Project C10

[6772owner]

Hello everyone, I am fairly new to the forum, but wanted to show some pics of my build up. I am strating this kinda late, but I will try to get you up to speed.... Hope you enjoy, any comments, suggestions, etc are appreciated.

First pics are of the truck (72' C10) after I lowered it and put some 18's on it, also with a the new (68') fleetside bed that I put in place of the original step side bed, wish I had kept that bed too... Oh well

I used Early Classic's complete rear kit, Firestone sleeve over type air bags, their shock relocators and super track bar kit. I powdercoated a decent set of factory trailing arms and installed them with urethane bushings. I used belltech Nitro Drop shocks on all four corners. the front was lowered with DJM 3" drop UCA's and LCA's. I also installed new pitman/idler arms, and inner/outer tie rods and adjuster sleeves.






These are the 18" Hot Wheels (Discount brand) and Nitto rubber



Here is what the frame looked like when I started






The original stepside bed that was on the truck when purchased.

[6772owner]

Here are some pics of the SBC that was in the truck



removal of that SBC





"New" engine (96' Camaro LT1)






Coming home in the bed of the truck, limping on the current SBC with pratically no oil pressure.

[6772owner]

Here are some pics of the LT1 harness, I chose to reuse all of the factory harness and just weed out the wires I didnt intend on using. This was a long, tedious process and would have been avoided if I had had the cash to buy an aftermarket (stand-alone) harness.





Here's my ugly mug doing some wiring the easy way, from inside the engine compartment... try that in your Honda LOL



And another one.....

[6772owner]

Here's a pic of the truck without the bed, getting ready for the fuel cell and air compressors. I removed the bed, cleaned all the frame and painted/under coated it for protection from our winters.



Frame cleaned up, painted, undercoated and fuel cell mounted. I also mocked up the new MSD inline electric pump that will feed the LT1



I also added some Airlift air compressors that I had laying around, plan to mount two air tanks on the sides of the frame in the near future.

[6772owner]

Here's another view of the air compressor(s), I made some 16 gauge brackets to mount them to the crossmembers for the fuel cell. I hope that they dont vibrate too much in this location... any thoughts?





I also refinished the axle, added a new breather hose and new brakelines.


I also completely removed and replaced all the rear brake system, shoes, brackets, wheel cylinders and painted the drums after sand blasting them at work.

[6772owner]

Pics of the transmission and torque convertor being cleaned and painted. I already had the 700R4 in the truck with the previous setup, so I cleaned, painted and reinstalled it.

[6772owner]

First pic of the LT1 being test fit into the truck, its from a 96' Camaro Z28. I must have been
lucky with this because it dropped right in with two us, no problem. I also managed to use the Prothane urethane engine mounts for the 67-72 SBC and they bolted right up to the LT1. The only intereference point so far is the ground connection on the block behind the pass. side engine mount, the nut cant be removed with the engine bolted down... oh well LOL

[Lionc68c10]

Originally Posted by 6772owner

First pic of the LT1 being test fit into the truck, its from a 96' Camaro Z28. I must have been
lucky with this because it dropped right in with two us, no problem. I also managed to use the Prothane urethane engine mounts for the 67-72 SBC and they bolted right up to the LT1. The only intereference point so far is the ground connection on the block behind the pass. side engine mount, the nut cant be removed with the engine bolted down... oh well LOL

It is a thing of beauty

[6772owner]

More pics under the hood, I completely removed the heater case and repainted it as well. I also took the time to apply reflective heat insulation on the inside of the case and apply some stainless steel accent pieces.



I had debated on locations for the ECU and it basically came down to where the harness would reach... so I built a bracket and bolted it to the inner fender well. I used some windshield wiper motor mounting bushings (say that fast) to insulate the ECU from grounding out.

[6772owner]

Here I am trying to test fit the ceramic Pacesetter headers and Y-pipe. They were mostly trouble free, the pass header did interfere with the frame rail and required some trimming of the top edge of the frame. I also had to clearence the frame at the Y-pipe junction underneath the truck.





I also ran the 3/8" aluminum fuel line and return line. Up front I ran them thru the frame with some bulkhead fittings and used 6 AN lines to the adapters on the engine.





Here is a pic of the clearence between the header and the frame. I had to clearence the frame some for the passenger header and the collector as well.





Also had to swap in a new waterpump, found out the stock one was leaking out the weep hole when filled with coolant, figures.





