DEEDDUDE

Great work. Truck is looking good. Looks like it will handle pretty good too. Keep us updated.

hackster

Hope that it handles really well when its done. Thanks for the compliments.

Managed to stop in at oil filter sales and service this morning and picked up a bunch of fittings.

First up on the to do list was to make some modifications to the fuel rail. Cut off the excess brackets for what I believe was the coil covers. Then I drilled out a -6 steel fitting until it sat right on the inner ridge of the fuel rail return fitting and brazed it on.

Did the same thing on the supply line only with a -8 line on this one.

Rails are early corvette with supply and return lines.

Then what started out as some prep for paint turned into a couple hours with red scotch brite pad, some 320 grit sandpaper and some matte clear and finally think that I am happy with the results. Normally the stock rails are a little less than pretty. Think this is an ok outcome of trying to save a few bucks.





Also picked up some 6x1x110 bolts for the intake, got it all cleaned up, cleaned the heads off and stuck that pig down for good.

Also had to see what the engine bay is going to look like with the inner fenders on.







Turbo might show up tomorrow.....little bit excited about that one.

Sean

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

The inner fenders turned out real nice with all the extra holes filled, it looks real clean and focuses your attention on the engine, nice touch!

navyblueSS

iTrader: (1)

Nice build!

hackster

Thanks guys,

Just to give you an idea of what the inner fenders started out looking like....



I had some rust below the battery tray on the passenger side, and while looking at it, I thought I could clean it up a bit. That long crisp body line that now runs the entire length of the inner fender was what I was really looking for when I started.

The best thing, is that you cant tell any of that work was done on it, just looks factory.



Sean

UPS man should be paying me a little visit today from Forced Inductions

hackster

Good couple of days...

This showed up on Tuesday afternoon.



I laid out a bunch of exhaust parts on the parts table and got to work.



SO I started to get everything mocked up. Its big. Bigger than I thought it would be.

I really wanted it straight in the engine bay aesthetically, but there was just no way to make it fit there. So, it got clocked into this position and I built a mount to hold this big girl in place.

Checking for clearance to the front inner fender. It is close but not really many options at this time. Pretty sure a compressor blanket is going to be in my near future.





Wastegate showed up yesterday.



It, like the turbo is bigger than anticipated, where am I going to fit all this stuff?

Managed to get home at a descent hour last night and started on the fab work, this is what I enjoy doing so it was fun. Both manifolds chopped off, v bands tacked into place and all of the hot side tacked up. Still need some flex pipes, another v band and the wastegate but pretty happy how this all came together.









Exhaust is going to be almost too close to the oil fill on the valve cover, do they make valve covers with oil fill on both sides? Other than that and the wastegate and dump tube, I am pretty good for clearance on everything.

Thinking about just running a dump tube with a muffler on it instead of trying to snake it back through to the exhaust.

Sean

AAIIIC

iTrader: (19)

Looks like this thing is going to be pretty badass when you're done! Is swapping in the Crown Vic front end a common thing to do on these older trucks, or what gave you that idea? I imagine that does wonders for ride quality and handling.

Those inner fenders came out great. Like you said, you can't even tell that the battery tray was there - nice job on making that body line continue the full length.

Oh, and just because I'm **** retentive, if something is pretty good it's decent, not descent.

hackster

Haha!! Yep. That would be correct.

Crown Vic swap is pretty common on these old fords. It's an awesome swap since it damn near bolts in to the frame. Gets rid if all the bs twin I beams, gives you rack and pinion and great brakes.

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

Inner fenders turned out very well. I love the clean, smoothed out look.

Wow, that turbo is big. I have a vision of this truck having some LONG legs in the future!

hackster

Worked on the downpipe tonight.





Looking for ideas for the wastegate placement now. Ordered a single 60 mm, but now, thinking I should have just done two 44's instead.

Any ideas out there or suggestions?

Got the last v band, and flex connector today. Have a few hours off tomorrow, hope to make a little progress on it then.

Sean

ls1_chevelle

iTrader: (9)

Try and capture both hot side banks at an angle that gives the wastegate lots of exhaust flow priority. Looks awesome so far!!

hackster

I tried. Pretty sure I came up with a solution that will work. Your car is awesome by the way...

Been busy trying to get stuff done the last few days, running a little low on motivation as my other two cars need work. Steering rack and all new joints on the ls Volvo and rear disc brake conversion on the 79 cummins were done this weekend as well.

Figured out a routing for the wastegate, probably not ideal, but this way was the cleanest I could figure it out without a ton more exhaust under the hood.





Fits god with the inner fender still.



Once that was done I got to business wit the welder and die grinder.



You can see in this picture a pretty direct path from both banks to the wastegate. Piping to and from the wastegate is 2 1/4"



Went over to my neighbor Geno's house who is always a huge help on these projects and he let me loose with his tig machine. To those of you who are killed with a tig torch, you have my respect, its hard to make it look perfect. These are far from perfect, but should hold just fine.

Did the downpipe with the TIG as well as the v bands onto the manifolds. The rest of the hot side piping got treated to a date with the old wire feed, turned out alright.

Last night I finished up with a little dimple died bracket for the turbo brace and added in two o2 bungs and a wideband bung.






Here it is all pulled off and ready to head over to the ceramic coater.




Now I get to get back to other stuff, fuel door in the bed floor, plumbing the fuel system and probably getting started on some wiring, radiator and intercooler.

Sean

static low 92

iTrader: (2)

That HOSS turbo makes the ls look sooooo small in there lol


Did you grind the casting down on the manifolds prior to sending them to coater?

hackster

Yep, cleaned them all up before hand. Should turn out decent when its all coated. Doing everything in all black for that clean stealthy look.

The turbo does make the ls engine look dinky in there

Sean

hackster

Well, not a lot of progress on this the last few days, as lots of stuff is out of my hands.

Got the grille, bumper, headlight bezels and buckets back from the powder coater last night.

I am very happy with the results on the grill, the bumper needs to get redone. Finish is spot on though, I wanted a dull aluminum finish and this is what we came up with.







I can get the grille, inner fender and core support bolted in now and see where the intercooler can and cannot fit.

Sean

LLave

iTrader: (3)

That is powder coating on the grill and bumper? not plating? That is a sweet look.

hackster

Yep, its powder coated steel!! on both the bumper, grille and bezels.

I could not be happier with the look, it is exactly what I wanted.

Called Dull Chrome, with a clear coat over the top.

Sean

OutlawDrifter

iTrader: (9)

hackster, awesome project man!

i married into a ford family and have been wanting to do this since i finished my camaro. great work and attention to detail!

AAIIIC

iTrader: (19)

Agreed, that looks great!

BMR Tech2

iTrader: (5)

Man I am loving this build. can't wait to see the finished product. Making me miss my turbo c10