Alastar

1975 C10 shortbed w/ an 81 454 & th400


6 getting valves adjusted... again

the new 454 & th400, out of an 81 suburban



I have a 1975 C10 shortbed. The usual 250cid and Saginaw 3 speed. The 6 is worn out, low compression on 2 cylinders, blowing oil smoke everywhere, valves clattering, I figure it’s done. I found a 454 & th400 for $1500, got it home. I figure either go big or go home. It’s a smogger 454, peanut port, but I just want something I can brag about, have fun and burn the tires occasionally in. The swap has been going well I’ve been having trouble though finding a few parts though, and I’d like some advice from anyone here if they can offer it. I need an air cleaner, and I want one with a long snorkel or a spot that I can clamp a plastic flexible tube to and connect it to the radiator support to draw in cold air, I don’t like those open filters. But I can’t find one anywhere, only those twin snorkel performance ones that were on the corvettes. What originally came on 81 suburbans, and why is it so hard to find? Is there an alternative, or should I fabricate myself an air cleaner. In addition, somebody swapped the steering wheel for one of those foam ones from an 80’s camaro. I’d like to get a big black metal one, like what was on a 1979 C70 dump truck I worked on once. I can’t seem to find those either except cracked and broken. Is there anyone who fixes those, or should I just keep hunting through scrap yards? Thanks in advance, and any advice or tips on the 454 or th400 would be appreciated. I’m sure I’ll need a different rear end gear but I figure I’ll just drive it and see instead if doing calculations