Slow but productive!! 1988 W/T stepside project - Page 2

m grasso · 06-23-2009, 10:49 PM

Sweet truck man keep it up!

cantbuytime454 · 06-24-2009, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m grasso

Sweet truck man keep it up!

Thanks for the ups guys..

Ok after exhaustive research and the hindsight of Rich, hes da man.. I have discovered two ways to do this swap from regular 5 lug 1/2 ton suspension to heavy duty 3/4 or 1 ton suspension 8 lug (Dually)..

First of all The easiest would be to get a flareside bed, dually fenders, front fender extensions, dually rear axle and springs.. and dually front suspension.. yes it will all bolt right into my 1/2 ton..with minimal fabrication.. Should only take a day to do the rear end.. and probably do the front the same day too.. as long as my c-notch is in place first..

Ok the other option which i am thinking of.

Still do the bed swap but on the suspension just go with regular 8 lug and not the dually rearend and hubs... Now its still better brakes then what i have but i was thinking was use adapter since i will run the aluminum 22.5 wheels.. this should not be hard on the truck. and when i want i can pull the dually wheels off and bolt on some regular 8 lugs wheels and some fat slicks in the back and go to the track..

the other reason for using adapters in the front is not having to modify the fender to be able to tuck those big wheels and able to turn them, but by using a shorter adapter in the front to give more clearance..

its all kinda up in the air right now.. i am doing the conversion, just not shure how i wanna do it.. i just want atleast 19.5 to tuck and turn.. i am not going with bags either
.

its gonna get a flip in the back and springs and spindles in front.. you say its not alot of drop but in the future i was plannin on body drop, 2 inches or so just to get the rockers even with the frame.. also it will tuck the wheels more..

heres my gimp shop of a short wide double cab dually to my short wide single cab.. i think it would look sick.. especially if that was my ride height..

someotherguy · 06-24-2009, 11:05 AM

Yeah I know some of the bagged dudes are running non-dually 8 lug stuff in order to tuck. You know I've got that '99 OBS here with the single wheel 8 lug setup, front and rear...it's just begging to have the suspension yanked so I can send the final remains to the crusher.

Richard

denialdeath · 06-24-2009, 11:21 AM

You won't be turning anywhere with that much wheel tucked.
I can't wait to see the dually conversion completed. I have seen a 454ss shortbed reg cab dually before though, I think it was even a special factory model.

cantbuytime454 · 06-24-2009, 01:42 PM

Really??? man i wish i could find pics of one done right.....

denialdeath · 06-24-2009, 01:49 PM

I'll try to find it again.

cantbuytime454 · 06-24-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by someotherguy

Yeah I know some of the bagged dudes are running non-dually 8 lug stuff in order to tuck. You know I've got that '99 OBS here with the single wheel 8 lug setup, front and rear...it's just begging to have the suspension yanked so I can send the final remains to the crusher.

Richard

Yeah thats why i been trying to get over there and talk to you...

Start getting stuff together.

thanks denialdeath.. let me know

cantbuytime454 · 07-07-2009, 11:51 PM

OK, I got all the bugs worked out.. fixxed the overheating with an extra fan i had.. I fixxed the exhaust leaks myself with a stainless turbo clamp and found the miss (cracked spark plug).. Drained & replaced the brake fluid and clutch fluid.. And when all was fixxed the clutch started working properly.. Yeah no more slippage and it sounds & runs wicked.

Finally got all my parts sorted out, so I am starting the dually conversion this week..

I am going with this in the rear-
mid 90's Dually rearend w/4:10 gears,
1 ton leaf springs,
6" flip kit,
2" shackles,
Bolt on C-notch(for now),
and toxic drop shocks...

In the front-
3" Beltech 1 ton spindles,
2" drop springs,
1 ton upper control arms,
1 ton Sway bar( w/new urethane bushings),
and Dually 8 lug hubs..

Not to mention I am hopefully gonna use some sectioned dually fenders ,which need to be mated to a Fleetside SWB bed.. So i got alot of cutting to do on the bed.

I Will post a video of the motor running and update pics soon..

denialdeath · 07-08-2009, 08:44 AM

I can't find that picture. It's been several years since I've seen it. Oh well, make sure you post up progress pics.

cantbuytime454 · 07-08-2009, 02:35 PM

Thanks man.. i will

crossy's son · 07-23-2009, 10:44 PM

Dude nice build but are you still running the 2 core v6 radiator?

Thats crazy, get rid of that POS. worst radiator ever put into a GM truck.

Looks like its coming along good

cantbuytime454 · 07-24-2009, 01:00 AM

Yes, I will probably get a different radiator while i do this conversion..I have it on jack stands and the rear end out right now...

Waiting to get over flu so i can get some other things done and then get my parts on the way...

Most of the work on the dually conversion is going to be the bed..

I am using a bed that is in less then desirable shape cause i dont feel right hacking a perfectly good bed..

But the donor bed has shaved pockets and shaved tails..The tail filler isnt right but i can fix it...

I am gonna have a smooth w/t bumper chromed for the rear..

I just havent figured out how i want to do my tail lights yet?

