A little 40 help ... (1 Viewer)

[nicholastheczar]

I just bought my first 40 a couple days ago, a 1970 that has a brand new sbc 350 and 700R4 in it. Neither the engine or the tranny has been run at all, brand spankin' new. The TC is not hooked up as I need to buy an adapter to mate it. I had a '88 62 for a while, but I've never tackled anything like this before. I've been researching what I need to do get this thing fired up and it is definately overwhelming, but fun at the same time. I'm not too savy on engine work but am looking to learn. The guy I bought it from also gave me a '78 front axle. My plan is to install that axle on my 40 and replace the current one that is on there. I've been told the 78 axles are a very good axle to have. Should this bolt right up as my current axle did? Any suggestions / help is appreciated or if anyone lives around the Granbury area and is willing to come out and take a look and give me some pointers, I'm all for it and will supply the beer, diet coke, DP, etc. Thanks.

Nick

 

[wardfoto]

great looking rig!!! wow! jealous...

 

[JasonH]

Thoughts on the axle... Rather than swapping the whole axle out, put the disk brakes on your front axle. If it is a 78 axle, you'll have 4.11 gears (same as your current axle) with a fine spline pinion. Put the 3rd member in the rear axle. You'll probably have to redrill or replace the flange to mate your driveshaft. Since you're probably going to have to have a new rear shaft built anyway, you could get it done then.

Nice looking rig. It'll be fun when it's done.

 

[nicholastheczar]

Thoughts on the axle... Rather than swapping the whole axle out, put the disk brakes on your front axle. If it is a 78 axle, you'll have 4.11 gears (same as your current axle) with a fine spline pinion. Put the 3rd member in the rear axle. You'll probably have to redrill or replace the flange to mate your driveshaft. Since you're probably going to have to have a new rear shaft built anyway, you could get it done then.

Nice looking rig. It'll be fun when it's done.

Ok. That makes sense. Less work doing it your way with more benifit. Thanks. When I do the disc brake swap on the front, what am I going to have to do as far as a new master cylinder? Would it be wise while I'm redoing everything right now to swap out the rear drum brakes to disc?

Thanks,
Nick

 

[jebber]

Is this the truck from Corsicana?

I saw this truck a while back, picked up some axles from the guy. I think he said it was a Parks truck from Georgia, It looked real clean from what I remember. Nice score.

 

[JasonH]

Ok. That makes sense. Less work doing it your way with more benifit. Thanks. When I do the disc brake swap on the front, what am I going to have to do as far as a new master cylinder? Would it be wise while I'm redoing everything right now to swap out the rear drum brakes to disc?

Thanks,
Nick

I'm not an expert here so take it for what it's worth... Assuming you have a dual circuit master cylinder, you should be able to take out the residual pressure check valve on the circuit that you are putting disk brakes on. Check the tech section here on Mud for more details.
I'd vote yes on rear disks. If your rear drums work fine you can leave them for now, but I wouldn't spend money on the drums. I thought the rear conversion was really easy. I just left my truck with Butch and gave him a check, and it had rear disks when I picked it up!

 

[nicholastheczar]

Is this the truck from Corsicana?

I saw this truck a while back, picked up some axles from the guy. I think he said it was a Parks truck from Georgia, It looked real clean from what I remember. Nice score.

Yup, that's the one. It was a Parks truck from Georgia. It has a little cancer under the drivers seat and over the tranny but other than that it is really clean. Here's a shot of it as it sits right now. I've had the wire wheel after it. I'm going to have the floor boards line-x'd. I ordered a new drivers side floor plan from CCOT.

 

[nicholastheczar]

I thought the rear conversion was really easy. I just left my truck with Butch and gave him a check, and it had rear disks when I picked it up!

Oh, maybe mine will be that easy! I'll check out some more tech write ups and ad that to my list.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Nice cruiser,good luck.I would leave the drums,or do that last. Mike

 

[nicholastheczar]

Nice cruiser,good luck.I would leave the drums,or do that last. Mike

I've got so many other things to tackle right now, that will definately be put on the back burner ... for now.

 

[kipper]

Thoughts on the axle... Rather than swapping the whole axle out, put the disk brakes on your front axle. If it is a 78 axle, you'll have 4.11 gears (same as your current axle) with a fine spline pinion. Put the 3rd member in the rear axle.

you torn right into that nick!

hey jason - if he swaps the thirds does that mean the '70 and '78 inner axles are the same spline count? I know at some point they switched from 10 to 27, but have no idea when that switch happened.

 

[JasonH]

I think the coarse spline axles were switched in the late 60's. 68 I think.