Project Lesson Plan

[RootBeer 6117]

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

I would love to build a smoker for our home; obviously not nearly that big, but definitely electric. Where did you source the heating element from?

Let me know when you have your get together at Nichols and I'll try to make it by.

Trying to think who might have picked up the radiator from you, as I have several buddies on the Hamb.

Nate
if you look at post 88 you'll see I have a basket for charcoal and wood, no electric in this one,it doesn't take very much to bring it up to temp with the insulation if you check out smokingmeatforums.com build section they have a bunch of info on building one.
Your Buddy was a Ford man,he was driving one of those black Ford Flex his wife worked with your wife when you all met.

[RootBeer 6117]

Back to the truck got side tracked there for a minute,Pictures to prove we are working on it. I got a new radiator after getting the wrong radiator,it sat to close to the engine I couldn't take it any more. Pull the front fenders boys we are going to figure out how much we can move the engine back. The accessory bracket on the LT1 is a real pain in the butt.Nothing a plasma cutting won't solve.
After studying S10 LT1 swaps I decided it ain't going to look like a S10 LT1 swap in a 49 S10 LT1 swap.The engine is going to have to set back farther to get decent clearence for the radiator and hose/fans to work.The way it sat it was going to be a real pain to figure out the hoses with the radiator (its a 19"x22" speedway radiator) I had about 8 inches and a really weird bend to get the lower to work.
So we lifted the engine and put the Jags bracket on the frame upside down and backward and moved the engine back 2 inches,Which meant I had to cut a relief in the frame for the lower part of the bracket to clear. I cut out less than a lot of the s10 swaps I looked at but I will not run a stock A/C compressor. So now to box that in reattach the radiator support and shorten the drive shaft 2 inches, but now I can run a 12 inch long lower hose in at a better angle and have the fan on the back side,I have a shed full of at least 20 electric fans all pullers I wasn't buying a pusher fan and I still have room behind the engine to the cab. O and I can run the free S10 shorty headers without any clearence issues with the steering column or stock shifter linkage.I will have to put a support under the rear part of the frame motor mount a piece of 2 inch angle should be just fine.

[youngrodder]

I had a similar challenge with my LT1. I used a radiator out of a 70's land cruiser because the size was right as well as the location of the filler ports.

One thing I did with the hoses was first I used SS flex radiator hoses then I bought special 90 degree elbows on the ends to configure the hoses to clear.
I did have to use as pusher fan in front of the radiator. It is tight...

Let's see if I can find some pics...

You get the idea
Marc

[Root2812]

Youngrodder, how far is your firewall recessed? Do you have any pictures from the inside?

[youngrodder]

I would guess 3". I can measure it tomorrow. It is a *****!n products firewall.
I will see if I can find some inside firewall pics.

Marc

[youngrodder]

Here's a pic of the firewall on the inside.

Marc

[RootBeer 6117]

Hey Young I looked into the SS hose briefly,the welding instructor at school has 11/4" aluminium elbows, we were going to cut the lower neck off and weld the 90 on. I just kept thinking about all the room at the back and how tight I was at the front so I moved it back and I am much happier with the room I have now. Right now if it wasnt for a lot of accumulated parts I wouldn't be building this,I have pack rat in my blood I cant stand to throw away a good part I have two large boxes of radiator hoses and at least 20 fans we took off of cars we have scrapped. A lot of my students had never heard Johnny Cash's one piece at a time so I found it on you tube and played it for them, I told them that's how were are building this I'm just not stealing the parts. What year is that truck? which part?

[72BlckButy]

Originally Posted by RootBeer 6117

Nate
if you look at post 88 you'll see I have a basket for charcoal and wood, no electric in this one,it doesn't take very much to bring it up to temp with the insulation if you check out smokingmeatforums.com build section they have a bunch of info on building one.
Your Buddy was a Ford man,he was driving one of those black Ford Flex his wife worked with your wife when you all met.

That's exactly who I thought you'd be talking about. Dale is a great guy.

Thanks for the link to the smoker forum, I'll have to check it out.

[Root2812]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

I would guess 3". I can measure it tomorrow. It is a *****!n products firewall.
I will see if I can find some inside firewall pics.

