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Posted: 1/31/2024 9:29:35 PM EDT
[Last Edit: 68MUDSTUD]
First question, can I expect blown head gaskets in cold weather with the iron block and aluminum heads?
Will my stock th-350 handle the power with 35" tires? I'm sure I will think of other questions... I'd really like to keep my 6 lug axles, should I be looking at upgrading them too? |
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Gun totin redneck fool |
You will be fine . I had a 383 Stroker in my 77 Short / widebox Chevy on 35s and 10 bolts for a few years .. That motor went in my brother's 71 Chevy 10 boktds and 38s when I did the 1 Ton swap , 44" Boggers and 502 motor .
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Should have no problems with head gaskets assuming they are quality parts. Lots of iron blocks and aluminum heads running around.
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RIP Jeff Reed. Tennessee Squire, Ga. Carry member, NRA,Non-puking 72 ounce drinker 2 of 6 Norcal call sign, Forgotten.
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You'll be alright
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I remember reading a lot of bad stuff about blueprint motors a few years back. Do your homework.
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Originally Posted By 68MUDSTUD: Ok I doubt I'll drive it much in the winter, so blueprint 383 is still the plan. What flexplate will I need? Anything else I should do when I do the engine swap? Been a while since I've done a project like this. I know I need to drain the gas tank, get a new fuel filter, and then I need to figure out why I pinched the brake line off above my rear axle with vice grips. Lol Anyways, here's some pics I just went out and took. Got a little bodywork to do. I'm thinking satin black. Murdered out. No chrome. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/111611/1000002338-3117278.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/111611/1000002339-3117280.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/111611/1000002341-3117282.jpg View Quote The parts you will need are on the Blueprint website and their descriptions are very clear. Also, the exhaust ports are 1/2 inch higher than stock. |
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Preferred pronoun: MARINE
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Preferred pronoun: MARINE
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There are many situations in life where there are valid arguments for different courses of action.
Choose the course of action that preserves (or restores!) the most individual freedom and Liberty. |
Lot of ways to build " A 383 ci chevy "
Too many possible variables for anyone to guess at your flywheel. this is important, so I will capitalize: THE BALANCE OF THE CRANKSHAFT DICTATES WHICH FLEXPLATE, FLYWHEEL AND HARMONIC BALANCER YOU NEED. . I have a 383 crate engine from GM, internal balance, uses NO weights on the flywheel. There are MANY 383 which use weighted flywheel ( flexplate) and front damper, that is EXTERNAL balance.\ Depends who assembled the motor, and what CRANKshaft they used. . Re-stated another way for clarity, Internal balance crankshaft needs no weights on flywheel/flexplate. EXTERNAL balance crankshaft absolutely REQUIRES correct weights on flyweel/flexplate AND harmonic balancer. Only your engine builder can know what crankshaft is in that motor. . |
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Originally Posted By 68MUDSTUD: First question, can I expect blown head gaskets in cold weather with the iron block and aluminum heads? View Quote No issues. There are thousands of iron block, aluminum head ls engines out there. Will my stock th-350 handle the power with 35" tires? View Quote Hard to answer that without knowing your driving style,etc. but..my brother had a 80's 4x4 jimmy with a 383 stroker bolted to a th350 and he used it to plow snow with no issues... I'd strongly suggest an aux trans cooler though to work with the one in the rad. I'm sure I will think of other questions... I'd really like to keep my 6 lug axles, should I be looking at upgrading them too? View Quote You going to rock crawl, drag race or mostly drive it on the street? ETA..I had a 72 gmc. it was a rust bucket but man had some great times in it. |
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To say that you are on thin ice would be a vastly optimistic view of your current situation. The ice has melted. You are being supported by the surface tension of water.
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I will mostly drive it on the street. I wouldn't say I'm an aggressive driver, but I'm no grandpa either. I get a wild hair once in a while. Any suggestions on a radiator?
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كافر
Gun totin redneck fool |
Originally Posted By Striker: No issues. There are thousands of iron block, aluminum head ls engines out there. Hard to answer that without knowing your driving style,etc. but..my brother had a 80's 4x4 jimmy with a 383 stroker bolted to a th350 and he used it to plow snow with no issues... I'd strongly suggest an aux trans cooler though to work with the one in the rad. How many ponies and twisties is the engine putting out? You going to rock crawl, drag race or mostly drive it on the street? ETA..I had a 72 gmc. it was a rust bucket but man had some great times in it. View Quote |
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Originally Posted By 68MUDSTUD: I will mostly drive it on the street. I wouldn't say I'm an aggressive driver, but I'm no grandpa either. I get a wild hair once in a while. Any suggestions on a radiator? View Quote Are you running the mechanical fan or electric? Either way...put a good shroud on the rad |
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To say that you are on thin ice would be a vastly optimistic view of your current situation. The ice has melted. You are being supported by the surface tension of water.
