Glock's new project: "Fred" w/ 5.3L LS swap info

[menace121978]

if i know Bob he's got something brewing in his brain already! so silver's not a safe bet!!

[nlped]

^^^ !!!Very true!

[glock35ipsc]

Hmm, a challenge?!

Fred, earning his keep. I FINALLY got that dang tow bar finished. Soooo, we HAD to test it out!

[JohnC]

Cool now Fred is even more versatile!

[glock35ipsc]

So here are the seats I picked up Friday. 60/40 split bench from a 95 ext cab. Manual adjust with power lumbar on both seats.



They are cleaning up pretty good, they are much nicer than what the cell phone pic makes them look! I went to my old place of work and picked up two pairs of slide tracks.



Plans are to remove all the OEM hardware off of the seats and install the above slide tracks. Then I will build a rectangular frame from thick wall 1" square tubing and attack mounting tabs to bolt into the stock location on the floor. Then I can make mounting tabs to fit the new slide tracks. This was I can set the seat height right where I want it, as well as the angle front to back.


I've mentioned getting parts and stuff from my old employer before, so I thought I would post this. This is where I worked up until early 2002. http://www.rmtus.com/ I started there building trucks, then moved in to the van production shop. Worked in every stage of van production and eventually became the production manager. It was a really fun place to work, and I got to build some pretty sweet rides. My wife worked there too for awhile. I got her a job in the upholstery shop right before we got married, then she worked with me in van production, then she eventually moved in to the retail store. She worked there for about 4 years.

This was where I pretty much self-taught myself how to fab stuff. In the later years I was the one building all the one-off vans, and almost everything was hand built.

[JohnC]

That looks like a pretty cool place to work. The conversion places are becoming a dying breed, at least the ones I'm used to. Most of the ones now are just bolt on places not the full conversion places like the one you posted.

[glock35ipsc]

When I first started there in 1993 we were pumping out 6 complete conversions vans a day, and about 12 trucks a day, minus paint. When I left we are doing about 2 vans a day, and the truck line had been moved into our shop because demand was so low. It got to the point where we only had like 3 off the shelf packages for each, and the rest of what we did was one-off customs, or bolt on. Most everything there is now bolt on it seems, with a few custom trucks and vans rolling out here and there. But the retail store is now about 3x the size of what it use to be.

The owner and I are still pretty tight, we speak regularly. We always got along very, very well. If something ever happened where I work now, I could probably walk back in there and start working that day. He's always asking me (jokingly) when I am coming back.

[JohnC]

That's the way you want to leave a job is on good terms, and them wanting you back. Whenever I see someone at my old job they ask me the same thing. Makes me feel better knowing that I did my job to the best of my ability, and I made a good impression.

[glock35ipsc]

I'll go ahead and post the install results here just for the record, but I sold them tonight. They fit great and were very comfy, but I did not like the color match.

The guy I sold them to just bought a real solid 85 GMC lwb 2wd a few days ago. His seat was in nice shape, but was badly worn on the drivers bottom, like usual. His interior is a little darker than Fred, so it should look real good in his. He also bought my other tilt column, and I threw in Fred's original GMC grill for him too.

Gave him the site's www address and told him to sign up. Hopefully we'll be seeing him on the board soon.

They did turn out nice, and fit well!

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

I'll go ahead and post the install results here just for the record, but I sold them tonight. They fit great and were very comfy, but I did not like the color match.
They did turn out nice, and fit well!

Buddy your pics aint workin?

[qu1cks1lver56]

updates?

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Buddy your pics aint workin?

Oops! I had linked to the pics I used in the for sale ad, but I had deleted the ad when they sold. I posted some new ones up above.

Originally Posted by qu1cks1lver56

updates?

Nope, haven't done anything but drive the snot out of it. Have had zero issues with it, and I'm still getting great mileage. The AC is still ice cold. It's pulled a couple different trailers recently, one was loaded with landscaping rock. Pulled like a champ and still ran 75 up the interstate with no problems.

[glock35ipsc]

Hmmm, what am I up to today......

[nlped]

Hmmm, I have an idea
Posted via Mobile Device

[JohnC]

Checking to see which level is more accurate the small or the big one?

