This is just a placeholder for my build up thread :-).

We got our darling about 2 months ago, let the shop remove 4WD drive and replace damaged engine with new one. Now it is at home and today we just cleaned it up, removed tow bar, console in the middle and 4WD shifting lever.
Also fixed broken headlight.

We plan to convert it to street legal trophy truck replica with 3 race seats in front (me + 2 kids)

Photos come!

 

So here it is in the rainy day as we brought it home. Condition is very bad, but was supposed to be a project car so it is ok. I love old junk :-).
We put on it cragar wheels and T/A KM2 275/60/16s, which we will then later replace for coopers.
Big deal was it to get it street legal with original red US Tail lights and small lic plates. Most guys here in Germany don't have that.

 

the worst part is the electrical system, almost nothing really works, also the swap engine with TBI is strong as hell but not adjusted properly, won't idle and there is also lot of other weird hackery. The gearbox seems to be running fine, but with oil probably still original, rear axle I have to identify yet, but does not seem to be stock either.
So i parked it in my little house garage where i will be working on it probably big part of winter :-).
The car have 180k miles on the clock, to put it all in perspective.

 

ok let's start with the basics...

Can anybody identify this engine? I cannot find the VIN yet, but maybe from head marking?



There is this weird TBI, i have never seen before - coil?. It does not run well, and all sensors are messed up (revs, temp, etc are all wrong)
It says 1012 KDM on it



Also any idea about what this axle is? Thank you!

 

The original engine was likely a 305. If it has been swapped, I would hope someone going through the trouble of a swap would have put in a 350.

The engine looks to have an aftermarket intake on it (Edlebrock Performer?), but stock TBI. If the engine was changed from a 305 to a 350 and the ECU was not reprogrammed for the larger engine, it may be running lean.


As far as the axle is concerned, it looks like a run of the mill 8.5" GM Corporate 10-bolt.

 

It's a 14 bolt rear end. It's not round enough to be a 10 bolt and the diff cover has 7 bolts in the bottom half


14 bolt picture I found

 

ok thank you. Is it a good axle? Does it have LSD? Can it be converted to disc brakes?

atm the engine runs relatively good warm, but struggles to idle when cold. very low rpm in both cases. Performance-wise it feels good. I have experience with carbs but not with injections.

engine is a 350/383 out a C4 vette (what the previous owner said but i do not really take it granted as he was only dealer and not very informed)

 

I know there's different 14 bolts, ones a semi-float and ones a full-float. I don't know what one you have. The full-float is the more desirable one and yes, it is a very good axle. Yes, it can be converted to discs. Lots of kits out there for it.


That's about all I know about them, it might have a G80 locker, it might not.

 

could this be because the lambda probe is not connected? I would assume that it is ignored on start (it already starts only with gas little down) so the lambda does not have much to talk about it?

so as a carburetor guy, who never did anything with injections, (but can keep holley or weber carb one handed appart and adjust it), do i keep it and struggle and learn or should i convert it to carb.?

 

any inputs on how to find out? If it does not have LSD i think i will go straight to look for another axle and can save me lot of time...
i sadly cannot drive it now to check or lift it because i am working on front axle but maybe some hints based on design? On my vette it was easy to find what kind of diff it is...