The rig gets some much needed TLC

[Stic-o]

Glad you made it up there with no problems. Now your 13 hr. drive to Truckhaven just doubled!!

He can hitch a ride with DWD:

 

[Josh S.]

Thanks guys. Yah I'm doin good up here so far, the first day of the new job is tomorrow so hopefully I can get some cash for more parts Truckhaven is gonna be a stretch but should be do-able when this pig gets goin again! Chico definitely helped bring out my hick side, but I was already rapidly heading in that direction before I went there haha...

Not sure about the legality of the carbed 350 persay heh heh...according to my roommate it won't be a big deal but who knows! Allegedly he registered his car site unseen and there is no smog out where I'm livin right now! Knowing my luck I'll probly get transferred to seattle right when I get it running then I'll be screwed haha.

If it turns out to be a problem I'll just trailer it and take it for short jogs to the minimart or what not. It's been so long since I've driven the damn thing it won't be a big deal if I can't drive it everyday I figure

Well we got the motor pulled on Friday night, and I pulled the gas tank today in preparation for the fuel cell and cage. FYI, make sure you drain the gas tank as best as you can before dropping it. I chose to ignore Mr. Haynes manual and doused myself in gasoline and spilled a ton in the shop. Coulda been pretty bad if I was still a smoker!! As soon as I'm not broke anymore we are going to pick up the 350 block and heads from the JY then start building it up!

P.S. I am selling my manual tranny, transfercase with linkage and shifters, and a centerforce dual friction clutch. Also, anything from the 4.0 is up for grabs super cheap if you guys need anything

 

[Dannyboy]

wow Josh, sticking a 350 in this thing now huh? That's bananas. From the research I have done (which isn't much more than listen to guys who think they know what they are talking about) couldn't you go propane on a carbed engine and pick up performance?

 

[section525]

What is wrong with a 351?

 

[Josh S.]

Nothing wrong with a 351, I just have a soft spot for Chevy 350's, easy to work on a cheap to build, etc...(found our block and heads for $125)Danny I have no idea about the propane performance, but it is cheaper per gallon than gas I believe...My buddy's landcruiser has a propane setup and if he runs it for too long at a time the carb (or intake whatever they use on top of the engine with those setups) actually builds up ice on the outside and gets frozen up affecting performance. I'm not sure if thats just his setup or what but I'm just looking to keep this thing as simple as possible. His reason for the addition of propane was to be able to crawl up steeper inclines without it affecting the carb.

Simple is the reason for going with a carbed engine instead of FI. Less wiring, less headache, no computers, easy to set up and get running and easy to troubleshoot if something should go wrong in the dirt. Not to mention that they just sound so damn good and I love the smell of raw unburnt fuel hahaha. I plan on running a manual tranny and t-case, with a Ford 9" in the rear all done up pretty. This is the current plan but of course who knows how much more could change along the way!

This thing is gonna be a blast to drive someday! Can't wait to do a four-wheeled burnout

Oh and we hauled the old motor to the junker today so no more pinging motor and total lack of power!

 

[colindo94]

Carbed 350 will kick ass in the dezert.

 

[section525]

Ben's poor cruiser. It's about time to melt that thing and start over.

 

[Dannyboy]

well if you want some reading info on propane you can see it here

www.gotpropane.com

I'm sure you can find some time to read that site and decide between now and 6 months from now when your truck might be able to turn under it's own power LOL. I don't know if I could bring a truck back from being this far taken apart!

 

[R.J.]

you have a manual transfer case or push button?

 

[Josh S.]

well if you want some reading info on propane you can see it here

www.gotpropane.com

I'm sure you can find some time to read that site and decide between now and 6 months from now when your truck might be able to turn under it's own power LOL. I don't know if I could bring a truck back from being this far taken apart!

Haha thanks for the link man I'll try and check it out. I think we can definitely have the motor and drivetrain in and functional in 6 months. It's waiting on funds right now but soon that should be good to go. The time consuming part is going to be the cage and redoing the rear suspension.

RJ, the drivetrain I just took out had a manual t-case and tranny. They are all up for grabs in the for sale section, unless someone already committed to buying them. Linkage and shifters included.

I am also selling the Detroit, 4.56 R+P and superior axleshafts. Clickety

Yah Johhny Ben's truck might look like hell but it did great at the Con when we went in May...well aside from the steering box ripping off the frame haha.

 

[Josh S.]

No pics, but I ordered a bender last week to go with the 1.75" die I had, and bought a chopsaw. Gonna order up a bunch of DOM next week to prepare for the Thanksgiving fab extravaganza. I got transferred to a job 4hrs away from the fabshop-in-the-woods so its pretty hard to work on the Ex when I only get up there once a month at best. (hence why i haven't been around since July)

I'm hoping to have some updates for this thread come Dec.1 hint hint...cagework...cough cough

We have a shiny new Miller 252 up there now too

I think I'm gonna hack off the shock hoops and start over and do it right. Gonna build it stronger and better. Good ole plasma cutter the rescue haha. Stay tuned!

 

[section525]

Which bender did you get?

 

[james t]

Get good pics when you start on the cage pleeze. I need 1st gen. A-pillar ideas.

 

[Josh S.]

I got the good ole JD squared Model 3. I had a die for it that i bought when I was using Phil's back in Chico, but that aint really so close anymore so I had to get my own.

Yep I will get pics of the cagework when I get something going. The A and B pillars will go in first. Can't wait to start on this thing.

It looks like I'm going to have to work out a custom windshield wiper setup, because the wiper actuator arms, or whatever you want to call them, are right in the way of some tubes that will be running through there. Here's a link to a company that makes a universal power wiper setup with flex cables so you can run it around whatever you want.
Clickety

2.5 weeks till I can fab again

 

[Josh S.]

Well I got the good word that 144LF of 1.75"x.120 wall DOM just arrived at the shop up north. My buddy was nice enough to cruise across the water to seattle to pick up the goods so it looks like we're sittin pretty for some serious FABTIME come next Thursday!! Between heavy beer and turkey intake I'm gonna do my best to get some stuff done on the cage. Gonna start by taking out the windshield, blowin some holes through the floor and hopefully get the B-pillar bent and tacked in without wasting too much tubing.

Stay tuned for much needed updates to this stone-age thread.

 

[section525]

Do a good write-up so I don't waste as much tube as you're going to! :

 

[james t]

Do a good write-up so I don't waste as much tube as you're going to! :

x2

 

[Josh S.]

Well i wish I could have gotten farther along, but there was just too much turkey to be eaten

First we got the bender mounted, and I finished cutting out the sheetmetal inside where the cage is going, then we got the windshield out...

Next i got the main halo bent up...

Fit was nice and tight. (it will be level and not tilted up in the back don't worry)

Then I put the rear crossbar in, and the tube that connects the B-pillars.

 

[Josh S.]

Hope I can get back up to the shop in the next week or two to make some more progress!

 

[Dannyboy]

wow Josh, high and tight, keep up the good work.