NC road trip to pick up my pickup

[3X00-Modified]

So your telling me you couldn't come to bfest because you didn't have money because of the house? I call BS on that one with how much your dropping in this truck.

[woody90gtz]

Missing Bfest had nothing to do with money, just time. I've got to build the Z71 engine and yank the trans, etc out of the parts truck, get it all together so I can use to haul roofing materials and then do the roof. I also want to do the rear disc on the Beretta (bought all the remaining parts for it last week) and cut & reweld the Camaro rad support to align the fenders and do some wheel wheel mods to make sure I can slam it without cutting the tires. That needs to be done before I can even think about the paint work it desperately needs.

I'm just happy I found a 5spd finally...all the stars aligned just right. I got the quote from the trans shop that pissed me off and that night on craigslist this truck was listed and I was first one to call the guy. Had to pick it up next day because he said he had 6 other guys to buy it. I definitely got a steal. I even got to drive it around before we loaded it up to head home.

[woody90gtz]

The neighbors liked it parked on the front lawn last night! hahaha The interior is really classy.

[3X00-Modified]

Soon your going to remind me of my new neighbors... I'll post a pic later.

[heavywoody]

I'll contribute some cement blocks to the cause!

[woody90gtz]

hahaha

I left it out front overnight because we got home about 11:30 and I knew I had to rig the battery cables to move it. Someone converted the positive to a top terminal to run wiring for a welder and my truck battery is side terminals only. I had to break the grille to get the hood open, cause I never checked to see if it had a functional hood release before I closed it.

[spacecadetz26]

did you use bedliner on the frame and fender wells?

[woody90gtz]

Yeah...U-Pol Raptor liner. It's catalyzed stuff that's pretty tough. It's not Line-X, but it's good.

[woody90gtz]

Got my Keith Blacks in on Friday. They're almost too pretty to cover up with cylinder heads! My bro-in-law still doesnt have that Vortec block yet, so I haven't started assembly.




I am almost done dismantling the parts truck though. Just need to yank the whole drivetrain and get rid of it. Then I'll have a little room again...it's pretty cramped right now.

[Chazzman]

You gonna be using that hydro-boost setup?

[woody90gtz]

Yup. Hydroboost and the big calipers. My heavy-ass wheels and 33" tires need some extra stopping power.

[woody90gtz]

Sold the parts truck to a friend for $250 with nothing much left in it. I kept engine, trans, tcase, pedals, shifters, hydroboost, calipers and steering box...he just wanted the rear end.



I kept the 350 since it was running fine. I'll crack it open to make sure, but it should be a 4-bolt main roller-ready block I can build as a nasty 383 for the Camaro. 400hp is fun, but 550 would be better! haha


Cleaned up the drivetrain with some SuperClean and the pressure washer, and upon closer inspection someone did the clutch recently. There was a GM parts sticker on the fork from 2007.




My bro-in-law brought that Vortec block by and I'm not impressed. It either had a coolant leak or was seriously neglected. I'm gonna have my engine builder buddy come by and look at it. He can surface the heads and any other machine work I need. I already found another set of roller lifters locally because these ones look shot.

[3X00-Modified]

Better hope the lifter bores are ok...

[woody90gtz]

I'm using my engine block, not the Vortec. It's just a donor for the heads and roller hardware. I was going to use the lifters too, but not once I saw them. The pushrods, dogbones and spider retainer should be fine.

[99GaGT3X00]

that's some sexy buildup in the engine. guess they didn't believe in the regular oil change.