Build Just had to treat myself for Halloween... 65 SWB

[DomSmith]

Lift Mock up...

Mike helped me mock up what the SWB would look like with the OME 2.5" lift and 33x10.5x15 BFG muds. At least as best we could.

We started by measuring his truck from ground to frame at all four corners (He has the OME lift). Then we swapped 2 of his tires onto my drivers side and raised my frame to the same measurements as his on all four corners.

Here's what it looked like...

Front...

Rear...

If I do go this route I'll hold onto all the stock stuff so it can be returned to stock height if I ever decide to. The springs on it now are not level and all the tires have to be replaced too.


(EDIT: I normally wouldn't do the lift and tires first, but I need new rubber to drive this safely and would rather do it once. The springs need serious help as well...)


The rear is a little tight but we articulated as well as we could with some ballast and the tires tuck nicely inside the rear fenders but I'm not certain they would clear the fender just to the front of the tire. Another 1/2" back would make it perfect. If I choose to, could I slot the spring perch on the bottom of the axle to allow the spring eye bolt to clear and push the axle 1/4" to 1/2" back?

 

[calixto]

Dom, so glad you are working on an F again....this means you can help me sort out all my issues as they come up. Just kidding...not really but your truck is looking sweet. Let me know when you do your center arm re-build, like to check it out and do mine sometime.

 

[calixto]

Oh yeah, a couple of inspiration rigs I saw on here. Pretty dope.

 

[esh]

Dom-

Congrats on the swb! Great thread. Welcome to the cracked steering wheel club. I dig the bed rails.

 

[yotaforce1]

Dom,

i wish i had that type of luck, a find like that requires it. i like the fact that you took pics of the carb, because a guy wanted us to restore a 1947 cub (piper aircraft) and took like three pictures, were almost done, but we would already be done if he had taken more pics. Just saying that i appreciate the care that your putting into that beautiful truck.

looking foward to see a great truck.

 

[fj40_73]

Mike helped me mock up what the SWB would look like with the OME 2.5" lift and 33x10.5x15 BFG muds. At least as best we could.

We started by measuring his truck from ground to frame at all four corners (He has the OME lift). Then we swapped 2 of his tires onto my drivers side and raised my frame to the same measurements as his on all four corners.

Here's what it looked like...

If I do go this route I'll hold onto all the stock stuff so it can be returned to stock height if I ever decide to. The springs on it now are not level and all the tires have to be replaced too.

Man,...haha, now you guys are just hanging out playing with your toys.


BUT with that said, the mock up looks pretty good to me. I say gopherIT.

 

[car-car]

I also met up with Mike (crusherboy) and drooled all over his LWB 45. Very nicely setup and one of the sweetest I've seen.

I had the privilege of checking out Mike's 45 a few months back and was in awe of how clean and well done his resto was. Such a nice truck. That thing looked better than when it rolled out of the showroom 40+ years ago. I really liked his suspension setup; so if you are using his setup as your target, your's will turn out really nice.

 

[BinaryDude]

Dom,

Looking great! Hope I can make the 45 Run and see it. Trying to talk the wife into it and praying I get my 45LV up and ready by then.

Dallas-

I have been getting pretty much everything from Mark (Marks Off Road Home Page). I'm doing my best to support the smaller guys every chance I get, plus he KNOWS the 45 and has been very helpful.

I know what you mean about supporting the little guys. I hate giving money away to big companies unless i have no choice...

 

[fjwagon]

That's a sweet looking rig.

Very nicely setup and one of the sweetest I've seen.

 

[65swb45]

Dom, I'm with you on the spring perch idea. Go the extra step and consider replacing the perches with some HD ones from some place like Ruff Stuff. They come drilled with three locations, giving you the option to move the axle as the situation changes.

And situations do change.


Thanks again for all your support.

 

[DomSmith]

Well this week my Cruiser Karma showed up in force...


Here are the window felt channels and trim pieces that Mike gave me (with new clips to boot!!)...

And Jim (centerlineseal) drug a stock bumper and brackets on a plane from Idaho for me to replace the welded on channel bumper...

Thanks guys!

 

[DomSmith]

Dom, I'm with you on the spring perch idea. Go the extra step and consider replacing the perches with some HD ones from some place like Ruff Stuff. They come drilled with three locations, giving you the option to move the axle as the situation changes.

That Ruff Stuff looks great Mark but I'm a bit weary of changing the perches. I'm planning to keep this close to stock with small bolt-on equipment that can be changed back easily. I figure an extra hole in the original perches is a lot easier to undo than fabbed perches.

You never know, like you said... situations do change.

 

[DomSmith]

New Meats

So yesterday I changed the upper part of the turn signal and that works much better. The connection at the rod isn't sloppy anymore and the signals stay on instead of stopping. They also return to neutral as the wheel passes back to center. I also spent the better part of the last 2 days getting my stock wheels prepped for the new tires I ordered Monday. Mid-way through the project Shane told me had a blasting cabinet...



Just before I left to pick up some aluminum sulfate I realized I still had tires on all the wheels! That wasn't going to work.


Since the old tires were still on I had to go back to doing the ghetto version of wire wheeling, sanding and painting with the tires on. Note to self: Next time SANDBLAST!


3 coats of rattle can primer and 3 coats of rattle can semi-gloss and they don't look too bad. I also took some polish to the old hub caps and here's what I got...

EDIT: OOPS! Should have added that these are 33x10.5x15 BFG M/T KM





Next on the list...


OME lift!??

 

[rockcod]

Dom,

The shorty is looking good!!! I am so jealous, you are able to drive yours and mine is an F'ing puzzle in the garage. Oh well, I am really happy for you brother!!!!! Keep dumping the cash in the old girl and keep the pics coming.

 

[DomSmith]

Dom,

The shorty is looking good!!! I am so jealous, you are able to drive yours and mine is an F'ing puzzle in the garage. Oh well, I am really happy for you brother!!!!! Keep dumping the cash in the old girl and keep the pics coming.

Thanks Tony. I'm super stoked on it.

Are you still looking for a stock old school grab bar? I think I might have one in a box somewhere. I have been finding all kinds of great stuff I haven't pulled out in years.

I'm having fun just re-acquainting myself with all the boxes of stuff I have.

And to think I have been asking around and searching for a fuse block cover for my 73...

 

[DomSmith]

Found a set of these I'm considering adding to my ride after a little cleanup/resto...

I have everything except one of the button (female) clips. I'll open a few more boxes of stuff to see if I have one somewhere.

I'm thinking it would be good to have seatbelts...

 

[calixto]

Hey Dom, I've got a full set of pretty good lap belts from my 73 I just pulled a couple months ago for my shoulder belts you can have. I might have some other parts kicking around the garage you can use as well. Need to see what else is up on "that shelf" Let me know if you want the belts.

 

[DomSmith]

I'm certainly in to take a look at them. Thanks bro.

 

[D'Animal]

Your rig looks really nice with 33"s.

Are you sure you need a lift?

 

[DomSmith]

Your rig looks really nice with 33"s.

Are you sure you need a lift?

Thanks Dan. Yeah, the springs are beat and they need replacement. I mocked up the 2.5" OME and I like the look of that. I also went on a ride with Mike in his 45 and that OME is damn smooth. The rear tires almost rub the tub and the exhaust pipe and there is not much room up front either.

Around town it would probably be good but as soon as it left the pavement...