85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett"

[N2TRUX]

Chris came over last night and we got a few more things accomplished. We worked on the wiring harness for the A/C and cleaned it up quite a bit. I still have to adjust the length on some wires but is almost ready for loom.

[N2TRUX]

We worked on the harness together, then Chris started on the power steering pump. He cleaned all the bolts and mocked it up while I cut and soldered ground wires.

Once his bolts were dry we unraveled the puzzle of brackets and got the new pump in place. We have to hang the compressor before we can tighten everything down.

[N2TRUX]

My buddy Jared dropped by with a big box full of goodness from Mike Losh at @slosh_tubz. He has been diligently working on a new version of his Tubz called Mild Tubz.

These were designed with input from myself and Eric Miller from Squarebody Specialists. They were specifically made to clear the stock a/c components of a 73_87 GM truck. He used an actual front clip toensure they are a bolt in design it has very minor trimming to the inner fender.
This area will be covered once the tub is installed and should not affect the structural integrity.
Thank you Mike Losh for bringing these to market .

[N2TRUX]

Earlier in the day the weather had improved and the humidity had dropped. I took advantage of this and got another coat of dye on the Brothers truck parts arm rest pads and map pockets. My original attempts had failed due to weather change and blushing.
This time I had success and they come out great. The map pockets look so much better now. I will install the pads later

[LDO]

My door panels have been mounted for over a month and I still can't make myself pull the plastic protection from the brushed aluminum panel...

[83GMCK2500]

This is some of the highest quality, most practical, truck porn I've seen in a while.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by LDO

My door panels have been mounted for over a month and I still can't make myself pull the plastic protection from the brushed aluminum panel...

I will pull it when we get to LST. Im trying to keep that new car smell as long as possible.

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

This is some of the highest quality, most practical, truck porn I've seen in a while.

If your excited now, wait till you see the sneak peak I was sent last night. Lets just say I was touching myself in an entirely inappropriate manner while viewing them

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

I will pull it when we get to LST. Im trying to keep that new car smell as long as possible. If your excited now, wait till you see the sneak peak I was sent last night. Lets just say I was touching myself in an entirely inappropriate manner while viewing them

Uhh . . .... Who? What? Where?

[rustytruck50]

I think he was talking about a astonished, speechless placement of both hands on his cheeks an a hearty "Well, I do decla-ah"
...I'm sure that was it...

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Keith I have ordered from Totally Stainless in the past. They do sell a big variety but they are a bit pricey. Now I use Alloy Boltz. Great to work with and more reasonable prices.

Thank you. I will check them out.

[daddyjeep]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

If your excited now, wait till you see the sneak peak I was sent last night. Lets just say I was touching myself in an entirely inappropriate manner while viewing them

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

If your excited now, wait till you see the sneak peak I was sent last night. Lets just say I was touching myself in an entirely inappropriate manner while viewing them

http://gph.is/13BpEh0

[N2TRUX]

Things are heating up at @americanracing custom shop. Scarlett is getting new shoes and they are smoking hot.

[N2TRUX]

Last night I focused on mocking up the a/c compressor. You would think I could just bolt it back in place. I thought so too till I started looking at the bolts that we bagged and tagged.
Many of the bolts were not correct. Some were too long with extra washers, and others didn't have the built to on flange so I spent a lot of time to resolve that issue.

Once the compressor was in place I tweaked the hardlines and rerouted them a bit for better flow.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

While Chris worked on the firewall, I spent my time on the valve covers and breather. I filed and squared the ends on the covers then gave them several coats of filler primer.
After all the pieces were wet sanded smooth they got a cover coat of primer followed by several coats of color.

OK, I've followed this build from the beginning, but I never noticed when your air cleaner grew an extra snout. Really like the dual snorkel set up. Did your sheet metal magician do that when he punched the lid? Looks factory, but I didn't think they did a truck type dual snorkel. Are you going to need to use a spacer to get the 2nd snorkel up over the AC compressor lines?

[UKNOWME]

Originally Posted by LT7A

OK, I've followed this build from the beginning, but I never noticed when your air cleaner grew an extra snout. Really like the dual snorkel set up. Did your sheet metal magician do that when he punched the lid? Looks factory, but I didn't think they did a truck type dual snorkel. Are you going to need to use a spacer to get the 2nd snorkel up over the AC compressor lines?

