Howdy. Well, the kid and I took a trip to Chevy Duty this morning. Showroom is a very BAD place to be. Browsing thru a catalog cannot even start to compete with being there with all of that cool stuff. We finally left after about two hours of looking and ordering. We picked up most of the items we need for the cab floor and a few of the front suspension parts we needed. The counter people tried very hard to help us. It was great. I will be able to borrow a MIG next week so I can get this circus on the road. I stumbled into a guy that knows a guy that has a spot welder for sale. I will look at it on 02-03. My pistons, rings, bearings, etc., came in after I left work on Friday. So, I will pick them up Monday and get them to the guy doing my engine machine work. Hopefully, I will have the block done by the end of the week. Hopefully, Murphy's law won't kick in. A thought for the shuttle astronauts and their families.
Did I say Murphy's law? My 283 block magged okay but when the shop started to do the bore job, they found a tiny crack in the web between two of the cylinders. Guy said it was the 2nd or 3rd he'd seen like that in 30 years of rebuilding. Figures. I found another block on ebay and purchased it for $51. The kid and I went to Kansas to get it. Caught snow when we were almost there and an honest to God blizzard on the way back. 15 hour round trip in a blizzard just to get an engine block. Reasonable people don't do things like that. That engine is now in my garage as a short block. Frame and related parts are all blasted, primered, painted and sitting in the garage. Most of the front suspension is finished. I have been researching what to do with the original rearend. Finally ended up at a place called Randy's Ring and Pinion. They are in Washington state. Wish I would have found them sooner. Lots of answers. I picked up a 700R4 yesterday for $150 with the torque converter attached. Will blast the bottom of the cab soon, then it will time to start the rockers, pans, etc. And away we go. Jarhead
I know what you mean USMC....I can't even pass the tool section at Sears. I'd hate to think how bad it would be to be in Chevy Duty's showroom. Sounds like your truck is coming along good, keep us updated, its good motivation. Butch
