1952 Chevy Vette Farm Truck Build

[THEE OG]

Originally Posted by FarmerSid

Thanks! I'm trying....

I'm a welder by trade. Heading to my site and I got to read about half your build. Can't wait to get home and really look at this thing. Beautiful

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by FarmerSid

I thought about taking my stock rad to a place and see if they can duplicate it for my V8. Maybe I will.

I'm out to lunch on master cylinders, hydro boost etc. Is there an advantage to running hydro boost over vacuum? I will be running 1996 Vette front and rear disk brakes. May take you up on your offer. Mighty fine of you.

The stock radiator ( if it's clean) is plenty adequate for a V8, just the fittings are in all the wrong places!

As to the hydroboost - it's got some benefits, as far as being physically smaller unit, and having a more consistent pedal feel (especially if you had a lumpy cam and little vacuum) - but it's a bunch of extra plumbing. I did it on my '72 K3500 build, but I personally wouldn't ever do all that extra plumbing on a street car unless it was turbo.

[FarmerSid]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

The stock radiator ( if it's clean) is plenty adequate for a V8, just the fittings are in all the wrong places!

As to the hydroboost - it's got some benefits, as far as being physically smaller unit, and having a more consistent pedal feel (especially if you had a lumpy cam and little vacuum) - but it's a bunch of extra plumbing. I did it on my '72 K3500 build, but I personally wouldn't ever do all that extra plumbing on a street car unless it was turbo.

Thanks JJ! Info I need to hear.

[FarmerSid]

Had a night off of hockey so one of my young lads and I headed out to the barn and installed the Vette suspension and placed the engine to see how the milled Camaro manifolds fit. As you can see, no go unless I modify the frame. Will have to wait and see how the Hooker LS manifolds fit up.




Here you can see the rack clearance I have between oil pan and crank pulley. I may have to raise the engine a bit and use F body accessories to move things closer to the engine for rad clearance. Man.... all these little things are starting to $$$$$.




Here you can see how low the truck oil pan hangs below the cross member. I will have the F body pan here shortly.







And an overall shot of how things are sitting.

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by FarmerSid

Here you can see the rack clearance I have between oil pan and crank pulley. I may have to raise the engine a bit and use F body accessories to move things closer to the engine for rad clearance. Man.... all these little things are starting to $$$$$.


And an overall shot of how things are sitting.

The Hooker manifolds are supposed to be about 5/8" narrower each side, if I remember correctly.

On the rack, your pan and pulley clearance looks okay (since the rack is stationary), but would there be interference between the PS pump and the input on the rack? Just from my view, that looks like the biggest hurdle to overcome. All of the factory LS bracketry has something in that spot, except the 'vette.

[solidaxel]

Hey nice "rollers"

I am having the same problem with the PS pulley and rack input port, maybe a smaller pulley on the pump.
I did have to lower the rear trans mount to get clearance but now I am concerned about the drive shaft angle, how much angle are you running on your D/S

[Advanced Design]

Well, I was hoping the exhaust manifolds would fit after the modification. Ugh. Hopefully the Hookers will. Always something.

[ptc]

Try also BBK - they make the most compact shorty headers I have ever seen and decently priced.

[FarmerSid]

JJ - I will get some better pics tonight after hockey. I have the pump but it's filthy and will clean it up and see if I have any issues. Got me worried now.

Solid - You copy cat! LOL! My engine is 3* down and rear is 3* up.

AD - It sure is always something. If it's not that its $$$

ptc - thanks for the BBK info. Will look into them if my hookers don't fit.

[FarmerSid]

Went down to the barn after hockey and did some figuring. I installed the PS pump for ya solid to see my setup. I tightened down the 2010 Camaro exhaust manifolds as they were loose as the bolts are now too long. They fit much better. The drivers side clears but the passenger side is still a bit too close to the frame rail. A little more angle milling and it will work. Still hoping the Hooker manifolds fit better. On with the pictures.

[FarmerSid]

Manifolds are getting close to hitting the block. May have to remove some of the block.

[FarmerSid]

Here's the clearance around the PS pump.

[lower50's]

Your getting there I had to cut the outlet off my passenger manifold and make it point up to go to the turbo. Every modification requires massaging.

[99 to Life]

looks great. Do they make a remote PWS set up like they do for racecars? be interesting to see if any are available for situations like this.

[ptc]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

looks great. Do they make a remote PWS set up like they do for racecars? be interesting to see if any are available for situations like this.

Yes they do. look up Sweets, or KRC... even Billet Specialties if you want something pretty.....


I think any 'block hugger headers' will work better than your stock ones....

[FarmerSid]

Got my Hooker headers yesterday. Fit up better than the camaro manifolds.

[FarmerSid]

[FarmerSid]

A few of the new oil pan. Thing is pretty heavy! There's a lot of casting flash in side and out. I'd like to smooth it up a bit. Good idea or not? Gasket is riveted on the pan in two places. Worried about filings and such>

[Advanced Design]

The header looks pretty tight on the right side. May be the angle of some of some of the pictures? If you want to clean up casting flash you can drill the rivets to move the gasket out of the way and to allow for cleaning.

[FarmerSid]

The flange is higher above the frame than the Camaro manifold. They tuck in a bit more than the Camaro manifolds after being angle milled. The engine is centred. I will get a few more pics.

[99 to Life]

thanks for the pics. I'll be starting an LS engine in and OG frame for a guy real soon. Ordering parts while they are on sale. So this info is gonna help!! What pan did you go with? I see you posted the numbers. I'd clearance every bit you can put some tape around the whole top of the gasket and pan if you are that worried, which I wouldn't be. Just clean it good.

[FarmerSid]

No problem 99! The pan is for a 98-02 F-body Camaro. GM part# and part. Truck pan hangs way lower than the cross member. These pans are pricey as everyone wants/needs it for a lot of LS swaps. I think I got lucky and found a brand new one for $215 US shipped to the Canada/US border. It came with some extra parts that are needed for the swap.

[lower50's]

You could always tape up the gasket to keep it clean. Manifolds look like they should work.

[FarmerSid]

Had a rare day off so I worked on cleaning up the casting flash on the f body oil pan and installed it.








Shortened the truck windage tray and modified it for the pickup tube.

[FarmerSid]

Much better clearance.