The Chronicle's of Wade (1 Viewer)

[Zukrider]

Howdy folks. Figure I need to make a thread somewhere. I’m Joe, and this is Wade, a 72’ 40 series. I originally planned to build this over 3-4 phases to space out the time and the wallet drain. But, while getting into phase 1, I quickly realized that phase 2 had to happen immediately.

So here is option C!

We will start with the vehicle as I purchased it. Prior owner didn’t know/remember a great deal about the info of the build it has. I’m hoping one of you will recognize it and might be able to tag the original builder.

It has a TBI 305, SM465 with AA short adapter to a factory 3 speed case with floor shift. To my knowledge, it has 40 series axles, but has discs all around. I have not dove into seeing the brakes in detail to know what parts were used. It has front and rear ARB lockers with an original ARB compressor. Based on the speeds vs rpm’s, it has 4.10 gears. Has I believe a 4” SPUA lead set with shackles and a shackle reversal. I believe it’s a Hell for Stout set. It rides like garbage. Has a factory roll bar with some added front tubes. S10 blazer front seats are my guess. Came with a Bestop rear tumble seat. Rear ambulance lower doors were welded together and hinged as a tailgate. Had a rear auxiliary fuel tank at some point, assumed from the welded in flat strap in the rear. P/S conversion. Possibly a 60 series steering wheel. And definitely has Volvo equipment running lights on the front fenders.

Pics attached were from the sale ad.

More to come.

 

[Zukrider]

 

[Zukrider]

Here is purchase day. 12/02/2023

 

[Zukrider]

So the build is coming along.

The new exhaust is built from the headers to the bell housing for now. I used block hugger headers, and welded v-band clamps to them for better/easier maintenance. It’s just 2” single exhaust for now.

While I was under there, designing the exhaust, I luckily decided to measure for the new TR4050 and ORD Magnum setup and discovered that my current wheelbase would make for about a 9” rear driveshaft. Oof!

So I quickly made piece with adding phase 2, and cutting the tub down to a truck cab while lengthening the frame.

While the back tub is out of the way currently, I moved to mounting the new fuel tank. Once done with the mounts for that, I’ll start pulling the rest of the cab so I can cut and extend the frame. That happens Friday. I work 4 days on, 4 off, so I’ll be in my garage for all 4 days. Need to be done and tested for SAS8 on 8/4.

 

[Zukrider]

 

[Zukrider]

 

[Zukrider]

We’re basically caught up now. Fuel tank mounts are designed, and in process.

Still to come:
-More sheet metal work.
-Cage stuff.
-Seat mounts.
-5/spd with dual t case and front dig option.
-Tube bed, sliders, rear bumper.

 

[Mike Shull]

Sweet build! What exactly are your plans? I’m seeing a mention for an extended frame, which always spikes my interest.

 

[Zukrider]

Yes, exact length is TBD, but 18-24” is a solid guess. I’m deciding between a 4’ or 5’ tube flat bed. That will dictate the rear axle centerline.

But basically, a truck cab with tube bed. New TR4050 5 speed and doubler. 37’s after the current tires are worn out.

Later down the line it will get FJ80 axles or tons. And probably 40’s. We’ll see about that part though.

The frame extension is probably going to be 2x6 tube cut down and capped. Then plated and crossmember reinforced.

 

[Mike Shull]

Yes, exact length is TBD, but 18-24” is a solid guess. I’m deciding between a 4’ or 5’ tube flat bed. That will dictate the rear axle centerline.

But basically, a truck cab with tube bed. New TR4050 5 speed and doubler. 37’s after the current tires are worn out.

Later down the line it will get FJ80 axles or tons. And probably 40’s. We’ll see about that part though.

The frame extension is probably going to be 2x6 tube cut down and capped. Then plated and crossmember reinforced.

That sounds fun! I stretched mine by 14” with 40 inch tires and I could have given myself a little bit more room behind the axle. Those tires really take up a lot of space!

I’ll be following along. Where in Colorado are you? I am in the Denver area.

 

[Zukrider]

That sounds fun! I stretched mine by 14” with 40 inch tires and I could have given myself a little bit more room behind the axle. Those tires really take up a lot of space!

