Whatcha Get Done This Winter on The 4x4?

[vtblazer]

Any good stories out there? Pics of the build?

Mods/updates/changes or whatever you did to get ready to wheel in the spring.

My list of 'stuff' over the last several months:
*Installed an injected 383 stroker motor. (the biggest mod)
That also gets me a serpentine belt system and better alternator.
*Fuel cell w/internal pump.
*Flush gas fill door. (still in progress)
*Remote coolers for both the engine oil and ram assist steering.
*Increased the front fender clearance and removed the inner fenders.
*Spooled the front D60
*Added 4130 axles w/better u-joints
*Pinion protector
*One ton front drive shaft (1410) with a 12" slip joint from High Angle Drive-line.
*Livewire - spark plug wires so the headers won't burn through em anymore.
*Two speed electric fan set up.

Things still to do: (hopefully this year)
*Fold and flip rear seat from the 90 blazer to install
*Tree sliders along the exterior of the quarter panels
*Radio/stereo (to at least fill the hole)

Lets see whatcha been doing over this winter on your 4x4's.

[johnnywagon]

What I did was create potential projects by causing damage. Lets see, new front driveline, later it sheared the bolts out of the tranfer case yoke. Sheared all the bolts out of one 3/4 ton hub. Cracked frame behind steering box, bent front shakle and tore the shakle mounting bucket out of frame and finally, broke front leaf spring bucket. Heres some pix of my homemade, back yard engineered steering box brace and spring bucket. I didnt even mention all the damage done to both rear quarters.

[Chris27]

Hey vtblazer, what fuel door are you using? I want to do the same mod.

[Yukon Jack]

Well, no progress last month and a half but here is the progress I've made on my 1970 K5 this winter - this will be a recap as a full post is in the 69-72 forum.

For those who haven't followed the project I bought this K5 about 3 years ago and it hadn't been ran in like 7 years. Front axle brakes were shot as where the rear brakes. I have rims and tires sitting that are 8 lug so I decided to pick up a 3/4 ton parts truck and use the axles for the K5.

End of November I got the Detroit Locker installation finished in the 14 bolt, got the rear cover installed and fluid back in the differential.



A few days later I got the new rear brake lines bent up and the new rear rubber brake line installed and then jacked the rear of the Blazer way in the air and rolled the 14 bolt in place. Got the u-bolts in place and now the Blazer is finally attached to the new 14 bolt. Stance is pretty good and the rear axle is located fairly centered in the wheel wells now.







I'm presently reworking the front brake lines a bit, and have pulled the spare sbc that was sitting in the engine bay and I can finally reinstall the rebuilt 400 sbc!

Here are some of the specs on the 400 sbc:

Degress .05" dur 204 Int. 214 Exh., Degrees ADV. dur 278 Int. 288 Exh., Inches Valve Lift Int. .420, Exh. .443, Degrees Lobe Center Int. 107, Exh. 117

Should be a good low end torque cam with the power range of 1000-4500.

The block was bored .020 over and the crank was cleaned up. It now has hypereutectic pistons and with the 882 heads with 76 cc the engine should have a compression ratio of about 9.5:1. These heads came off of a 400 so they have the correct steam holes.

The intake is an Eldebrock Performer and the carb is a Jet Stage II 750 cfm quadrajet.







Middle of December I decided I should get the K5 outside and powerwash/clean the engine bay before putting the rebuilt motor in - this engine bay is nasty!



Played hookie from work and got the power washer out. A little Castrol Super Clean and some scrubbing got the bay pretty clean. Then hit a few areas with the sander.

Next I got everything masked off and hit the metal with some black paint.

[Yukon Jack]

Also pulled the gas tank skid plate from the back of the barn where it has been sitting. I cleaned it up for paint about 2 years ago and, well, just never got it painted. Used the 3M undercoating/rubberized stuff and the finished product looks great. To bad I moved it before it was dry, ended up putting the smudge you see in the side shot. May sand it a bit and touch it up, maybe not





Last thing I got done was installed the flywheel and clutch and got the motor mounts secured along with some of the pulley's.

So, still need to do the following:

1. Clean up very nasty power steering pump and get it reinstalled
2. Finish front brake lines - going to just completely replace them, that will make it so much easier to hook up to the 1978 3/4 ton master cylinder and also to attach the 1978 front rubber brake lines.
3. Reinstall engine and get it running, throw the hood back on, double check everything then finally should be able to go for my first drive!!!
4. Redo exhaust

Hopefully get those 4 things done before spring gets here.

[johnnywagon]

[QUOTE=Yukon Jack;2031115]Also pulled the gas tank skid plate from the back of the barn where it has been sitting. I cleaned it up for paint about 2 years ago and, well, just never got it painted.

Jack, looks good, I spent a lot of time dressing up my engine and compartment. All for not! One trip through the mud and.....Im sure you know. Anyway, have you ever used POR-15 paint. I've been using it on my frame and springs and I love it. Super tough, brushes right over rust.

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by Chris27

Hey vtblazer, what fuel door are you using? I want to do the same mod.

Cut it from a Ferd Ranger bed.

Here's what I started with.

[1969k10stepside]

I plan on getting the "Poser x4"(the shortbed 4x4) runnin.I spent the winter tearin it down,painting the frame,and getting the lift kit on,and rebuildin the motor...Maybe get a blazer to get to tinkerin on and get it ready for the trails later on...Speakin of winter...it looks like it here with the snow and ice.
Here is some "Poser x4" pics from when I got it,and now.

