The Enemy - Slamming it together

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

hello,
My s10 is taking up a full stall, plus another stall worth of parts. I plan on working on it every Sunday until it is fully back together and on the rod again. bodywork will come at a later date, i'll drive it ugly. makes me feel less bad when i beat the piss out of it.

here's my list of what needs to be done:
Engine and tranny need installed, and hooked up
Custom exhaust bent up and installed
Lowered (to make sure exhaust fits properly)
Replace all 3 brake hoses (cracking hardcore)
New windshield
Turn signal stalk replaced

now, i've been working on it every time i get home for the last 4 months (the truck is at my parents luxurious 8 stall garage) and today i figured i'd snap some pics of what i have done...

the 4.3, all painted and gasketed and ready to go in
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/43.jpg


The new 700r4 with some beefy goodies
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/700r4.jpg

my new-ish tailgate
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/NewGate.jpg

and the custom built hitch
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/S10hich.jpg

I also got the front 2" lowering spindles on, and i have a before pic, but the battery in the camera died before i got the after pic...

so.... there's my beastie... what do ya think??

Lee

[bespurcell]

Looks good. What all have you done to the motor, performance wise?

[87wildside]

The Blazer bumper looks good on there Lee.

I figured you'd paint the engine Ford blue...hehe

[Cameo_S10]

Lookin good Lee. I like the Chevy orange motor paint instead of the boring factory black. What goodies in the 700R?:cool:

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

guys,
i was tempted on painting the engine blue (cuz i always paint em blue) and then i was about to paint it pontiac blue just to piss off my roomate (pontiac guy) but chevy orange with black tinwork worked out well. i think it looks better than your standard black fog out.
Engine just got new gaskets, some cleaning, and timing chain, etc. Nothing crazy, it would spin tires like holy hell before, and this is going to be my driver. when and if i feel like stepping it up, i'll be heading for a tbi 350... cuz thats what i think will stay with the simple/cheap theme.
Tranny has beefed up servos, some heavy duty bends, and a B&M shift kit. good enough for now....
And i thought the Blazer bumper turned out decent, i wish i could have hidden the hitch better, but it ended up like that. At least it's not all hanging out...

more pics next week!

Lee

[lucy_blue_93]

that looks good. how hard was it to put that blazer bumper on?

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

i had to fabricate up my own brackets using the old ones... otherwise the bumper stuck out way too far and i didnt like it. about two hours, moving at a relaxed pace, got it on there.

Lee

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

MORE PICS! MORE STUFF DONE!

my custom built spare tire carrier...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/spare2.jpg

the tire carrier and hitch

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/Hitchandspare.jpg

truck is lowered!!!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/lowered1.jpg

pic of truck before lowering...with tiny tires to boot...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/s101.jpg

hope u like... next... buckets, engine and tranny, and exhaust!

Lee

[bespurcell]

Looks good. I would go another 1" in the front though.

[Mikz86TA]

X2. But the rims and rear lowering made a huge improvement on the eye appeal IMO!

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

u got to remember though, there's no engine in there yet!!

that'll drop it a good inch...

Lee

[87wildside]

So put the engine in?

[Tink]

Good Stuff... the engine weight will help it look just right...

[BigRedZR2]

now get your "pretty" motor in there...

[jshiv]

i like the orange and black... makes it look "mean" lol

[Hammer Head]

Looking good. How much drop total?

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

next weekend, i plan on putting the engine/ tranny in. total drop is 2 inch front, 3 inch rear... right now it sits exactly level, so i figure a 1 inch rake is good stuff.
I didnt want to drop it too much more due to the fact that the truck is supposed to be driven in the winter.

and, next weekend is also a swap meet, so we'll see what that entails... new goodies, perhaps??

Lee

[csl2006]

lookin good still waitin to drag ya :)

[TreasonAgainstCaesar]

looking pretty good dude. I thought the back looked slightly lower than the front, but could just be more poor judgment. and like you said, what matters is after you get the engine in.

here I've been thinking about switching to a s10 bumper and you go and switch to a blazer bumper. too bad mine is a 2nd gen.

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

well, the previous bumper got fubar'ed when i drove into a ditch (the whole milf and a crappy LTD incident) and this just seemed to work.
i like it, and the hitch, it's to give me a pulling point, just in case...

Lee

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

this weeks update involves putting in the bucket seats (see the post titled "buckets!" ) and doing some misc work, mostly prepping the engine to go in. the poly engine and tranny mount are on, all the dipsticks are in, the ranny is all connected, i'm just waiting for next week to get it all put in...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/engtrans2.jpg

and another view...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/engtrans3.jpg

i'll keep you updated....

Lee

[87wildside]

So how long 'till it's smugglin' booze?

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

So how long 'till it's smugglin' booze?

Hope by june. After engine and tranny are installed, i still need to get some wiring issues straightened out, the swaybars on, a new windshield in, and a new exhaust built for it. Not going to mess with bodywork right now, possibly just primer the whole thing to make it one even color and drive the piss out of it every day.

