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!
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That is a nice clean truck, Looking good. I used to have a 76' now I wish I had it back.
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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
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Originally Posted by SavageNFS
(Post 13127947)
Nice truck buddy. I just love it!
Originally Posted by Tim Young
(Post 13128103)
That is a nice clean truck, Looking good. I used to have a 76' now I wish I had it back.
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!
Originally Posted by NBC-Steve
(Post 13128183)
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! 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.
Originally Posted by GIGGER
(Post 13128555)
Looking great Gavin
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Ok that's good to know, I guess that Scott got back to you then?
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Yes he did, thanks buddy!
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thats an awesome truck dude :-drink i wouldnt lower it if i was you but its not my truck. :-X04
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Awesome ride Gavin!!:-X22
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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 |
Originally Posted by riverguideguy
(Post 13128887)
thats an awesome truck dude :-drink i wouldnt lower it if i was you but its not my truck. :-X04
Originally Posted by powerstroke72
(Post 13128896)
Awesome ride Gavin!!:-X22
Originally Posted by NBC-Steve
(Post 13128971)
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 That is a sweet '72. Is that a Honda in the driveway? |
Originally Posted by Tomahawk
(Post 13129234)
Thanks John, sure beats the green one I almost got. :-jammin
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That is a sweet '72. Is that a Honda in the driveway? |
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!!
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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!
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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
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THIS TRUCK IS SSOO BADA$$!!!
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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
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awesome looking bump man
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@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...
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never really cared for the bump side era trucks.... till now! Wow very sweet truck.
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glad to see this truck again saw it on ebay a number of times glad it found a good home
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Originally Posted by SavageNFS
(Post 13308676)
Funny how the guards never stay on those grinders...
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?
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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
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Originally Posted by Bently_Coop
(Post 13582791)
Killer looking truck. Any updates on this?
Originally Posted by oddfordjunkie
(Post 13583559)
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.
Originally Posted by turbohunter
(Post 13583608)
Don't know how I missed this thread but I dig the snot out of your truck:-X22
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Nice truck Tomahawk!
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Very nice Gavin, keep up the good work. :-X03
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Originally Posted by darren32
(Post 13637428)
Very nice Gavin, keep up the good work. :-X03
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We'll be there...
Nice truck Sirworksalot! |
Originally Posted by SavageNFS
(Post 13639239)
We'll be there...
Nice truck Sirworksalot! |
Originally Posted by Tomahawk
(Post 13639303)
Thanks bro, stop by any time. :-X03
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.
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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.
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Originally Posted by blackjack33
(Post 13584644)
Nice truck Tomahawk!
Originally Posted by blue04.5
(Post 13643283)
That's an amazing looking truck. Now I want to shoot my truck that color blue. I need to stop getting on this site.
Originally Posted by Hyperactive460
(Post 13643807)
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.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...913_181142.jpg Thanks for the complement hyper. |
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