RCSB C1500 Full Protouring Chassis Build, Twin Turbo LS Swap

[loudandproud]

I got this truck 10 years ago from my Grandfather when he passed away. I documented me doing a partial restoration on it then.
The truck has been sitting for a couple years, so I decided it was time to dig back in. Go big or go home.

I plan on documenting the build on here as well as my YouTube channel "Loudandproud"
C1500 Build Episode #1

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Truck Specs Currently:
1992 C1500 Work Truck RCLB
350 H.O. Crate
Vortec Heads
Comp Beehives
Threaded Rocker Studs
Valve Guide converted
Scorpion 1.6 Roller Rockers
LS7 Lifters
Comp Pushrods
Comp XR282HR Camshaft
Double Roller Timing Set
Edelbrock RPM AirGap
.015" Head Gasket
.030" Decked Heads
Long Tubes
750 Holley
HEI
Original 5 speed trans with updated Clutch.
275/55/15s

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The Plans:
Convert Truck to RCSB

Full 2x4” by 11 guage CNC bent rectangular tubing frame
1-5/8” .083” Chromoly Cage (NHRA 8.5 Sec spec)
Tied cage sections through the firewall and back glass that will stiff the truck up.
Front Suspension;
Wilwood Pro Series Spindles
Fox Body Manual Rack
Wilwood 15” Hat mounted Rotors, 6 piston front brakes
QA1 Coilovers
Splined, Through Chassis anti-roll bar with 5 location to vary stiffness
Adjustable chamber
Adjustable Upper Control Arm mount location (roll center)
Adjustable Toe
Adjustable AntiDive

Rear Suspension:
3 Link Design (doesn’t bind)
Ford 9” Center Section
Grand National (the racing league, not the Buick lol) full floater bearing ends.
QA1 coilovers
PanHard Bar design (**** tons of adjustability in the brackets, perks of being able to just draw it and cut it out)
Same antiroll bar as on the front.

Motor:
Gen 4 Aluminum 5.3
Stock Crank
Summit Pro Forged Pistons
Summit Pro Forged Rods
Texas Speed as Cast Heads
½” ARP Headstuds
Edelbrock Hi Ram Aluminum Intake
Twin 73mm Chinese Choo Choo Bois, Tiawanese Tranny Twisters, Hong Kong Hurricanes, Hiroshama Hairdryer, Nagasaki Noisy Bois, Mongolian Motor Manglers, Teriyaki Tornadoes, Fukashima Ring Land Roasters or Wasabi Windmills. Haven’t decided yet.
Dual 44mm Wastegates

ECU:
Holley Dominator with all the whistles

Transmission:

8L90E Auto with paddles.

The above is the wish list. I recently started actual work so check it out.

[loudandproud]

Got the front crossmember all finished up. Next up I'll be making the Lower Control Arms.

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[loudandproud]

Got the rack installed. It is a quick ratio fox body rack. I plan on running electric, speed sensitive, column assist.

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[loudandproud]

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Photos went up in wonky order. I got my fixture plate made up for the lower control arms. Looking nice. The 3D printed bits have tabs on the bottom that locate their position in the plasma cut slots. Next week I will be picking up some tubing and will be taking the virgin run on my JD2 bender.

Moving along...

[loudandproud]

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Last week I got the cross shafts for the lower control arms. I couldnt fit standard bolts in past the steering rack, and I didnt want to pull the rack in order to adjust the lower control arm lengths.

Completed the lower control arm fixturing as well. My 3d printer is going on the fritz. Yay!

I got my tubing bender set up and some 1.25" DOM ready to go.

Lower control arms will be done soon.

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[loudandproud]

Made a fair amount of progress over the last week. Got one lower control arm complete. It is made of 1.25" 120"wall DOM and uses a K772 ball joint sleeve with 5/8" rod ends (urethane bushings).

The coilover mount is 1/4" plate. A little heavy duty but weight reduced down to under a pound for both brackets.

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[loudandproud]

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[RDF1]

Already love the detail and CNC stuff you put in this build!!!
One question tho,,, why the cheap summit pistons and rods?
And Id highly suggest non-china Fukushima Ring Land Roasters, Spend the extra on some Borg Warner turbos or something.
How you plan on controlling the 8L90? I know US Shift has a Quick 6 controller for the 6 Speed transmissions. Havent seen anything on the 8L yet tho.

Cant wait to see this thing finished!!

 

[loudandproud]

Already love the detail and CNC stuff you put in this build!!!
One question tho,,, why the cheap summit pistons and rods?
And Id highly suggest non-china Fukushima Ring Land Roasters, Spend the extra on some Borg Warner turbos or something.
How you plan on controlling the 8L90? I know US Shift has a Quick 6 controller for the 6 Speed transmissions. Havent seen anything on the 8L yet tho.

Cant wait to see this thing finished!!

Thanks, I built the CNC myself. Its an ebay parts pile with a bunch of 3D printed bits controlled my a PokeyCNC controller.

First wave vs end goal.

First wave would be a cheaply built 5.3 with like 700 wheel that I can sort out the chassis and turbo system out on. Then eventually maybe i would like to build a nice sturdy resleeved 427 with 1/2" head studs and get rowdy with it. Who knows..depending on money flow (this thing is gonna be expensive) I might just go for the gold off the bat. Who knows. Honestly... engine is my least hashed out part of this build. It might not even be turbo. I might go procharged or even a big cube revvy motor (i used to work on sprint car motors so rpm is my jam). Right now im all about the chassis and getting this thing into a roller.

As far as 8 speed, my other friend is a controls/software guy, and we would like to try to hack a 8L90e TCM. My dream build would have a sequential but that is firmly out of the budget.

I have a Cadillac ATS-V as my daily with that trans, and contrary to popular opinion.. i love it.

 

[RDF1]

Any updates?
I havent been able to tinker with anything automotive since I'm building a 6000 SQ FT shop then a house...

But have alot of projects lined up from TT 4.8 swapped Toyota to a 427 LSx/T56 swap in a 68 Camaro.