1971 truck: getting ready for 6.0/4l80

[HerronPerformance]

Originally Posted by Tony

Mine was my dads old truck and it was from up north, so there is not a body panel left that doesnt have some kind of cancer. I just can't get rid of it though lol.

But, when I do start doing this, can you get parts for them? I'm not sure if you have the hookup on something that old...

They have patch panels and complete panels, I have not even looked to see if I can get such panels, but there are a slew of good places out there to get stuff from.

This truck of mine was my wife's grandfather's truck that he bought new. I bought it (cant remember the mileage, but not alot) and it only has 109k on it now. This is one of the things that will stay with us forever probably....

[HerronPerformance]

Today we drove it 100miles round trip. Went to a buddy's house to help on a CTS V header install, motor/trans mount swap, and Dyno session.

truck did real well in traffic and in drive thru. idles at 550 at does not get above 195*. At that point the fan comes on and cools it down as expected.

Not getting the MPGs I wanted but I have not even started working on it, that will begin next week probably.

next step is to put on power brake booster which might have to wait till spring of next year unless I can find some time. we do have a long weekend coming up for T-day!

[the_husk]

Originally Posted by HerronPerformance

Today we drove it 100miles round trip. Went to a buddy's house to help on a CTS V header install, motor/trans mount swap, and Dyno session.

truck did real well in traffic and in drive thru. idles at 550 at does not get above 195*. At that point the fan comes on and cools it down as expected.

Not getting the MPGs I wanted but I have not even started working on it, that will begin next week probably.

next step is to put on power brake booster which might have to wait till spring of next year unless I can find some time. we do have a long weekend coming up for T-day!

Sweet! Glad it's running good though!

[HerronPerformance]

pix from the CTS V mod party last weekend.





I did wash the truck on Saturday.
Was hoping to get the new brake booster on during the long weekend but this weekend has not gone as planned....kids sick, G-ma inlaw in the hospital, etc....but did bench bled the Master Cylinder and I will do the brake booster sometime.

This was a few minutes with me and the boys rubbing on the rim with steel wool. I will need to take some more time to get them even better, like in the tight spots. And some of it is pitted and will never be back but it looks alot better I think!





Cell phone pic of rims up close. I had rubbed on this one some before taking pic but you can see the difference

[HerronPerformance]

And this one was fun, Alex (4YO) was just a gigglin seeing the smoke boil!!!

[richard96]

Cool as hello!

[Paulster2]

You need to drop a posi in the rear, Shon! I have to say, the engine looks as though it belongs there. Great looking install, bro!

[HerronPerformance]

It was amazing how much stuff just lined up when doing this...scary.
My brother is in the middle of doing a 68/69 as well.

I probably will eventually have the rear done and many other things but until then...it is still a blast to drive!!!

[Paulster2]

I can only imagine. I've told you of some of my dreaming. Sorry I have to live vicariously through you in the mean time Great stuff, brother. I bet the new engine in there makes it a WHOLE different truck, lol!

[HerronPerformance]

you realize stuff is 38 years old....
brakes on this truck have been my biggest concern from day one and if I can find the time that will be solved, I have the new M/C and booster needed, just got to put it on.

I should have new engine covers next week, I think that is going to be really cool, hides a ton of stuff!!

[Paulster2]

I take it you're running manual drum brakes at the present moment?

[Forgiven]

Nice project, had a 4x4 like that once.

[HerronPerformance]

Originally Posted by Paulster2

I take it you're running manual drum brakes at the present moment?

Truck came with factory front disc and rear drums, those drums are HUGE!!

A guy makes a bracket to use the F-body rear disc brakes on these rear ends that I may end up going to....my brother has the set up on the stuff he just bought for his truck so I will get to see it soon....heck, I will just take his brackets and make me a set

[Paulster2]

Originally Posted by HerronPerformance

Truck came with factory front disc and rear drums, those drums are HUGE!!

A guy makes a bracket to use the F-body rear disc brakes on these rear ends that I may end up going to....my brother has the set up on the stuff he just bought for his truck so I will get to see it soon....heck, I will just take his brackets and make me a set

I don't know that I'd worry about the rear drums unless you plan on doing a bunch of towing with it. You probably already know the rear brakes don't really do too much in the way of providing brake assistance in the long bed trucks. I think once you get the power booster on it, you'll notice a huge difference. I mean, at least run it with the booster first to see if you get the braking performance you're looking for before you try to retrofit a bunch of disk brake stuff on there. Just a thought.

[HerronPerformance]

With the current wheel package drum brakes are fine but if I go to some different wheels I will want some cool looking brakes back there, LOL