OK, folks. Wasn’t expecting to make an update this soon, but last week was a good one.

I joined some Facebook groups that deal with square bodies and found some power window doors. About 2 ½ hours away but they looked good in the pictures, and I took a chance on them. Turns out the seller was a little less than completely truthful and the passenger door had been folded back a little in reverse. Driver door was good with one minor dent. I got the seller to knock a bunch off because of my long drive and carried them both home. Even if the passenger door is unusable, it still has all the power actuator stuff and both doors had better vent windows than the ones that are on the truck. I considered it a mostly winning hand.





On the way home, I passed close to an old country junk yard I used to go to. The owner passed away and his son worked off, so the yard kind of languished in weeds with the son selling stuff occasionally. I wasn’t expecting much but was surprised to see the property being cleared of under growth and the cars being sorted by brand. Seems the son quit his away job and started running the yard again full time.

I was able to wander around a little and think I found a usable passenger door on an old wrecker. It was still deep in the weeds and I couldn’t get a real good look, but what I saw was encouraging. Owner said he would be dragging it and another like it out soon, so that is a definite maybe on a decent passenger door carcass. All I need is a solid, straight shell.

I did find a pretty good tailgate. I’ve got to get back over there for a closer look. It had a stainless steel top edge guard screwed on and I didn’t feel like wrestling with the screws with just my Leatherman. Another definite maybe, but a better maybe than the door. This yard usually has good prices, too.

The wrecker also had a hydro-boost brake system and I’m interested in that. Did not appear to have any leaks, but it has been sitting for a loooong time. Told the owner I would need the pump and all the hoses. They might have to be replaced, but at least I’ll have something to go by. Not sure if I will go this way. It’s still in the planning stages and is just an option at this point. Need to do a little research first. I do have a low buck front brake upgrade planned and this would fit right into that.

The really big score came almost as my time off was winding down. I have been putting out some feelers with some old street rod contacts about needing an LS/4L80E combo. Turns out that a fellow I’ve known for years that had a hot rod shop has been having health problems and is shutting down his business. He just so happened to have an LQ4 6 liter and a 4L80E sitting in the corner of his shop. He picked it up several years ago and hung onto it in case a customer wanted something like it for a project. He told me I could have it for a good price so you know I went after it. Yet another 2 ½ hour one-way drive, but worth every mile.



The engine has the stock harness, which appears to be dirty but in good shape, and computer. It is a cable throttle setup and came out of a wrecked 3/4 or 1 ton van. It also is NOT Displacement on Demand so that is major plus for me. If I had gotten an engine with DOD, I would have had to do the DOD delete thing which can be pricey. The LQ4 isn’t the higher HP 6.0, but I think it will be more than good enough to start with. I could always throw a cam in it and get it tuned later if I felt the need. The engine is very clean. No evidence of any major leaks, if any real leaks at all. Trans has clean fluid that doesn’t smell burnt. Engine oil is dirty, though. The only thing I think it’s missing is the Mass Airflow Sensor. I’m pretty sure I have a 5 wire MAS left over from the early stages of the Healey build, just have to find it. To say I’m tickled at this stage is an understatement. I surely didn’t start the week thinking I would have most of the major parts in hand or at least located in a few short days!

I’ve also been making good on my vow to clean and organize my shop, as well as sell off as many of the old SBC parts as I can get decent money for. The cleaning has been a slow process, but the initial selling has been going well. Well enough that I can order the LS swap mounts and the EFI fuel tank stuff. My shop quite literally looks like some kind of automotive hoarder’s den. As I have accumulated “stuff” the usable floor space has shrank to where there are just a few paths to navigate in. Much of this junk I have come to realize will never be used. Maybe if I was 30, but not at this point in my life. Time to unclutter.

I have at least another 2 weeks cleaning and then have to get a 95 Z71 running for my granddaughter. No custom work, just fuel system and brake repairs. My son-in-law is helping, so it should go pretty quick. By then, I hope to have all the fuel system parts and LS swap mounts in hand. Then real fun can begin. Who am I kidding! Just getting out and beating the bushes (literally) on a new project has put a smile on my face. Feels like old times!