1978 Pulling Truck Build
#16
Update:
Had our intake manifold machined to fit the shortened deck but now the bolt holes don't line up. I will have to take the die grinder to it...
I made some bigger washers for the motor mounts to frame because I was kind of worried that the small ones would get pulled out.
I took a extended steering shaft from another truck with a body lift so I wouldn't have to cut the stock one, but I need a new rubber piece for the rag link.
Also got the battery/fuel tank tray and the tie rod sand blasted and primed and ready for paint.
Sorry, forgot to take pictures this time.
Had our intake manifold machined to fit the shortened deck but now the bolt holes don't line up. I will have to take the die grinder to it...
I made some bigger washers for the motor mounts to frame because I was kind of worried that the small ones would get pulled out.
I took a extended steering shaft from another truck with a body lift so I wouldn't have to cut the stock one, but I need a new rubber piece for the rag link.
Also got the battery/fuel tank tray and the tie rod sand blasted and primed and ready for paint.
Sorry, forgot to take pictures this time.
#17
So we are making some progress on the truck...
After the machine shop had the intake shaved .080" on the face the bolt holes still didn't line up correctly. So I took a die grinder to it... 6 hours later it finally fit.
These are one of the custom headers my dad fabbed up. After the engine move nothing fits.
Just a little mock up for fun...
After the machine shop had the intake shaved .080" on the face the bolt holes still didn't line up correctly. So I took a die grinder to it... 6 hours later it finally fit.
These are one of the custom headers my dad fabbed up. After the engine move nothing fits.
Just a little mock up for fun...
#18
So we are continuing to finish the headers. The drivers side header is wraped around the shock, so we've decided to use steering stabilizers as shocks as they are smaller diameter than the shock. And they are a true 50/50 shock which is what we want for pulling.
Got the ladder/trac bars made up waiting to be welded together
I had to do some trimming on both the stubstack and the air cleaner bottom to get them to work
And our exhaust parts arrived
Got the ladder/trac bars made up waiting to be welded together
I had to do some trimming on both the stubstack and the air cleaner bottom to get them to work
And our exhaust parts arrived
#19
#20
So I have been hard at work on the truck for a while now and have gotten some stuff done.
I made a gauge panel to mount our oil pressure, volt meter, and water temp gauges.
I hooked up a spring to act as a throttle closure
I made a box out of 24 gauge to mount the chassis harness and switch panel to. It will be mounted next to the seat for easy access.
Our "painless" chassis harness doesn't come with a place to mount it. Will have to get creative
I made a gauge panel to mount our oil pressure, volt meter, and water temp gauges.
I hooked up a spring to act as a throttle closure
I made a box out of 24 gauge to mount the chassis harness and switch panel to. It will be mounted next to the seat for easy access.
Our "painless" chassis harness doesn't come with a place to mount it. Will have to get creative
#23
I have never heard of a engine pulling apart the motor mounts. I made a oversized washer for the motor mount to the frame mount and were running solid mounts.
I plan to study automotive engineering at Ferris State after I do some general/automotive classes at the local community college.
The finished box, it is now in the truck and is being wired in.
I made a kill switch out of a 4 pin trailer harness. The inside loop is the fuel pump switch before the relay. The outside loop is the ignition power before the relay.
I plan to study automotive engineering at Ferris State after I do some general/automotive classes at the local community college.
The finished box, it is now in the truck and is being wired in.
I made a kill switch out of a 4 pin trailer harness. The inside loop is the fuel pump switch before the relay. The outside loop is the ignition power before the relay.
#25
So I got the wiring far enough that the lights, wiper blades, and was able to get the engine turned over.
We set the front clip back on the truck to see how it would fit. We determined that the radiator would have to be mounted in front of the radiator support. It was ether that or move the body forward. We choose the easier option.
The factory radiator support before modification.
After the custom mount was finished I was able to measure 4.375" from the radiator to the water pump which is plenty of space for our electric fans.