Lee

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

Update:
got the engine and tranny in, and halfway hooked up today. do you guys really need a pic of an engine in the engine bay??

other than that, got the swaynbar sitting there, itching to go on, but waiting for the poly bushings from summit...

Lee

[12sws27]

Update:
got the engine and tranny in, and halfway hooked up today. do you guys really need a pic of an engine in the engine bay??

other than that, got the swaynbar sitting there, itching to go on, but waiting for the poly bushings from summit...

Lee
umm.. yes! u need some pics posted. that is unless its impossible or something. if thats the case ill forgive you.:)
im glad to hear its coming along. it sure would be nice to have some pics to look at though.:rolleyes:
oh and black primered trucks kick ass! grey does to but not as much. only about 50% as much ass as black does.

[TreasonAgainstCaesar]

Update:
got the engine and tranny in, and halfway hooked up today. do you guys really need a pic of an engine in the engine bay??

Some of us have seen an engine in an engine bay before, so a pic would be great! Plus it helps to prove that you're not bs'ing us ;)

ok... I kid, I kid.

[spideyjected]

Why are black primered trucks so cool?
they are though, I aree.

[87wildside]

umm.. yes! u need some pics posted. that is unless its impossible or something. if thats the case ill forgive you.:)
im glad to hear its coming along. it sure would be nice to have some pics to look at though.:rolleyes:
oh and black primered trucks kick ass! grey does to but not as much. only about 50% as much ass as black does.
What about white primer:confused:

It's sucks...lol. That's what's on my truck.

BTW pics X10:D

[S10man93]

Definitely on the pics, bro

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

i was going to leave the damn thing in bad paint, so no one see's the true potential of it from afar...

How about the oxide red primer??


Lee

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

ok, for you wusses, here's pics...

engine in....
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/4-1.jpg

side engine in
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/4.jpg

a truck in one big piece again
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/s10enginein.jpg

Magic floating truck!!!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/floatings10.jpg

ZQ8 bar, awaiting bushings...
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/ZQ8front.jpg

and, my dad's new project, a 76 f250...
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/76greentruck.jpg

my dad is planning on trashing the box, swapping in a dually axle, and turning this one into a tow truck... fun stuff...

there ya go!
till next week, thats all the pics you get...

Lee

[spideyjected]

Very cool color. Blazelanch may stay that color forever! "Red Oxide"

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

poly bushings for the swaybar showed up tonight.... updted pics when i return...

Lee

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

update...

truck has been shipped from my parents garage to my garage at my house. this will allow me to work on whenever i get free moments.
both front Zq8 and rear hellwig bar are installed, the y pipe is on, and half the bracketry is there. pretty much i just need to get my butt in gear and get the rest of the wiring and brackets on, get the radiator in, and its off to the exhaust shop....

Lee

[Cameo_S10]

You know...........






PICS!

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

see post in the open forum, titled "goody goody goody"

it shall suffice for now!

NO PICS FOR YOU!

Lee

[Cameo_S10]

Got it/them!:D

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

Ok peoples, an update for you all.

the truck is now running and driveable, but still in shakedown. It is in one solid piece, fires up beautifully every time, and has only some very minor issues to iron out.
After getting it all together, i realized i installed the distributor 180 degrees off. After that little mishap, the truck fired up effortlessly.
The water pump mysteriously developed a leak in it while sitting for 7 months. that water pump was only 11 months old, but had a lifetime warranty. I made the parts store ge me a fresh can of orange egine paint to go with it.
one of the tranny lines developed a pinhole in it, which i fixed today. Cutting and flaring lines on the truck sucks!
also, i noticed the tranny pan gasket is seeping out some fluid. im getting a new gasket tomorrow.
other than that, it was ready to drive on the street!
I drove it the 3 mile drive, half of which is highway, to the local hot rod/ exhaust shop. They do top notch work, treat my truck like its worth more than it is, and are very fairly priced. i noticed that the alignment is WAY off due to me swapping spindles, and i'll get that corrected in the next few days, before i put the truck into driving duty.
If you all are wondering what my plans for exhaust are, im running the factory 2 1/2" y pipe, deleting the cat, and running 2 1/2" to the muffler. I chose to go with a Thrush welded muffler, 2 1/2" inlet and outlet, that will mount from the factory hanger. Hopefully the exhaust guy can snake 2 1/2 inch all the way through the maze of axle, swaybar, fullsize spare,and trailer hitch and get me the dump in the factory spot, but if not, the last chance option is to go with a dump right off of the muffler.

Overall, the truck being apart and together for this minor overhaul took too long, but i am happy with the results so far. I did do engine, tranny, interior, brake and suspension work all at once, and i wish i would have done each seperately, and drove the truck in between, but you live and learn, right?
I will probably continue fine tuning a few things, but do not plan on doing any major work to the truck for a little while. fter i get it driving and roadworthy again, next things on the list are new windshield (mine cracked during the storage period) a new headliner (mine was trash when i got it, and i removed it soon after) and fixing the cruise control ( a new switch). but as for now, no major teardowns until bodywork!

as for pics, i'll get about ten tomorrow, that ok with you crackheads??

