broke_as_a_joke

My great grandfather bought this car brand new in late 60 from the dealership my grandfather was a mechanic at. It has been in the family ever since. It was parked on the family farm in the early 80s when my great grandmother passed away. When I was 12 or so (2002ish) my grandfather and I got it running so I could cruise it around the farm and learn to drive. Now I've finally decided to do something with it. I'm determined not to cut it up, but I know if I just patched up the super boring 283/powerglide combo it would just collect dust and I'd never drive it. I came across Denmah and his preachings lol, and I can't stop thinking about it, so that is the plan.





I acquired a 2003 DBW LM7 with harness and computer... ODO said 299k. The price was right. I also ended up with a 2002 DBC LR4 with 150K on it so that is plan B. I sourced a 4l80e out of a 97 2500 van with a 5.7 in it, so I plan on throwing a transgo HD2 in that as per Denmah's orders. I understand those don't fit in these X frame cars particularly well, but I'm determined to work it out. I'm torn about what to do for a rear end, an explorer rear is within a 1/2" WMS width of the stocker and can be drilled to 5x4.75, however I'm concerned the pinion offset with be another issue for the X frame. A 12 bolt would be ideal but I have friends willing to donate an explorer rear to the cause so I will investigate when the time comes.

I tore the 5.3 down this evening, no ridges in the cylinders, upper compression rings are pre gapped to .030 and the lowers to .028. I'll start reassembly later this week. I just ordered a Denmah turbo kit from VS racing, MLS GMPP gaskets, Deka 80lb injectors, the trans go kit and PAC1218 valve springs. The plan is HP Tuners and learn how to tune... We'll see how that goes, to be honest, it's way out of my range of skills but I have good friends that are smarter than I am and willing to help lol.

I'm certain its a well maintained 1 owner unit! All highway miles for sure.

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

I'm in for updates! Don't see a lot of 4 door hardtops, I've always liked them because they were different. Good luck with it and keep us updated.

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

My favourite year! If you have any questions, you know where I'm at.

HP Tuners is a very powerful tool.

broke_as_a_joke

Well I figured I'd report what progress I've made over the week. I got a short block together, just waiting on PAC1218s to show up so I can put them on and then put the heads on it.

I didn't want to be one of those guys that starts a build thread and falls off the face of the earth haha

Project GatTagO

iTrader: (7)

squarles67

Cool car with family history, I love it!! 4 door hard top is a great bonus

broke_as_a_joke

I've been picking away at swapping valve springs between side jobs throughout the week. I'll get some pictures for you pic ****** this weekend! Also my Denmah turbo kit from VS racing showed up! Things are happening!

Advanced Design

61 is on my bucket list...cool build and I am tagging along.

broke_as_a_joke

Well progress has been slow, it got very cold in the garage and I got sick of smelling my old kerosene heater. I scored a hell of a deal on a hanging Modine heater. So I devoted a few days to getting that installed. As soon as that was done I got the 5.3 back together with the PAC1218s, and a healthy ring gap. Ready for boost!!!





VS racing parts have arrived


I have a couple of side projects to get out of the way, but soon I'll get the transgo kit into the 4L80E and roll the old girl into the garage, I'll check back in when I do!

01cherryreds10

iTrader: (9)

Cool build wish my grandfather and his brother didn't junk their cars when they got a new one.

broke_as_a_joke

Well I got back to work on it, after getting side tracked by snowmobiling and other little projects. I just finished getting the Trans go kit in the 4L80e, it was interesting, I've never been any deeper into an auto trans than the filter so I was scratching my head a lot, the directions were pretty decent and the video of a full install that Denmah has posted on youtube was very helpful where the directions left me uncertain.


I'm very worried about the trans, it had 150k on it and I got to drive the rig I pulled it out of, but the fluid was burnt and there was all sorts of black nasty sediment in the pan and valve body. I think I'll run the stock converter for now, I hate to plug a high dollar converter onto it and then have the trans **** the bed. If it expires after I get it all together I'll cross that bridge when I get there. All done! Hope it works!


The weather man was calling for 1'+ of snow so my buddy and I rolled it in the garage! We threw it up to give it a good once over, (I haven't been under it for 10 years) it is every bit as solid as I remembered it! Very very minor rust issues, I forgot to snap pics of that.

I am very concerned about fitting that 80e in there and getting a drive shaft to the rear end I found a guy that put one in a 63 on some other forum, so I'm hoping I'll figure it out.

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

Good plan. Get it rolling under it's own power and sort the details later.

Mcnally351

Cool car I curious how the ls fits in the X frame. I have a 58 and want to do the same thing. Keep it going!

truckdoug

iTrader: (25)

are you doing a stock cam?

maybe consider having the stock converter restalled. a guy local to me will cut, clean and knock the fins around for $200

broke_as_a_joke

Yeah, for now, that is an interesting thought, based on what I saw in that VB and bottom of the pan I really don't think that trans is long for this world so I think for now I'll let it ride.

As LS1nova71 and gofastwclass have demonstrated in their threads, they fit nicely with minor massaging. Truck intake and all. The 4L80e is the part where I am in somewhat uncharted territory, people have done it, but it is not well documented as far as I can tell.

broke_as_a_joke

I got quite a bit of work done today!
I really feel pretty bad about taking apart this old survivor but I have no interest in cruising around a 200 HP car so it had to be done.
Out with the old!


After the 283 and the glide were out I cut all the exhaust off, the parking brake garbage, evicted some rodents from the driveshaft tunnel and dropped the gas tank. Tank is about half full of rust colored jelly, smells awful!


This picture sucks but I tacked a piece of flat bar where the trans mount belongs to hold the 80e yoke about where it needs to be, then supported the bell with a ratchet strap while we lowered the engine in and bolted them together.








My buddy is pretty pumped we are finally working on this thing!
The 80e fits surprisingly well, it is TIGHT! I'm going to smash the pinch weld above the trans where the firewall meets the floor and I think that is all I will have to do. I decided to build my own solid motor mounts, I was tempted with that from the beginning do to it being easy, but now I'm thinking the tight tolerance around the trans would benefit from the engine not being able to move much too. Hopefully I don't hate the solids, I have never driven a car on the street with solid motor mounts but I'll find out I guess. I decided I need to clearance the cross member for the F-body pan, the front of the engine needs to come down at least and inch, it will improve the output shaft angle as well so its a no brainer. I'll get more done soon!

Mcnally351

Awesome work!! I'm taking notes.

broke_as_a_joke

Thanks!

broke_as_a_joke

I had big plans to cut the whole top of the cross member out and lower its profile by 1.5", I even drew on it a bit, luckily before I started cutting I realized there is a piece inside of it that was going to make that plan more complicated than I was expecting. So I heated up a couple of trouble spots and smacked them with a hammer, swung the motor in it, swung it back out, got kinda mad and really went to town on it. Then I swung the motor back in it, I'm really not sure I'm satisfied yet, I'd like to get another 1/2 inch out of it, at least. I need to go dig the intake out of the shed and set it on there to check hood clearance but it is going to be tight. I'm not sure how I'm going to squeeze any more oil pan clearance out of it yet. Might have to start cutting. Its late and work will be early, I'll brainstorm later, any suggestions are welcome.

broke_as_a_joke

Mounts are tacked up, engine clears the hood by about an inch! I'm pretty excited! More soon!