Lunch box truck build thread with pics!
 

Hi All,
This is my first highboy, it's a Heinz 57, or as I like to call it, "The Lunch Box Truck". I decided to put it in the dent side forum instead of the bump side because all of the running gear, the part I need help with, is from dent sides so I hope y'all don't mind. The trans is a '76 NP435, the front axle is from a '73-75 crew cab and the steering gearbox is from a '79, the cab is from a '71 F350 and the grill inserts are for a '70.....bla bla bla. I picked it up about two months ago in Missouri. PO1 started the resto over twenty years ago, they did a fine job of collecting all of the parts (the sheet metal is in fantastic shape) but never completely finished it. PO2, whom I bought it from, finished it, but did a piss poor job. PO2 gave it a 6" suspension lift, 2" body lift and 38 super swampers. I like the way it looks now, but I want to use it as a fair weather DD, so I'm in the process of lowering it. For now I am going to remove the body lift, take out 2" of suspension lift and go with either 285/70 -17s (34") or 35s.
I would like to say thanks to all of the kind folks from FTE that have already helped me with a few issues.

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3507.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3511.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3514.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3515.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3516.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3517.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3521.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3526.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3528.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3530.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3531.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3534.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3536.jpg

Nice truck buddy. I just love it!

That is a nice clean truck, Looking good. I used to have a 76' now I wish I had it back.

I love your truck! :-X22

I would agree with you to tame it down just a little, I would remove the body lift and change out the tires and rims to something a little less aggressive and see how it looks before removing springs and blocks.

I have a 6" lift on mine and I use it about half the time as a DD and I find the size manageable in the Suburbs. I'm sure your truck would be easier to park where you are. :-X04

Keep us posted on your progress!

Looking great Gavin

Thanks Andre, I may have to take her on a little road trip to Wisconsin some day.

Tim,
In the process of looking for a truck it seemed like there are was ton of highboys that were in great shape from Washington. You should get another one. :D
Thanks for the complement!

Thanks Steve, your truck looks really nice, I love that color combo!
I want to get it down were I don't need to pull on the steering wheel and door handle to pull my fat arse in. :D
PO2 added a 2" block under the Skyjacker F746S front springs so I'm just going to remove the homemade blocks and keep the springs.


Thanks Gerry. The pic of the black truck was perfect! Those are the wheels I am going to get.

Ok that's good to know, I guess that Scott got back to you then?

Yes he did, thanks buddy!

thats an awesome truck dude :-drink i wouldnt lower it if i was you but its not my truck. :-X04

Awesome ride Gavin!!:-X22

Good point on those blocks on the front springs, I would remove those too if I was in your shoes and level out the truck.

Again.... Very NICE truck! :-jammin

Reminds me of my very first truck when I was 17 back in 1979. I had a 1972 F250 Ranger XLT CS. Bumpsides definitly tug on the old setimental heart strings especially as nice as yours.

This was mine back in 1980 (or 81). I couldn't afford the 1979 model yet, that would be 2 or 3 years down the road.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-z...6/IMG_0805.jpg

Thanks riverguideguy, but I almost pull my hamstring the last time I got into it........without a ladder. :-X03

Thanks John, sure beats the green one I almost got. :-jammin


That's the plan Steve, get the front end down and then level it.

That is a sweet '72. Is that a Honda in the driveway?

Well, I wasn't going to say anything....but I'd have to agree.;)

Thanks and Good eye! Yes that was my roommates RD400 (Rapid Death). I'm not a bike guy but I did learn how to ride on that bike. Used to scare the cr*%p out of me but I got on it and lived to tell the tail.

Mark, Your truck looks awesome man...JMO here, I would probably lower it a few inches if it was mine but I still like it alot...I can't wait to see it with the new M/T wheels, I think you will love them!!

Cab Mounts
 

***WARNING***
The this post contains photos that are graphic in nature. If you have knowledge of proper auto body repair techniques or are a certified welder or your username is ChaseTruck754 you are strongly advised to obtain an air sickness bag prior to viewing this post.

Let me start by saying the first thing I looked at before I bought the truck was the cab mounts. Knowing that the cab had been sand blasted and peeking into the wheel wells over a 37" tire......the cab mounts looked great. Not!