Here it is installed, so much fun to drain all the coolant you just put in.....

[6772owner]

Here are current pics of my progress, slow but sure lol I still have throttle and TV cables to do, along with a million other little details.... I bought a 5 wire LS1 MAF sensor to eliminate the seperate IAT. I also purchased an adapter harness from Current Performance to plug in the new MAF w/o cutting up the harness, I also got an aftermarket aluminum elbow and AEM dry flow air filter.



I also purchased a brand new radiator for a 96' Camaro w/automatic trans from E-Bay and only had to drill four new holes to install it. My trans cooler lines hooked right back up and I used a set of electric fans for the Camaro as well. I plugged them in with the factory harness and moved on. I was also able to use factory upper and lower radiator hoses with made life easy, and future replacement hassle free.





Here's a look at the ECU mounted and heater hoses hooked up.





I also finally got the power steering reservoir mounted to the radiator support and plumbed to the p/s pump and the steering box.





I also bent up the rest of the feed line and got it flared and attached to the original Camaro feed hose for the rack and pinion
system.

[6772owner]

Headers are done! Finally finished them and the cross over pipe, now just need to finish the rest of the exhaust. What you guys think?




I also have some stainless steel allen drive plugs ordered to plug the emissions fittings.

[6772owner]

So here's the Lokar throttle cable and TV cable installed, nothing special here, just closer to a driver again.

[6772owner]

Heres the filler neck that my bro and I made so I could put the filler through the bed floor, using a marine style filler.



The filler is actually two pieces, there is a ring below the filler that is tapped to accept the bolts you see sticking up in the pic. We had to thread the bolts in from inside the cell and then the filler neck just slips over the bolts, now acting like studs. There are two gaskets as well of course.




Here's a pic of the marine filler I ordered, plan is to flush it into the bed floor and connect it to the filler we made with a short section of filler hose.



Some pics of the fuel cell and compressors with the bed back on.

[VA72C10]

Looks good....great progress!!!!

[6772owner]

Thanks VA72C10, it has been a long journey.....

[LuckyHenriksen]

Thats a cool bed fill idea. You say its a marine filler? Like for a boat? Have you fit it with the bed yet?

[6772owner]

Yeah I havent 100% completed the filler yet, I have the bed installed on the frame and it appears to be a matter of making the hole in the bed and using a short section of filler hose as a coupler. I will post some pics when it is completed. Yes it is just a marine filler kit I got off of Ebay, it came with the filler, the key and mounting hardware. The filler itself is custom made and was a pita lol

[MickMc]

Nice

An LT1 is very cool, and it should haul the mail too.

I have a 96 Impala SS and that LT1 is very drivable and fun to lean on too.


Mick

[6772owner]

Thanks guys I appreciate all the positive comments, you just never know how other people are going to react. I hope it hauls pretty well too.

[6772owner]

Ok guys I have updates for you on my quest to finish this project. Over the weekend the weather was very nice here for Jan. and we (my bro helped me) made some good progress.

Here is getting the hole started for the filler... The hardest part for me was trying to figure out where the filler neck was underneath the bed. After some measurements and a test hole or two lol I had it pretty close. I took a hole saw and drilled down through the rib until I was flush with the bed floor.



Here is a pic of the hole with the filler dropped in to check the fit and alignment.



Ok so we took some 3" exhaust tubing and cut some half moon pieces out to trim the openings around the filler. My bro welded them in for me, then I ground everything down to retain the proper shape. Just needs a little bondo work before final finishing.

[6772owner]

Once we had the hole centered over the filler and the welding, grinding and filler hose installed it was time for the moment of truth.... the filler looks pretty good I think,



What do you guys think, not perfect, but it gets it done. I still have some filler work to do, but its there at least.

[6772owner]

Next order of business was to weld up the factory filler hole, I let my bro handle this one, he's the welder.

Tacking into place



Here it is fully welded and ready for some grinding.



Now just to finish up the grinding...



Final product with some rattle can on it for now.

[6772owner]

Here's my bro's garage we were working in, its pretty awesome compared to what Im used to. He has a pretty rocking set up.

[6772owner]

Here is a few pics of my bro's little project, he's building a bad ass F100, here is a pic of the BBF. Off subject I know, but thought I would share anyway.



Here is the unfinished interior



Custom fan shroud he made with dual electric fans



Custom widened rear step side fenders



Front clip, sans hood



Here's the new tires for you, Mickey Thompson Sportmans 31x16.50x15