Alright so this next update will be around spring time. I wish I could of kept posting progress on the crew but I'll be caught up to current speed shortly. I picked up some parts to get it be able to steer once the crossover gets finalized. Now I'll be able to build my steering column shaft. First time the column been in the truck since it was rebuilt and powder coated. Also got a good deal on some exhaust manifold studs so I picked them up awhile. Lastly I got a new helper to be in the shop with me

 

Man, look at the size of the paws and legs of your Helper. WOW. Gonna be hip high at least. And stout.

 

Nothing like some extra shop help . Where did you get your steering shaft? I am running a 79 F350 steering box and want to use a 97 Dodge string column. I haven't figured out how to get that part done yet, but it is on the list for the next couple of months. Did you custom order them? If so, from where? Were they reasonably priced?

 

I got my steering shaft from Borgeson they have everything you will need to get your column and steering box linked up and turning you can get the shaft at any length you want they are cut to fit. I measured my distance between the column and box subtracted the u joint and steering dampener lengths and got one with atleast an inch longer then I needed then ended up cutting about a half inch off each end of the shaft and it fits and turns great. I went with the splined shaft over the other styles. Do you have the same 36 spline shaft on your column as your 79 box?

 

I found a 69 ranger on a 4x4 chassis for a good price. So I picked it up to get acouple parts off it. My gf's brother liked it so I sold it to him for what I had into it minus the grille as I could use it. I really liked this truck and am glad it will be brought back to life. I'm trying to convince him to clear coat it and drive it just as it sits. I think it looks bad a** it's in the middle of getting the frame sandblasted and painted now. then redo cab mounts and swap in a TCI street fighter c6 trans and rebuilt 351 and 77 f250 disc brake dana 44 axle that we had laying around. It will be on the cheap side of a build and get leftover parts from other projects as he is only 16.





Crew with ranger grille

 

Like the truck, It does have a nice patina to it doesnt it. I like the grill on your truck, Make sure to fit it to your ic. I had to clearance the bottom slat a little with that style. was glad I test fit everything before I painted it.

 

That grille will look Way Cool on your truck Crazed. I like 'em. Which is the reason I put one on my 68 F250.
Now the real reason I'm replying. "16"! Frickin' COOL. Good job to you Crazed for getting him in to the Bump world. And Kudos to him for liking it. Now it is well documented that this King likes to help people. ESPECIALLY our young bloods. I'll help where I can. I don't see anything on that rig that I can help with yet but I do have some 351W stuff. I'd sell them to your GF's Bro for a lot less than what I paid since he's 16. At one time I had a 71 F100 302,SB,4X2 rig minus engine and trans. I bought a 351W/FMX used out of a 1976 Torino. I know I bought .030 over pistons,gaskets,motor mounts,trans mount, and a chrome air cleaner I put a "351 2V regular fuel" sticker on. I think engine bearings also but would have to look when I get home. Prolly more stuff than I remember. I was going to mildly rebuild it and stick a Holley 500 CFM super deuce that I have on it to look factory 302. This was a year or two before I found FTE. If interested in this stuff or any other help like pulleys and brackets PM me. I'll see what I can do for that young Man.

 

The patina is an eye catcher for me. When I first saw it for sale the guy made it sound like it was going to be a quick bolt down the body, run brakes and fuel lines, hook up the wiring connections and be about ready for the road. (I was looking for a quick summer driver) went and looked at it and it was rough not a quick fixer. Needed cab mounts minor floor patch work. All the things I said needed done and the guy said engine had fresh head work done. It did but never finished bolting the valve covers on and when I got it home I found that water got in the engine and seized it.

I'm not sure if I'll be running the ranger grille (just yet) i test fit with the Intercooler and the grille touches the IC before it's against the core support. I don't know if i want to mess with refitting the IC on the support. You have yours almost the same way I did mine. How far did you sink in the IC to the support?

 

Seems like I recall Zack (HNT) telling someone that he trimmed the bottom of the grille.

 

I had to trim my 71 grille to get it to fit and very slightly pulled the bottom aluminum horizontal bar out to clear my Intercooler. It looks like the 69 grille when I test fit it. I would need to much of the bars shaved to clear. Meaning my IC would need pushed back into the core support more. But in order to go any farther back it would take extensive cutting into the support. I'll have to check again later in the build. Here's pics from earlier in the thread.

 

Yea he bought this basket case of a 197? F150 last year. that was shortened and had 3/4 ton suspension and axles under it. Somebody slapped it together and it wasn't safe by any means. The 69 was in better overall shape and in the long run would outlast the blue truck. The engine was from his dads old work truck was rebuilt about 20,000 miles before it was pulled and set on the engine stand. He pulled the intake and painted it. Got a new oil pan and pickup and valve covers. Thanks Jeff for the offer on parts I'll keep that in mind if he needs anything else. It will be a slow project for him but hopefully he sticks to it and it will be a blast to drive for the first time.



Here's the engine

 

That dent with an 80's bed on it must have been one of those pieced together by a JY and sold. Did he nickname it "junk yard dog"?
No problem Crazed. I meant it. Baja's version might be my casa is your casa but my version is My parts stash is his parts stash. Especially for a young man like that. I may have been out here in Arizona since 1979 when I was 21 years old, But I was brought up in Ohio. And Ohio has never left me. I won't allow it. And OH and PA are same-same.

 

I sunk my ic about the same amount you did crazed. Once the bottom of the support was notched out of the way it basically fit flush against the remainder of the support. I did however have to trim the bottom of the 67 grill a tad still. Just in the bottom corners where the grill touched the caps on the ic. wasnt to bad at all. Ill try to get some pics in the next few days....

 

Thanks Jeff your a great guy. The dent was definitely pieced with whatever the guy had laying around. I'm just hoping he sticks with finishing the 69 I really want to see it driving next year some time. OH and PA have some great places but I hope to be out west when I'm finally settled where I want to be. Taking a trip to Utah this summer so we want to travel around some and hopefully find some places of interest to maybe try next.

I thought we had them about the same way. So there may be hope to getting the 69 grille to fit. One thing that may be causing my issue is I'm using a 73-79 support not the 67-72 style. Pics would be great of the Ic and grille. Hope I can squeeze it in there really want to run the 69 Ranger grille.

 

Ok so this update will bring us up to mid summer. Not much going on with the crew still been focused on other projects that took up more time then I wished. Did acouple patches on the cowl vent area as it had rusted through. I picked some more parts up to get me closer to having a fuel system. Nice new aluminum fuel cell will get mounted in the bed I'm debating on cutting out the bed floor some and sink it in so it's not totally taking up the whole bed. At the end of the build I hope to have the crew fully caged but that will come later on after it gets on the trails and any issues worked out.









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