The Cell Block Chronicles (PMC's 40 Project)

[pmccraney]

This Project has gone by many names…

The GreenWeenie, #FarmForty, the le (aka Turdle). Call it what you wish. I’m about half-way through the marathon and I’m needing a little crowd noise for motivation….

Part of the reason I’m starting this thread, right now, is that the world has been a pretty s***ty place these past few months......As interactions everywhere are limited (including among our group), I thought I would try and stir up some good old-fashioned fun in this dark corner of the internet where the troubled kids hang out.

I will say that 40 series build threads are a dime a dozen on mud. There is nothing I have done or can attempt to do on this project that hasn’t already been done, documented, stickied and FAQed multiple times over. So, if possible, I'll try to put a different spin on the write up in terms of what I've done so far. As far as what's left, you guys can electronically heckle like the avatars of the fake NBA fans.

The deets: 1974 with 1.5F, 4 speed mated to the 3 sp transfer case (oddball gap year setup). How she came to me (feb 2019): Booty Fab springover job; riding on general grabber maypops, with roached (and cut) rear quarters; a healthy smattering of 30-year old bondo on the fenders; an overspray of gray primer on top of most the original rustic green.

Oh, and it backfired and smoked like Beno circa 2017:




Also, turns out the yellow 1.5F was a 5 cylinder:





But we took on a maiden voyage anyway, and found out the 4 wheel drive didn't work either:

We got work to do:

 

[pmccraney]

So, we backed it into the "shop":

Nolen has named my shop “cell block D” because it’s Dusty, seasonally uncomfortable all but about 5 days a year, has stray cats, and was likely the original US breeding ground of the murder hornets. Hence the name of this thread and the setting for the story that follows.

 

[fountainhead]

Subscribed!

The previous, previous owner(s) are long time (like longer than my lifetime) friends of the family. Back in the day, this was going to be a father son 'restoration' project. Needless to say, I'm excited to see what you end up doing with it.

 

[FJ60Cam]

In for the shenanigans and heckling.

 

[dnp]

 

[SHUSH]

Awesome.

 

[BMThiker]

 

[FJ60Cam]

I’m going to go sharpen a few toothbrushes just case some sh!t goes down.

 

[BMThiker]

 

[pmccraney]

As can happen in the prison yard, the shanks came out and things escalated quickly:

:

 

[wct49]

This makes me happy.



af.

 

[OGBeno]

 

[pmccraney]

So, we needed some power: I didn’t have sufficient security clearance (or funding) to receive an early prototype coming out of the covert ops going down at T6H Carport lab.

So, after putting out some feelers and bribing the guards, I was told I needed to go see this guy who had all kinds of hookups. In the clink, they call him crab claw (something about a nasty altercation with a table saw rival gang member ), but on the internet he goes by @USMC22 .

In exchange for some smokes and prepaid cell phones, he offered me protection and also this 5.7 that had been yanked out of a FrankenJ60. It even came with downey bellhousing adapter, so I could bolt my existing 4-speed and transfer case (which at this point was of questionable utility given that my front driveshaft wouldn’t engage).

But, it was start.

 

[wngrog]

cell block P (Mc) is a tough place.

 

[wct49]

So, we needed some power: I didn’t have sufficient security clearance (or funding) to receive an early prototype coming out of the covert ops going down at T6H Carport lab.

So, after putting out some feelers and bribing the guards, I was told I needed to go see this guy who had all kinds of hookups. In the clink, they call him crab claw (something about a nasty altercation with a table saw rival gang member ), but on the internet he goes by @USMC22 .

In exchange for some smokes and prepaid cell phones, he offered me protection and also this 5.7 that had been yanked out of a FrankenJ60. It even came with downey bellhousing adapter, so I could bolt my existing 4-speed and transfer case (which at this point was of questionable utility given that my front driveshaft wouldn’t engage).

But, it was start.

View attachment 2424995

I bet you had to give up more than smokes and nokia burner phones on that transaction. #soaponarope

 

[pmccraney]

i ain't no fool. i quickly identified who i needed to buy an alliance with.

money well spent.

 

[maxbob002]

Awesome start...

 

[wngrog]

Awesome start...

He does this stuff retroactive because he knows I have a failing senior memory and can’t remember all the gaffs

 

[pmccraney]

Backing up a bit, to get clearance to remove the engine, I had to deal with this winch mounting plate which was booger-welded to the front bumper and the gussets. Removing without damaging the frame was a PITA. Thankfully, I was allowed to use a cutting torch on account of my good behavior:

From here, a good bit of my time in the joint was spent cleaning up the engine bay and frame (the fact the driver side fender/bib is removed is foreshadowing). Also, please take a moment to observe and appreciate the plate welded to the steering linkage to accommodate the high steer. I've saved it for wall art, or potentially a donation to the LC heritage museum.

I was also granted a work release to go see crab claw and pick up the new heart.

I racked it up in my garage at home so I could do some detail work on it when out on my own recognizance.

 

[pmccraney]

Like most guys who have done some hard time, I decided to buy a chopper off @wngrog and join a motorcyle gang. I was distracted from the 40 project for a few weeks with initiation and getting the chopper ready for the spring time rally in Arkansas.

It's nice that the guys in the gang have my back:

But at the end of the day, they know who the boss is: