82 C10 EFI Conversion project

[82SquareBurb]

Very cool. Did you use the stock oil pan, or stock oil pan depth?

No, I needed the one that dropped it down about 1/2" for the pan I am running. I went with the stock pickup size, but it was too far from the bottom of that pan. I still have it if you need one. I think this pan is either an 8 or 9 quart deal, so it's a bit deeper than stock.

 

[ChuckN]

Ok cool. No worries, they’re only 30 bucks most places anyway - looks like I need the 12557.

Nice build BTW!

 

[82SquareBurb]

Ok cool. No worries, they’re only 30 bucks most places anyway - looks like I need the 12557.

Nice build BTW!

Thanks Chuck! Been following your build as well, so cool to see there's at least three of us opting NOT to LS swap lol.

 

[idahovette]

^^^^^^^^there's MORE than 3 of us ^^^^^^^^^^

 

[CountKrunk]

Wow this is sick.

 

[82SquareBurb]

Wow this is sick.

Thanks Count. Some may call it a sickness.

 

[82SquareBurb]

Found this on eBay for cheap. Since I will be deleting a few circuits for this swap (choke, temp/oil sensors, Alt) rather than hack up my original engine harness, (which is suss to begin with) I will clean/freshen this one up and modify as needed.

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Next is finding the various Packard series 56 connectors for some repairs. Theres a few less than ideal "splices" in the Circuit 2 power feed wires, so hoping to just run all new wire direct to the junction block from the bulkhead. This must have been out of some engine swap setup, or was in a truck that was stolen. and I thought my harness was hacked up! Allegedly from an 87 C series truck, but looks earlier by the HEI lead wire.

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[82SquareBurb]

Anyone recognize this connector? I can't locate it on a diagram (probably looking on wrong year) and not found on my harness on the truck. Has a Blue, brown with white stripe and a grey wire. Trying to determine what it is and if it stays or gets deleted. All other circuits I was able to trace down, but this one escapes me. I will keep looking on later year diagrams, just guessing maybe cruise control?
TIA

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[82SquareBurb]

It appears I have an 85-up harness (evident by the black/pink wire for "carb fuel solenoid") so only retaining the purple (starter), 12V feed, pink to trigger the terminator, the pink circuit 30 for the fuel sender and the wiper wires. Will need to transplant the washer pink wire since the 85 harness lacks circuit 94. Everything else will be deleted.

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[82SquareBurb]

One final final, FINAL valvetrain mockup with the AFR heads.

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Valvetrain geometry checks out, studs, guide plates and rockers all indexed and lined up and torqued. Heads all torqued down on the MLS gaskets for the last time. Fortunately pushrod length did not need to be tweaked from the initial mockup.

Lifters taking a final bath in breakin oil before they go in, and I can finally do the final valve adjustment and button this turd up!

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Starting to look like an engine..

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Just waiting on some terminals for the engine harness so I can get back at it on the wiring, getting closer.

 

[82SquareBurb]

Wiring fun still continues, I opted for a slightly larger fuel pump to handle fueling duties. Swapped out the 450lph pump that will now be a spare. This is the 525lph "hell-cat" pump, only needed to widen the hanger opening just a tad to clear the thicker pickup screen mounting collar. Otherwise looks stock.

Walbro pump from RHP. Just an OE replacement.

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Using the stock hanger/sending unit and feed harness adapted to the walbro connector that came in the kit. Fits pretty decent.

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[82SquareBurb]

Had a chance to get started on some R&R fun, out with the old.

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On the floor in about 2.5 hours taking our time.

1 tequila, 3 tequila, FLOOR...

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Now I just have this big hole to cleanup. Cleanup phase up next, then we should be ready to stab this junk back together finally!! Good grief already a year into this "EFI conversion" and just now getting to the fun stuff.

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Now that everything is out of my way I will work on the new fuel lines feed and return, swap out the engine harness with my rebuilt "stand-alone" reworked unit, and want to swap out the front brake hoses while I have them more accessible. Oddly, I think my replacement hoses from 2005 have already rust jacked as the brakes are very sluggish after 20 years, so plan to replace a bunch of that soon.

Hoping to get the drivetrain stuff all done - before starting on tangent 49 of this project, which is upgraded brakes and dropped spindles, that will morph into a Ford 9" rear-end, posi and disc brakes tangent, but for now focusing on getting the new power plant and trans situated. So much to do!

 

[82SquareBurb]

Made a bit more progress on the spring cleaning phase today.

Before

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Lap 2 with the pressure washer / scraper / brushes.

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After:

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Used the tried and true dollar store oven cleaner and some other toxic juice to melt away the 44 years of road grime and gunk off everything. Used gunk engine cleaner on areas above the frame rails, got most of the big stuff off.

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Not sure I will use the stock trans crossmember or not, but got everything scrubbed down.

 

[82SquareBurb]

Since im an old lazy fart, I hooked up the designated "tug" buggy to move this rig around. Handy when I need to pull it out to make a mess, or move the cars around in the shop.

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Tomorrow I will give the frame/parts a final scrub with acetone and lacquer thinner to get any dirt left over from the pressure wash job, then hit it with some etching primer and chassis black. Then some plumbing work and new motor mounts and wiring work.

 

[82SquareBurb]

Gotta love USPS, I think this is the 5th order they have sent all over. My brake lines and fittings were just down the road from me, supposed to be here Saturday - now they are touring California apparently lol

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