New Life for a truck passed its prime

[flattopwill]

What a night. One of those nights where nothing goes right and everything gives you problems.

I tried one more time to get the ps pulley to go on after it soaked in PB penetrating lube for two days. Its still wouldnt go on so I decided to take it off and try something else. Trying to get it off, the lip on the pulley broke using the puller so I used a 3 arm pulley that just bent it. The bitch isnt coming off. My friends think that the shaft is bent and thats why it wont it wont go on and now wont go off. Great, now I have to buy a new pump.

We tried coating my headers with this Techline Colorguard Black ceramic coating and that didnt go well either. We didnt have the area lit well enough so when we got done we realized we missed some spots. Then, my buddy was in a hurry and unhung them too soon so there are spots where they made contact with something too early. Plus, Im out of coating. Great.

Then, I got pissed bout the motor mounts. I tried for 10 minutes to even get the swiveled socket on the nut before I got pissed and gave up. If I dont get any help tomorrow then Ill just try it long enough to tighten the old mounts back down. Whoever came up with that is retarded. They could have just welded the nuts in solid before they finished the crossmember and then it would have been easy.

At least the motor is ready to go in (minus a power steering pump). I even got the adapter plates and mount cups on and ready to go. The wiring is 95% finished. If I can quit having these little bullshit snags then I can have this thing going before the end of the week.

I was going to work on it till I went to class at 9am but after all this I got frustrated and just left. I think if it hadnt been for these snags then I couldve had the motor mounted in tonight. I feel so close yet so far away. All these little things keep giving me bullshit problems that keep me from finishing it. This shit better start workin or Im throwin a grenade in it.

[keniff]

sounds like me.
how are you gonna get the PS pump off if you cant get the pulley off? the bolts come out the front of the pump an the pulley is in the way. cut it off with a sawzal an then put a new pump lol

[flattopwill]

Well we already got the pump off. We up the pulley enough trying to get it off that there was enough room to get the bolts out.

[Chevy-Art]

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[flattopwill]

Are you serious? Please dont make this site like FSC. I thought this was better than that! If you dont like how I post then ban me. I dont give . I post my questions so others can find answers later.

[flattopwill]

Made some good progress tonight. My friend had a spare PS pump so I got that taken care of. Still need a pulley though.

We put the truck up on the lift and after some cussing, grinding, and swivel breaking we got the motor mounts changed. I cleaned up the engine bay using super clean and a rag. Then, I took some black engine paint and painted some bad areas. To really do it right it would have to be dissasembled, sandblasted, then painted. But I really dont want to dissasemble anything more than it already is because that will prolong this build by another week atleast. Plus, this is no show truck. It doesnt look great but it looks better than before.



I need help with trying to figure out which wire I connect the speedo output from the ecm to. I have a couple diagrams for my instrument cluster but still cant figure out which one is the right one. My wiring buddy insists on not using the DRAC whatsoever which I guess I can do since Im running DBW. As long as the signal from the ecm is compatible with my speedo it should work.
Got the pedal mounted. We had to shorten the arm and drill a new hole in the pedal mount to get it where I wanted it. Its still not perfect but I can live with it.
My headers are gonna be ok. They need to be touched up but dont look too bad.


I took the 4l60e flywheel off and put the 4l80e flywheel and spacer on but I really dont know if I put it on right. Please check the pics and let me know. Do I have too many parts there? Too few?






Then I attempted to mount the motor in place. For some reason I couldnt get the mounting cups to line up with the mounts. I had this same problem last time I put in the mock setup but the very first time I put in the mock setup it went in like butter with no problems at all. I can get either one of the mounts lined up but not both sides at once. I tried using straps to lift either side independently but couldnt get it. They are always bout 1.5 inches off. I should have taken pictures of this problem but I had to leave suddenly and couldnt.



This is how I left it. Its still not mounted in place but atleast its in there. My converter should be here today so hopefully I can put it in tomorrow night. (Since I have to work tonight).

[keniff]

well honestly i had the same problem. i wish i would have grinded the tabs off the frame mounts bc they would get caught on the clam shell mounts. the flywheel i have no idea
do a search in the LSx section an see which one Redheartbeat says to use. or go to my thread an search in it if your able. i think Redheartbeat said it in mine too. i cant remember anymore

[RedHeartbeat]

you have too many extensions on the flexplate. The spacer between the flexplate and crank is correct. The 60e style extension is not needed with that 80e spacer and flexplate. You are going with an old school 80e convertor, correct? Try bolting it to the the flexplate to check fitment.

[flattopwill]

you have too many extensions on the flexplate. The spacer between the flexplate and crank is correct. The 60e style extension is not needed with that 80e spacer and flexplate. You are going with an old school 80e convertor, correct? Try bolting it to the the flexplate to check fitment.

Thanks for letting me know on the extensions. How do I get the 60e extension out? I put some bolts in it and jerked and it didn't budge so I assumed it was meant to stay.
I am using a custom made 9.5" converter with the mounting ring on it. I will test compatability with the flywheel tonight.
Still not sure what to do about the engine mounts.

[RedHeartbeat]

The grey looking extension in the photo will probably have to be knocked out from the other side of the spacer with a punch or press. The engine mounts, I've had that issue numerous times. Bolt one side in and then take your engine hoist and jack the engine up on the side that is bolted up, it will slide up inside the mount and make the other side bolt easier to install. You may still have to pry the rubber part of the mount higher. There are redesigned motor mounts that make it simpler to install the engine, it mounts the cups inward, lower, a little and probably raises it a full inch in the engine compartment.