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78' K5 Luxury Expedition Build

T

Truthamedia

Registered Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2012
Posts
15
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Location
Port Orchard, WA
Well, I've been stalking this site for quite a while now, in fact for a year or two now. I got my dream truck six months ago. Just before christmas, And I have had nothing but problems since.
But Isn't that the fun part? no, No it is not.
BTW im 17
Anyway, After buying it, I drove it for a few weeks, seemed fine. Till the head gasket blew. So out came the motor (350), and it turns out it was a four bolt main. from a truck in 1976. So it wasn't the original motor.

Not only did the head gasket blow, but my valve seats were bad and my exhaust valves themselves were bad. AND The vacuum advance did not work. All of which contributed to my whopping 7 mpgs......

So the build Began. Here are my specs on the motor that I have built up and now installed.

1976 350 four bolt main bored over to 355
Hyper pistons flat top with 2 valve reliefs
Scat steel crank
Rebuilt heads- 1.5 exhaust 1.9 intake
Speed pro Camshaft-.447 intake .447 exhaust. I forget the duration.
Edelbrock performer intake
Edeibrock 1402 600 cfm carb
Long tube headers
POR 1 rust paint
Should put out about 300-327 ponies. A little bit more torque.

Just broke it in a bit ago. Has a few issues but it seems to run fine.

Ill Post Pictures as soon as i get full membership access.

The interior is a half assed custom job done by the previous owner. New carpet. Riveted diamond plate accents, Leather power seats, carbon fiber accents, modern leather steering wheel.
The rest of the truck is stock. Stock height, stock tranny, stock axles

It should be a fun build! I plan to make the interior as luxurious as possible. Custom leather upholstery, soundproofing, sound system, bed in rear, storage everywhere, blah.

Feel free to comment!
 
Alright so I'll talk about my engine build first. I've just rebuild the engine that was in the truck. It was a 1976 four bolt main thick casting 350. It had been rebuilt before and was not done right. I took the crank out and the bearings were shot and the crank was scored. So started the ride in hell. I was trying to convince my pa that buying a crate motor would be cheaper and quicker in the long run. However he didn't agree with me. So 2500 dollars later, I am saying I told you so in my mind. Here are my more detailed specs.

Chevy 350 bored to a 355
The heads are later model fuelie heads.
1.5 intake, 2.0 exhaust
New valves, keepers, springs, hardened seats.
Thick casting block, fully cleaned and got the bake-n-shake at my local napa machine shop.
Standard main journals, standard rod journals
Scat steel crankshaft
king bearings
napa cam bearings
all caps were platiguaged within spec.
The Rods are stock
The Pistons are silvolite flat top hypereuctectic with four valve reliefs
The rings are moly
edelbrock performer intake
edelbrock carb 600cfm
speed pro camshaft- total valve lift- .447 .447 int/exh

It was an interesting build. lots of issues. But it is now in my truck and runs amazingly. So I am happy with it. pictures real soon
 
Here are Some pictures of my First engine build....
With the new crank in

The heads on

All dressed up

In the engine bay!


I'll post a complete detailed list of what I plan to do to this truck to get more viewers interested. It is going to be a long frame off resto-mod beauty!!!
 
Do yourself a favor and throw that air cleaner in the trash.

Martin
 
82355 said:
Do yourself a favor and throw that air cleaner in the trash.

Martin
Click to expand...


yeah I heard they suck. They catch on fire quite easily if the motor backfires. The issue is, I have no money, and that air cleaner was the cheapest one they had. Im only driving it for a few weeks. I am moving to Texas and that is when the build will really start.
 
Needless to say, I encountered problems with it at the worst possible time. This move to Texas kinda took us by surprise and we had to get all of our projects rolling. So In my haste I accidentally cross threaded a torque converter bolt. And I knew it immediately when I started moving the truck under her own power. The inspection plate was being scored by that bolt.

Since I had no house anymore, and I am staying with a friend, I had to fork over 800 bucks for a fix that should have cost me less than two hundred if I was able to do it myself. :( oh well. But it runs now and I am happy with the motor minus a small oil leak. Ill take the motor out when I get down there.
 
So here is THE BACKSTORY:

After buying this:

And failing......

And then buying this:

And failing again.....

AND THEN buying THIS:

And breaking even

And then buying THIS:

And being in the middle of turning it into a badass bobber

I buy THIS:


And so my pain begins AGAIN. But this time, since it is actually a truck I am willing to put up with, I am going to stick with it.
 
BUDDY said:
Should have kept the step side. I love that body style!!

Later,
Buddy
Click to expand...


If it hadn't turned out stolen, I would have...... Got it for cheap. Trusted the guy I got it from. Turns out he wasn't as trustworthy a guy as we thought he was. it was a cool truck. But wasn't meant to be
 
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