Next up rods and pistons ............
Along with checking Rod side clearance.

Cam installed and being degreed in to verify cam timing is correct .
Also time to check PTV( actually did this after the 1st piston was installed although I've done enough camshafts now to know this cam would fit beforehand)

Next up timing components along with the lifters and lifter trays ...

Time to add some heads . We used a Cometic .045 thick MLS gasket on this build. A OEM head gasket would have been cheaper, as these are overkill, but I wanted to set the quench at .040" since the pistons sit out of the hole .005", and there are no GM gaskets that thin.

Didn't get pictures of the oil pan and timing cover installation , but we just used the old stuff after some clean up of course. Time for the removal of the original 5.3 and the addition of around an extra 150 rwhp !!!

Engine back in a finishing up a few odd and ends ...
Added a later model L96 truck intake and 50lb flex injectors in case we wanted to go with E85 fuel down the road .
We also ended up adding a Circle D 3200 stall speed and some 1-3/4 ; headers, Y pipe w catalytic converter delete pipe . We also used on of my Borla mufflers for some added airflow and louder HOT ROD sound of course .
Doesn't look like 500+ hp now does it :)

Time for a quick base tune .
And the 1st test drive down the block....woo hoo..........

All good looks like your boy is in tune on his project. gonna be nice little ripper, thanks for sharing.

The ol “dingle ball hone”.

So back to our regular scheduled programming ..
Will be updating progress now that I have some time .
So finally was able to get the trunk detailing done .
Added some dark base color . The pics look glossy and sort of Black in color, but it looks much flatter and more Grey when fully dried .
I had purchased some trunk splatter paint from one of the big resto shops for use in a spray gun , but it just would flow right no matter how large tip I used .
I then experimented trying to add the splatter look.
Used this old siphon style wand gun at very low psi ( 5-7 psi) we used for cleaning out heater ducting at the dealership I worked at .
Ended up spraying some epoxy paint from a spray can into a plastic cup and addingsome reducer to thin it out .
The final trick was to HEAVILY over reduce the paint so it flowed out to mimic the factory
spotting style.
Of course I figured it out as I went along so the look I was trying to achieve got better towards the end . But the finished product will work for a non concourse build and honestly back then who knows how well the cars were done from one to the other :)