Project; Divorce Therapy ( 72 SWB 4x4 )

[CUSTOM/10]

Thanks Tom !


I also have a swaybar & later model front cross-member set-up. But I need to look this over and figure out how to work around the steering box reinforcement bracket.

[sduckworth13]

Your making some nice progress Gary, your going to have a awesome ride.

[CUSTOM/10]

Thanks Scott !

I've also been working on getting a bunch of small items ready to install. Window regulators, window slides, engine pulleys & brackets. Everything has been rebuilt, gas beaded and painted. The next big thing is the engine. I'll be ordering roller rockers & push rods, screw in studs and any other misc parts needed. Have to get the motor between the rails so the body can go on.
I've got parts everywhere .... "LOL"

Gary

[CUSTOM/10]

OK..... Time to get motor-vated !!! I need to get the motor completed and between the rails. This is what I'm starting with: full roller vortec 383 4 bolt long block with comp-cams equivalent to GM's Hot Cam in it.
This is how I received the motor from a friend in trade for labor helping him build his truck. From here I need to verify a few things to determine what I need to finish it up. I have been told this cam needs 1.6 rockers to get the most out of it, and it looks like the heads were machined for the larger springs, screw in studs and the push rod openings enlarged. So at this point I know I need 1.6 roller rockers, push rods, screw in studs, timing chain cover.

I have the flex plate, oil pan, in take, carb, balancer and distributor !
It's been a few years since I put a motor together so any help would be much appreciated !

[CUSTOM/10]

Parts

[swamp rat]

Sweet trade!

[birdistheword]

I second that. Couldn't get better than that.

[JayB331]

That looks like a sweet motor build!

[CUSTOM/10]

So after running the block & head numbers this is what I found out. The block is an 1988 L05 350 4 bolt main roller block ( These blocks came roller or non-roller ) The heads are 906 Vortec heads. One advantage of this block is it is machined for a mechanical fuel pump, so I don't have to go with an electric pump set-up. Now I need to determine if the components I ordered a couple yrs back from Summit are going to work. At that time I was thinking it was a bit newer block.

Gary

[Last_Paladin]

Originally Posted by CUSTOM/10

So after running the block & head numbers this is what I found out. The block is an 1988 L05 350 4 bolt main roller block ( These blocks came roller or non-roller ) The heads are 906 Vortec heads. One advantage of this block is it is machined for a mechanical fuel pump, so I don't have to go with an electric pump set-up. Now I need to determine if the components I ordered a couple yrs back from Summit are going to work. At that time I was thinking it was a bit newer block.

Gary

If you ordered stuff for the heads, it appears it didn't change... you thought it was a later model Vortec (L33) right? It looks like the block is already complete.

The big difference in those motors (L05 with roller lifters vs L31) is the heads. Everything else is the same.

The big issue would be the cam's provision for the mechanical fuel pump.

[CUSTOM/10]

OK, time for a little update:

The motor is in the machine shop getting all the clearances checked, rockers & push rods installed and generally just checking everything over to make sure all the parts are going to work together as they should. I would hate to have to pull the motor out later on because something wasn't right !.

So while that's being done I decided to mock-up the front sway bar. It's from a 73 & up, came with the front cross member but I'm not using it, because of the steering box frame brace would interfere. I'm also trying to keep as much of the originality as possible even though I am making mods. I want the mods to look like they would if the factory did them.

So I removed the sway bar brackets from the 73 cross member and test fitted them on my frame. I happy to say that with some modifications to the brackets I believe I can make them work. Here are some pictures of were I'm at so far. I'll be doing the bracket mods at a later date.

Gary

[CUSTOM/10]

Couple more !

[Last_Paladin]

and http://pacificfabrication.com/63-72-...ssmembers.html

[swamp rat]

I don't recall, are you running a 4" lift? 2"?

Interested to see your mods and how this works out without the newer cross member!

[CUSTOM/10]

I had a 4" but just removed it and replace it with a 2" lift. Haven't decided just yet how I'm going to do it, but I have a couple ideas.

[CUSTOM/10]

Well it's St. Patties Day and I've got more than one reason to drink.... Got a call from the machine shop this morning and when he started to check out my motor he noticed an awed line in the lifter valley so he magnafluxed it, Yup, it's a crack....... Grrrrr..... So now I'm looking at another block, machine work and a total build up of the motor instead of it just being checked out !!!!

Guess what I'll be doing tonight !!!!!!

This is why I took to to be checked out... I'd rather deal with it now than after it's in the truck !!!!

[sdailey]

Originally Posted by CUSTOM/10

Well it's St. Patties Day and I've got more than one reason to drink.... Got a call from the machine shop this morning and when he started to check out my motor he noticed an awed line in the lifter valley so he magnafluxed it, Yup, it's a crack....... Grrrrr..... So now I'm looking at another block, machine work and a total build up of the motor instead of it just being checked out !!!!

Guess what I'll be doing tonight !!!!!!

This is why I took to to be checked out... I'd rather deal with it now than after it's in the truck !!!!

Dang Gary, sorry to hear about the engine. Like you said though, at least you found the problem early on.

You could always go this route.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=614503


Or this route.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=620830

[john@thepier]

Gary a nice piece for not to much would be the GM Performance Parts HO 350, Jegs has a complete engine package delivered to your door for $3600 Part # 809-19210007k Maybe not as fun as building your own, but a nice piece with a warranty. John

[CUSTOM/10]

Everything is up in the air at the moment. I'm waiting to hear from the machine shop, their checking to see if they have a good block and a price to complete the engine.

I'm just sooo frustrated at the moment !!!!!

[john@thepier]

Nothing to get worked up about, just a motor/block. Plenty of them out there, let me know if I can help in any way. John

[CUSTOM/10]

Thanks John, and I hear ya that it's just a motor, I'm dealing with it and moving forward, but I can't say that I'm liking it too much at the moment....
Well I'm head back to the Machine shop after work to review what they found after disassembly. But it looks like it's going to be about $2,000 in parts & labor by the time I'm done. That's with another block, GM roller rockers, guide plates, push rods, timing chain cover, machine work and assembly. I was expecting around $800 when I initially brought it to them, that's was without there being any major issues ! So I'll meet with them this afternoon and go from there !

[swamp rat]

Cant wait to see the brackets fitted! Looks good!

[mx289]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Cant wait to see the brackets fitted! Looks good!

Same here.Looks great.

[CUSTOM/10]

Well I have one of the swaybar brackets mods complete, just needs paint then put it on. I'm going to try and get the other one done this weekend.

What do you think ? Look factory ?

[cmabolt]

Hey Gary! Damn a lot has happened since i last checked in. Just had back surgery 6 weeks ago so have fallen out of circulation here.

Bad news about the motor. bummer! Better to know before it's installed. At least you don't have paint to worry about. Yup, just put mine in the 4th body shop. Ugh! Oh well. What are ya gonna do? Project is coming along nicely though. That sway bar setup is pretty nice. Keep chugging away. If all goes well, I'll be back on mine in a few weeks… WITH PAINT ON IT.

Chris