[Yukon Jack]

I've got a can of the POR-15 but haven't opened it up yet. The engine bay looked so bad because the last person who painted it must have done a horrid job prepping cause it was flaking and peeling badly - I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to clean it up. I hear you on the fact they just get all dirty again - I'm not gonna be too worried about trying to keep it clean. At least it will look good for a while.

[green724x4]

How hard was coverting the truck from carb to efi. How long did it take.
More pics. Looks really clean
Need info on it thoght about going TBI by puting it on stock motor or switch the motor to a 89 35o.
Have a 350 in it know.

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by green724x4

How hard was coverting the truck from carb to efi. How long did it take.
More pics. Looks really clean
Need info on it thoght about going TBI by puting it on stock motor or switch the motor to a 89 35o.
Have a 350 in it know.

To do it the 1st time, it was intimidating to me.
To do it a 2nd time, easy sneazy. (no need to be intimidated)

Starts better, runs better, I'd recommend it to anyone who really wants to enjoy driving their old chevy truck.

Not really many more pics cause it's not done yet but there is one more.

[johnnywagon]

New exhaust from Flowmasters back last night. I'll probably it up this weekend.

[special-K]

On the`72 GMC I replaced right side front spindle and all bearings and swapped rims to finned aluminum for now.On the`92 GMC I installed the injector pump that was rebuilt buy the modifier(www.peninsularmarine.com),60G glow-plugs/programmable g-p controller(need more glow time for reduced compression),and idler arm.

[Towstrap]

well going to do a body swop 70 pickup to 68 burban and a blowup 350 to a 366

[DirtyLarry]

Yukon Jack,

I would love to have that Blazer of yours. Split rims and all. I need a project first gen Blazer.

[Yukon Jack]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Yukon Jack,

I would love to have that Blazer of yours. Split rims and all. I need a project first gen Blazer.

Thanks! I waited patiently for quite some time to find this K5 - it has very little rust so I am thrilled with it. The split rims were on my 69 K20 originally, they will work until I am ready to spend money on tires and rims. Kinda thinking the 35"s might jump from the K20 to the K5 and then step up to maybe 37"s for the K20. Just what I need, for it to be taller!

My kids are so excited about the K5 - they think pulling the top will be awesome - of course they are right!

[Chris27]

Cut it from a Ferd Ranger bed.

Here's what I started with.

Thanks, I'm not even gonna give you any flak for running Ferd parts, since I have the odd Ferd part on my own ride!
Now for what I did on the K5 this winter.
-converted to 3/4 ton axles with 4:11's (14bff rear, 8-lug D44 front)
-3/4 ton brake booter & Master.
-'92 TBI 350
-700R4 tranny
-Rebuilt NP205
-New tires (285/75/R16 Toyo Open Country M/T's)
-Exhaust (Hedman Headers 2-1/2" exhaust with Flowmasters
-Remote starter
-Upgraded to A/C heater fan (it gets cold here)

It's a daily driver now (since december), so it's fix it as I go.

[cstanley]

Originally Posted by Chris27

Thanks, I'm not even gonna give you any flak for running Ferd parts, since I have the odd Ferd part on my own ride!
Now for what I did on the K5 this winter.
-converted to 3/4 ton axles with 4:11's (14bff rear, 8-lug D44 front)
-3/4 ton brake booter & Master.
-'92 TBI 350
-700R4 tranny
-Rebuilt NP205
-New tires (285/75/R16 Toyo Open Country M/T's)
-Exhaust (Hedman Headers 2-1/2" exhaust with Flowmasters
-Remote starter
-Upgraded to A/C heater fan (it gets cold here)

It's a daily driver now (since december), so it's fix it as I go.

hey, chris
was the 700r4 tranny swap tough? did you have to do anything funky?

[Drobny]

i didn't get anything done. Dose that count?

pat

[manimal]

I installed body mounts on my 76 K20 and started gutting the wiring on my 81 k30.Who ever wired that thing was a complete MORON!

[johnnywagon]

Originally Posted by manimal

I installed body mounts on my 76 K20 and started gutting the wiring on my 81 k30.Who ever wired that thing was a complete MORON!

Aren't we all living in P.O. hell?:

[manimal]

AMEN to that brother!

[Blue_71]

for the guys running TBI-- where did you mount your ECM?

now heres my puny list:

painted underhood
painted interior
wired whole truck
installed radio
installed gauges
painted springs/axles
rebuilt 1998 350

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by Blue_71

for the guys running TBI-- where did you mount your ECM?

I put it right behind the glove box, then cut/shortened up the glove box the go back in and at least be "kinda" useful.

Not the best pic and not finished but if gives you the idea.

You could buy a longer harness and install it either in your kick panels or underneath the seat, I looked into both options and for me putting it on the firewall worked out best.

[Chris27]

was the 700r4 tranny swap tough? did you have to do anything funky?

I used the Advance Adapters output shaft to mate the 700R4 with the stock NP205. The 700R4 is 1-3/4" longer than the TH350, so I moved the engine ahead 1-3/4" so the transfer case could stay in the stock location. Also gives more room for an HEI distributer and makes header bolt access easier. Eliminates the need to modify driveshafts also. Had to move the shift linkage bracket on the frame to line up with the tranny. Wiring was part of my harness for the TBI. Cooler lines were tweaked to fit. Stock shifter works, except "D" is now "OD" and 1st gear is just below "L". Best mod I've done so far. I've also done a 700R4 in my car. Basically anthing I own gets overdrive.

for the guys running TBI-- where did you mount your ECM?

I mounted mine just below the glove box between the heater box and the kick panel. Used the braket that holds the cable going through the firewall as one mount, then screwed another mount in to the heater box. I'll try to snap some pics this weekend.