Project Strange Brew

[gordonr1973]

Hi all;

I've been reading everyone's Project threads the last week and I'm not sure I can measure up! Very nice cars on here!!

I'm just finishing a 1987 Chev SWB that I stuffed a LS 6.0 & 4L80E into. Here's what it looked like and where it's at now.

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I'm now also starting to research what to do with my 1968 Firebird.

Not much to it right now, I picked it up from a nice guy that did the metal work on it and just ran out of gas...I do have most of the interior parts but no drive-train.

It was a Sprint so being non-matching numbers I can really go any direction at this point.

I'm leaning towards this look but with much better handling components with a refinished set of 1976 slotted mags I have but time will tell.

Suggestions are welcome but like everyone else, I'm on a budget and don't have much free time it seems.

Sorry for the big pics, Thanks!

[lsx80monte]

That engine bay is lookin really nice on that truck. Are you running the factory a/c compressor? Im curious to know how it works for you as people say that it wont hold up for very long.

[Trans]

Theres too many loose wires in the engine bay on the truck lol, you need to get rid of the wheels too,they are ugly chip foose rims.Chip foose is not a rim designer,he needs to stick drawing cars lol

[66larkgs]

Theres too many loose wires in the engine bay on the truck lol, you need to get rid of the wheels too,they are ugly chip foose rims.Chip foose is not a rim designer,he needs to stick drawing cars lol

Trans,
next time you knock a car or truck on here dont put "lol" after it.. your a freshman over on here and i bet his truck is alot further along than your old chevelle that you parted out..Need to post your build and i am sure it is a REAL nice build.. You have been here for a little over a month and all you do is bark at people and give negative feedback.. Do you really think he drives around with that harness hanging over the radiator?? clearly look a little deeper into the build instead of those wheels and look at the smoothed firewall, front and rear disk setup, finshed inner wheel wells, intergrated the new and old a/c to work, new m/c and booster.. No **** some of the wireing isnt finished but dont be a JERK>. ohh yea dont tell a moderator where they should post.. you dont even have your feet wet here yet..

Gordon, sorry to ramble but great job on the truck and keep it up. I hate people that throw rocks when they live in a glass house

[Trans]

Its all in good criticism not trying to deman anybodies work or cars.

[Todd in Vancouver]

Nice looking truck and makes me wish I had finished my truck project. Did you do any suspension mods? I always thought it wouls be cool to build a truck that handled well. Having started a '67 build I wish I had done a newer LS build and not the old style SBC that I did but I'm too far into it now. If I could go back I'd use even a stock LS set up and add more mods down the road for extra power. If you go half as nice on the bird as you did on the truck it will look awesome. Looking forward to watching and please post lots of pics.

[gordonr1973]

That engine bay is lookin really nice on that truck. Are you running the factory a/c compressor? Im curious to know how it works for you as people say that it wont hold up for very long.

Thanks, I'm thinking about smoothing the firewall a bit more along with the inner fenders, but we will see what I have for time. Yes I'm using the compressor that was on the engine, not the 1987 compressor. I ran it all summer and it seems to work fine. I had the system cleaned and checked by an a/c company prior to them recharging it and they said it looked okay so no problems yet!


Theres too many loose wires in the engine bay on the truck lol, you need to get rid of the wheels too,they are ugly chip foose rims.Chip foose is not a rim designer,he needs to stick drawing cars lol

I'll tell Mr. Foose that the next time I see him.


Trans,
next time you knock a car or truck on here dont put "lol" after it.. your a freshman over on here and i bet his truck is alot further along than your old chevelle that you parted out..Need to post your build and i am sure it is a REAL nice build.. You have been here for a little over a month and all you do is bark at people and give negative feedback.. Do you really think he drives around with that harness hanging over the radiator?? clearly look a little deeper into the build instead of those wheels and look at the smoothed firewall, front and rear disk setup, finshed inner wheel wells, intergrated the new and old a/c to work, new m/c and booster.. No **** some of the wireing isnt finished but dont be a JERK>. ohh yea dont tell a moderator where they should post.. you dont even have your feet wet here yet..

Gordon, sorry to ramble but great job on the truck and keep it up. I hate people that throw rocks when they live in a glass house

No worries & thanks for the compliments, the loose wires are a picture from the install of the Speed & Performance harness.

http://youtu.be/8ICV-tuf5dA

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8ICV-tuf5dA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here's a video, I don't really consider this a pro-touring truck by any means but 340 hp at the rear wheels after being pushed through a 4L80E is okay in my book.

I don't really pay too much attention to comments like the other fellow posted as they aren't the one who paid / pays for my builds but he is obviously a seasoned expert and should get all the respect he deserves.

[srh3trinity]

I like a nice square body build! That thing was rusty to start with.

[gordonr1973]

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Nice looking truck and makes me wish I had finished my truck project. Did you do any suspension mods? I always thought it wouls be cool to build a truck that handled well. Having started a '67 build I wish I had done a newer LS build and not the old style SBC that I did but I'm too far into it now. If I could go back I'd use even a stock LS set up and add more mods down the road for extra power. If you go half as nice on the bird as you did on the truck it will look awesome. Looking forward to watching and please post lots of pics.