I’ll be following along. Where in Colorado are you? I am in the Denver area.

I’m in Arvada. 64th and Harlan area. I was reading your thread the other day for stretch inspiration! Love to see it in person.

Hoping to have the tub off and frame cut and prepped by end of Saturday. Then I need to pickup some material.

Once the tub is out. I can pull the trans/case and clean up the 305.

 

[Mike Shull]

I’m in Arvada. 64th and Harlan area. I was reading your thread the other day for stretch inspiration! Love to see it in person.

Hoping to have the tub off and frame cut and prepped by end of Saturday. Then I need to pickup some material.

Once the tub is out. I can pull the trans/case and clean up the 305.

I’m about 20 minutes from there. Send a DM if you want to stop by. I’m planning to be here working on the Cruiser all weekend. Happy to show you what I came up with. There are a few things that I wouldn’t do again, but I am very happy with the stretch overall. It’s very sturdy.

 

[Zukrider]

I’m about 20 minutes from there. Send a DM if you want to stop by. I’m planning to be here working on the Cruiser all weekend. Happy to show you what I came up with. There are a few things that I wouldn’t do again, but I am very happy with the stretch overall. It’s very sturdy.

Will have to happen maybe next weekend. I also am committed to this project and sleep.

 

[Zukrider]

More progress. Got home from work Friday AM and put in about 5 hours. Woke again at 8pm and have been at it since 10pm Friday. Hope to keep going til this evening.

Anyway. Finished the design and installed the fuel tank mounting bars. Then Sleep! Fhe next project was tub removal so that the stretch could happen as soo. As I have material, giving me the tub to work on while waiting.

The tub came off fairly easy. Both front cab mount bolts were missing washers, and therefore sucked into the frame holes. So I had to cut them. But the rest came right off. The rear brake line at the frame rail coupling was a little stuck as well, but nothing some heat and BG In-Force couldn’t handle.

The bad news, I’m an idiot. I need to go slower and think more when I’m tired. I ended up drilling the holes wrong on the driver side fuel tank mount. And the. Decided that cutting and flipping the one end was the answer. Well that led to me being an idiot*2, and I cut the wrong end! Face Palm! So I had to weld both ends back together. Both were reinforced with some angle to aid in bend resistance.

Bad news #2. While working toward the tub removal, I decided to leave the harness on the engine, and remove it from the tub side. Well, an hour and a half later, on the very last part, I find that the computer connectors are too big to go through the hole the harness is ran through. Knife hand face palm. So I had to remove the harness from the engine anyway. And! It was faster the whole time. Idiot.

But, the tub is off and on a “cart”. And the trans and tcase are out. Fun fact, it has a 10” clutch. I think I’ll put my tow bar on it quick like, and haul it to the car washer for a bath.

More to come.

 

[Zukrider]

 

[Zukrider]

GM SM465 with short adapter to 3speed case for sale. Let me know if you’re interested. In Arvada, CO.

 

[Zukrider]

Did a soft install of the drivetrain last night for fitment and such. Now you can see the need to stretch the rear end back!

 

[Firemedic831]

Are you going to lower the rear section of the cab down ? At some Point i want to make mine into a 45

 

[Zukrider]

Are you going to lower the rear section of the cab down ? At some Point i want to make mine into a 45

Yes. Those pics are just for overall length purposes. I will clean up the door rails, cut tabs and bend them on the rear portion, the. Fit up and weld on. The goal is to not need filler or condo for the finish. Hoping. I’m not a sheet metal guy! That project is likely waiting until I’m back to working days, which is June 8th. Can’t justify the noise all night in my garage.

Current projects are:
- Cut frame and extend 24”. Including fish plating all joints, and adding some crossmembers.
- Disassemble NP205 for bearing machine work and rebuild. **disassembly complete**
- Reseal back of engine block, measure runout for new trans input shaft, install drivetrain and build 2 mounting crossmembers.

With some luck, this will all be “done” on my next days off, June 1-4.

 

[Zukrider]

Made some small but impactful progress last night. Time to honor and make some noise to get this thing back into a one piece!