82 engine resto/body, interior work

[Bowtie Bomber]

Hey guys, I JUST started my engine today with all my upgrades me and my dad put on. It has a Peter Jackson Timing Gear, lunatie cam (I believe it's 265 by something.. It's not too radical of a cam, but it's way better than the battered stock one that came out of it) it has crane came roller rockers on it. Had the heads ported (and of course I forgot how much, I've been to busy to care. My dad calls most of the shots on upgrades judging by what I want out of this beast. And I pay all the money for it and he tutors and trains me as we build this tank) put on a noice edelbrock performer (like everyone else ) a pro comp distributer with brand new racing spark plug wires (My dad bought them for his 454 back in 1983 or so, but NEVER touched them afterwards. They've been kept brand new for all these years and now I'm using them, very ironic I'll have to say, lol) and accel spark plugs (I just love Accels) and right now, it has a mamoth 780 cfm Holley carb on it (I love holleys, I can rebuild one in 15 - 20 minutes.) Also some long tube Hookers on it.

But yeah, it's great to have this thing running again. It's also awesome to be spending time with my dad. Never really spent so much time with him before, so this truck project really means alot, and this engine running makes basically is a high light of my life right now, lol. Couldn't stop smiling.

So yeah, I know, no pictures. I will have some up tommaro, and possibly a video of me doing a victory burnout. Good thing a I have posi, no one wheel wonder.

I'll also post pictures of me and my dads fabrication we did to the truck as we go along.

EDIT: a little funny, my grandpa is a huge die hard Ford guy, and after this truck resto, he wants a Chevy now. =P

[In storage 1/2 of the yr]

Bowtie Bomber,
Excellent burnout. Would like to see the coming videos or pictures. I am new to this forum so if you had posted info previously I missed it.

I have an 84 short box that was Pro Street-ed last fall. I would like post pictures in the spring. (truck is in winter storage at present)

[80stepsideguy]

bowtie,
what part of FL you in?

thanks
pat

[Bowtie Bomber]

bowtie,
what part of FL you in?

thanks
pat

Merritt Island, FLA my man.

Here's some recent pics of engine re-done.

[Dragon]

Your Project is coming along nicely, especially like the bumpers My Grandfather was a DieHard Dodge Fan for the longest time, till he helped my father rebuild a few Chevy's, then he became a Buick Fan(Originally had a new Apollo when I was little) cause of the Comfy Cruiser Factor

Questions for you, what electric fan set up are those(Look like Flex-a-lites to me, so got a part number by chance??),how much did they set you back, and where did you get them from??

[Bowtie Bomber]

Your Project is coming along nicely, especially like the bumpers My Grandfather was a DieHard Dodge Fan for the longest time, till he helped my father rebuild a few Chevy's, then he became a Buick Fan(Originally had a new Apollo when I was little) cause of the Comfy Cruiser Factor

Questions for you, what electric fan set up are those(Look like Flex-a-lites to me, so got a part number by chance??),how much did they set you back, and where did you get them from??

Thanks guy, I appreciate your comments! The bumpers where made by my dad back in college from I beams he "borrowed" from his construction site. And yeah, no one can ignore the charm of Chevrolets or any GM for that matter.

Just go to Advance Auto Parts and get the biggest fans they have (16"ers) and just run a ground and a switch in the cab and your set! My truck sits at around 180 - 190 and never goes above 200. It's a very cool truck. 

Also free's up some HP is your using a mechanical fan.

[VileZambonie]

Just go to Advance Auto Parts and get the biggest fans they have (16"ers) and just run a ground and a switch in the cab and your set! My truck sits at around 180 - 190 and never goes above 200. It's a very cool truck. 

Also free's up some HP is your using a mechanical fan.

You might want to rewire your fans... 2 fans running full current through a switch in your dash.... I hope you have one beefy switch in your dash or you might be looking at a potential fire. You should run the switch through a relay and let the relay carry the high current and the switch low current.

[Bowtie Bomber]

might want to rewire your fans... 2 fans running full current through a switch in your dash.... I hope you have one beefy switch in your dash or you might be looking at a potential fire. You should run the switch through a relay and let the relay carry the high current and the switch low current.

