Project: SRS BSNS

[t300]

Hi all. I recently picked up a 1970 c10 lwb as my first domestic vehicle project since I got my 1966 Mustang when I was 16. 20ish years ago! man time flies. Been involved more in imports, euros, and snowmobiles since then but I figured it was time I bought a real truck. My 07 F150 is great and all, but the 5.5foot box just isn't quite adequate.

So this leads me to the c10. I wanted something that had original paint, was LWB, and I could still use 'as a truck'. I found this truck an hour away from me and grabbed it. The SPID was unfortunately gone a long time ago, and I didn't find a build sheet under the seat. It shows 86,000 miles on the odometer, and the balljoints were still riveted/original and in okay shape, so the mileage may actually be accurate. Has a 350/350, power steering, the 'over ride' springs in the back (not sure what they are called), but that seems to be about it for options. Front bumper is a replacement from 10 years ago (and was banged up since then)

So the name of the game is get the brakes, suspension, etc in order, and drive it for a few months until the cold Canadian winter arrives, and then look for a 5.3 or 6.0 vortec to drop into it. I wanted to lower it, but still be able to haul a load of dirt, tow something, etc. I ended up with a new brakes all around including discs in front, manual airbag setup, shocks, misc bushings, a Curt hitch, and a few other things. Basically if I touched it and it wasn't up to par, it got repaired or replaced. Cab supports need to be done but I'll run it as is until winter then pop the cab off and deal with that. Still have some exhaust work to do which is frustrating the heck out of me but I digress. On to the pics!

[t300]

As it looked before work started

[t300]

2" lowering blocks milled down to around 1.5" height (can't remember exactly) with 2degree angle

[t300]

Had some powercoat lying around that was a close match to the original paint, so tacked together the 2 gauge panels and coated it, didn't use clear. bolted it under the dash. Looks okay for now. It actually matches a lot better in person, the flash from the camera makes the panel look way too bright.

[t300]

Made an adjustable track bar with misc pieces I had laying around in the shop. One end was from original panhard bar, the other was part of an aftermarket control arm from an Acura Integra, and the trailing arm mount I made up on the plasma table and welded it up. Add in some round tubing I had and off to the races. Pic doesn't show the clean up (shortening the ubolts, properly bending the brake line, proper bolt in the trailing arm trac bar mount, etc)

[t300]

Add in small airtank, SS7 bags, small pipe notch and some reinforcement, viair compressor. crossmember opened up to run the exhaust through. Made my own bag plates. Front also got drop spindles.

[Hardesty454]

Lookin good!
Posted via Mobile Device

[t300]

So been putting on some miles, all good so far (mostly). Not a fan of the lack of overdrive trans, but I can live with it until this winter's powertrain swap. Also after a hard rain the other day I found water on the drivers floorboard, so it seems I have a small leak somewhere I'll have to track down.

Fairly happy with the ride, but its a bit more bouncy than I'd like. Running ss7 bags with around 65-70psi in front and 45-50psi in the rear. KYB excel lowering shocks with the ECE relocation kit in the rear. From what I read here, the air pressures I am running are pretty much in the sweet spot, so not sure if I should be blaming the shocks or what. Any ideas? It seems to be equally bouncy in both the front and rear. Maybe after running a fully built suspension (with Bilsteins) on my last project, my standards are a bit too high? It is a truck after all

[STOCKISH]

That looks great. Perfect shop truck/ parts hauler. Nice work. Especially on the home made stuff!

[t300]

thanks!

finally after ?? years she is working again. throw a bit of air in the back and she is none the wiser

[t300]

So far the truck hasn't let me down, and has proven to be quite versatile. No more dragging out the trailer to bring the 'snowplow' to my shop. Just use the c10! Interesting thing about the air'ing it up in cold weather though, it was about -10c, and I couldn't get the air to build up more than 60psi of pressure. The viair 380 just ran continuously. So I went into my garage and tried that compressor (2 or 3hp oiled compressor) and same thing, it wouldn't build more than around 60psi. I ended up filling up a portable air tank to 100psi with my shop compressor and used that to get the airbag pressures up. after driving a mile I tried the viair again, and then it started filling properly. I'm guessing water in lines and compressor that turned to ice? Anyone run airbags with an electric compressor in below freezing temps? Note the week before it was -20c, so, definitely COLD!

[t300]

Not much progress since my last post, just been driving it, love the truck, sure don't make em like this anymore. Pulled the engine a couple weeks ago, have a 6.0lq4 waiting to go in, just need to find a transmission. a 2wd transmission is like hens teeth up here in the Great White North, guess I shouldn't have sold my 4wd trans that I didn't want to convert. oh well.

[t300]

Just before waking up from winter sleep

[t300]

Well I thought making the fuel and trans cooler lines would be a long evening and done. A couple weeks later I am still stuck. Started off trying to use the donor lines, couldn't tweak them to get them to fit right. Then had the wrong fittings to mate to my walbro pump and gf822 filter. Gave up on that route and got a bunch of stainless braided line and AN fittings in. missed a couple fittings. another order, screwed up my shopping cart and missed a couple of more fittings. Up here in eh canada not a lot is available local so I'm always waiting for that Summit order to come in. Now I have a mastercool tool on the way with both 45 and 37 dies. Hopefully I can throw it all together, close my eyes make a wish and the lines will be done. Getting close to winter here, if its not on the road soon it will be waiting till May.

[SCOTI]

Keep at it. Progress is progress, even in small bites.

[t300]

Thew in the towel on the lines and picked up a Mastercool flare kit and some AN tube nuts. Wow this thing is awesome. Did a few test flares and had everything done a couple hours later. Can't believe I wasted so much time before I got this tool I should have bought it a long time ago. I used a factory GM fuel filter and reflared some 'fixit' lines to AN to connect to my Walbro pump. Worked great.

Apparently Ace Ventura did the delivery or someone at Mastercool was in a rush packaging it..

Next step, HPTuners!

[t300]

Went to put plug wires on and 3 on the driver side hit the speed engineering headers. One thing I found from the 01/02 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0 engines that are all at my shop is that the plug wires are not the same length. I don't even know which ones I am using, I think the 01 5.3 wires - but they are about 1 to 1.5 inches longer than the other 2 engines. Either way they don't clear the headers, may have to get some Accell 45degree ceramic units. Or just put factory exhaust manifolds back in to keep costs down.

Poor picture but you can see the culprits here

[t300]

Everyone who has ever swapped a motor knows how this feels! Now I just have to tie up the 8675309 loose ends and time for a drive!

Oh and build the exhaust..

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6dpes9vq5c...%20PM.mov?dl=0

[raggedjim]

Nice work.

Rg

[NewType72]

Man!! This thing is so clean with the mods, you are killin it with the fabrication for this baby. And hell you couldn't get a cleaner weld on that driveline at any local shop. Indicated in how you did will be just fine

[t300]

thanks!

a kitchen reno has taken all my time lately but was able to make some progress. got some rubber on the 22's. need to install different studs, I have some m14x1.5 that I'm going to try (same as was the 22's were bolted to)

[t300]

rears will be a bit different...

[t300]

Kitchen reno finally coming to a close. so after pic1 (turns out tile lathe is sharp....) then pic 2 happened! finally. lq4 has a lot more jam then the tired sbc that was in there. a few things to tie up then time to take it out for a real drive. snow has already hit here and there so not much time left

[t300]

Someone was asking about plug wires on the speed engineering shorty headers. I ended up with Taylor TAY-76046 from summit, they fit well.

[Hart_Rod]

Kewl project