Lifted 77 Westy with 4.3l Vortec

superwrench73 · Post by **superwrench73** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:17 pm

Here's my 77 Westy I've been working on for a while now. Installing a '98 GM 4.3l Vortec. 200 HP sounds alot better than 65 HP!

regis101 · Post by **regis101** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:37 pm

You're on top of it, no doubt.

Great way to make a first post.

If ya want to bake the noodle about radiators/brushguard, source yourself a rad from a jeep. 11" tall and 35" wide. I've been going over in my head how to incorporate that size into a front bumper/radiator/brush guard combo thing. With your ground clearance, you may be able to tuck such a radiator under the front bumper at a slight angle.

Does the top of the engine stick up past the deck hatch? What is the height from the center of the crank to the top of the air cleaner?

petew · Post by **petew** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:36 am

with all that power intake restriction is no drama, so a short snorkel and a pod filter might help keep the engine height down a bit.

BTW, great looking bus. really top stuff.

Post by **Daniel G** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:12 pm

How did you go about lifting it??

superwrench73 · Post by **superwrench73** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:28 pm

It's about 18" from the center of the crank to the top lip of the throttle body. I made a low rise air intake that measures 1 3/8" from the throttle body lip to the top of the air box. The engine access lid is very close to this, but does close. I also cut out the compartment opening larger for better engine access and welded two lids together to make a larger one.

I lifted it by welding plates to the front end and basically bolted it back on 5" lower. Did the back by making plates as well, but they are just bolted in and not welded. Pictures would help. I'll try to post some in a bit.

I've also put 930 cv's and torsion racing axles under it to help handle the additional HP. Am getting very close to my first test drive. Hopefully all works out.

superwrench73 · Post by **superwrench73** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:42 pm

Rear Lift Plates Installed

Rear Lift Plates

Front end with lift plates welded

Post by **Daniel G** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 10:47 pm

Cool...Can you also post some more details and pics of the engine setup? I really like you bus, and it has certainly given me some ideas for mine...I might even decide to convert on to a watercooled engine one day...

fastmc25 · Post by **fastmc25** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:10 pm

I'm interested in your reciever hitch.......

.... I have class 1 that came with the bus but i want to step closer to a class 2 or 3 if possible............ Not planning on heavy tongue weight but draw weight is what i need..... the original class 1 leaves much to be desired......... Plus with a 2" reciever it opens me up to accessories such as rear winch, cargo hauler, etc....

I know i can come up with something but i'd like to see other ideas.....

BTW, Nice trail 70 in the background................. I've had some great memories on one of those.................. when they were new......

superwrench73 · Post by **superwrench73** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:43 am

Latest pic of engine setup. I used a Kennedy Engineered Products engine adapter plate along with their modified flywheel and heavy duty clutch and pressure plate.

The radiator is a universal aluminum radiator from Summit Racing mounted on a roo bar that I made out of 1 1/2" steel tubing.

Cooling lines are 1 3/4" aluminum tubing running front to back with flexible stainless steel radiator hoses coupling up the radiator and engine.

The receiver hitch is from some other unknown vehicle. I bought it at the local steel supplier and had to cut it, decrease the width and weld it back together. Also had to open up the mounting holes a bit, but it bolted up to the bus nicely using the 6 threaded holes at the rear.

The roo bar, engine crossmember, and receiver hitch are all powder coated gloss black.

Air intake box

Just clears the engine lid

Stainless grill with Denali style punched pattern

Post by **Daniel G** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 10:25 pm

Looks good!! Did you use a pattern from somewhere to make the rear lift plates, or did you make them yourself?

superwrench73 · Post by **superwrench73** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:58 am

Looks good!! Did you use a pattern from somewhere to make the rear lift plates, or did you make them yourself?

Made them myself. Just used the spring plates and and bearing housings for patterns.

Living Large · Post by **Living Large** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:05 pm

Please post more info. and pictures. This is a great build and I am now considering a very similar setup. Have you thought about building some of the brackets in your previous posts for others? Thanks again.

Dutch VeeRod · Post by **Dutch VeeRod** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:45 pm

Looks great!!!! Keep the pictures comming

Bart

fastmc25 · Post by **fastmc25** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 3:27 pm

Hey Superwrench73,

Thought i'd pass this on.........

I just had to do some modifying to my lift plates...........mine are identical to yours except the plate i had were not as wide............ My right rear plate started flexing and finally bent enough to give me a lot of negative camber on that side...........This was on a 60 mile round trip on pavement while being towed with a towbar...

.......... I noticed it getting progressively worse when i returned home..........

I ended up removing the plates and noticed the one had bent by about a 1/4".......

I straightened them and built a gusset that should stop this........ It utilizes the lower front bolt so it's removable with the plates..... It is welded to the plates.... I hope this helps prevent a possible problem in the future....

Don't look at the welding here.... Not pretty this time...

..... . But it is strong....... I'll pretty them up when they come off next time....

I hope this helps prevent a possible problem in the future....especially going offroad.....

superwrench73 · Post by **superwrench73** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:57 pm

The gusset looks like a good idea. I may do something similar. What shocks did you use on the rear? I'm using a set that's made for a late model GM truck that's been lifted. I had to search around to find a set that had the correct compressed and extended length.

What angle did you end up with on your rear axles? Mine are at about 26 degrees. That's why I went with race clearanced 930 CVs. They're supposed to be good up to 28 degrees. You can also see the aluminum tubing I used for my cooling lines and the placement of the inline fuel pump in the photo above.

Here's a pic of the rear showing how the exhaust is situated under the receiver hitch. Still need to build a rear bumper to finish it off though.