Nice work Dan. Hope you get it running by Thanksgiving.

 

I used 3 Univ joints and a heim bearing to miss the exhaust. I basically set the engine in place with the headers to center it up so that each exhaust outlet would have a straight shot between the frame members. This shot is a mock-up with the heim bearing mount tack welded in. I did get some binding in the steering, but it turned out that one of the DD rods was stuck too far into the univ joint & was hitting inside. I did shorten the one rod and extended the heim bearing out a little to reduce the angle....so, no binding now!!

 

I've had the truck for 12 years...but it sat behind the barn until right around the holidays in 2009....so really I've been working on it for 2 years now!!

 

The green is Rock Moss Green....I bought it from TCI in San Diego. They sell on ebay and are really good about shipping and customer service. That paint is a single stage & it sprays well....that is until the HVLP decides to start acting up. For the next go-around, I'll probably pull out the old high pressure spray gun. I used to do dope and fabric work & have painted several fabric airplanes with my HVLP, so I was really disappointed when it started acting up....It wouldn't have happened with some dope or laquer that I could have simply poured back into the can....nooo...it happens when the hardener is already added to the paint. It's not a big deal...I have to sand down the bed and shoot a light coat over the existing orange peeled paint.

 

I use to have an HVLP gun and I loaned it to a "FRIEND". never got it back, he says he gave it to me, but I know better. Needless to say, that won't happen again...Nice work though!
my steering linkage issues looked very similar with the JAG IFS, so I guess it's the 351W that creates the steering issue. I am at work and don't have pics here, but later I will post what mine ended up like. You have all those expensive joints, mine are salvage yard, but they do the job. Just not as pretty!

 

Just a picture of my steering joint setup to compare to from one 351W to another. I thought I had a final product but it's not any different except for the wood is now steel.

 

Here is my first setup, that looks alot like yours in terms of three joints, but I had some binding. may have been due to the factory joints i am using.

 

Hey Jeff are those the Shorty Headers? If so would a inch offset with the motor be helpful? just a thought. I have a book on building a small block on a budget,I know you big dogs with the 351's don't worry about the the dollars!! LOL in the book it has some exhaust manifold that dump out the back the only thing is they are almost 400 beans which is to rich for my blood. Anyway thanks for the pic's guys it sure helps to have the info to build these trucks.

 

Jeff great looking shock mounts. There you go another problem solved. This is sure a great site!!

 

Hey there George! Yes the headers are shorty's for the 5.0 Mustang 86-93
and offsetting an inch to the passenger side will render frame to header clearance issues. Maybe some of those block huggers would help, but they would have to dump in the rear on the driver's side.
I will type more but at work, gotta go!