission in and finally be able to relax and enjoy driving your truck Jason.

Thanks Scott, hopefully Saturday we will fire the engine on the stand and break it in. The transmission guy left me a message this evening, I wasn't home from work yet, I hope he says that it's done!!!! We will see

[jeh]

Well as for an update, not much!!! I was hoping to break in the engine this past weekend but since I changed the cam and lifters it just so happened the pushrods were not the correct length. They should be here tomorrow. With a little luck maybe this weekend. The good news is the transmission is ready to be picked up. Here it is awaiting the correct pushrods....

[sduckworth13]

awesome Jason!
Posted via Mobile Device

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by jeh

Well as for an update, not much!!! I was hoping to break in the engine this past weekend but since I changed the cam and lifters it just so happened the pushrods were not the correct length. They should be here tomorrow. With a little luck maybe this weekend. The good news is the transmission is ready to be picked up. Here it is awaiting the correct pushrods....

Looks great!

[jeh]

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

awesome Jason!
Posted via Mobile Device

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Looks great!

Thanks Scott and Mike. I guess I lied in the post last night after talking to my buddy today. He had already received the pushrods and it's almost ready to start up!!!! I've got my fingers crossed

[Bennett68C10]

That's awesome news Jason, the motor looks awesome!

[jeh]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

That's awesome news Jason, the motor looks awesome!

Thanks Keith, I hope this go around works out better for me!!!

[jeh]

Still haven't fired up the engine yet this weekend, I worked on it a little while Friday. Got the serpentine drive, headers, carburetor, and got the fuel line ran. I did manage to get the Th400 I had build home and get some paint on it. Hopefully I have everything covered to make the swap work. Things aren't happening fast but they are happening

[STOCKISH]

Stick with it buddy, its going to be amzing when its all said and done with. And well worth all the headaches.

[jeh]

Originally Posted by STOCKISH

Stick with it buddy, its going to be amzing when its all said and done with. And well worth all the headaches.

Thanks Josh, it's defiantly been a journey that's for sure!!!! I hope to have a few cruises before the weather gets bad...

[mcbassin]

Looking good Jason!

[jeh]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Looking good Jason!

Thanks Mike.

I did get the engine fired yesterday evening, everything seemed good so far, the only glitch was 2 spark plug boots got against the headers I have MSD wires so I found that Summit sells only the boots also so that will be an easy fix. It don't have the thumpity thump that it did with the other cam, but it should be a little more "driver" friendly. This evening after work I got the shift arm, Lokar kick down switch, cable-electronic speedometer adapter, and the -6an fittings on the transmission, so it's pretty close for install. I need to pull a measurement this week to see how much the driveshaft will have to be shortened to be a step ahead of the game....