Lee

[spideyjected]

Must... Have... Pictures.... NOW!!!! Glad to hear it's running Lee!

[bespurcell]

X2. I want a burnout vid too.

[Tink]

Sweet!! Glad it is back on the road!

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

picked the truck up from the exhaust shop today, decent sound, not the most excited about the routing of the exhaust, but it's already starting to grow on me. due to the fact that i wanted it tucked up high and tight, and the rear underside is already stuffed, they routed the exhaust exiting out the passenger wheelwell behind the tire. not perfect, but it does look kinda tough.
Sound is about as good as a 4.3 gets.... a tiny bit of rumble at idle, very tolerable at driving speeds, and a cocky, smarta$$ sound when you lean on it hard.
Tranny shifts fine, nice and firm, but the guy at the shop confirmed that the pan gasket is leaking.... tomorrow afternoon, perhaps.
the truck steered like crap. Sears owed me a few favors, so i cashed one in and drove it directly over from the exhaust shop to Sears to be aligned. Its staying over there tonight (so no pics) and will be ready at like 10 am tomorrow.... and drivable!
As for burnouts, due to the fact that i have 2 spare steel chevy wheels and an abundance of worn out tires, i mounted two up and they are sitting, awaiting thier deth via Dime slaughtering. i'll have someone snap pics.

and i'll get pics of the truck home tomorrow!

[bespurcell]

Sweet! I can't wait for pics.

[spideyjected]

Bootlegger's Deluxe...
... The Tire Slayer!!!

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

Tomorrow as soon as i get it out of the shop, im going somewhere, buying some beer, and driving around with it in the back

Lee

[Danzcameo]

Time to drink some beer,use upsome fuel,eat upsome rubber- Let the good time's roll!:cool:

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

no drinking the product! I haul, not consume...

hauling plus consumption equals jail time....

Lee

[Danzcameo]

I assume you consume.:D

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

actually, very rarely anymore. i will occasionally (as in maybe three times a month) enjoy a beverage or two with my friends, but never to the point of impairing myself. Too much to lose. I get good and drunk once every three months or so, but i do it at home, where i wont get into trouble.

Besides, why would i get drunk, and take away my option of being able to enjoy my trucks on a whim?

Lee

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

Ok, for all of you, pics...

the exhaust dump, look close and you'll notice it goes OVER the leaf
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/STA70734.jpg

all together and driving!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/STA70735.jpg

engine shot, hot from powersliding duties...
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/STA70736.jpg

and the first load, kinda light, but all legal...
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/bigbrownbird/STA70738.jpg

now, fix that pesky tranny pan leak today, find me a console, and prime the dang thing!

Lee

[rentedmule]

Looks great Lee! My exhaust comes out in the same spot but they angle-cut the pipe on mine... it looks totally trick! LOL

Nice tires too, I have those on my T/A.

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

i told em to make it look stockish... no chrome pipe or anything...

it does look mean as hell with the pipe just sneaking out from there, dont it?

and i love my firestones, they make a great all weather tire... and for a good price.

Lee

[bespurcell]

I think it's going to look really clean once you get it painted.

[spideyjected]

You can have my console Lee. It is tan/ saddle. Not perfect, but quite functional "Just like the BLD"?! I could see what it would cost to ship if you'd like. I want to make a center console out of some exotic species of wood! I also THINK I want a floor shift.

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

i really am holding out for a charcoal one.... but if need be, i'll 'glass one up....

idk if i want a floor shift or not yet....

Lee

[Mikz86TA]

You searching for a 2nd gen console or a 1st gen?

[Tink]

Good to see it on the road - So how does it feel to be driving it? The alcohol in the back reminds me of something I saw on a Rat Rod at a car show... he used an old whiskey bottle for a coolant overflow.

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

Tink,
as someone who has torn their truck into itty bitty pieces for months on end, you know exactly how it feels to drive it.

great...


I'd pose for a "back on the road" shot next to my truck like you did... but it would scare everyone off if i did...

Lee

[bespurcell]

Pics or ban.

[spideyjected]

Sorry about the abrupt phone conversation ending Lee, wifey was giving me the "you've got work to do" look. I'll head over to Hickmans Monday and look at consoles.

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

LMAO! well... whipped does have certain befifits that a single guy doesnt get... i hope.

Lee

[spideyjected]

Nope. Benefits leave shortly after marriage in many if not most cases. THAT'S why we have the garage.

[Cameo_S10]

i really am holding out for a charcoal one.... but if need be, i'll 'glass one up....

idk if i want a floor shift or not yet....

Lee

I have it on my list to look for after the Beach trip! I didn't even think about shipping costs, I wonder if it will be outrageous. We'll see after I get a price on one if they have one.:bigeyes_1

[Bootlegger's Deluxe]

after talking with Frenchie and Eric, i may just go second gen... waiting on Jason's reply....

Lee