Project: 1966 Stepside LWB

[McMurphy]

This time last year I paid $350 for the total custom dual exhaust job on my Tempest for the set up you are talking about (from the headers back) with Magnaflo mufflers and exhaust tips.

I also shopped around, I asked all the parts counter guys, and the JiffyLube places who had the best muffler shop in town. 9 times out of 10 I got the name of the guy I ended up taking it to.
These days the customer can really win when paying in cash.

[BigDan3131]

There really arent any muffler shops around these days but, try The Issaquah Pit Stop any info you find on its location are probably wrong. It was on Gilman Blvd but now its on Issaquah-Hobart Rd. SE Call them at 425-391-2292. If you buy the mufflers and kit they can install it or they can just order everything you need.

[b2948kevin]

Here are some videos of my engine running in the truck. Let me know what you think. Everything sounding good? This is before mufflers, so that will change things, but I did time the engine and adjust the idle down a bit.

http://youtu.be/hofBqrjhbI0

http://youtu.be/d0LdtZuaJ7M

http://youtu.be/dZGWCh0pyg0

[allaboutchevelles]

Truck sounds good. I was reading your build and looks like you have a GM replacement crate motor. I bought one of those brand new in 1994 and put it in my 69 chevelle. Those are some good motors. You can still buy them out of the summit book right now, thinking there around 1400 dollars now. I put some double hump heads on mine and a bigger cam with the intake your running and a holley carb. It was still running strong until I tore my chevelle down for complete resteration a few years ago. Only thing I can tell you on the poping your hearing is you may want to check the timing again with the vacumn line off and pluged. I think I was running my timing around 8 degrees on mine and you may want to put your small breather on the valve cover. Great job on the motor swap thoug. Im swapping my 6 for a 350 also in my 64 C10 when I get the cab back on the frame.

[b2948kevin]

Yeah, I think you're right about the crate motor. It came out of a box van with 40k miles on it. It was previously converted to run on propane which extends the life of the engine and keeps things really clean, but the guy who sold it to me wanted to keep the propane setup.

Thanks for the advice on the timing. I just tuned it in to about 9 degrees BTDC. Also, I got a PCV valve and hooked it up to the carb. Got the valve cover breather for the other side today and installed it so I am good to go on my PCV system.

[b2948kevin]

Ok, on to the updates. I have been busy lately, but I have been slacking on the pictures. I just got the new iPhone 4s, so I will be taking a lot more pics with it. This will make my wife happy that I'm not using her nice camera anymore.

So, I got my truck down to the exhaust shop. I got dual Magnaflows put on there with an H-Pipe. Looks pretty nice but I skipped on stainess tips to save some $. I might do this later.

Boy, this sure quiets things down a lot! Well worth it, even though it cost me about $600 to get done.

Also, notice that I got the side mirrors on both the driver and passenger side. I had to drill the holes for the passenger side, but the support bracket was in place underneath to reinforce for mounting.

[b2948kevin]

Also, I threw some Xado gel into the engine. I have had really good results with reducing blow by on my diesels with this stuff, so it's good peace of mind to throw some in this.

[b2948kevin]

When I opened the oil fill cap, I noticed some white gunk stuck to the cap, and now that I think about it, I noticed this same stuff on the inner top of the valve cover when I pulled them to swap them around per Captain's recommendation.

Any idea what it is? Should I be worried? Sludge?

[chad64chevy]

nice videos kevin, truck looks good too! after winter comes and gos ill be starting my motor as well, i'm hoping that this time next year i'll be driving my truck! i like how you did your patch panels too, did you brace it up before you cut them out? and what welder are you using??

[chad64chevy]

did you put in a different cam after the took the propane stuff off? i'm not 100% sure but i think they use a different cam for propane motors! it might have something to do with it, just a thought!

[chad64chevy]

i just looked it up for you! theres the link! http://www.offroaders.com/tech/milky...er-oil-cap.htm

[Captainfab]

That's likely just moisture mixed with a little oil collecting on the cap. It is more common in the winter months, especially in wet climates such as where you are. How does the oil on the dipstick look? If it is good, then I would wipe the cap off, and drive the truck long enough to get it good and warmed up, and see if that doesn't get the engine dried out some

[b2948kevin]

Originally Posted by chad64chevy

i just looked it up for you! theres the link! http://www.offroaders.com/tech/milky...er-oil-cap.htm

Thanks Chad and Captain for helping with the moisture issue. I surely haven't gotten this up to any sort of real temperatures yet. Still a lot to do until I can run this fully open.