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Originally Posted By Striker: I'd strongly suggest an aux trans cooler though to work with the one in the rad. How many ponies and twisties is the engine putting out? You going to rock crawl, drag race or mostly drive it on the street? View Quote How do I even go about researching aux trans coolers? The engine I'm looking at has 430 horse and around 440 torque. Will be mostly a street queen, but I will take it out to prairie dog towns and such. Originally Posted By Spaceboy: All very good answers, I will also add you will want some sort of stall converter. Without it it will feel like it's pushing. View Quote Yeah, I'm thinking a 2200-2400 rpm stall. They don't go into 100% lockup at that rpm right? I've never messed with stall converters. Originally Posted By Striker: As for a rad..the biggest one you can fit in there. IIRC there is plenty of room for one. Go 4 core. Are you running the mechanical fan or electric? Either way...put a good shroud on the rad View Quote I would like a 4 core, and I think I want to stick with a mechanical fan, just for reliability. Any specific ones I should be looking at? I really would like to use a shroud. The biggest thing with my blazer is I want to make it reliable. |
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Gun totin redneck fool |
A turbo 350 transmission does not have lock up unless it's a later th350c which I doubt you have.
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Originally Posted By 68MUDSTUD: How do I even go about researching aux trans coolers? The engine I'm looking at has 430 horse and around 440 torque. Will be mostly a street queen, but I will take it out to prairie dog towns and such. Yeah, I'm thinking a 2200-2400 rpm stall. They don't go into 100% lockup at that rpm right? I've never messed with stall converters. I would like a 4 core, and I think I want to stick with a mechanical fan, just for reliability. Any specific ones I should be looking at? I really would like to use a shroud. The biggest thing with my blazer is I want to make it reliable. View Quote Heat kills transmissions Rads are one of those what are you willing to pay parts. an OEM style one would be less spendy than an aftermarket aluminum one. Price them on rock auto and say summit and see what's out there. Electric fans now are a lot more reliable then back in the day. the 2 on my 08 sierra haven't skipped a beat... If you want to kill a bunch of birds with one wrench you can buy rad kits that come with the shroud and mounted fans. Pretty much plug and play. If you do stick with a mechanical fan get one with a clutch.. |
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To say that you are on thin ice would be a vastly optimistic view of your current situation. The ice has melted. You are being supported by the surface tension of water.
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Originally Posted By Striker: Trans coolers are a universal thing. If it was me I'd get a decent size one as you have the real estate in front of the rad for it. Heat kills transmissions Rads are one of those what are you willing to pay parts. an OEM style one would be less spendy than an aftermarket aluminum one. Price them on rock auto and say summit and see what's out there. Electric fans now are a lot more reliable then back in the day. the 2 on my 08 sierra haven't skipped a beat... If you want to kill a bunch of birds with one wrench you can buy rad kits that come with the shroud and mounted fans. Pretty much plug and play. If you do stick with a mechanical fan get one with a clutch.. View Quote Thanks man! I got the old girl pushed into my shop this week after I cleaned my shop out. Replaced two brake lines in the rear and bled both of them. Pulled the gas tank to find out it was a repro tank with that short stubby filler neck soldered on to it, so I ordered a new tank with the correct filler tube coming off of it. When I pulled that tank out I found one of the vent lines was crushed, so I ordered all three of those. Also ordered new body mounts and bolts, and some add a leafs to hopefully get rid of the ass-sag. Once I get all that done, I'll order a new radiator, and change oil in both diffs and transfer case. I'm getting excited!!!! |
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Gun totin redneck fool |
As said, electric fans aren't bad now, but the rest of the electrical system has to be up for it, they pull some power. For a chevy someone likely makes a kit to adapt OE late model ones to your truck. Easy button if you have the supporting electrical system. No need for a ginormous custom radiator if the cooling system is done properly.
Biggest trans cooler you can fit in front the radiator, stacked plate, and good lines. Gearing will have a huge impact on how it drives and how happy the trans is. |
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Wake up, wake up and smell the ashes.
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Gun totin redneck fool |
looking good. I set your thread not to archive so when this goes way over budget your thread will still be here after your bank account is empty.
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To say that you are on thin ice would be a vastly optimistic view of your current situation. The ice has melted. You are being supported by the surface tension of water.
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I'm not Retired, I'm a Professional Grandpa!
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Gun totin redneck fool |
I'm a dent side Ford guy, but GM got it right with that body style Blazer.