We set the front clip back on the truck to see how it would fit. We determined that the radiator would have to be mounted in front of the radiator support. It was ether that or move the body forward. We choose the easier option.
The factory radiator support before modification.
After the custom mount was finished I was able to measure 4.375" from the radiator to the water pump which is plenty of space for our electric fans.
#26
#27
As of tonight we have made more progress. We made a list of everything that we could think of that we still needed for parts and needed to do. That has been helpful in lowering the amount of time we spend trying to figure out what to do next. There is now fluid in both axles and comp cam break in oil in the engine.
We got some trailer jacks and mounted them to the weight bracket. They will be used to support the front of the truck when it's on the trailer.
Our oil pan and dip stick were meant for a Fox body mustang. The dip stick had to be rebent and the bracket had to be extended.
Took off the door to replace the door hinges, which we had sitting in the barn
We got some trailer jacks and mounted them to the weight bracket. They will be used to support the front of the truck when it's on the trailer.
Our oil pan and dip stick were meant for a Fox body mustang. The dip stick had to be rebent and the bracket had to be extended.
Took off the door to replace the door hinges, which we had sitting in the barn
#28
I finished modifying the radiator support so I sand blasted and painted it
I got the fans mounted and wired in
We had some issues with leaking fuel fittings but I tightened all the ones that leaked
I also rebuilt the carb with new gaskets and screws, we are going to start with 85 jets, 31 and 35 squirters
We also were able to finally start the engine! I started right up and barely cranked. Ran for about 10 minutes without overheating or issues. I would post the video I took but I don't know how on here.
I got the fans mounted and wired in
We had some issues with leaking fuel fittings but I tightened all the ones that leaked
I also rebuilt the carb with new gaskets and screws, we are going to start with 85 jets, 31 and 35 squirters
We also were able to finally start the engine! I started right up and barely cranked. Ran for about 10 minutes without overheating or issues. I would post the video I took but I don't know how on here.
#29
I took a hood off a parts truck since this one didn't have one
After a little straightening and trimming the grill and hood look like they might fit
We got the bed set on the frame again
The bed with the body lift
And I did another batch of sandblasting
After a little straightening and trimming the grill and hood look like they might fit
We got the bed set on the frame again
The bed with the body lift
And I did another batch of sandblasting
Last edited by 78Puller; 07-26-2016 at 09:19 PM. Reason: Fixing typos
#30
I bought a hood pin set from the local auto parts store and had to make an extension using a rod coupler and threaded rod.
I love how our tires we ordered in April showed up the day of our first pull
We made it to our first pull at the Lenawee county fair. Unfortunately, the fuel pump was pushing so much fuel pressure that it was flooding the carb out. We weren't able to make it down the track.
So we had a swap meet purchased Holley red fuel pump that we swapped with the big Barry Grant pump. This one worked for about 5 minutes before it overheated, so we dug a little deeper and found another one that worked.
I stripped out the other steering shaft so we bought a telescoping shaft for Jeff's Bronco Graveyard
Last Monday we did make a second first attempt at the Monroe County Fair and were able to make it down the track! It didn't bounce at all stayed at 5000 rpm the entire time. So lower gears will probably be in our future...
I love how our tires we ordered in April showed up the day of our first pull
We made it to our first pull at the Lenawee county fair. Unfortunately, the fuel pump was pushing so much fuel pressure that it was flooding the carb out. We weren't able to make it down the track.
So we had a swap meet purchased Holley red fuel pump that we swapped with the big Barry Grant pump. This one worked for about 5 minutes before it overheated, so we dug a little deeper and found another one that worked.
I stripped out the other steering shaft so we bought a telescoping shaft for Jeff's Bronco Graveyard
Last Monday we did make a second first attempt at the Monroe County Fair and were able to make it down the track! It didn't bounce at all stayed at 5000 rpm the entire time. So lower gears will probably be in our future...