Nice progress Mike. your diving right in. :thumbsup:

Thanks guys.

Marty - hope the pics help. I know I've found a few threads that have helped me so much by having pics. I figure if I can post the pics and it helps someone else, that's great.


Got the trunion upgrade done today. For anyone that doesn't want to spend the money on roller rockers, but wants something a little better than the stock rockers...highly recommend this kit. I noticed the difference right away. The stock ones feel so flimsy compared to trunion kit. The stock ones don't feel very tight at all and rattle quite a bit. With the upgrade kit, they are way smoother moving and there is no play at all. On to the pics.

They were actually very easy to install. Took about an hour or so to do the full set of 16. All you need is a vice or a press. I'm sure most guys will be doing with a vice, that's how I did mine.

First thing is to pop out the stock trunion. The instructions say to use a socket underneath and use a hammer and bar to the knock them out. I found it easier to use my vice. I used a 15/16 socket on one side an a 9/16 socket on the other

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010188.jpg

You'll notice that on one side of the rocker there are some tabs that are not on the other side. I put the 15/16 socket on the side with the extra tabs to help secure it in place

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010189.jpg

The 9/16 socket fit nicely to push the old trunion out

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010190.jpg

Then just tighten the vice until the bearings pop out. You'll want to keep your hands underneath to catch everything

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010192.jpg

The one thing that I found that was about half of the bearings in the stock trunion were so dry that the needles fell out right away. You can also see the parts that I took out.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010193.jpg

Now you need to put the new bearings in. The only thing with this part is you have to make sure the letters on the bearings stay on the outside. Using the vice I put one side in

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010195.jpg

You only have to tighten the vice until the bearing is flush

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010196.jpg

One side done

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010197.jpg

The kit also includes two thick washers that help with the install. Once you have one of the bearings in, you put in the main piece (I'm assuming that's the actually part called the trunion). You put the other bearing into place. I found it easier to press the second bearing in a bit before using the washer. That way I didn't have to worry about lining up the washer and holding the bearing in place. You can see how you use the washers when installing

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010201.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010202.jpg

Then put a c clip onto both sides are you're done

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010200.jpg

Here's some pics of the differences

First, this is what comes with the kit for each rocker arm

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010198.jpg

Stock bolt on the left, bolt with the upgrade kit on the right

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010194.jpg

Stock bearing on left, upgrade on right

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010203.jpg

Stock on top, upgrade on bottom. You can see from this picture why you need the washers when pressing in the bearings. The upgraded one is quite a bit longer than stock.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010204.jpg

Here's the two complete units side by side. I'm sure you can figure out which one is which

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010207.jpg

And the parts left over

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010209.jpg

You can see all the needles from the bearings that fell apart

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010208.jpg


I forgot to add on the last update...I got my new and proper shifter knob from MGW shifters. Looks much better

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010115.jpg

The one thing I find really annoying with buying parts separate from different companies, you have to buy some things separately from GM. 40 bucks for the intake seal and 40 bucks for the throttle body bolts. GM is such a rip off sometimes.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1010114.jpg

Not sure when I'll get a chance to update again. I'm waiting for a few little things that are halting progress (hinges, degree kit, and a few others). Plus we plan on painting the house next week so likely won't get into the shop for a bit.

Great pictures and information! Its the little details like this that sometimes we let slide buy in rushing to finish a long term project car, I can only imagine the difference these updates would make in the long run. Thanks for opening my eyes a little further, and for sharing.

:thumbsup:

Awesome progress Mike! Everything looks really good!

Wow what a difference on the new trunnions over stock. Those should triple the strength.

Thanks guys.

Unfortunately I haven't had much time to work on the car. It sucks when life gets in the way. Over the past month or so, we've painted the house and the shop. It really needed to be done. I don't think it's been painted for 20-25 years. I'll post some pics of the difference when I take some new ones. I'm also still waiting on the cam degree kit and the head gaskets. The cam degree kit is shipping out today so I should have it tomorrow morning. The head gaskets should be here any day. I've also received a few other small parts, but haven't had a chance to put them on. I'll post pics of everything when I have a better update for work done.

I do though have a good update for today though. I had Shawn Mascoll do a rendering for me. Turned out great. Now I just have to get the damn car done!!!! Here's his website if anyone is interested in getting him to do one: http://mascolldesigns.com/

Here it is:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...ll_Designs.jpg

Great looking Mike!


I too, had a new roof and paint done this summer... sure made a big difference.

Mike, that looks great!!! Like it

DUDE. So uncool.





I'm so jealous.


Looks fantastic.