Betty's "I want to be a mule" progress log thread

[delexploder]

Purdy

 

[Turdle]

Well, dangit , in attempt for a seamless look I ground clear thru to daylight on the light box to bumper seam. Taking it back for tig welding here in a few--

With the help of MLB and daughter, we got the rear bumper hung. Kinda looks a tad low on the driver side, We'll drive it around to get it loosened up and try to line this out better.

Here you can see a little more lift in the rear. In the background is the hail damaged hood. Sheri and I took a drive to K.C. to a pick and pull, got the same color for 75.00, pulled and placed into our truck.

Still some healthy arch in the springs from the coil assisters pushing

Do not like this, must trim stuff

I assure you those are not Autozone shackles. I actually paid more money to buy the steel , a 9/16" drill bit, and $$ of grade 8 hardware. The center pivot support is an old leaf spring bushing center, with 2 washer widths trimmed off.

 

[Turdle]

Front bumper smoothed and ready to blast with crushed garnett mixed with black beauty

This picture shows the modifications to the RLC bumper for extra strength to the winch plate and shackle ring tabs

Welds basted clean

Finished bumper

 

[delexploder]

Nice

 

[Turdle]

Thanks.

Now, on with our normally scheduled program

 

[Limited02]

Wow Jon, the new bumper looks great!!!

Can you PM me the name of the pick and pull that you went to? I would love to replace my hood and rear bumper if they have a black third gen up there.

 

[Turdle]

The main reason for the front bumper was ease of mounting-dismounting a winch. I wanted to do a hidden winch, however, for as good as it looks, it is just as hard to get to for servicing.

It needed a rear bumper to match so what the heck.
After removing the stock plastic bumper the lack of radiator protection is apparent, and the plastic really does give a false sense of security to that area, so the skid plate is a must do.

The light location made sense to me, and is wired to the stock fog light switch. It is bright beyond description. I see signs illuminate 2 miles away.

 

[Turdle]

Did some accesorizing.

 

[CDW6212R]

Very nice Jon, and it looks solid.

 

[Trckmagik]

Looks great sir.

 

[Turdle]

Thanks!

Funny how a winch will drop the front end, the added weight required some more turns on the torsion bar bolts to bring it back up.


I must keep this in mind when it is removed.

 

[Turdle]

Puff in the buff!!
Yup, buffed with compound and then waxed. Hard to believe but true.

The area between the front bumper and fender looked naked when it was the lighter shade of red. I think this, painted to match the dark torreador red looks much better

Now, to trim the stuff in back. I am still in the air about this, what to do , oh what to do???

 

[CDW6212R]

That powdercoat color is a good match to the Dark Toreador Red, well done.

I have looked some for a better color to replace that on mine, but it is tough to find such a dark red and have it be a good contrast to the main dark red.

 

[GRNMACHINE]

Way late to the Turdle Party, wow that looks great Jon!!

 

[vroomzoomboom]

so um....whens the 347 going in?

 

[delexploder]

so um....whens the 347 going in?

I vote for a 427 windsor

 

[CDW6212R]

Better, make it a 347 or 363 with Cleveland heads. That's if you can manage custom headers.

 

[delexploder]

Hmm how about a 427 ( 351) Windsor with the Cleveland heads. They are reproducing the boss 351 heads .boss 427 !

 

[CDW6212R]

Hmm how about a 427 ( 351) Windsor with the Cleveland heads. They are reproducing the boss 351 heads .boss 427 !

The Windsor block is 1.5" taller than a 302 block, and you can get 500hp from a smaller Boss 347 etc. It's all good, anything not Chevy is the best.

I'd honestly leave it a 302 based engine, and add boost to it. Doing it though is the hard part.

 

[Turdle]

Went out to the gravel roads for a country cruise. Had to show the dogs that the cows were still chewing. They barked at them, and also a couple guinea hens crossing the road.
Every time we go for a ride I like to tell MLB " watch this" as I shift from 2wd to 4wd drive a while then back to 2wd. ( I guess you have to be there) but this time it would not go back to 2wd.
Got back home and found the silly bolt holding the shifter handle had come loose. The threads were now all dinged up.
My God the humidity! Just the act of replacing one lousy bolt, and I was soaked. I literally wringed out my t shirt-and this was at 9:30 PM.