Will be watching this one. |
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Originally Posted By paul463: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/109172/FB_IMG_1710360150569_jpg-3158705.JPG View Quote Got 4 of 12 body mounts done before I have to go to work tonight... |
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Gun totin redneck fool |
Ordered a champion aluminum radiator last night after hearing from a couple guys at work experiences.
So now, if I can get my fuel lines and tank installed, along with all my body mounts finished next week while I'm off work I think that will be a pretty good weekend. then, all I need to do is figure out paint, so I can paint the firewall while the engine is out. and order fenders/fender skirts. and a new core support, as one side is rusted through on the bottom pretty bad. Cubic dollars. |
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كافر
Gun totin redneck fool |
Had quite a day today. Finished my body mounts, got new vent lines ran (don't buy new lines from inline tube. They just aren't even close). New filler hose, gas tank mounted and hooked up, then I moved my rear axle back 1", using my zero rates. Looks way better.
Then I pulled the engine. I'll get pics tomorrow. I think I'll start on bodywork and let my bank account catch up a bit. |
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كافر
Gun totin redneck fool |
كافر
Gun totin redneck fool |
كافر
Gun totin redneck fool |
كافر
Gun totin redneck fool |
Originally Posted By 68MUDSTUD: After wrenching on this thing for two days my hands are toast. Got up this morning and they were both almost locked up. Is that what arthritis is? https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/111611/1000002532-3164931.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/111611/1000002533-3164932.jpg View Quote |
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A couple more questions...
Everyone is pretty much agreeing that the stock th350 will be enough? Should I pop the pan off and at least change the filter? Color. Now is the time to paint everything under the hood. I am going back and forth daily between a satin black single stage or just do a black base/clear. What's your guy's opinion? I saw a picture a while ago of a black pickup but everything that wasn't exterior was painted bright orange. It looked pretty damn good. I don't think I'd go orange, but maybe a medium green? |
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Gun totin redneck fool |
Turbo 400 is the better transmission. What transfer case you got. Some blazers had 203. You can double stack onto a 205 and have tons of power. You may be able to find interchangeable parts off 250 -350 trucks.
Also the 10 bolts are open diffs 35s will be fine. If you lock the diff. The 35 will pop quickly in certain situations. |
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205 tcase.
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Gun totin redneck fool |
I would have the 350 granny serviced and gone through if it was me. Same for all diffs and T case.
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I survived the cockpocalypse of 11/21/2012.
Bacon grease, the Muslim approved .mil lubricant. |
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Gun totin redneck fool |
Originally Posted By AR_Dale: I just saw this thread, my 76 w/ 35s mild 350 build and a 4 speed could destroy a Ujoint at will with a hard shift. I think the K5 is even shorter wheelbase, steeper driveshaft angle. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/413906/76-chevy-1923431.jpg View Quote Mine done broke something. Still investigating what it is. Its currently looking like it was running on 7 cylinders and still had enough balls to break the flexplate. https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/-/134-2714904/?r=-1&page=1 |
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Originally Posted By giantpune: Mine done broke something. Still investigating what it is. Its currently looking like it was running on 7 cylinders and still had enough balls to break the flexplate. https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/-/134-2714904/?r=-1&page=1 View Quote Damn dude! |
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Gun totin redneck fool |
Just ordered new exhaust pipe and mufflers... Now to figure out which Hedman Hedders will fit the blazer and the raised port heads on that blueprint motor.
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Gun totin redneck fool |
Just got off the phone with Hedman... They got me for another 700 bucks. ships in about 5 weeks he said. Ok. Now, I should have everything I need ordered except motor and trans. I officially feel like I'm spending money with nothing to show for it.
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Gun totin redneck fool |
كافر
Gun totin redneck fool |
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Gun totin redneck fool |
Looking good man! Rebuilding vehicles is a bunch of money spent with nothing to show, until the end, then it’s all worth it!
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"I drink all different flavors of Kool-Aid; only certain flavors give me the shits!"
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Yeah, I did a little soul searching this winter after I had my DD (02 GMC Sierra standard cab shortbox) go down because of a fuel pump. I figured I could save a little, and go buy a new pickup for 70k that is just going to go down in value, or I could build my blazer. Glad I went this route, but man, I just want to order all new shit for it right now! Definitely testing my patience, especially in this cold damn weather this week. I don't function real well in a cold shop with cold tools.
I'm ready for spring! |
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Gun totin redneck fool |
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Gun totin redneck fool |
If it were me, I couldn’t live with that; my OCD would kill me!!!
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"I drink all different flavors of Kool-Aid; only certain flavors give me the shits!"
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Gun totin redneck fool |
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