Air Force '69

[Johnny Blaze]

Figured, since this is what I am working on now, I would do a project update.

This is my Daily Driver pickup. I call it air force '69, becuase it is a 1969 C10, that was bought new by the Air Force, and was stationed at a local Air Port as the mechanics truck all it life till about 4 years ago.

It was a 250 3 on the tree, added a clifford intake 4 barral and headers, but the old 6 was tired.

Currently I am cleaning the underhood area, to repaint,


The six is out.
I am also swapping the front to the 74-87 a arms, and disc brakes.

Once it is cleaned up under the hood, this is going in,


Backed by a M-20 4 speed.

I have a couple weeks to get it done and back on the road.

Will update.

[1971CHEVELLE]

good looking motor keep us posted

[Johnny Blaze]

Thanks.

Got the underhood area striped and painted with some black epoxy primer.

Tommorrow, I install they stainless steel brake lines, and mate the 350 to the muncie 4 speed.

[srh3trinity]

Please tell me it has some nice Air Force/military patina. Any pics of the body?

[Johnny Blaze]

Not much really. It is air force blue with white bumpers and wheels.
It does still have the us government asset tag on the glove box.

Will get pics this weekend.

[Johnny Blaze]

Not a whole lot to update. Been raining so have not been able to do much work, other than some cleaning and spray bombing.

Here is my Munice that will replace the 3 on tha tree,


Stock bellhousing after a lot of elbow grease, and paint,


Underhood after coat of epoxy primer(going to replace pass inner fender so didnt waste paint on it)


New Ebay aluminum Radiator, painted to look factory,

[Johnny Blaze]

Well, its been awhile since I updated this.

During the project, we ended up buying another house, and I just got the truck moved there.

Engine and trans are now in, and the last few items are being hooked up.

I ran into a few minoer issues with the swap and will detail them as soon as I get my picks uploaded.

It should be on the road soon though!

[Johnny Blaze]

Time for a big long update.

First, when swapping from t he 6 to the v8 I heard a lot of conflicting reports, of using stock mounts, clutch linkage, etc.

I put the V8 in the stock 6 cylinder mounts.
It fit. I used the stock 6 cyl clutch linkage, it fit.
I had to use straight dump rams horn manifolds instead of the angled rams horns to clear the clutch linkage.

Big cap HEI cleared firewall with plenty of room to spare.

The muncie 4 speed bolted right up in place of the 3.I am using the hurst shifter for this application, but due to the engine sitting farther back it is going to be real close to the bench seat.
In a quest for milage and drivability, I swaped the holley for a rebuilt 1969 Quadrajet.

In keeping with stock appearnce, but pro touring advancements, I picked up these wheels,


They are 17x7.5. I am unsure if I am going to leave them black, paint them white, or ralley silver, thoughts?

I stripped the underside and painted it all with the black expoy primer,


Then reassembled it all.



I converted it to 74-87 parts, with poly bushings, and all new parts.

[Johnny Blaze]

I am using CPP 3" drop springs in the front.

The difference between the 69 a arms and the newer style is amazing. Much bigger, much bigger bushings,
here are the uppers,

[Johnny Blaze]

Engine installed, with the holley carb,


Government Asset tag,


Old school style Moon tach,

[Johnny Blaze]

This is cool, not sure if its a dealer add on, or a custom made deal, I call it a saddle bag.

[Black93GT]

I love what you're doing with the truck!! I've though about doing something like that but I only ever see the camo blazers and box vans.


Useless gee-wiz info..... So thats a forms pouch mostly used to hold the AF Form 1800 which is the operators guide and servicability report.

This is cool, not sure if its a dealer add on, or a custom made deal, I call it a saddle bag.

[Johnny Blaze]

I love what you're doing with the truck!! I've though about doing something like that but I only ever see the camo blazers and box vans.


Useless gee-wiz info..... So thats a forms pouch mostly used to hold the AF Form 1800 which is the operators guide and servicability report.

Someone somewhere else told me that too. Been trying to get one of those forms printed off!

[Johnny Blaze]

Here you can see how close the shifter is,

[Johnny Blaze]

I just realized there were no full truck shots,

here it is after the v8 install, it actually sat the same as it did with the inline 6. Of course this is on cut stock springs.

[69X22]

Looks cool, I wouldn't even paint it, just drive it like it is.

[Johnny Blaze]

Paint is the last thing on the list. I was driving it like this daily, til the engine swap began.

Thanks for the compliment!

[ill steez]

looks really cool. i'd go with silver or white for the wheels.

[brans72]

Jonny what are you doing with old engine by chance? I could use a few parts from it no doubt. Brandon

[Johnny Blaze]

Old engine is long gone. Just sold the chrome valve cover and side covers on ebay.

I am leaning towards ralley silver for the wheels.
When the time does come for paint( after interior) it will get a coat of Lemans Blue Metallic.

I have tried to keep it looking stock while making improvements.

The engine has an aluminum high flow water pump ( painted orange) Aftermarket HEI, black moroso plug wires, routed under manifolds.

Intake is a Performer.

The only major deviation is the electric fan, but I just love the thermostat controlled fans.

Looiing for a big sway bar for the front too.