My 1980 SWB Project Truck

[1980c10]

kmj has a better price
http://www.kmjent.com/cart/product.php?productid=769&cat=20164578&page=1

I'm not going to uses the valve covers in the pics or the air cleaner they are just what I had laying around to get things set up.

The valve covers that I will be using are the same as the ones in the pics except they are not ball milled, they are just smooth and more shiny because they are new.

I am undecided on the air filter and am open to any ideas.
 

[1980c10]

perhaps one of these;

[1980c10]

btw I would have the smooth top choice pinstriped.

[slammed79]

I like the smooth one, and if it matches your v/c's all the better

[Grim 82]

An enclosed dual snorkel setup would be pretty cool.

[1980c10]

I have considered the old camaro style dual snorkel set up. i will probably go with the smooth top because it matches and is clean and simple and If I don't like it; I can change it sometime in the future.

The 5 speed is bolted up and the cross member is in place, I need to drill a few more holes and add a few more bolts and a spacer as i decided I need to raise the back of the trans about an inch.
So that means I can now have a driveshaft made, and move my shifter hole in the floor, I also need to have a hydraulic line made for the clutch.
I also have a lot of wiring left to do. I am going to try and get done with work early one day this week so i can go to the local u pull it yard and get some pig tails from the neutral safety switch, speed sensor and whatever other switches/sensors are on the trans.

[1980c10]

Just another update;
-The 5 speed is in the clutch linkage is hooked up and needs to be bled other than that it is ready to go.
-efan is wired in, need to test it.
-I redid the top bracket/shroud for the radiator again, now it's not really a shroud anymore.
-I need to rewire the engine/trans harness and starter alt.
-I moved the heater fan wiring off of the firewall.
-belts and hose are all hooked up.

As far as the gauges go here is what i am facing,(looking for some feedback)
-I have no tach
-my speedometer will not work with my trans.
- I don't want to spend a ton of time on this as I want to drive the truck.
I dont really like the thought of mounting aftermarket gauges and trying to get them to work with the bezel
So I am leaning toward Dakota digital;
 -how will the speedometer hook up with my NV3500?
 -anybody set this up? looking for some opinions and reviews regarding the install and after the install.
-generally speaking do they go with my truck and the work I have done so far (aesthetically)?

[beastie_3]

Oh I think we need pics of the firewall, fans, and shroud.

[Grim 82]

^ Indeed, you are getting close. I don't know about the speedometer hook-up, but aesthetically, I think your truck is a candidate for digital gauges. An aftermarket tach would look clean in one those pillar pods that Capt is working on.

[1980c10]

The pics will have to wait, since I am this close, I will wait untill it is all the way done(unless it takes me too long).
btw the fan is hidden between the header panel and grille, the adjustable t-stat is hidden as well but can be adjusted by using a screwdriver into the header panel, kind of just looks like I just dont have a fan.
-since i moved the heater fan wiring down, I was left with a big hole and didn't feel like doing more bodywork, so I plugged it with an oil cap. kind of looks like I meant to do that

The tach would be part of the digital set up.
The guages are available in blue, red, or green.
-Green is out
-I like blue
-Red will probably go nicely with my interior.

[slammed79]

It may just be me, but I've never been huge on the DD gauges in our trucks, I'd do a set of autometers mounted behind the bezel, not on top (kinda lazy looking to me)

Since this is your truck though, I like red, and flowing with the interior makes it even better.

[1980c10]

I like the idea of regular aftermarket guages, I just don't really have the motivation to do them right now and I need to do something.
I emailed DD and they said the signal from the vss on the nv3500 will work fine for my speedometer hook up. Its sounds like red is out and by defualt blue is in for a color as red is too hard to see in the daytime according to DD. I'm still on the fence about going with these gauges, I haven't seen them in person and from the pics I'm not really impressed but it would solve a problem. keep the feedback coming.

[1980c10]

I contacted dakota digital; they said the kit will work with the vss from the nv3500 so that is a plus.
Other than that I made some progress today;
 I finished the engine wiring harness, tested all the electronics.
efan is working great, moves a ton of air through the radiator.
charging and starting system are working great. clutch is working great, my driveshaft is done and test fitted-just need to paint it.
also need to paint my hood hinges, hook up the back up light switch, paint the overflow tank, hook up my coolant temp sensor and some other details.
First start up of the engine in the truck went great, fired right up and ran just like it should
btw right at midnight tonight, running straight off the headers- woke up some neighbors.

[Captkaos]

I am a dealer for Dakota and could answer most of these questions for you.  I have them pretty cheap too, they are supposed to come out with an analog version this summer if you aren't in a hurry.  You DO NOT want red if you have this as a driver.  Its $75 extra...  I attached a pic of what they look like.

http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=7&Product_Code=VFD3-73C-PU&Category_Code=7G

[1980c10]

Capt,
When the time comes I will definatley buy them from you.
Any details on the analog set up?
I'm guessing it will be worth the wait.
I have a mini tach I can put on the column for now and use my gps as a speedometer.
I can get by for now as I have my other guages hooked up.
If they come through with the analog let me know as soon as you get any info.