Builds The 60 known as Mamabear: a tale of rust and good times. (3 Viewers)

[HemiAlex]

Glad you got the exhaust taken care of (it kind of bothered me too)! I'm with you on the tint. You should be able to build a low pro box rather easily and cheaply. Interested in seeing the sway bar and the difference it makes. Missed you this last weekend!

I've got a cabinet guy who will do a fantastic job.

I really missed driving the truck these last two weeks. I just have to wonder if it misses me too...(that statement drives the lady crazy lol)

I want to do a beach day. I think we need to get the crew together.

 

[HemiAlex]

Changed the oil with some Delo and added my pfran led reverse lights.

I'm still driving it daily. The OME suspension finally settled. It's driving great and I've had no issues aside from having to grease the bushings a lot earlier than expected.

 

[HemiAlex]

Another weekend of running the truck through its paces.

Ran the truck up to Austin for a day trip. 500 miles in 12 hours cruising at 2700 rpm. Flawless run that inched me past 288,000 miles. That's 10,000 of daily driving it since I've bought it in November of last year.

Before I left, I stuck some left over marine foam and tar paper insulation in all the doors along with a piece of dynamat around the soaker surrounds. It took the driving db down by about 7db at cruise. A huge difference. Conversations are now easy with the radio on low.

Also, my 6.5" door speakers with a small 40w rms amp is now working like a much better system. All that lost energy sent to rattling the doors is not translated into clarity and power in the music. Well worth the $free.50 mod.

Averaged 14.5mpg highway but the undergeared truck suffered on the hills of Austin around lake Travis. It was WOT in 3rd to climb some of the grades. Needs an h55f to keep pace with the slow lane traffic in the hills. I couldn't cross the Rockies as is. No doubt in my mind. It would need 31" tires or some 4.11's as is to make it with the h42.

I have to appreciate how well it drives on flat ground but I can't do much else to boost power aside from a JimC rebuilt and recurved distributor.

Still love the truck to death. It actually did leave me for about 5 mins in a parking lot when I lost throttle on the side of the road. My linkage rod from the throttle linkage to carb popped off. Some work with my leatherman tool and some hot engine on my elbows action, I was ready to go.

I'm kind of out of maintenance to do. I'm going to move on to getting a dash pad cover and maybe a center console soon.

Other than that, it gets beat daily.

 

[FJ40JOHN]

We need to compare notes....Reading this thread sounds fairly similar to mine.

 

[HemiAlex]

We need to compare notes....Reading this thread sounds fairly similar to mine.

Bring it on. I always find that reading through threads like this helps me figure out problems though the struggle of others!

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Another weekend of running the truck through its paces.

Ran the truck up to Austin for a day trip. 500 miles in 12 hours cruising at 2700 rpm. Flawless run that inched me past 288,000 miles. That's 10,000 of daily driving it since I've bought it in November of last year.

Before I left, I stuck some left over marine foam and tar paper insulation in all the doors along with a piece of dynamat around the soaker surrounds. It took the driving db down by about 7db at cruise. A huge difference. Conversations are now easy with the radio on low.

Also, my 6.5" door speakers with a small 40w rms amp is now working like a much better system. All that lost energy sent to rattling the doors is not translated into clarity and power in the music. Well worth the $free.50 mod.

Averaged 14.5mpg highway but the undergeared truck suffered on the hills of Austin around lake Travis. It was WOT in 3rd to climb some of the grades. Needs an h55f to keep pace with the slow lane traffic in the hills. I couldn't cross the Rockies as is. No doubt in my mind. It would need 31" tires or some 4.11's as is to make it with the h42.

I have to appreciate how well it drives on flat ground but I can't do much else to boost power aside from a JimC rebuilt and recurved distributor.

Still love the truck to death. It actually did leave me for about 5 mins in a parking lot when I lost throttle on the side of the road. My linkage rod from the throttle linkage to carb popped off. Some work with my leatherman tool and some hot engine on my elbows action, I was ready to go.

I'm kind of out of maintenance to do. I'm going to move on to getting a dash pad cover and maybe a center console soon.

Other than that, it gets beat daily.

View attachment 1455812

View attachment 1455813

Recurve it yourself. $17 is worth giving it a shot... it's worked for plenty.
btw I see it and I've yet to figure out what it means... WOT?