[b2948kevin]

Ok, so I have been slacking on this thread. I have really been doing a lot, but just haven't been posting progress.

So, I was troubleshooting my rear brake lights when I got in and decided to give the brake pedal a pretty good stomp just to test and see how they would respond. Well, my brakes failed the test and I ended up bursting the passenger front rubber brake line. Luckily I did this in my driveway and not driving down the road. So, for safety I bought all new rubber brake lines and the small hard line that I had to cut because the fitting stripped even when I pulled out the hose-specific end wrench. Luckily I got the fitting at the T to come loose, though it was close.

[b2948kevin]

While I was under there, I noticed that the PO had shimmed the fender with some wood blocks! Pretty awesome, IMO.

You can also see where the passenger floor is rusted through. This is on my list of things to do.

[b2948kevin]

I got motivated and headed out to replace all 3 rubber brake hoses today and got rained out. Living in the Pacific Northwest will do that to you, especially this time of year when it gets dark at about 4:30.

I tore into it and stripped the other fitting between the rubber line and the hard line. Luckily again, I got the fitting off at the T, so a $5 hard brake line should remedy this.

All I got done on this was loosening up what I need to take off, but then I had to run inside because it started raining substantially.

[b2948kevin]

On the driver's front hub, I only have 5 lug studs and one of them is really loose. Is this easy to correct? I've never opened these up, but just trying to get a quick gauge on what to expect here.

Also, I don't have pics of this, but the brake line Ts are really close to the exhaust headers. Should I be worried about these getting too warm? The passenger side one is almost touching the header and not a lot of room to move it.

[b2948kevin]

Before I went in, I took a second to snap some pictures.

[b2948kevin]

In the afternoon, I went and picked up some tires. I got 4x 235/75R15 tires at the used tire place in the pics. The guy wanted $240 for the set but I talked him down to $200 mounted and balanced. I would estimate the tread on these at 90%. These are some of the better looking used tires I have bought in my days.

These should make my truck look a lot better.

After that, I had to help a friend get his generator started and serviced and then helped another friend ID and clean a bunch of collectible rifles and went out to dinner with the family. Pretty solid day overall

[allaboutchevelles]

Looks like a good deal on the tires. all you need now is some trim rings and dog dish hub cabs. Ill be going through my brake lines and stuff as soon as I can get my cab done and on the frame in my shop.

[McMurphy]

I am guessing the garage is off limits for your hobby work?
I did the engine swap in my Tempest in a tiny one-car garage. If you look at the CarDomain link on it in my sig, it shows I only had 18" on either side of the car inside, and less than 12" per side to the garage door jamb.
For that project I only pulled in the front half of the car since that was all I needed in there to swap the motor. (other than dropping the diveline of course).

For your situation I am surprised you didnt get one of those $100 car tents or even a blue tarp and some bungee cords. In the Army we call that kind of set up a Ranger Lean To. Not pretty, but keeps the rain off and is quick to set up-take down.

I feel ya on the weather though... as I type this snow is falling straight down and fast outside my computer room window. I am thankful for the garage, but all the cleaning I have to do is painful inside sometimes.

Good luck man!

[b2948kevin]

@Chevelles, yeah, I felt good about the deal. Also, I think I am going to look at splitting the brake lines and getting a booster installed in the near future. Then when I upgrade the front to disc, a lot of the additional work will be done already.

@McMurphy- well, the garage isn't off limits, but the doors aren't very wide so I can't really pull the truck in. Also, I have a tarp and poles that I have used before, but it's a lot of work to get up and down.

If I ever do a frame off resto, it will be when I have a better shop setup for sure.
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[blackdawg]

Thats all you can do is work on one piece at a time.And watch your project slowly come together.keep plugging away.

[Captainfab]

If you can re-route the brake lines away from the exhaust heat that would be better.

If you have some wheel studs that are loose in the hub, you may need to have someone tack weld them on the backside. You don't want them to become totally free and spin when you are trying to remove the lug nuts. Then it becomes a much bigger problem.

[b2948kevin]

Good call Captain. I wondered if this is a common problem. I'll have to get this taken care of soon. For now, I want to take it for a spin at least!

I spent some time getting the brake lines replaced and all of the brakes bled. Went pretty well, but I used 2 big bottles of DOT3 fluid to flush all the nasty old stuff out of there.