Looks great

 

Great looking truck when started ..... looking even better!

I personally liked the wheels that come on it though ....

I see what I need in those pics .... a real garage with doors and a level concrete floor ....

 

Very nice. I dig those valve covers too.

 

Thanks guys, I'll be more excited tonight when I get to put the headers on and such. I liked the wheels that it came with just fine, just not for this truck. In fact I had identical ones on my lifted '78 years ago. To me they just scream 4wd, not suitable for a 2wd sporty look.

I traded them for some slotted mags and then had so much down time I ended up changing my mind and going with the Lightning wheels. I don't think you can truly appreciate the Lightning wheels until you see them polished on a lowered truck.








Chances are I won't run into anyone running the same wheels as me on my dent.

I sold the slotted mags to my brother for his bronco which he then sold. I did include new lugs & washers and he got them polished up. They are 15x7 if anyone is interested he'll be selling them PM me.

Tbear, thanks. I don't know how I'd do it without my "Shop". It's a detached 28'x36' behind a rental house I used to rent, and the landlord was kind enough to let me keep renting the shop after I bought my house and moved out!

 

Sweet deal!

 

Nothing pic worthy from last night. Headers are in and bolted up, they went in pretty easy, but are too tight to the trans. Dr. one is rubbing on the shift linkage and the passenger's side is too close to get the tranny cooler lines in. There is a mile of room between them and the frame. Tonight I go back with a borrowed propane torch and a ratchet strap to make things right. Definitely glad I haven't painted them yet...

Then I clean up the shop and then another round of cleaning and painting remaining parts to be bolted on.

 

Not much progress lately, been super busy and it's not looking like it's going to let up soon. Probably won't be able to do any serious work again until January.

Anyway, got the hood back on and lined up, fabbed up some new trans cooler lines that clear the headers, steering linkage is cleaned, painted and re-installed and the new (5th) set of wheels have been blasted and painted.



Checking what ride height will look like. The cinder block is pretty dang close to the sidewall height of the tires I plan on using






Cleaned the hood hinges really well, lubed them and re-installed. I fought the urge to paint them as they come bare




Engine still patiently waiting to be fired...

 

New to me superior turbines ready for paint



remember when stuff was made in this country?



Duplicolor silver wheel paint



And with clear

 

You should see my rims. They came off of a Ford van with the white stripe tires.
My only project is to prime & paint the outer edges of them purple to match
the factory paint. The factory wheel covers hide 95% of the rims. Cheap & easy.

 

DJM rear flip kit is installed, netted about 5" drop. Need to get some shocks now...



new spring plates I had a local place fabricate. The flip brackets move the axle back about an inch to keep the driveshaft from bottoming out in the trans;
DJM says to drill a new hole in the stock spring plate = not possible.



couldn't find my tape measure, but clearance to the Energy suspension shorter bump stop I installed seems about the same as my Lightning had
at ride height. Might get away without c-notching, we'll see how it rides...










Still has some positive camber. I'm thinking the front will come down another inch once the rest of the underhood parts are installed.

















sitting dead level right now, need to get that front down one inch...


exhaust is all but finished. Couple welds to clean up and finish, some hangers and it's done. Was planning on an H crossover on there, but
it's not looking like there will be a place to put it...







I'm excited I was able to get both mufflers totally parallel with the truck. Seems I always end up canting them for clearance...
















Was happy how high I was able to tuck the exhaust up


It's sitting on some old junk tires right now, 235/75-15 rears and 215/70-15 on the front. Fronts look too small but looks like a smaller front tire will
be needed for the proper rake. The wheels are the stock 15x7.5" from my '95 Bronco. I have the nice set of fresh vintage Turbines but not sure looking at
the rear if they are going to work. THey are 15x8 and less offset so they stick out farther. Was hoping to run 255/70-15s all the way around


I won't be cleaning and painting the rear frame, suspension and rear end until probably next winter. I need to make sure it's good to go without the c-notch
and need to get the truck back together so I can drive it this spring!



closest I could find for a before/after

 

That is nice looking truck!!

 

That is a very nice and clean truck! I especially like the superior turbine rims!

I'm sure the Guy who's truck is named for is mighty happy to see this too!

But, can't believe no one has said it yet: "Fish are Friends, not FOOD!" - Bruce from Finding Nemo

 

That's funny. I have kids and have seen the movie many times but never made the connection

Exhaust is done, son!

I have two clamp-on hangers that will attach to the turn downs













I staggered the muffler position to hopefully help with drone. Also turned the dumps at a slight angle instead of straight down to help with echoing under the bed...

Driveshaft is back in with fresh joints

Tomorrow I paint pieces!

 

A quick rundown of recent progress. With a newborn, working nights and life in general progress has been slow.

Motor = primed


New 4160 holley = check

Fatman fab wouldn't sell me shock relocators separately so I made my own using dimensional drawings from fTE member HioSilver with a few tweaks. Not the prettiest girls at the dance but they'll do.













New Kyb gas-adjust all the way around
Fronts are stock, rears are listed fronts for a late 80s e-series










Don't mind my dirty, leaky rear end, it's on the list!

Next episode : engine front dress

 

It's aliiiiiive, it's aliiiiiive / Gene Wilder voice.



Wife running the throttle for me to break in the cam...

http://vid1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc495/joshual78/20150610_160907_001.mp4

I finally get a turn after the 30 minute break in...

http://vid1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc495/joshual78/20150610_161759.mp4

idling, and of course it started raining. First time the truck's been wet in 3 years. Next big hurdle is the brakes, hope to be driving it by the end of next week

http://vid1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc495/joshual78/20150610_161849.mp4


The mic on my phone doesn't really do the sound justice. I'll try to get a sound clip with something better