Tigwldr · 07-24-2009, 09:34 AM

Truck looks killer and sounds bad ass. Wow, after seeing some rally wheels on it, you got me thinkin.
I want to drop a 502/th400 in my truck.
How was the install?
Did you have any issues with the motor hittin anything?
Where did you find the 502?

Sweet job
Subscribed

cantbuytime454 · 07-24-2009, 02:12 PM

I didnt do the engine swap.. the 502 was in the truck already..

I switched from tbi to carb and added the headers..

I wouldnt recommend long tube headers unless you are using solid motor mounts.

this is why and it will explain to the people hatin on my shorty headers..

Long tube headers will get crushed between the frame and motor if a mount fails.. I personally have seen 5 individual sets with the lower tube crushed on the passenger side.. Spark plugs are a pita with these shorty headers.

Shorty headers for a BB will run you about $400 to $500 new for this model truck... Ne ways ,thought i would throw that out there...

If you are building a race car go with the 400 but if you are gonna drive it alot then get a O/D trans or a manual..

Just my opinion..

i pulled the heads, cam and intake while the motor was in the truck just to be sure i really had a 502.. So while it was apart i ported the heads and intake, new stainless valves, springs and a big cam was thrown in..

Wish i had changed the oil pump cause at normal temp i only got 25psi at idle.. sucks bad.. But before it goes back on the road, all loose ends will be tied up..

I think its an easier swap then a LS1 into this body style.. Oh and you can even run the a/c compressor on the big block.. I am using V6 aluminum serpentine brackets with billet adapter plates..

I dont see any other clearance issues.. Should be an easy swap

Tigwldr · 07-24-2009, 05:06 PM

Thanks man, I appreciate the info.

I gatcha on the headers deal. Did you have solid motor mounts and switch?
Does anyone speciallize in 502s? Do you have any links/forums?

I'd love to do a manual conversion but cant seem to find a complete parts list of what I'm going to need. This is something I wish someone like Keisler would do. They have conversions for most all classics but no trucks. I was going with the th400 mostly because they are bullitproof and plenty of parts out there, I was thinkin of slappin a gearvendors OD behind it eventually.

Do you have a Tremec?

Is this your DD? How does it drive and do you get decent mpgs? I know thats probably a rediculous question but its possible.

Thanks again, I appreciate the info

cantbuytime454 · 07-24-2009, 07:18 PM

Ok first off, I found a pic of a truck done up how i am doing mine..

Well a 502 and 454 external parts are interchangeable. i used a regular oval port intake and regular 454 headers ... i know the balancer is different but all the other exterior motor accessories are same..

i have a NV3500 getcrap trans that is holding up fairly well.. i am not converting to auto cause i want a nv4500 trans... they are tough trans..

There are a few threads around showing what all you need to do to go from auto to manual conversion.

If you wanna spend the cash on the external o/d then i would go ahead and go with the 400trans.. i heard its the best way to go.. i havent actually seen that setup yet..

I had solid mounts and the after adding the cam the vibration was insane.the solid motor mounts transfered so much vibration it broke the grill mounts in several places... So i just threw in some new stock rubber mounts to keep it from shakin the truck apart.. not to mention having solid motor mounts and a rubber trans mount is alot of stress on the trans....

Yes it is my DD, my gas mileage is about 10MPG in city if i keep my foot out of it.. A couple of 3/4 throttle punchs and its more like 5MPG.... Highway i get about 17or18mpg if lucky..

Man a 502 internals are the main difference from a 454... You can give a 454 up to 600ci with a stroker kit.. I am going to make mine a 572ci when i am done..

Tigwldr · 07-25-2009, 11:02 AM

That truck pictured is sick.

Would it be more cost effective to find a 454 and stroke it?

I'll have to go to the tranny swap thread and go through every page to find whats needed. I'll have to see what its going to cost. I know a 5 or 6 speed would bring the cruising speed up and MPGs down while still getting great driveability.

Not to sound stupid, is there any computers or wiring involved with runnin a Tremec?

I'd stick with a rubber mm, for sure.

When you swap to the bigger tranny will your MPGs go up? Is it a 4 or 5 speed?

Thanks for the info
Later

cantbuytime454 · 07-25-2009, 03:14 PM

You would probably get more bang for your buck if you stroke a 454. Instead of buying a crate 502...my 502 is the 502hp 573tq..The heads have been ported and reworked, bigger cam, intake and etc.. I am hopefully around 550hp+

If you took a 454 and got a fairly large stroker kit then you could easily achieve my hp and then some... I already have my stroker kit..Got it back in May for $1000..(Craigslist find) Its going to bump me up to almost 600ci.. looking for 800hp without a blower..

Look at speedomotive.com and rpm machines.com.. they have kits that will give you a general idea...look around, maybe put a kit together yourself for cheaper.. the machine work is the kick in the pants.. most machine shops are gonna be pricey when you go asking to put in a stroker kit..

I am gonna go to the nv4500 trans cause they are durable.. the case is not aluminum either..Its iron and very f***n heavy.. i dont think my gas mileage is going to change much, but my hp output will. considering it is gonna need more power to turn it.. Its a 5 speed but 1st gear is very low and can usually take off in 2nd..