1974 Ford Cummins Crew cab - Page 5

ChaseTruck754 · #61 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 04:56 PM

I had a semi productive night last night although I don't have much to show for it.

On my way home I went to a buddies shop to use his brake to bend my lower radiator support. I not only got that done, but I came out of his shop with more crossed off my "to do" list than I thought.

1st - I told him about not being able to get the pitman arm off my steering box and he gave me the "just drop if off here - I'll get that sucker off for you".

2nd - I told him about trying to figure out the tranny mount on my NV4500 and he said "wait a minute - that sounds like the bolt spacing on a TH350 or TH400 mount". He went over to a box and pulled out an Polyeurethene tranny mount for one of his projects and gave it to me to test... Well it worked perfect. So I got that figured out as well.

Now I can move on to designing the tranny mount/cross memeber

Here's some pics of the beginnings of the lower radiator support and how it will be fit to the core support etc.
Oh and the trannt mount/bushing. See it DOES pay to have buddies who know Chevy's

Tranny bushing

Starting of lower radiator mount

BradyCouchman · #62 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaseTruck754

An upcoming move (loosing my shop) made me try and pull it off now - to eliminate storing 1 vehicle (the dodge) in the future.

where and when are you moving?

ChaseTruck754 · #63 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 05:11 PM

Not sure but soon and local. Going to put all my stuff in an industrial unit/shop unless I can find a rental house with room for all my cars/tools and that has 220 in the garage and will let me work/fab there

Knowing my luck the move will be right around Christmas but we'll see. I could get notice that I have to be out of here by the end of November, but right now it's kind of a month to month type deal.

I am looking at industrial spaces in Costa Mesa and possibly Irvine or Santa Ana - depending on location and price.

BradyCouchman · #64 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 05:23 PM

Good luck with your search...i think santa ana is a good place to start looking, i have a buddy that his and one of his friends rents out a place and work on their racers there....

ChaseTruck754 · #65 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 07:04 PM

A little work on the radiator support got done last night - not much. Should be more tonight.

Also - my "chevy" buddy gave me a stock tranny cross member that goes along with that tranny mount he told me to use. Now I can start messing with that instead of building one totally from scratch.

Here's some pics of the progress on the radiator support. I got it fitted. Need to make some gussets tonight and then weld it in.

BradyCouchman · #66 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 10:30 AM

does the top cross member still fit over the rad? or does it go infront of it?

ChaseTruck754 · #67 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 01:02 PM

The radiator is behind the new top piece. There will then be an adjustable "arm" or top bracket that holds the radiator in/down.

Here's the only pic I have of that cross piece set in place. It sits flush with thickened/flared, stock portion of the core support

For the "daily update"... I ended up working late last night - so not a ton got done. Just welding in that lower radiator mount and making some of the supports for it.

BradyCouchman · #68 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 01:19 PM

you really like that dimple/flair tool dont you? but it does make the pice a lot stronger.

ChaseTruck754 · #69 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 01:30 PM

It does seem like I'm using it alot on this project huh? It just so happens that the parts I need to build for this swap benefit from the dimples. Take for instance the motor mounts. The dimple are access holes to getting to the nuts/bolts that hold the things on.

I usually use the dimples for accents/aesthetics, but actually the dimples add structure/rigidity (making a 2 dimensional piece feel/act like it's 3 dimensional) while LOOSING some weight.

I don't use them in everything or where they don't really serve a purpose. I have seen them overused though and I can show you some pics of where projects that look like bad swiss cheese.
Or I could show you pics of race trucks that were designed by aeornaitcal engineers that look like beautiful swiss cheese, and are the lightest, craziest engineering masterpieces in off road racing.

BradyCouchman · #70 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 01:38 PM

it kinda remnids me of luvers (spelling?) in the 32 roadsters...some guy bought the tool and by golly he is going to get his money out of it....so his car ends up haveing about 10,000 luvers all over the place...hood, truck, fenders, gas tank cover...

ChaseTruck754 · #71 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 01:42 PM

Not the same. I bought the tools to use them when I need them. No need to try and get my $$'s worth, as I will have them for a lifetime and have plenty of uses for them.

Also louvers???? ewwww - I HATE louvers - haha. The over-use of them is a style that some people like. They louver everything! Not me - NO louvers on my hot rod. Then afain there probably won't be any dimples either.

crazyredneckanyhow · #72 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 06:47 PM

Steve i officially hate you now. Must be nice to work outside all year round

BradyCouchman · #73 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyredneckanyhow

Steve i officially hate you now. Must be nice to work outside all year round

he did have to move inside that one day because of the winds.....well for a few house atlest.

ChaseTruck754 · #74 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 06:49 PM

Hahahaha! My only "bother" this time of year is that it gets dark so danged early (6PM or so now - will be 5 when the time changes).

It is 85*+ here today - over 95* at my dads. I'm sitting in my office in just shorts (no shirt) with a fan on and still sweating

Oh - and the Santa Ana winds are good for surfing but bad for everything else. They were blowing like a mother at 30 mph or so. Makes welding a biotch!

ChaseTruck754 · #75 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 06:40 PM

Not much progress again - just a bunch of time spent welding on that radiator support.

I also started what seems to be just the tip of the iceberg on the tranny cross member modification...