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3626.jpg

When PO#2 added the 2" body lift, the spacers he used were only 2-1/2" in diameter. Since the cab mount and frame mount surfaces are not parallel this caused the small body lift spacers to push in the bottom of the cab mount and that was something I did not see until I got the truck in my garage. I was not too concerned until I stared poking around and found some stress cracks.

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3624.jpg

I guess the reason for the cab mount surfaces not being parallel is the cab is a '71 and the frame is from a '75....IDK. PO#1 did a nice job of replacing the cab mounts and the only damage was to the bottom of them so I decided to weld a 3/16" plate to the bottom of the mount and replace the body lift spacer with a shorter spacer with a tapered top to match the angle of the frame and body mounts.

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3627.jpg
Pattern

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3639.jpg
Plates

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3644.jpg
Gotta remove more paint, but it's close.



http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3645.jpg
Marking where to drill the bolt hole.


http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3657.jpg
After squeezing the pigeon....


http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3669.jpg
The two tapered spacers are sitting on the box just above the flag.


http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_3690.jpg
Back together with the tapered spacer.
I am very interested in why the cab mount and frame mount are at an angle on my truck.


Next......
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...620_203118.jpg

Thats an awesome looking truck!

I think it looks great! Keep up the good work!

P.S. I have the same grinder...works fantastic. Worth every penny.

Good looking repair job Gavin, nice n neat........ thx for sharing

THIS TRUCK IS SSOO BADA$$!!!

the frame mounts dont look like the 77-78 mounts i have on my 77 F150. They look like mounts from the 80's Ford trucks

awesome looking bump man

@ibleedblue1385 - Thank you!

@Savage - Metabo + the original "Slicer" disk = Awesomeness! I love it.

@Gerry - Thanks buddy, there's more to come.

@SuperDutyScaler - Thanks!! You are prolly right. All of the shock and suspension mounts are still rivited, the cab mounts have been bolted on.

@impalaslayer - Thank you!

Funny how the guards never stay on those grinders...

never really cared for the bump side era trucks.... till now! Wow very sweet truck.

glad to see this truck again saw it on ebay a number of times glad it found a good home

...guards? What guards? :-missingt

Thanks Brigart, I likey the dents too...
....but the key should still be on the left. :p:p:p :-X03

Killer looking truck. Any updates on this?

My first truck (when I got my license had 4 before then) had a body lift and after a jumps you could move the cab side to side 4" by hand, I hate body lifts.

Why didn't you use a filler piece and weld your new plate on at the correct angle for the mounts? Even with the spacer piece the bolt is still at an angle and stressed incorrectly.

Don't know how I missed this thread but I dig the snot out of your truck:-X22

Thanks for the complement, I spent most of the summer riding my bike and getting very little done on the truck. :(

Excellent point, I was tinking about doing that, then I decided I should just get the correct frame mount to match the cab mounts. The spacer is a band aid so I could get the cab back on the frame and onto other stuff. I still have to pull the bed off to mount the fuel tank(s).

Thanks Marc! I'm having a blast working on it when I can. Y'all give me a lot of great ideas on how to spend more $$$$$. :D

Nice truck Tomahawk!

Very nice Gavin, keep up the good work. :-X03

Thanks Darren, maybe you should stop by and help me get it tuned up. ;)

We'll be there...

Nice truck Sirworksalot!

Thanks bro, stop by any time. :-X03

We were serious. We both already got clearance for the wardens :-X06

Have a good weekend Gavin:-X03

That's an amazing looking truck. Now I want to shoot my truck that color blue. I need to stop getting on this site.

WOW, awesome looking truck man, love the color. but i agree with NBC steve, it needs to be a bit tamed. maybe sitting on some nice 35's ( those 38's would look much better under my 78 LOL ) non the less it's a great looking rig. keep us updated on your progress.

Thanks for the complement. Sorry I missed your post. :o

Thanks, it's Mustang Acapulco blue.

I'm hopefully going to do a big update soon. I'm taking out the 2" body lift and 2" of suspension lift and setting it on 35" BFG's. I mocked this up a few weeks ago.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...913_181142.jpg
Thanks for the complement hyper.