Thanks for the update.Great build!

 

Thank you! Can't wait to get it on the road.

 

Pics or it didn't happen...

 

LOL! I hear ya Wes. I've owned this truck since January '11.... Slow dude is slow.

 

Very productive weekend! Got the carpet installed, visor mounted, and interior back together, including the Steel Horse visor shelf and cool Centurion switch panel I found on Ebay. On to the pics! I'll take more/better photos soon, forgot to take my camera with me... duh!






This is one of my favorites. My buddy who's been helping me was sitting in the back seat, and his wife snapped this photo as he was cracking jokes.





*edit* Not sure why these last two are rotated. Tried to fix that on Photobucket, but it ain't workin'!

 

Time to blow the dust off this thread and post some updates!

It's been a little over three years since I put the truck on the road and started daily driving it. It's done some towing, it's done some beach driving, it's done some parts hauling, it's reliably gotten me through three winters, and it's been a really great truck overall.

I did some minor things after I put it on the road: replaced the entire AC system, and got that working again. Installed a JVC bluetooth radio, new speakers, and one of those small self contained subs under the rear seat. I installed a 38 gallon rear fuel tank. I also replaced the rear pinion bearings and seal.

I'll add some photos below of the various stages it's been through.

17" wheels I scored for $100 at a swap meet. I polished them, and mounted 285/70 tires on them.



38 gallon tank, and a little frame repainting.



It gets cold.



17s installed.




A little beach fun, with the old 15s still on.



'Murica (Happy Independence Day!)

 

I figured I'd separate my posts, and add future plans here.

Although it's been a great truck, I've done nothing further to fix the rust issues and body work. The rear pinion bearing is in need of replacing again, as well as the entire rear brake system, and the TTB needs a rebuild. I'm also not extremely happy with the 3.55 gearing, mostly due to the 285 tires, but I'm really not wanting to downsize tires.

When I added up all the costs of rebuilding the front and rear diffs with 4.10 gears, TTB rebuilding, and brake system rebuilding, it became apparent to me that for what I plan to use the truck for (towing and transporting), it's not worth the cost of going through all of this and still having 1/2 ton running gear.

After doing a little research, I decided to swap '05 Superduty axles into the truck. I bought an almost complete setup for $800: front and rear axles, spring buckets, and radius arm brackets. The front axle came complete with all steering components, steering box, and track bar. They're 3.73 axles, and the rear Sterling 10.5 is a factory limited slip.

I plan on having the truck down for a year or so. Along with the SD swap, body and paint will be completed, and I may swap GT40 heads and long tube headers onto it. I'm keeping the 351 until it's no longer useful, but I'm also thinking of plans of what to do if and when the day comes that the 351 shats the bed.

I'm in the very early stages of the swap. I'm refurbishing the SD axles now, as time and money allow. I also need to reinforce the rear part of the frame before the SD axles go in.

On to the photos:

Rear 10.5 Sterling semi torn down. Diff is fine, so I won't be removing any of that. It needs backing plates, parking brake setup, hub seals, rotors and pads. Sounds like a lot, but all that stuff is only $250ish.



Rear two piston calipers, painted in electric currant red.



18" factory Alcoas, and 4800 lb front springs I picked up for a great price from a local guy. One wheel was pretty gouged up, but straight.











Photo of 4800 lb front spring part number for reference:



A good friend of mine is really good at polishing. He came down this past weekend to see what he could do with the wheel that was gouged. The results are amazing, and we will be polishing all four wheels!

 

Looking good Bob. Are you doing the body work or someone else?

Have you thought about putting an original crew cab cab on while you have it tore down that far?

Those SD wheels look great

 

Thanks Brad! I'm doing the body work. Haven't decided if I'll spray it myself or have someone else do it though.

The Centurion cab is still really solid (surprisingly). I've thought about putting a proper rust free cab on it, and if I found one for a decent price that may very well be easier than repairing the rockers on mine. They're not completely roached, but they do need some metal.

I'd really like to find a rust free parts truck for a nose and bed. I'll look harder for that once I'm close to being ready for it though.

I love the way the wheel came out, and that was the worst one. My friend Nick spent about an hour on it, sanding, polishing, and painting the inside and pockets black. It was a really quick job so we could decide what to do with the rest of them, but I was amazed at what he could do with it!

 

I know of a couple crew cab cabs if you are interested

 

Thank Brad, I'm not really in a financial spot to buy anything like that right now though. I will keep it in mind when I get to the point of body work though!

 

Those wheels look great! Updates on this project?

 

Thank you! No real updates, aside from buying parts for the axles. Got extremely busy with side jobs, which is good for the budget, but bad for progress.

 

Good looking rig. Thanks for the thread. Looks like the rig I am preparing to buy.

 

Thanks! Good luck with yours, make sure you post pictures when you get it!