Thanks Todd. Very briefly I put in:

- Belltech spindles, springs, & drop hangers
- Belltech sway bar front & rear
- Deutschtech Shocks (a little too stiff)
- Compcam camshaft & minor motor mods
- Entrophy Rad
- Willwoods all around
- Auburn posi & 3:73 gears

and the rest of the usual stuff everyone does. The swap was a lot of work and sometimes I wish I would have stayed with the 350 & spent more time on the bodywork, but I learned alot and this was my first real build. I wanted to learn on the truck before I started on the Firebird as I thought it would be less expensive...but all builds are expensive and that was the biggest thing I learned! lol

If you want, post up a few pics of your truck on here as I'd love to see it!

Here's a few quick pics of mine on its way:

[66larkgs]

6612766128

I love the truck builds. I did this 53 with my students and i can see how much work you did. i know what it is like to battle the rust. I had a 73 chevy short bed fleet that was one of my favorite trucks ever.. I dont know if you found the early bodied blazer build in this forumn but you should look at the chassis he is building. Can make any box go around the turns. keep up the good work.

[Todd in Vancouver]

Thanks Todd. Very briefly I put in:

- Belltech spindles, springs, & drop hangers
- Belltech sway bar front & rear
- Deutschtech Shocks (a little too stiff)
- Compcam camshaft & minor motor mods
- Entrophy Rad
- Willwoods all around
- Auburn posi & 3:73 gears

and the rest of the usual stuff everyone does. The swap was a lot of work and sometimes I wish I would have stayed with the 350 & spent more time on the bodywork, but I learned alot and this was my first real build. I wanted to learn on the truck before I started on the Firebird as I thought it would be less expensive...but all builds are expensive and that was the biggest thing I learned! lol

If you want, post up a few pics of your truck on here as I'd love to see it!

Here's a few quick pics of mine on its way:

Sadly I sold mine to a really nice young guy at my local Napa store when I got ill. My plan was to build an awesome handling S10 but when I got a chance to buy my '67 I jumped at it (it was one of those forgotten about car stories found in the middle of nowhere). Hey if you decide to not build an LS I'll gladly sell my SBC as I am really kicking myself for not going LS on mine.Here is a picture of the S10 just before I sold it.

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[gordonr1973]

Paul & Todd these trucks look awesome!!

[gordonr1973]

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Here are some pics from today of my truck....last drive before putting in the garage for the winter before it snows.

Can trucks be pro-touring?

[gordonr1973]

Oh yeah, here's what parked beside me at the grocery store on the weekend?!?!

I didn't wait to see who was coming out to drive it.

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[gordonr1973]

Haven't started on the Firebird yet, I decided to redo the cab on my truck and fix some of the things that were bothering me about it.

I found a better cab, it has minimal rust and will need alot less welding on the cab corners and rockers.

I also wanted to try something dfferent....the motor gets quite hot here in the summer and even with electric fans I get a bit worried sometimes.

I've been thinking about trying to build a cowl hood for it.

I took an old hood and cut some windows in it. I then cut some screens to put in the windows later.

I made a slight intake in the front of the cowl that would help carry the heat coming up through the windows out the rear screen of the cowl.

I bought a new welder (140) that I'm still trying to dial in better so forgive the crappy welding I've been doing.

[srh3trinity]

What is the hood skin off of? That is a cool idea and will be way better than an off the shelf cowl hood.

[gordonr1973]

It is off a 1965'ish Chevy.

I pancaked it and took out some width.

My brother made one for my 1998 a few years ago, I hope this one turns out near as well!

[ekmxryda]

Cool idea on the hood, I want to try and do a custom hood for my GTO when I get to that point.
Nice work.

[migg400]

That's a beautiful truck man!!!!

[ramrod]

awesome looking truck.
and i can't wait to see what you come up with on the firebird.....but slotted mags?!!noooooooooo.
a set of stock ralley wheels would be so much nicer. slotted mages are just so.....70's.


lark....is that a '53 studebaker pickp? looks very much like one to me.

[gordonr1973]

Thank guys, still working on the hood but not much new as I haven't had a lot of time at night this week.

I did pick this up for my Firebird though, a 1974 Pontiac 455 with tranny. It is not a SD but 455's up here are getting harder to find so I thought 'Better to have it and not need it, verses the other way around'!

Anyone here have a 455 in their PT? Opinions on a budget friendly build-up?

[67rstbkt]

Nice projects!! Looking forward to seeing what you have in store for that Firebird. As far as budget goes, it all depends on the end result. If that 455 is in good shape and you are planning on sticking with most ofthe original parts, it's entirely possible. The money comes in when you decide you want more. My 400 quickly escalated to a stroker and aluminum heads (and a few other goodies). Pontiac stuff is generally more expensive than parts for a SBC.