Builds My Green 77

77TPIFJ · Jan 2, 2011

First hey all.. i have been tempted to start this thread for time now. i am using this to keep myself motivated on this project. i am pretty far along in this project but since i know we all like pics i will start from the start... So i saved this cruiser from being auctioned off at a tow yard.. long story short. truck was impounded PO was a friend and did not have the money to get it out.. so i took care of the fees and kept the cruiser.. this is what i got....

got it home and #1 brakes were terrible so i was gonna replace that.. my original plan was to KEEP IT SIMPLE ???started looking into the brake sit. and i got side tracked by this...

after i saw that i was completely sickened by it. so on my list as #2 replace those mounts.. and then i noticed these

so after that i ended up stripping it all down .. didnt have time to take much pictures cause i was a man on a new mission. after it was stripped i was like hey a few more bolts and the body will come off.. and so it begins...

77TPIFJ · Jan 2, 2011

more pics i dont know who the fabricator was on this build but i think mickey mouse had a part in this.

note the 2 sets of t/c mounts :doh:

77TPIFJ · Jan 2, 2011

dont know what was the donor of this booster m/c some gm i guess

more beautiful work

wiring was complete trash.. it had 1 power wire to the lights that just turned lights on when the truck was on if it had light bulbs .

note the motor is slightly tilted

77TPIFJ · Jan 2, 2011

like i said i was on a mission complete tear down in less than a day

77TPIFJ · Jan 2, 2011

motor before

solid steering shaft not good

bikersmurf · Jan 2, 2011

I've seen all sorts of butchery, none of that surprises me. I've seen worse.

Those front mounts aren't a common rust area, so you could likely find a cheap used set rather than fabricating new ones.

Good luck with your build.

bikersmurf · Jan 2, 2011

It looks like the frame is missing the middle cross member.

77TPIFJ · Jan 2, 2011

like i said solid shaft

i used the rattle can method after i had the frame blasted for a few reasons. cost and i knew i would be welding on the frame.. also i live in sunny CA so dont have to worry about the rust issue..

77TPIFJ · Jan 2, 2011

yea frame is missing the cross member dont know why they would cut it off. thanks on the luck

bikersmurf · Jan 3, 2011

Could have been a three speed frame which has the crossmember further forward than the four speed frame. The cross member appears to be in the way. I'm guessing you've got an automatic and they cut it out because the tranny is longer.

How close was the block to the fire wall?

77TPIFJ · Jan 3, 2011

there was a auto tranny in it so your prob right .. and i dont recall how close it was to the firewall. i do remember the drive shaft being all of 1 ft long..

77TPIFJ · Jan 3, 2011

body was blasted primed and sealed

bikersmurf · Jan 3, 2011

77TPIFJ said:
there was a auto tranny in it so your prob right .. and i dont recall how close it was to the firewall. i do remember the drive shaft being all of 1 ft long..

You may have cooling issues if the block is too close to the firewall.

As a contrast, with a Toyota 4speed my rear driveshaft is one inch longer than the front. (more like 23 or 24 inches long I don't quite remember)

77TPIFJ · Jan 3, 2011

77TPIFJ · Jan 3, 2011

i bought some downey mounts and in the directions they address the cooling issue as well ... thanks for the heads up

waiting for time · Jan 3, 2011

Looks like your axles once where SOA, spring perches on top and the rear third member was pointed up (DC shaft?).

Whats with the hole in the back?

77TPIFJ · Jan 3, 2011

yea they were SOA 3rd member was not pointed up looks that way but i think i had such a bad pinion angle it just looks like it points up.. hole in back po had a fuel cell and it was for the sump..