Marc

Thanks. I have been tossing around the idea of an LT1 swap using my stock frame and the engine placement has been worrying me.

[RootBeer 6117]

This is were I ended up with the engine the third picture show the first notch I put in the frame, I am happy with the move.I did finally figure out I am going to have to do the wiring harness my self,I am picking up a used one tomorrow the original isn't going to be usable.I'm not done with the mounts I am going to support them better.I got a hold of a set of Accel plug wires and had to switch the ends from the original wires, that took a few days of redos till it was right, guess we all learn the hard way.

[RootBeer 6117]

Shot of the right side, I am going to have to use my old camera it took better pictures.

[Wybrow]

I remember taking part in building/restoring a '49 Ford in high school, that was a lot of fun. You're doing good things with these kids.

[RootBeer 6117]

Thank you Wybrow Some days I need encouragement to keep this going, some days I have what was I thinking?! Last week after my 3rd redo of the plugs wire I was wondering if I am being to much of a perfectionist about this but plug wires is something I want a certain way I have burned up a wire or two on headers.
I hope someday my students remember good thing about the class.

[RootBeer 6117]

Getting closer to driving it by the week. Two weeks of brake line fabrication, bearing packing, rotor turning we have brakes. Then on to the wiper set up I don't know if I would go out of my way to pay $300 for this wiper set up but if some one walks in a gives it to you install it with enthusiasm, this wasn't the easiest to get right but Friday afternoon the wipers moved now we have to get the park right and the arms located.
I spent most of today working on the wiring harness I decided some times it better if I just do it when no ones around so I can think, I am using two different harness to get it to work and have had some shoddy workmanship and had to fire one guy. Soon very soon it will go under its own power.

[pinecrest]

Sweet!... coming together. Keep those kiddos turning them wrenches!!!
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[av8tr33337]

Been away from my build for a while, but ready to get back at it. Looks like you have made some really nice progress. I sure wish I had a bunch of enthusiastic free labor for my truck LOL. Oh well I guess I'll get it done someday.

[RootBeer 6117]

Thanks guys.
you wouldn't believe the high price of free child labor some days.I started out with the original Buick wiring harness which had 5 time more wires than needed and tried to trim it down, A lack of attention to detail forced me to buy a different harness this time from a 95 camaro, the seller told me it was an auto it turned out it wasn't so I spent 3 good hours moving wires to make it work, it now runs, two weeks and to saturdays later. I am using a harness I took out of a 86 cavalier for the rest of the truck so now I have to see if the transmission shifts right, as soon as I get the brake leak fixed and the shift lever in the right spot.then we work on lights...body... getting a second job... I posted a short video on facebook of the engine starting I was a happy camper...
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/360886660588868/

[RootBeer 6117]

Hey Hun look what followed me home! can I keep it huh? please can I,I promise I'll take really good care of it.
A friend donated this to the school this week I bet I can make good use of it the next few years, I wish I could have bought it but....

[solidaxel]

So how many miles does it take to get a truck looking like this one on the trailer?
We just have a lot of sun around here, and I can not imagine having a truck do that!!

[RootBeer 6117]

The S10 is originally from Chicago I'm not sure how many miles are on it.I've seen calcium chloride do some pretty nasty things, I had it destroy a set of boots over night. I have a friend that's lived in South Bend and Akron Ohio his 2000 Mazda is a total rust ball underneath.
I was watching diners drive-ins and dives and they asked the chef why he left Chicago and moved to Phoenix he said you don't have to shovel sunshine, How true that is.

[oldcouple]

That would be the "self removing fender trim" option, just wait another year or so.

[RootBeer 6117]

More progress, a bad moment with the boat trailer turned out to be a good thing, to make the original lights into 12volt turn and park. I moved my radiator support forward about an 1" so the Auto Collision class is working on making the hood latch area line up. I was thinking this week when I get all the lights and horn working I have about got the thing were I could get it inspected and drive it.

[RootBeer 6117]

First Time I got to drive it.
http://youtu.be/dg8B5vq4iVo

[daverod]

i'll bet that felt great.

[RootBeer 6117]

Yes sir it did that day and the day we got 2 wiring harnesses married and it worked were good day's
I tried to get the video on this page using the youtube link but it kept saying invalid link, not sure why I have seen other youtube videos posted here.