Project: LS1ick68

[68Stepbed]

I just noticed I have the wrong flexplate! The holes don't line up with the torque converter nuts.

So, no, we are not done yet, B.

[68GMCCustom]

hang on.....is it just like 1/8"-1/4" off? Several of us have had to elongate the holes in the flexplate because the bolt pattern on the flexplate is about 1/8"-1/4" off (larger or smaller, can't remember)... from the bolt pattern on the torque convertor. your not changing much or effecting balance...just making slots vs holes on the flexplate for mounting.

[68Stepbed]

Yeah, the holes on the flexplate are about 1/4" off. Either way, the trans has to be moved out of the way, and the flexplate removed.

[68Stepbed]

Well I've not made much progress lately. I've been a bit under the weather. I've had some sort of viral bug for the past couple weeks, and I just don't feel much like working out in the heat and crawling around under the truck. Along with my sons baseball games and practices, when I have felt like doing something, I haven't had the time.

Anyway, enough of my whining. Here's what I have accomplished. I bought the 750 HP Street carb from Kurt(68GMCCustom).



Worked on mounting the fuel lines. I wish someone made clamps with holes bigger than 1/4". I had to drill out these clamps to use 10mm bolts. I'm gonna take them along with the bolts to my buddies machine shop to make them look a little cleaner.




Here's how I had planned to run my steam lines, but I don't really care for it. A friend of mine gave me a better idea that I may try. I'm trying to keep from running AN lines which is costly. So far, I've got about $12 in this setup.



Here's the modified power steering hose. It's not pretty, but it will do for now.



Wiring finally put into loom and cleaned up a bit.



With my custom plug wire looms, the Lokar dipstick interfered, so I cut 8.75" out of the housing and the dipstick cable itself. The dipstick handle should sit underneath the headers. This will make checking the oil a real PITB, especially when hot, but at least it works.



Things not pictured: Driveshaft is shortened with new 1310 U-joints, painted and ready to install.

Lokar TV cable installed at transmission end. I still need to cut it to length after the carb is actually installed for good.

The headers are coated and ready to be picked up. Hopefully I can go get them today or tomorrow. I'll get pics of them when I get them. I bought a Lokar column shifter linkage setup, but can't finish it until I get the headers back to know where to bend the arm.

I still need to wire the fuel pump. I found a fused wire from my fuse panel to hook it to. I just need the time to route the wire along with the rear light section of the harness.

I also need to plumb the trans cooler lines. I'm not sure if I want to run an external cooler or just run it with the cooler in the radiator. I may just hook it to the radiator for now with a temp guage and see what the temps run, and if I need it to add a cooler, I can later.

Lastly, I need to ream the holes in the flexplate to fit the torque converter.

The only things left to pick up is an alternator, belt, hoses and a trans dipstick.

[gringoloco]

Lookin' good!

[RocketKing]

Very nice, keep up the good work.

[VA72C10]

looks great!

[Bennett68C10]

Nice progress
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[85burb]

Wow that looks amazing. Very clean
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[gcburdic]

Looking good Matt...I'll get those parts off this weekend and get them boxed up for ya!
Great seeing ya last weekend...thanks for stopping by!

[68Stepbed]

Thanks for all the compliments, guys.

Originally Posted by gcburdic

Looking good Matt...I'll get those parts off this weekend and get them boxed up for ya!
Great seeing ya last weekend...thanks for stopping by!

Thanks, Geoff. It was fun hanging out with you and Jeff at the show. How did the awards go?

[68Stepbed]

I got the headers picked up yesterday!










I'm hoping to get some more work done on it this evening. I may try to pick up an oil primer setup today at lunch and pick up some oil and filter. If I can get the oil system pressurized and get the wire routed to the fuel pump, I may try for a short startup. Don't go getting your hopes up, yet. I'm going to shoot for it, but it may not happen.

[gringoloco]

Sho is purdy!
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[68GMCCustom]

Sho' is!!!!

That said....sweet detail work as always Matt!
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[Kim57]

Nice looking headers.
Kim

[oldblue1968chevy]

Like said above, great attention to detail its a beautiful truck!

[gcburdic]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

Thanks, Geoff. It was fun hanging out with you and Jeff at the show. How did the awards go?

Neither one of us received a trophy Oh well...we had a great time and the folks there were sooooo nice! BTW....That red lowered C10 across from me got 2nd and the turquoise and white one was 1st

[68Stepbed]

Thanks again, guys!

Geoff, That's no surprise seeing those trucks getting first and second. As long as you had a good time is all that matters.

[68Stepbed]

Monday morning update of the weekend. I never got to work on it Saturday, but on Friday evening, I got the wire ran and hooked up to the fuel pump. I worked on the shifter linkage a little bit, and got the arm bent where it needs to be, but I still have to work on it a bit more to get it just right.

I borrowed an oil pressurizer from a local machine shop, but I need a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter to make it work, and I just completely forgot to pick one up while doing all my errands and running on Saturday. I'll pick one up today and get it lubed up this evening.

[funkytechmonkey]

Looking good matt.

[not2oldchevy]

Who did your headers? I used to drag race with two brothers who did coating between knoxville and sevierville. That was 15 years ago and I have forgot their names and the name of their business. Thanks, SUPER looking truck.

[BigDan3131]

Please just do your steam lines in AN, your pictures of a nice clean engine are great minus that mess you have as steam lines. I think a -4 line size should be fine and the smaller lines cost much less than the bigger stuff.

[68Stepbed]

Originally Posted by not2oldchevy

Who did your headers? I used to drag race with two brothers who did coating between knoxville and sevierville. That was 15 years ago and I have forgot their names and the name of their business. Thanks, SUPER looking truck.

M&R Performance coatings in Kodak, TN. Yes, the two brothers still operate it. I actually went to high school with one's son. It's kind of funny, their last name is only one letter difference than my last name, so when they asked for my name, and I told them my last name, he stopped and looked at me funny and asked me to say it again.

Originally Posted by BigDan3131

Please just do your steam lines in AN, your pictures of a nice clean engine are great minus that mess you have as steam lines. I think a -4 line size should be fine and the smaller lines cost much less than the bigger stuff.

This may be what actually happens. I'm not really pleased with what I have now. Yes, I will do -4AN lines, but even using the less expensive Jeg's brand, this will still cost me around $70-$80. If I could get around having to buy a 3ft. roll of hose and only get the 1ft I'll actually need, it might help, but not alot. As mentioned, I have about $12 in what I have now, and a friend mentioned using a 1/4" inverted flare-1/8" NPT T-fitting at the water pump, then bend the lines to fit into the T fitting with IF ends. This would still look clean since I won't have the goofy rubber lines and clamps.

This will also be the possible way of routing with AN lines. I'll use a -4AN-1/8" NPT T-fitting in the pump, 90deg -4AN-1/8" NPT fittings at the ports, then connect them to the T-fitting This also may help with cost since less fittings will be required.

I had someone from another forum also mention the power steering lines needing to be changed to AN lines. I would do this also, but I eventually plan to change from the bulky truck accessory drive system to a cleaner, more compact setup from Wegner Motorsports later down the road.

[5150]

Is it running yet?

[68Stepbed]

I'm going to start it this evening. I don't have a belt, alt., hoses, fluids or the trans hooked up, so it'll be a short run, but I'm gonna start it. I want to hear this mother sing!!