It's cool, I have a fire extinguisher. 

I'll eventually hook it up to a relay though.

[Dragon]

might want to rewire your fans... 2 fans running full current through a switch in your dash.... I hope you have one beefy switch in your dash or you might be looking at a potential fire. You should run the switch through a relay and let the relay carry the high current and the switch low current.

It's cool, I have a fire extinguisher. 

I'll eventually hook it up to a relay though.

Ofcourse if you are lazy or senial like me, you could always replace that plug in your intake(can be seen in lower right in pic, below upper hose), and replace it with an (Neihoff or other brand similar switch that can be cross referenced to correct number)DR134AK Coolant Thermal Temperature Switch(Actually what goes in place of that plug on later model ECM/PCM Controled Vehicles) or similar found at Advanced Auto.  What you do, is wire in the relay(As per Vile), wire in the thermal switch next, and have your dash mounted switch wired in as a secondary...


Thanks Again for the Fan info, I thought they looked familiar!  I used to dust the boxes of the ones in my Old Store every week, ofcourse it figures that I would finally have a use for them(Could have gotten them for $20 a piece since they were clearing out alot of stuff that had been left by the Previous Company)Doh!

[VileZambonie]

Here's the fan relay circuit I drew up. Nice n easy

[Dragon]

Here's the fan relay circuit I drew up. Nice n easy

Great Work Vile! Very Well thought out, easily followed, and straight to the point!

[Bowtie Bomber]

Update:

Ok, Vile I did it. I put on the relay.. It almost cost me my engine though

Story:
After hooking it up I did an initial start up so I could see at what temp the fans would turn on. I had it running for about 30 minutes and while it was doing that, I was rewiring my tail lights and added a long needed license plate lamp.

Well.. after awhile I decided to check the fans. They were'nt on! I checked my temp gage and it was almost 260 Degree's! Quickly I shut off the engine and checked my relay. It was grounded and had power.. but the fuse was blown! So I replaced it and turn the key to accessories on and those fans started blowing like there was no tomorrow! Then once it got down to the norm of 210 I turned her back on and she ran perfect. The fans kick on about 200F and turn off at 195F.

So yeah.. that's the most I've been scared for my truck besides the time I "accidentally" did a power slide and ran into an empty, muddy ditch.. that true 4x4 gear on gear transfer case was my savior that day. 

I'll have pictures tomorrow afternoon of my handy work.

Oh! And my truck is now officially street legal! All of my lights and blinkers work! Only a matter of time before I show those kids at my high school what real mans truck is!  (every kid there drives there daddy's toyota and think they are just sooo tough.)

[Bowtie Bomber]

Alrighty, here's some pics of the new founded wiring job on the fans. Alot of the mess has been cleaned up so it looks way better and not like a hack job.

Notice how the wires are nice and tucked away. 


Oh and also, I got a new pair of shocks and put them on today. They are WAY better than what I thought they where going to. Cost $116.00 for all 4 and they are SWEET! I recommend them to everyone who want new shocks for they're LWB 4X4 Truck. You can pick them up at advance auto.



And the old shocks where HORRIBLE! No wonder the whole truck would bang and shake on a bump. They wouldn't even extend after I compressed them. A two year old could compress them.



It also turns out they have a life time warrenty and they've been on this truck since 1985 so my dad plans to take them back and get a new pair for him self. =P

[CruzinHigh]

Hey Bomber!   Great project!  I am enjoying looking along through your progress on this project.   Be sure to keep us posted of how it comes along.


Very curious as to what your fans are mounted to    I did a dual electric fan project in my truck too, but my mounts are clearly different.  I am running a dual relay setup in mine, with a toggle lighted switch in the cab.  It is currently not hooked up for a thermostatic switch but the wiring and sensor are in place...

Check out this thread if interested.  I'd like a bit more detail on your mounts just out of curiosity...
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=6067.msg30827#msg30827

Keep up the great work! 

[JJSZABO]

That looks sooooo much better and safer - good job