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'72 K5 - AJ's Gray Matter Build

Overview Gallery Discussion
bp71k5 said:
Nice. I've got the same hitch on mine, but I didn't have to make any mods. I think the ORD shackle flip doesn't go under the frame so it doesn't interfere. Did you get the flip-up license plate frame too?

So far, I've used mine to let a jeep pull me out of a mud pit... Twice. :o
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I got the full kit. Just didn't have time to put the flip up bracket on and do the wiring plug.

I'm sure the same will happen to me... heck I've already been pulled off the rocks by a heep once before...
 
Oh yea, watch your head on that rear sharp edge of the hitch when you're working under there. It can dig pretty deep into your forehead. I had to slice the corners off after the last injury.
 
AJ,

How long have you had that fiery tailgate? I don't remember ever seeing a picture of that before... :thinking:


:usaflag:
 
bp71k5 said:
Oh yea, watch your head on that rear sharp edge of the hitch when you're working under there. It can dig pretty deep into your forehead. I had to slice the corners off after the last injury.
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I noticed that. I may go ahead and round off the corners now.

Greg72 said:
AJ,

How long have you had that fiery tailgate? I don't remember ever seeing a picture of that before... :thinking:


:usaflag:
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The PO did it. Part of the crazy a$$ paint scheme he came up with. It's one of the only parts I've contemplated keeping when its time for paint.
 
UPDATE 7/24/10: A heater in South Texas?? What?? The build has been sorely neglected. Spent a lot of time selling off some parts to buy parts, then went to Las Vegas. Long story short, well, about half the money I made selling parts contributed to the Las Vegas economy.

So what's this about a heater? The truck is originally an AC cab. With a soft top only, and all of my AC stuff sold last year, I've been struggling with what to do about a heater. The goal is to be able to drive the truck year round, even when it drops into the 30's here :D. So I found a company called AC Delete that replaces the outside AC box, with a fan mount and air box. The heater core remains inside the cab.

Assembled and painted with rattlecan black
IMG_4311.sized.jpg


Cleans up the firewall a bunch
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Profile. Gives me a lot of room back under the hood. I still need to do the gaskets.
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Then I put a new torque converter lockup and aluminum tranny pan on. The TCI lockup has a vacuum switch in addition to the keyed power switch that I ran previously.
IMG_4314.sized.jpg


That's it for now....
 
Update 10/10/10: We have headers! and plug wires. Been really slow progress lately due to the lack of budget. I splurged a bit and picked up a set of headers from a vendor over on 67-72chevytrucks.com. They're a custom design for 67-72 trucks. Nobody has put a set on a 4x4, so, I'm the first. I immediately ran into clearance issues on the #1 and #2 tube with the DIY4X crossmember. For grins, I put a factory crossmember back in and had the same issues. A couple more tweaks to the DIY4X crossmember and we have fitment!!!

Here's the list of the final changes I made to the DIY4X crossmember:
  1. Had new frame channel brackets made with the mount holes 1/4" closer to the bend to push them deeper into the frame. They fit flush to the frame edge.
  2. Had Kert cut me a set of 1/4" spacers to match the flange
  3. Cut 1" off the top of the flange and the spacers (more clearance at the top of the frame)
  4. Had Kert bend up a new set of block brackets that raise the engine 3/4". I actually think the normal height on these brackets puts the engine lower than stock.
  5. Last key piece here was to make an additional set of 1/8" spacers for the flange. When tightening everything down, it was pulling in the frame. Every 1/8" counted here for clearance.

Here's a pic of the final assembly
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Now!!! On to the headers! 2" primaries with 3 1/2" collectors. 3/8" flange... no warping here
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Nice clearance on all straight plug wires.... no 90* plugs needed
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Frame clearance. After all was said and done, only the #1 tube is close, it's got a bit over 1/4" of clearance. Need to get in there and weld some patches back onto the top frame rail.
IMG_4548.sized.jpg

IMG_4549.sized.jpg


The money shots.... clearing the shackles and shackle bolts. AND CLEARING THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT OF THE CLOCKED UP 241!!!! They also don't hang below the frame.
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IMG_4551.sized.jpg

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Stabbed in the distributor.
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That's all the excitement for now...
 
Nice headers - saw those over there - those hit in the same spot as my Thorley's with my DIY4X x-member.

I believe those are made in Seattle area? Did you try and get them to modify / or let them know about the fitment issues?
 
NorCalTank said:
Are you still working on this? Updates?
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It's been some small stuff here and there. Nothing post worthy. Ran out of budget in 2010. Annual bonus should be coming in soon. Hopefully it will lead to mass part accumulation and back to building. Trust me, I'm anxious.
 
AJ,

So what are the pending items that you need to buy and work on? :dunno:

The recent photos show a complete looking motor and induction system, and I remember you had already gone through the suspension and shocks early on.

What's the plan, man? :ears:


:usaflag:
 
Greg72 said:
AJ,

So what are the pending items that you need to buy and work on? :dunno:

The recent photos show a complete looking motor and induction system, and I remember you had already gone through the suspension and shocks early on.

What's the plan, man? :ears:


:usaflag:
Click to expand...

EFI fuel cell, aluminum radiator and fans, redoing exhaust to support the engine, upgrading the EFI to Pro-Flo2, some front axle upgrades, revisiting shock mounts front and rear....
 
AJ-

Thanks for posting up the pics / details regarding modifications to your DIY4x crossmember -

I need to modify mine now too - Your pics/details will be my starting point!
 
Forgot to ask - when you were all said & done, was your crossmember in the original location or moved one way or the other?

If so, how much?
 
IGOR said:
Forgot to ask - when you were all said & done, was your crossmember in the original location or moved one way or the other?

If so, how much?
Click to expand...

It's still in the stock K5 location on the frame.

On a side note.... parts ordering has begun :woot:
 
Teaser.... I stopped by my painter this afternoon and picked up an SUV full of shiny black parts. And these are just the ones you can see...

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