This Old "Beep Beep" Truck (1 Viewer)

[fourlow&go]

While that was going on, I had to do something with the computer. Thanks to the voluminous glove box, seriously! it's like the Tardis in there, how can so much stuff be behind such a small door, that's pretty easy.

Except when it's not.

Mouse house, many years, rotten.

Sweet yo.

Cut that out

Might as well make more room for the computer while I'm here.

The old and the new

.

 

[fourlow&go]

Installed

I'll do a false floor to cover the computer and still have full use of the glove box.


Jr.


.

 

[landtank]

great idea on the glove box ECU. I have to do something similar with Jim's TPI ecu and this looks great.

 

[swelltimes]

Installed


View attachment 1440640


View attachment 1440642


I'll do a false floor to cover the computer and still have full use of the glove box.


Jr.


.

Nicely done! Stoked to see the progress on this build.

 

[Northbound]

Wednesday it was time to dig the 45 out of the corner and start setting the motor in it. It's so nice to work with all brand new parts!


View attachment 1440622


It took a day to assemble and find the right spot in the frame for this jewel. There's a bit of head scratching to make sure it clears the fire wall, front drive shaft and steering shaft. We unfortunately had to tilt the motor a little to make sure we had enough room for the front drive shaft, but it's only a half inch lower on the passenger side, the aluminum oil pans on the LS are much larger than the old small blocks. We can live with this.
On a 40 the tcase is very close to the frame, but on the much wider 55 frame this is non issue and the rear drive shaft is in perfect alignment.


View attachment 1440625


Next was the trans mount. We looked at what AA had supplied for a cross member, and didn't really like it. 1" ×2" 1/8 wall with no inserts in the mounting holes, too easy to crush it by over tightening the mount bolts. It just looked too flimsy for 300+hp, plus it was too short to span the 55 frame.
Also, with the supplied center trans mount the cross member would be about 4 inches below the trans. This isn't a wheeling truck and clearance isn't an issue, but we didn't like it hanging that low.
So Wally fabbed up a new cross member that is much tighter and stronger. Complete with cut outs for the tcase front output bolts, capped ends and inserts for the mounting bolts.


View attachment 1440626


AA unit on the bottom, new and improved on top.


View attachment 1440629


We'll use the factory rubber pucks on the frame mounts, just like, well, factory.


.

I've told you a number of times you DO NOT need the front drive shaft on that truck......Ha

 

[Xtreeman]

You guys must love working with a new motor! Glove box mod is great.

 

[fourlow&go]

I've told you a number of times you DO NOT need the front drive shaft on that truck......Ha

I know, I know, but we're wheelers, we can't let it go!

 

[fourlow&go]

Waiting for parts, so I tackled the taigate for the last two days. Tailgates are really hard to come by for this truck, and since we raised the bed rail 2" a stock one wouldn't fit anyway. So I dug around and came up with a pair of swing outs from a 40. They were already welded together for a drop down. I cut them apart and found the rust was bad, so I took a different route.

Take the two dished pieces and make a drop down

Unfortunately I forgot how to use a tape measure! First one was practice

.

 

[fourlow&go]

Hmm, can't seem to post any more pics.

ETA: Well, tried everything I can think of, can't load pics, technology is a pain!

 

[fourlow&go]

Back in action! Pics are posting now, don't know why, moving forward.

After screwing up the first piece, I opted to cut out the panels first then trace them onto the gate. I wanted to use the surrounds to keep a stock look, so I drilled out the spot welds

Aaannd can't host pics again...





.

View attachment 20170612_150317.jpg

 

[fourlow&go]

Then cut out the panels and ground them down to as square and uniform as I could

And traced them out, cut those out of the gate and dropped them in

The surrounds were to far gone to bother repairing, so I made my own

Having the steel table help here. One to keep the panels flush with the gate and two to clamp down to keep it from warping too much

Then it was fill in the center and the four corners. Of course it's all out of 1/8"

.

 

[fourlow&go]

After some grinding and installing the piece below the gate, I think it came out pretty good

Next will be hinges and latches. I'm hoping to use some factory ones to complete the look. Of course they'll need some modification.
But first, we need to finish a tub

Mas luego.


.

 

[remy1974]

Nice work Jr

 

[Xtreeman]

That tub looks familiar Jr!

 

[fourlow&go]

Nice work Jr

Thank you.

 

[fourlow&go]

That tub looks familiar Jr!

Ha, good eye Jeff! Repairing the frame today and hope to sand blast this weekend, weather permitting.

 

[fourlow&go]

Not much happening on the 45 as we finally had a few days of no rain, so it's been sandblasting and painting. Lots of it!
Xtreeman's tub was seam sealed and the underside painted

A new OME suspension was installed, and the tub remated to the frame

It wasn't an entirely unpainful event, but it's done and the patient will survive

I've been in wiring hell with a 5.3 swap in a 60. A Silverado harness had been butchered in by a PO, thankfully the truck didn't catch fire, but a new Howell wiring harness has cured that. The pile of unnecessary wiring

Also had a local farmer drop off his 40 for a frame swap. Don't let your grandson go boondocking with his friends mkay? The maple tree will always win!

.

 

[fourlow&go]

And, of course, we've had more rain, lots of it!

More later,

Jr.


.

 

[fourlow&go]

Hard to believe it's been more than a year since the last post!
While I was off riding around the Amazon, Wally got the motor fired, did some plumbing, added disc brakes and painted the frame. He also mounted the factory 60/40 seats, fuel tank and belts. The body guy also made an appearance and got the bed in paint, a nice Toyota grey

Next up is to disassemble the cab and start the body work on that. "One piece at a time"

More later,

Jr.

 

[shmukster]

Really enjoying this!!!!!