And so it begins.... 65 shortbed, lay frame, LT engine build

[HSRACER]

So I have been looking for a cool patinaed 64-66 truck with porterbuilt suspension and LS in it for sale for a few years and never could find one that fit my budget or was done how I wanted it.

So I have been gathering parts knowing someday I will find a good candidate truck to build myself. Just to let everyone know I do not consider myself a full build or restoration expert at all so any help or suggestions will be welcomed.

I will post up some pictures to let you all see what I have to start with.

Here we go!

[HSRACER]

Here are some of the parts gathered so far.

[HSRACER]

My plan is to get the frame, suspension, engine, trans, brakes, exhaust, brake lines, fuel tank and lines all mounted up,and ready before actually starting to work on the truck itself.

I drive it at least once a week around town and like to enjoy it.

Here are a few more progress pictures.

[HSRACER]

Few more of the painted rear section on the frame.

[HSRACER]

The LT install will bring plenty of challenges as the aftermarket is just starting to catch up to our hobby and not that many bolt on parts are out there but I really wanted to have the gen 5 engine in this one as the plan is to keep it a very long time.


The modified wiring harness with the relocated fuel control module has been completed by a friend of mine, Travis at Pro performance has been wonderful to work with on buying the needed parts like the Boyd’s tank, vintage air, Dakota Digital Gauges, and my buddy over at LT swap supply has been a great source of info on the LT engine.

My good friend Aaron Boese has been gracious enough to allow me to work on the thing at his Hotrod shop and it helps that he has done 3 LT swaps himself so his experience will be of great benefit as we go forward.

Good to have others to bounce ideas off of.

[Ronzo]

Beautiful.

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by Ronzo

Beautiful.

Thank you. It will be a long journey and I hope you watch as it comes together

[Clyde65]

What is your plans for fuel, pump etc.
The LT’s have a high pressure pump on the back of the engine, thanks

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

What is your plans for fuel, pump etc.
The LT’s have a high pressure pump on the back of the engine, thanks

Hotrod magazine did an article where they used a areomotive 340 pump and controlled it by the pulse width modulated fuel control computer. That is what I ordered from Boyd’s tanks so I didn’t have to cut in a Tahoe or Silverado stock pump.

My friend over at Ltswapsupply.com use the Camaro ZL1 pumps in there installs.

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

What is your plans for fuel, pump etc.
The LT’s have a high pressure pump on the back of the engine, thanks

Here is the link to the article I was referring too.

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/unde...stem-swapping/

[Clyde65]

Sweet, so is the pump controlled via the PCM? Yes?

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

Sweet, so is the pump controlled via the PCM? Yes?

That is what the article says and I hope it works! I have ordered the pump and have the control module ready to be installed.

[Clyde65]

Ok, please keep me or...us posted. I’m thinking I may need to do this on my dad’s crew cab. It has an LT L83/6l80 also.

[vet57air]

I plan to run an LT also. Bought the GM 23377989 pump from ZR1 Camaro

[Kermitt47]

Looks like a fun project.

[rwade]

This one will be fun to watch. Going to be a sweet ride when your done.

Wade

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by rwade

This one will be fun to watch. Going to be a sweet ride when your done.

Wade

Thank you!

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by Kermitt47

Looks like a fun project.

It will be both fun and frustrating at the same time. I am not sure I have the patience for a long build but I really don’t have any other options right now.

Wish I could find one done that I like and fits my budget��

[HSRACER]

So here are a couple pictures from the last two days worth of fun.

Can’t get the engine where I was hoping since the frame is the older generation porterbuilt version with the rack up high. I learned today his newer versions have the rack 2 inches lower now.

I will most likely have to cut the fire wall and will definitely have to cut the floor full length to get the engine and transmission under the truck body and still lay frame.

Looks like a full cut and chop is in order and I really wasn’t planning on that much modification. Really hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by vet57air

I plan to run an LT also. Bought the GM 23377989 pump from ZR1 Camaro

That will work great and it has an internal regulator so you only have to run one line to the engine.

[Clyde65]

Nicely done!
We went with the DD front accessory drive on my dad’s crewcab. That’s all we had for options 18 months ago so..

[HSRACER]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

Nicely done!
We went with the DD front accessory drive on my dad’s crewcab. That’s all we had for options 18 months ago so..

That’s true, the aftermarket is finally catching up on these engines. My friend put his in over 3 years ago and had to build his own headers, figure out the wiring, build his own fuel pump into an aftermarket tank, control the ac compressor, and he sourced an electric steering system off of a aircraft moving tractor.

He is helping me now and thinks I have it easy, compared to what he went through I do have it easy!!!

[HSRACER]

Started on the engine wiring today and got most of it laid out the way I wanted. I will be using the vintage air control to cycle the compressor, the Dakota digital gauges will run off the BIM module connected to the OBD port, and the fuel system will be controlled by the main computer and the fuel control module.

Also took the measurements I needed to get the one piece driveshaft built at a local place. They called me at 4:15 today and said it was done. I just dropped off the yoke at 10am this morning!

Also put the front shocks back on and tomorrow I will reinstall the rack and pinion steering.

I will order a Tahoe fuel pump tonight so I can mock it up in the Boyd’s tank.

[HSRACER]

So for mother’s day I went over to my wife’s work and hung 12 full size pictures of our hot rods so she can get them off the floor. She just moved offices a few months ago and none of the guys there wanted to mess with them.

Each picture was taken at a national car show (usually a good guys show, but there are a couple from the hot rod power tour and the frog follies in Indiana).

All of them brought back cool memories of the trips and the vehicles we had at that time. She was thrilled to get them up.

She is an HR manager and half of the hot rods in the pictures are hers! Needless to say, she can get on common ground with the oil field workers fast when they come into her office. Quite the conversation starter.

[SCOTI]

I'm in & following. Seen a couple l83/6l80e's on C-list lately @ good prices because of the pwr steer & fuel delivery swap difficulty.
I'm betting as parts become more available their prices will trend higher.

Nice stuff so far!