 

[HemiAlex]

Recurve it yourself. $17 is worth giving it a shot... it's worked for plenty.
btw I see it and I've yet to figure out what it means... WOT?

It's the lack of being able to check the curve that worries me. Having an actual distributor machine makes it worth it to me.

Wide Open Throttle is what that stands for.

 

[onemanarmy]

Another weekend of running the truck through its paces.

Ran the truck up to Austin for a day trip. 500 miles in 12 hours cruising at 2700 rpm. Flawless run that inched me past 288,000 miles. That's 10,000 of daily driving it since I've bought it in November of last year.

Before I left, I stuck some left over marine foam and tar paper insulation in all the doors along with a piece of dynamat around the soaker surrounds. It took the driving db down by about 7db at cruise. A huge difference. Conversations are now easy with the radio on low.

Also, my 6.5" door speakers with a small 40w rms amp is now working like a much better system. All that lost energy sent to rattling the doors is not translated into clarity and power in the music. Well worth the $free.50 mod.

Averaged 14.5mpg highway but the undergeared truck suffered on the hills of Austin around lake Travis. It was WOT in 3rd to climb some of the grades. Needs an h55f to keep pace with the slow lane traffic in the hills. I couldn't cross the Rockies as is. No doubt in my mind. It would need 31" tires or some 4.11's as is to make it with the h42.

I have to appreciate how well it drives on flat ground but I can't do much else to boost power aside from a JimC rebuilt and recurved distributor.

Still love the truck to death. It actually did leave me for about 5 mins in a parking lot when I lost throttle on the side of the road. My linkage rod from the throttle linkage to carb popped off. Some work with my leatherman tool and some hot engine on my elbows action, I was ready to go.

I'm kind of out of maintenance to do. I'm going to move on to getting a dash pad cover and maybe a center console soon.

Other than that, it gets beat daily.

View attachment 1455812

View attachment 1455813

.

2nd, 3rd, and 4th are about the same on the 4 speed and 5 speed transmissions. The H55 gets you a lower first gear and a .85 OD, neither of which will help with mountain passes.
Yea, 33in. tires really strain the 2F in the hills, but having the bit of rubber OD for the flat lands is nice. These trucks were never designed to run 65-70 mph, even on flat ground. Without more HP, gearing and tire size is a big compromise.

Transmission Ratio Information

 

[HemiAlex]

.

2nd, 3rd, and 4th are about the same on the 4 speed and 5 speed transmissions. The H55 gets you a lower first gear and a .85 OD, neither of which will help with mountain passes.
Yea, 33in. tires really strain the 2F in the hills, but having the bit of rubber OD for the flat lands is nice. These trucks were never designed to run 65-70 mph, even on flat ground. Without more HP, gearing and tire size is a big compromise.

Transmission Ratio Information

Need to keep my eyes peeled for 62 centerchunks!

 

[HemiAlex]

New things coming in-

CCOT Dashcap in gray. It was time. I saw a piece break off of the already cracked dash sitting in the sun and I knew it was time. Consider this my first "cosmetic" mod. The interior in the truck is really much closer to perfect than the rusty outside would indicate.

I need some affordable seat covers that fit...


WannaARB 160w fogs from eBay to replace my hella 500ff. I liked them for the $55 and it helps that they came with a harness but they weren't doing it for some of the trips into nowhere for work. I work in pipeline right of ways and refineries in the middle of nowhere, I needed more light for some of the off the road driving. $92 shipped for what would have been $1500 otherwise. I got black ones to not look like as much of a poseur.

Waiting on some hardware and bushings from @beno and @cruiseroutfit to install my 62 series rear sway bar. The truck drives so well with the OME springs and Bilstein 5100 that I might almost forget that I'm driving a 130hp, leaf sprung tractor.

At least it rides better on the CS005 springs than my coworkers 2500 diesel! Completely didn't expect that. It's all in the shocks....

 

[HemiAlex]

Not glued down yet, but it will work out well!

 

[roadstr6]

I didn't glue mine. So far no warping or rattling. I don't think I will even bother with glue. Homebrew $17 recurve here working like a champ. Also, de-smog and a Trollhole carb made a big difference in my truck hp-wise. Another thing to check into is whether the secondary circuit of your carb is working. Mine wasn't. I have a quick DIY fix for that issue as well. PM me if you need more info. Look up "paper clip trick" to see how to determine if your secondary is functioning properly.