[joe231]

[glock35ipsc]

Smart a$$e$! (BTW, the little one is the better one! )

The Burb has been reduced to little pieces! I cut it up yesterday, and boy does the front of my shop look a lot more cleaner and respectable! I cleaned out the scrap pile in the shop and dumped into it, and have one more large pile out back to load up then I'll haul it all to the scrappers soon.

I cut the front off (firewall and floor) and will keep that part to set on the frame so I can watch for clearance issues to the firewall and trans tunnel when mocking stuff up. I still need to cut off the rest of the B post and clean up the cuts so I don't cut the snot outta myself.

It's been a while since I was a firefighter, I forgot how much fun a sawzall was!!

Winter project!!

[joe231]

Ok.....
So it's a burb frame getting a LS treatment so I'm gonna guess CCSB???
Please say yes
Please say yes
Please say yes
:-)
Posted via Mobile Device

[qu1cks1lver56]

Originally Posted by joe231

Ok.....
So it's a burb frame getting a LS treatment so I'm gonna guess CCSB???
Please say yes
Please say yes
Please say yes
:-)
Posted via Mobile Device

agreed

[menace121978]

sorry to disappoint guys but i'm thinking Bob and Bryce are going to make up an "LSx swap kit!" maybe one that will work on the 67-72 trucks also

[Stitch]

Originally Posted by menace121978

sorry to disappoint guys but i'm thinking Bob and Bryce are going to make up an "LSx swap kit!" maybe one that will work on the 67-72 trucks also

if this is true...so count me in...I'll pull the diesel in a skinny minute...I've been on the fence on whether to do the ls swap or not, but this will push me right over the edge....period...

[glock35ipsc]

You guys are killing me!

Originally Posted by menace121978

sorry to disappoint guys but i'm thinking Bob and Bryce are going to make up an "LSx swap kit!" maybe one that will work on the 67-72 trucks also

BINGO!!!! Swap kit design has begun!

The Burb frame will eventually be cut in two. The front half for the LS swap kit, and the back half to either mock up my 67-72 trailing arms rear suspension, or building my own version.

The reason I cut the front end of the body like I did is so I can set it on the frame to check for firewall clearance to the back of the block, and check the trans for interference to the tunnel.

I still have my old 68 frame and a few front cross members, now I just need to find a dead cab that someone wants to donate to the cause!

If anyone knows of some extra LS parts laying around for "cheap" , even if they are damaged, I am in need of:

* AC compressor to engine bracket
* AC compressor
* Oil pan (truck [preferred], F-body, whatever)
* Heads (can be bare and even damaged, just as long as they will fit the block and hold exhaust manifolds)
* Truck intake manifold (bare)

Oh, and..... I don't push too hard. More like kick or punch!

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

Truck intake manifold (bare)

:

Bob,
I have you covered on the intake, I just need to swap it out. It has a small hole in it. I need to keep the injectors/rails too. You pay for shipping and it's yours.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by Fat Hoe

I can donate a cab if you wanna come pick it up...lol...it's sitting right out in the yard waiting on you to come get it...just let me know before you come so I can wash it and make it all purty for ya...lol...

and what's the eta on the kit?...also what all will the kit include?...we have a price yet or round about figure?...

Hmm, I don't think it will fit in the company airplane, but thanks for the offer!

No idea on any kind of a price or time line yet. I'm just now in the "gathering of parts" stage, and won't really start zeroing in on a design until I have the main parts together that would give a guy clearance issues.

My initial idea is to offer a universal trans crossmember, and either engine mounts for use with the stock towers, or fab'd towers and engine mounts. It will probably end up being fab'd towers to make it easier to use the LS's AC compressor with no fab work needed to be done by the installer. And of course the simpler the design, the less expensive is should be.

I might also make some adapter plates like the more common ones (think The Car Shop, etc.), as I think I can make and sell them for less than the going price of $45.

Maybe even a Vette fuel pressure regulator/filter set-up complete with the correct fittings already installed.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Bob,
I have you covered on the intake, I just need to swap it out. It has a small hole in it. I need to keep the injectors/rails too. You pay for shipping and it's yours.

Mike, that is perfect! Keep everything you need, all I need is the big chunk of plastic! Let me know what shipping comes to and I can send you a Paypal or a money order. Thanks a bunch!

[menace121978]

Bob has been known to push folks over that edge Chuck!!! and he has no problem doing it either