A-100 Project

When i replaced the 318 in my p/u ,the engine went thru the pass .door opening

Installing a big block through passenger side door was a very close call without headers. Early Hemi is much wider. I take it you have measured that it will fit?

Great build.

JariV wrote:Installing a big block through passenger side door was a very close call without headers. Early Hemi is much wider. I take it you have measured that it will fit?

Great build.

If yours was a big block Mopar, it's actually a 1/2" wider than an early hemi, so that's the good news.

Mine was a B-block, not RB.

JariV wrote:Mine was a B-block, not RB.

Now it's bad news ...I'm 4 inches wider than you were dealing with. Would be a tight squeeze if I had no dash in the truck! Will have to bring it to the shop and put it in from the bottom on the lift. At least I can have the powertrain completely assembled when it goes in rather than fight it on the floor.

I had to drag out the table saw to finish framing in some French doors this weekend, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to at least get something done on the truck.  I cut some 1/8” ply for the headliner base.  Have some 1/8” closed cell foam and black perforated vinyl on the way, so I’ll measure out the sunroof opening, get it all assembled and put it away ‘til I need it – one less thing on the checklist.

I was excited to get a set of repop visors, so I figured I’d take a couple of minutes and see how they look.  Ever try to insert the support rod into a new set of visors?  I’ve pressed on axle bearings that take less effort.  After about an hour I got one of them done!

I’m going to try and get the front sway bar mounted over the weekend.  With the C4 suspension, there is a lot of sub frame stuff going on.  Couple that with the reversed steering shaft and under floor brake pedal and free space is at a real premium.  The rear end has all the space in the world, so the stock Corvette bar fits without issue.  In the front, two pads are welded to frame rails and a straight sway bar is required to clear everything.  Only place that offers a high quality kit that won’t break the bank that I found is Paul Horton’s Welder Series in Canada.  It took about a week or so to arrive, but the stuff is nice and should make for a sanitary install.  I’ll try to get a few pics along the way.

[quote="66e100pu"]I was excited to get a set of repop visors, so I figured I’d take a couple of minutes and see how they look.  Ever try to insert the support rod into a new set of visors?  I’ve pressed on axle bearings that take less effort.  After about an hour I got one of them done!

[/quot

What's the trick with the install? I am ready to order a set.

OutofSight wrote:

66e100pu wrote:I was excited to get a set of repop visors, so I figured I’d take a couple of minutes and see how they look.  Ever try to insert the support rod into a new set of visors?  I’ve pressed on axle bearings that take less effort.  After about an hour I got one of them done!

[/quot

What's the trick with the install? I am ready to order a set.

One side was a bear, the other side was easier.  What I did was find the right sized Phillips screwdriver and used it to open the channel up the best I could by twisting and pushing.  Next I inserted the rod about 1-2" in the visor (forced it as far as I could get it).  Then I positioned the swivel end so the edge of it could be placed on the carpet; held the visor vertically straight and pounded the rod fully home by striking the pivot end against the floor.  It sounds brutal, but it goes in at about an inch at time.  The trick is hit it straight and square and use both hands to support each edge of the visor (it's like a slide hammer in reverse).  There is one shot to get it right because trying to get it out again once you've started driving it in would be a nightmare.  On the other side of the visor, I found somebody on ebay that makes the tips for a Mopar B body out of Derlin.  These are bulletproof, unlike the plastic tubes that came stock.  I used the Phillips to open up the other side and beveled the ends of the tips slightly on a grinding wheel.  Once started in the channel, these pound in the same way but with far less effort.  I had no center supports for the tips, so I used 94-01 Dodge Ram pickup units.  I had to hit the backs on a grinding wheel to level out some protrusions that they have, but the curvature works perfectly with 2 minutes of work.

Do you have any pics of the other end, and info on the tips?

OutofSight wrote:Do you have any pics of the other end, and info on the tips?

I'll get some pics over the weekend.  In the mean time, these are the tip supports:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171983220237?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

These are also much stronger than the originals.

These are the tips:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291407321734?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I managed to snap a quick cell phone photo - not the best, but it shows the other end ok.

Looks great! What kind of intermediate steering box is that?

Thanks

Thank you very much for th pic, it helps a lot!

BillWelter wrote:Looks great!  What kind of intermediate steering box is that?

Thanks

It's a 1998-2002 Isuzu Rodeo intermediate steering gear.

I find it amazing that the simplest job on a typical build almost always turns into a major project somehow!  I was tackling the front sway bar when I realized that the lower control arm shock mounting plates are made from aluminum too.  Not going to have any luck welding the steel mounting tabs to aluminum, so I had to fab some steel plates to act as a mounting base.  My mig is not up to the task of handling 1/4 “ and 3/8” steel, so I’ve got it all set-up for the welder – now we’ll see how long it sits in the shop.  I’m sure I can find some other ‘simple’ things to do while I’m waiting….

Got my stuff back from the welder in no time, so I mocked up the sway bar to make sure everything works without contacting the coilovers, subframe, etc.  I always think that I’m setting up modern suspension in a 50 year old truck, until I remember that the suspension is 30 years old too.  That requires that everything be disassembled, cleaned, and new bushings everywhere.  There are no factory bushings available for the 84-87 Corvette, so Prothane is the only option left.  They can be pretty stiff and squeak in the cold, but it is what it is.   Waiting for the new ball joints and tie rod ends to finish it all up.  When the truck was primed after media blasting, the overspray hit the front-end pretty good.  The clean-up is a major PITA, but the aluminum components really are a work of art.  I have to resist the urge to polish everything.  The truck is being built as a driver, not some trailer queen that you have to clean with Q-Tips.  With everything removed, I’ll prep the underside and shoot it in chassis black so when it all goes back in it’s done.  Also mounted the dual spun aluminum fuel tanks – they sit tucked up between the chassis rail and sheet metal ahead of the rear wheel on each side.  I used flip top fillers that are mounted to the bed floor.  There is really no room for a rear mounted tank with the IRS taking up as much room as it does.  I’ll get some pictures of the tank installation eventually.

Moving along one piece at a time.

Keep inching forward a little bit at a time.  Decided to go with new calipers as long as everything was coming apart.  Waiting for the rotors and pads to arrive to finish the knuckles up.  Should be ready to bolt it all back together in a week or so.

Very NICE work!!!

vanny wrote:Very NICE work!!!

Thanks, vanny.  Most is just fun, but some really is work!

Finally the rotors and pads arrived.  All the front suspension and steering components are done.  Fun time is over, now on to the miserable job of prepping the bottom for paint so everything can go back in.  

I finally got my visors installed, man what a chore, but I'm glad it's done!

Thanks for your help!

OutofSight wrote:I finally got my visors installed, man what a chore, but I'm glad it's done!

Thanks for your help!

Glad to hear you got that behind you.  It’s unbelievable how something that should be relatively simple is such a bear!