 

[HemiAlex]

I'm going to do Velcro on this one. I've got some industrial stuff to use.

I'll check the secondaries. It runs good just not a ton of power up hill. Above 1500-3500 it pulls cleanly.

 

[HemiAlex]

I've had a dull center of the truck vibration at speed and a clunk at times.

Rearmost u joint is dead. It's moving around on both axis. Ordered Matsuba replacements from @orangefj45 and I'll move on from this noise shortly.

1 noise and clunk down, 30 more to go!

 

[orangefj45]

Thanks for the order!!!!!

Let me know if I can help with anything else.

Georg @ Valley Hybrids & Cruiser Brothers

 

[HemiAlex]

Small progress-

Rebuilt driveshaft is in the rear. Truck has stopped shaking at speed and making a ton of noise. It was needed.

Added a new rear wiper assembly thanks to @houstonfj40 it actually works now!

Just going to keep driving it until I break down again or I buy an H55F.

 

[HemiAlex]

Got some stuff done his weekend that I've been waiting months to do.

Dual stainless battery trays.
Dual stebel nautilus horns on relays
Blue sea 12 circuit fuse block

Haven't decided what I'm going to do for a second battery. Either another AC delco 27 or a yellow top. I bought the hold down for the yellow top but I'm having second thoughts. My factory tray was wasted and I want a second battery for the self starting and a winch soon.

The fuse block cleaned up a lot of wiring issues that I've had and simplified the under hood area.

The horns were needed. I've had close calls with so many people recently and the oem horns were barely audible. These are 139db each and have a good mid to high tone. Wired them up with relays and I'm really happy.

 

[HemiAlex]

Some small projects on the horizon:

Bought a back up distributor and sent it to JimC for a recurve. I'll finally be able to pull out my unable to turn distributor. Final item on my de smog completion.

Install my 3F air cleaner that I bought a year ago.

Fuel pump Replacement-Ordered 25 ft of 5/16 low pressure fuel hose from rock auto and constant tension oem style clamps. I've got the Kyosan fuel pump waiting along with a spacer and gaskets. Lines are getting old and don't think they've been replaced.

Oil change coming up. Going to a wix 51773 to gain a quart of extra capacity and make it almost 3k without having to add much oil with the main seal leak. I'm really liking the Chevron Diesel oil from Costco. I need to stop using up all the oem Japanese filters.

Add my second battery and a dual battery relay. Tray is in place. Just a second lead acid nothing fancy.

Delete the rear heater before one of the lines rusts out. Add oem thermostat and sending unit, flush the system and use top quality coolant. Leave it alone til it leaks again.

Add an under seat sub on passenger side where heater was.

All little day worthy projects. Trying to get it ready for 300,000 miles and beyond.

Still daily driving this tank and loving it. Easily my favorite car ever.

 

[2mountainfish]

Some small projects on the horizon:

Bought a back up distributor and sent it to JimC for a recurve. I'll finally be able to pull out my unable to turn distributor. Final item on my de smog completion.

Install my 3F air cleaner that I bought a year ago.

Fuel pump Replacement-Ordered 25 ft of 5/16 low pressure fuel hose from rock auto and constant tension oem style clamps. I've got the Kyosan fuel pump waiting along with a spacer and gaskets. Lines are getting old and don't think they've been replaced.

Oil change coming up. Going to a wix 51773 to gain a quart of extra capacity and make it almost 3k without having to add much oil with the main seal leak. I'm really liking the Chevron Diesel oil from Costco. I need to stop using up all the oem Japanese filters.

Add my second battery and a dual battery relay. Tray is in place. Just a second lead acid nothing fancy.

Delete the rear heater before one of the lines rusts out. Add oem thermostat and sending unit, flush the system and use top quality coolant. Leave it alone til it leaks again.

Add an under seat sub on passenger side where heater was.

All little day worthy projects. Trying to get it ready for 300,000 miles and beyond.

Still daily driving this tank and loving it. Easily my favorite car ever.

Nice build. It is truly rewarding when you get these old girls to a place where you can just drive them and not wrench all the time.

 

[houstonfj40]

I need your time Alex!