My new baby, What should i do?

[sls019]

Welcome to MUD! Great first car you have got there. Have fun driving it. Learn about all of the systems first. Then work on the safety issues: brakes, steering. Keep it running good and then start on any mods or upgrades. If you are wanting to do the 350 swap, study this forum and also send a pm to Downey. He has a free info booklet on this swap. Do a search for him on this forum. Good luck with the Cruiser.

 

[handcannon]

Welcome to MUD!!

You've gotten some good advice already. Just one thing I haven't seen mentioned yet, a good mentor. Find an adult nearby who has several years experience with cruiser mechanics. Someone who can teach you how to repair/adjust/keep your brakes adjusted, change oil/gear lube, replace/adjust points and tune-up the motor, how to trace down electrical gremlins and repair them, etc. I did not have a mentor and my dad was not mechanically inclined so I had to learn the hard way, trial and error.

You've got a real good looking cruiser, listen carefully to the advice given and good luck.

Don

 

[DickM]

Make it safe- whatever that takes. Then drive it and figure out what you really want to do with it. I started off with some ideas that didn't make sense after learning the vehicle- MUD will educate you on what makes sense with what you have and where you want to go. Most of all, Enjoy!

 

[sls019]

Welcome to MUD!!

You've gotten some good advice already. Just one thing I haven't seen mentioned yet, a good mentor. Find an adult nearby who has several years experience with cruiser mechanics. Someone who can teach you how to repair/adjust/keep your brakes adjusted, change oil/gear lube, replace/adjust points and tune-up the motor, how to trace down electrical gremlins and repair them, etc. I did not have a mentor and my dad was not mechanically inclined so I had to learn the hard way, trial and error.

You've got a real good looking cruiser, listen carefully to the advice given and good luck.

Don

This is some of the best advice that has been posted. Experience is always a great help. Thanks for this tip. MUD is a good mentor also.
Anyone want to volunteer their services?

 

[johmbie]

Another thing to keep in mind is a 'wheelin buddy. Always hit the trails with someone else with a 4x4. Your cruiser will go places you can't quite imagine yet, but it can also get stuck, or break. It's always best to have another truck out there to help you, or for you to help rather thank trying to hike out of the woods for help.

 

[F-junker]

Power steering, good brakes (disc up front min) and drop that 350 in there, I'd go 383, ranger torque splitter for an adapter (extra range high or low) and trans could be 3speed 4speed, 5speed auto etc. what ever you want to do. I think you'll need to run a saginaw box if you go SBC as the mini-box might not work.