1980 Longbed Pickup Build - Epically Slow Style (3 Viewers)

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Ok, this is a time when not being able to see pictures on my phone is a problem!!

Definitely going to have to log in once I get home..

Let me give you a preview... IT'S RIDICULOUS. :cool:

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So I was thinking I could use my original cross member temporarily but I was not thinking about the fact that the 5 speed is at least 5" longer than the 4 speed. So, no chance the factory cross member is going to work. The skid/cross members from bud and TG and all the others are year specific and not trans specific. Anyone running one and have any insight? I'm just trying to make sure it will fit before I spend more $$ (that I don't really have and wasn't planning to spend).

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After further review, we are going to try to modify the crossmember. We'll see how it goes.

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Well, I have a long couple of weeks ahead of me. My goal of getting the truck ready for the shakedown run (April 20th) is coming up fast. I'll update the to do list later but the short list is: get trans swapped, make driveshafts, do something with crossmember, cut out/fix floor so the rear shifter will fit, install hi lift and LEDs (no I still haven't done these...), fix fan shroud, replace starter and battery(? Not sure if it's bad or just keeps dying from sitting), drill out sleeve in rear springs for new bolts, order and install new rear shocks (need to measure again).

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Pulled the starter and trans tonight. I have a pretty bad leak somewhere on the back of the motor. Gonna need to check that out. I'm also going to have to cut one of the bolts out of the cross member. The welded nut on the inside of the frame broke loose so I couldn't take it out. And of course it's .2 inches from the freaking lift arm. :bang: I did manage to wiggle the trans out using my super :wrench:'n skills...

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Go ahead and plan on replacing the rear main seal while it is easy to get to, even if it isn't leaking now, cause it will as soon as you put it back together, that'd be my guess on the leak. Either that or the little half moon gasket at the valvecover.

And by super :wrench:'n skills, you mean "hey you, yeah you, I'm your boss, go take my $@&? Apart or your fired" right? Come on, I know you that's how you roll. :D
 
Go ahead and plan on replacing the rear main seal while it is easy to get to, even if it isn't leaking now, cause it will as soon as you put it back together, that'd be my guess on the leak. Either that or the little half moon gasket at the valvecover.

And by super :wrench:'n skills, you mean "hey you, yeah you, I'm your boss, go take my $@&? Apart or your fired" right? Come on, I know you that's how you roll. :D

Ha! Yeah I wish I could get the guys to help that easy. Matt does help quite a bit but I did the trans completely by myself. (I also did 98% of the engine swap myself btw.)

I replaced the rear main when I put the engine in a while back. I've probably driven a whole 10 miles or so since then. I don't think that's it. The clutch looks bone dry. I think the water passage plate(?) on the back of the head might be the culprit. I'll look at that while I have the trans out. I don't want to drain the coolant again if I don't have to tho. My list is already pretty long and my time is short.

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Looks like the leak is the valve cover/half moon on the back. Clutch looks great. Going to swap over to a 5 speed clutch fork. Got the transfer off the old 4 speed and installed the studs to mount it up to the crawl box. Next step is to bolt everything up with the cross member and debate mounting options. Then it's on to swapping flanges and making drive shafts. Once all that is done it should be able to move under its own power. Which is good because the shakedown is getting close.

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You are down to the home stretch now. I on the other hand still have some work to do.
 
You are down to the home stretch now. I on the other hand still have some work to do.

Well I did move my deadline up considerably. I think that is going to help a lot as far as GSMTR goes. If I was shooting for May 13th I would prob be down to the wire then.

Anyway, you just gotta make some time. I've stayed late at work and given up many weekends to get mine done. Still got a ways to go too.

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Sounds like you are plugging right along Sam.

Are you going to make the ACC open house?

I am planning on coming down in the Tacoma.
 
Sounds good. Looking forward to it.
 
Me too. It's going to be a good time for sure. I'll have the Tundra and 4Runner both there also.

Looking over my list today and at least it feels like there's a light at the end of the tunnel. :cool:

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So due to a case of mistaken identity, I am going with plan B on the hi lift mount.

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And due to the fact that someone dropped the ball in the shipping department (twice) at :censor:, they next day air AND Saturday delivered my front driveline kit. :eek: (I can only imagine what that cost them but I do really appreciate them stepping up.

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First observation is that the nylon (I think) coating on the slip part is really cool. Makes it slide really easily. It's supposed to reduce binding I believe. It looks like it's doing a great job of it on my floor.

So other than waiting on the rear shocks to show up, I have everything I need to get the truck back together and :steer:'n again. Just gotta get off my tail and get to work! :wrench:
 
Man if it's not one thing, it's another. Went to bolt the rear transfer up and something was binding bad. Couldn't turn the outputs at all. Pulled it back off and something is def not right. The bearing is set out from the case by about a 1/4". It feels like something is grinding a little when you turn the input too. I didn't think to check this transfer since it was on the truck and working. So frustrating. :bang::bang::bang::bang:

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feel your pain and frustration pal .. most of us have been there .. patience .. and keep walking ..

before I forget .. maybe I miss it .. where you order your long spline DS .?
 
I didn't post where I bought it from. Its the Trail Gear kit. I bought it from Low Range Offroad. I have bought pretty much all the Trail Gear stuff from them. They are really good most of the time. This last order they were out of stock so they referred my order straight to TG for shipment. Somewhere some lines of communication got crossed and my order didn't get shipped. No big deal but when I called they were supposed to overnight or 2 day air it since they messed up. I waited a couple days and when it didn't show I called to check on it again. They said when they shipped it out they put it on ground instead of next day or 2 day. No big deal again but the guy said he would overnight another one and stop ship the first one. Very much appreciated even though they really didn't need to. This is exactly why I order stuff as far in advance as I can.

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I am still looking forward. I'm just getting a little frustrated because I don't have much time to work on the truck. The deadline I set for myself will be here very soon and I really want to have the truck ready. So, any setback is a big one at this point. I have to get the transfer on before I can do anything else at this point also. I can't make a cross member or drive shafts until I can get everything mounted up and in the truck.

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