I really like that too and would greatly appreciate more details on the breather. I AssuMEd he wasn't using the air breather ducting though.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by LT7A

OK, I've followed this build from the beginning, but I never noticed when your air cleaner grew an extra snout. Really like the dual snorkel set up. Did your sheet metal magician do that when he punched the lid? Looks factory, but I didn't think they did a truck type dual snorkel. Are you going to need to use a spacer to get the 2nd snorkel up over the AC compressor lines?

Originally Posted by UKNOWME

I really like that too and would greatly appreciate more details on the breather. I AssuMEd he wasn't using the air breather ducting though.

I see you are paying attention. Good thing, because you never know if there might be a pop quiz.
That's a dual snorkel base from an 85 F body. Since Scarletts motor is a 305 HO I thought the breather was only fitting. It was once mounted on a Suburban so it will clear my set up just fine. No, I don't have any intentions of running the fresh air ducting.

[UKNOWME]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

He used an actual front clip toensure they are a bolt in design it has very minor trimming to the inner fender.

Will this require fender removal or can it still be done with them installed?

[UKNOWME]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Things are heating up at @americanracing custom shop. Scarlett is getting new shoes and they are smoking hot.

Not sure if you ever mentioned....
What are the specs on the wheels and tires you're gonna run with those VF506s?

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by UKNOWME

Will this require fender removal or can it still be done with them installed?

The mods will be made with the fenders in place. I will use a cut off wheel to cut them where necessary.

Originally Posted by UKNOWME

Not sure if you ever mentioned....
What are the specs on the wheels and tires you're gonna run with those VF506s?

The fronts will be 22x8.5 with 5.25" backspace and the rears will be 22x10.5 with 5" backspace. We haven't made the final decision on tire sizes. The front will probably be a 265/35 with a 315/35 rear. I really want as wide as tire as possible on back with a moderate sidewall

[N2TRUX]

Last night I mocked up rest of the a/c and the cooling system. I hate to do all of this twice, but I know that I need to fine tune the fit. This also allowed me to add correct bolts or replace with button heads where possible.
Today Chris and I will tear some of this down to touch up and make the final installment.

[N2TRUX]

I got a text from Chris at American Racing wheels. My wheels are shipping out and will be here soon. He said expect 5 boxes. I wonder what that means? Here's a teaser pic from production before final polish and assembly

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

I see you are paying attention. Good thing, because you never know if there might be a pop quiz.
That's a dual snorkel base from an 85 F body. Since Scarletts motor is a 305 HO I thought the breather was only fitting. It was once mounted on a Suburban so it will clear my set up just fine. No, I don't have any intentions of running the fresh air ducting.

Aha, that makes sense. I've been keeping an eye out for an F body air cleaner housing. Good to know the base will fit a more robust truck lid for a bigger filter. I also have a 305 and was gratified to find through research that the motors they put in these trucks had been tweaked for compression and output. Do you know what your engine designation is? I.e., mine's an LE9 per the SPID. Are you running the ESC?

BTW, you can defer these questions 'til after LST, ha. I know you guys are crankin to wrap things up.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Aha, that makes sense. I've been keeping an eye out for an F body air cleaner housing. Good to know the base will fit a more robust truck lid for a bigger filter. I also have a 305 and was gratified to find through research that the motors they put in these trucks had been tweaked for compression and output. Do you know what your engine designation is? I.e., mine's an LE9 per the SPID. Are you running the ESC?

BTW, you can defer these questions 'til after LST, ha. I know you guys are crankin to wrap things up.

I got the idea when I saw this breather below..I posted a request for information and a buddy said he had one. It's not exactly the same, but it was close enough. I like the look of the high capacity lids so I combined the two.
Through researchI was able to determine hat the motor is an 85 305 HO L69 with the factory mid rise aluminum intake. When I pulled the pan I saw that the cylinders had been honed, but no marking on the pistons to indicate an overbore. I know it has an aftermarket cam, but no idea what the specs are.

[UKNOWME]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

The mods will be made with the fenders in place. I will use a cut off wheel to cut them where necessary.
The fronts will be 22x8.5 with 5.25" backspace and the rears will be 22x10.5 with 5" backspace. We haven't made the final decision on tire sizes. The front will probably be a 265/35 with a 315/35 rear. I really want as wide as tire as possible on back with a moderate sidewall

Man I can't wait to see both mods done. I'm chompin at the bit to order the tubz and seriously considering bumping up to 22s.