Thread: 1972 Chevy K30 Longhorn Build

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Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5

I'm telling ya, I flip flop every day on that stinkin Camaro, sell-keep-sell-keep. When this pickup is done, I will have a 77 T/A , 1953 3100, and a 71 Camaro. Between me and the wife we only have two butts so I don't know if I need 3 toys, But I like it.

Just remember: 'He who dies with the most toys wins'.

Originally Posted by johnboy

Just remember: 'He who dies with the most toys wins'.

Not this guy, resting in the arms of Jesus is when I win, not at an estate sale with a bunch of tables and flatbeds.

Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5

Not this guy, resting in the arms of Jesus is when I win, not at an estate sale with a bunch of tables and flatbeds.

Praise God, brother; I like the way you think.

Finally! Some good progress on the 7.3 truck. It hasn't been without more issues though....... It is finally in and now it is time to try to find everything else that is missing!

Looking good in classic black! Good to hear you've been moving forward.

I'll bet that about all that cherry picker wants to handle. Those motors look heavy.

It's definitely not from HF...

Those motors ARE heavy...

Progress! Looking good!

Rich

nice looking powerhouse

Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5

I'll bet that about all that cherry picker wants to handle. Those motors look heavy.

I was more leary of the engine stand than this hoist to be honest with ya. The thought of that much weight being held on with 4 12mm bolts is nerve racking. I guess I shouldn't have been worried. They are cummins head bolts I cut down.

I can say that these 7.3s aren't as heavy as a 5.9 Cummins. You really have to give the ol hoist a good shove to get a 5.9 moving on it. This 7.3 moved like butter. It went in really nice.

This morning I installed the ATI balancer on the 7.3. The hubs for these things go on super tight. I ended up breaking the Blue-point balancer installer I have, but I did manage to finally get it fully seated. The retaining bolt torques to 212 ft lbs. Real fun to do that by your self. I've got to get the after market fuel system all installed, then I can do the turbo, and start working forward with the coolers etc. We also got some snow last night. What a weird winter. 50* monday, 50* Tuesday morning but down to 25* and 30mph + gusts, and Wednesday morning snow and 16*. So odd. Here's a gratuitous truck shot!

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

I was more leary of the engine stand than this hoist to be honest with ya. The thought of that much weight being held on with 4 12mm bolts is nerve racking. I guess I shouldn't have been worried. They are cummins head bolts I cut down.

I can say that these 7.3s aren't as heavy as a 5.9 Cummins. You really have to give the ol hoist a good shove to get a 5.9 moving on it. This 7.3 moved like butter. It went in really nice.

w
I've had a few 5.9's apart and I knew they were heavy, I just figured a V8 would weigh more. I think that 12 valve 5.9 has to one of the best motors ever made. Several models of tractors use them and in the last 20 years I've only had a few apart. They don't seem to care how much Hp you give them either, just an amazing motor. The 24 valve may be just as good too, I don't know much about them.

I generally use the engine hoist to put in a 5.9 crank. I put the 7.3 crank in by hand just to give an idea. From what I've seen online the 7.3 psd's are around 920lbs. So probably 2-300lbs lighter than a cummins. I know I could have built this dude 2 5.9s for what the parts alone have cost for this 7.3. It is craziness.

You are absolutely right. The 5.9s will take alot of power and they seem to live nearly for ever if maintained. I've seen half a million plus mile ones that were abused and still ran decent. They still had cross hatching in the cylinder walls too.

I've been busy working on the blue ford. The owner wants it done for this coming weekend..... We'll see about that. Every time I turn around, i'm missing bolts, a bracket, o rings, or something. It has been a real pain with a young kid that keeps asking, is it running yet?

Back to the 72. Last Friday I took my son to school and on the way home the truck started pulling pretty hard when I hit the brakes. I parked it in the front yard and figured I'd look at it Saturday. Well Saturday turned into work on the wife's truck, and help the wife out. She is pretty much bed ridden right now. She got a blood clot last week and has been in bad pain since. She is on thinners and some pain meds and I'm trying to do everything I can to keep things going. Needless to say I didn't touch the 72 this weekend.

This morning my brother stopped by to get the insurance info and plate numbers for the 72 because you need that info to register for power tour. I decided I'd move the 72 to behind the garage because it was going to rain the next day or day and a half. The front yard is pretty thrashed from people parking there after a birthday party in January, so I'm trying to keep the ruts down to a minimum.

Anyhow, I pulled the 72 up and started backing in the alley. I cranked the wheels all the way to the right and heard a loud bang, pop. Hmm, what was that? 10-15 feet later I realized I have little to no steering. I got out to see the 3 of the 4 studs that secure the steering lift block to the axle knuckle sheared off. Holly sh*t! Man am I glad I actually listened to my gut and didn't drive the truck any farther than I did. I took the only non broken stud loose and there doesn't appear to be any signs that the other studs were loose. I'm guessing 1 or 2 studs broke some time and another just let go this morning. I tried finding where I purchased the steering block kit from and couldn't find it. I then realized I got it off ebay and I'm pretty sure these studs weren't ARP ones like the ad claimed. I called the people but they won't give any info or specs on what material the studs are actually from. Live and learn. So now the 72 is parked until I can install the cross over steering I have for my 76 on this. I'll just get it in the garage and take the bed off and get it pretty'd up for power tour. I'm just so glad it broke in the drive way. That could have been a crap show to say the least!

Wow, that could of been nasty if that had happened out on the free way.