TA_C10: Stage 1

[TA_C10]

Still several more updates to come so stay tuned for those. I'm just tired of uploading pics at this point...

[Kronald_70GMC]

Looks great man. I'll be watching for more updates.

[SCOTI]

Watching as well.

[MDPotter]

I envy your Truetrac - it's been a want of mine for awhile. Looks like it works!

[TA_C10]

Just a man's dream in the making. Before I knew what I was getting into LOL.

[TA_C10]

You've been told before, you should have listened, I'm on my 3rd radiator at this point. eBay rad was so thin it blew several pin holes in a month of use. Griffin rad from summit ran for about 2000 miles before the epoxy started oozing from almost every weld and then started seeping water. I even supported it from bottom like instructions said butt that's not the issue, cheap!

So this time around, summit did me right and let me return that piece of junk and I picked up a Holley Frostbite. 100% better made, sucker is nice. But then I'm at summit and you gotta go check out the discount section when you go. Never know what you might find. And this time I cleaned up

I ended up scoring a $500 bed box for $180 and a Ford F150 bed rug for way cheap. The bed rug has a built in section for tailgate that actually fits pretty decent. It will stop short under the bed box but that may not matter so we will see if I use it.

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[TA_C10]

Got my fans mounted up to new radiator, they stayed with me from eBay rad cuz they are good fans and decent shroud. Just kept modifying the shroud and making brackets for each radiator I went through lol.

The Frostbite has the water necks purchase separate so you can choose whatever size you want to match your hose. They come with rubber o-rings to seal them to radiator. Pretty slick.

And got the bed box mounted up. Works and fits great. I'm really happy with it, especially since it doesn't sit directly on the bed floor, will show the new wood nice when I get that done, won't scratch it, and I can slide things under it when hauling. Not to mention it's flush mount so when I find a tonneau cover that fits the long bed it won't interfere.

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[SCOTI]

I noticed the shroud doesn't have 'ports' that allow air-flow through if/when on the highway @ speed & fans not running or not running full tilt. Most have some sort of gurney flaps that will allow air to pass through when appropriate. Some do vent slats vs the flaps. Some the shroud doesn't cover every square inch of the core opening.

Any concerns or issues yet?

[TA_C10]

I've heard a lot of folks say that, and maybe that is an issue with single fan setups but at least in my mind, I'm pretty sure a ton of air flows through these 2 giant holes when fans aren't spinning . I've never had any cooling issues. I just rolled over 5300 miles now on it. I have a stock 195° thermo installed and I built the GM 3 relay fan setup. With the A/C cranking on a 99° day it stays right at the 195ish mark. Same goes for any other scenario too I guess, stays under 200.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by TA_C10

I've heard a lot of folks say that, and maybe that is an issue with single fan setups but at least in my mind, I'm pretty sure a ton of air flows through these 2 giant holes when fans aren't spinning . I've never had any cooling issues. I just rolled over 5300 miles now on it. I have a stock 195° thermo installed and I built the GM 3 relay fan setup. With the A/C cranking on a 99° day it stays right at the 195ish mark. Same goes for any other scenario too I guess, stays under 200.

Big open front end doesn't hurt the air supply. If it works, it works. It's never a 'one size fits all' deal but worth mentioning JIC you might have been experiencing fluctuations.

Hopefully we'll be able to attend a show soon enough or get some local members together for a meet & greet.

[MDPotter]

It's probably a good thing I don't live near a Summit location. Upgraded radiator is another item on my list. My eBay radiator does okay and doesn't leak, but I don't think it has the best cooling capacity so I'd like to upgrade someday.

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Big open front end doesn't hurt the air supply. If it works, it works. It's never a 'one size fits all' deal but worth mentioning JIC you might have been experiencing fluctuations.

Hopefully we'll be able to attend a show soon enough or get some local members together for a meet & greet.

Definitely. Let's make this happen

Originally Posted by MDPotter

It's probably a good thing I don't live near a Summit location. Upgraded radiator is another item on my list. My eBay radiator does okay and doesn't leak, but I don't think it has the best cooling capacity so I'd like to upgrade someday.

It's an investment for sure.

[TA_C10]

This was our Thanksgiving brisket. Started around 5a and smoked for 12 hours. Turned out awesome. Texas Thanksgiving is the best.

[TA_C10]

Found this custom anchor system on Amazon. Turned out my existing bed mounting hardware fits them perfectly. One of the bolts on each anchor is drilled through bed support. Installed them in all 4 corners of bed floor. They have around 10 different attachments, quick release. Here are the 2 styles I got.

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[Kronald_70GMC]

I love e-track. There is so many different options available. I have some 5 foot tracks in my truck cap and there are all sorts of different hooks and other things available as well.

[Scurry67]

Pickup is looking awesome, but that brisket is looking even better! Jk. Glad to see you’re still at it. Did you have access to a lift when you were doing your rear end?

[TA_C10]

PBFAB!!!! After talking to Nate over email and phone calls I pulled the trigger. It all started with wheel rub. I bought off the shelf wheels, 8" rims to match the 10" rears that came with truck. Pretty sure the fronts are 3.5" BS. Well after I finished the truck the tires were rubbing just barely on the outside edge of tire, hitting the wheel well just inside the bolt line.

I bought the 1" narrowed porterbuilt control arms and their recommended sway bar. My truck isn't slammed so I didn't need the 1" forward as my wheels are centered as is with my 4.5" static drop up front. The new arms fix my wheel rub issue, and also in the future give me better castor and better options for wider front wheels while giving me a deeper dish/barrel rim when I finally am ready for new rims. And there are provisions for coilovers too

No issues installing, they are precision parts guys, top notch. I did have to buy new shock relocator brackets that raised the mount from the factory location to up on top of the frame rail. Gave me extra 2" of travel that the shock needed. These shocks came with my deluxe lowering kit from brotherstrucks I purchased couple years ago so that was nice they fit. I did have to notch my fender wells but wasn't bad at all.

After I got them installed, raised and lowered suspension, I noticed the arms bottom out on the upper spring pocket, but now driving it again no issues so far. I have went over some serious bumps and humps that cause the truck to go full travel both ways and no bottoming out so far.

Pics for your viewing pleasure

[TA_C10]

More pics

[TA_C10]

More pics

[SCOTI]

Nice.

You could possibly trim the lip on the x-member slightly if you felt it would help w/clearance (not sure how much it would take from the images). I wouldn't get too aggressive bit if it's just slight interference, a little shouldn't hurt.

Prob would be best to put some tack welds across the seams if you did.

[TA_C10]

Installed truck bed cargo lighting. 3m sticky tape holds the LED strips under bed lip. Got the kit from LMC, didn't like it. Got another from Amazon, it was brighter. I had to disassemble the plugs, then I could fish them through the tiny holes at top of each bed stake so I never had to drill a hole. Then I fished them down the rear bed stake pocket all the way to under the truck. Fished over to my bed fuel fill and installed the switch. I had already pre-planned this out so back when I ran taillight harness and fuel pump, I added an extra wire to the harness for battery hot.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[TA_C10]

I'm going for it this weekend. First attempt to kill drone and keep my Flowmasters. Quarter wave resonator science

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by TA_C10

I'm going for it this weekend. First attempt to kill drone and keep my Flowmasters. Quarter wave resonator science

Wondered when it was going to happen. Hopefully you kept the note from the previous drives we discussed for solid comparisons.

[rickcdewitt]

You welding those little pipes to the mufflers?

[TA_C10]

Here is what I did. Pics say most of it.