I'll send PartyTruck a note and see if there are any viable options. The problem is that those things being ripped off the fender is very likely with what I'll be doing in it. The flat tube fenders along with cutting sheetmetal will probably suit me fine. Thanks for the idea, though, Ruben.

More progress today.

The rad support is out and the engine is going in...



Things are a little tight. LOTS of trimming to happen including the firewall. I wanted to take it out, but that body lift isn't going anywhere...







This is a HUGE hang-up. The exhaust manifolds dump straight onto the frame. We are looking for a block-hugging solution, but keeping things smog-legal is the name of the game. I'm not sure how this is going to play out, but it's definitely going to have to be dealt with...



More to come...

John,

Did the stock ECU come with that engine? Just curious as to the engine management or how your going about it. Keep us updated.. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

The stock ECU did come with the engine, but re-flashed to get rid of all the extra shat not needed to run in my application. Basically, it was stripped down to the vitals for smog, a/f and transmission management. To be smog legal, it is necessary to run the same model transmission that came from the factory. They plug into the diagnostic port and check for that. So long as the smog equipment and programming is present and the truck passes visual, the ref will supposedly sign off on it. I guess time will tell...

Jon,

How about turning the exhaust manifolds around or over? You could run stacks thru the hood.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If you'd like the backhalf of a 4-door frame, I'll have one ready in the next few weeks...you'd have the coil rear suspension.

R-

I'm absolutely sure the smog police would LOVE that.

Smog Ref: What the hell?!
Me: But there's catalyzers on there...

We're looking for some block huggers with an O2 bung. I'll see what happens...

The frame is tempting, but I think we'll stick with what we've got. I'm going to coilover the rear as soon as I get the parts together anyway. Thanks for the offer!

Put the Right side one on the left and etc.

A guy that I know put a 4.3 in a 80 D50 along w/ a full Mustang 2 suspension and some other goodies and he had to run his headers that way to clear it all.

Thanks for the suggestion. We're looking at it.

I got pictures of the finished wheels with tires mounted and balanced ready for shipping. I'll post them up once I get back to the house this evening.

Pictures of the wheels/tires that are enroute. The rims are powdercoated in hammered silver and inners in hammered gray. I'm excited to get the meats on the truck!

Could you post more pics of the engine in it? Preferably showing how tight the fit is. Maybe a rough size of the 5.3 (length, width, height). Do you think you're going to run into issues with the hood?
Thanks! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I ran into the same exhaust hang up on mine with my 318. Look into different factory manifolds, they put those engines in a lot of different things, I'd look at car manifolds (GTO, F-Body) or maybe Hummer H3 manifolds. For my 318 I found grand cherokee manifolds that tuck in tight enough. Loving this build.