Folks, I have been on here a short while and I don't think I have posted a build thread yet, and while this truck is not exactly getting "rebuilt" it IS getting a bit of a makeover. With that in mind, I thought you all might be a tad interested in seeing how it is going.
Picture quality is not great. I think I need to brush up on my camera skills, but here are a couple of shots of the old tart in a workshop with the first couple of mods underway.



This picture shows the rhd dash partly fitted. It has yet to have an upper steering column mount fitted to the collapsible Ididit column (part of registration requirements is to have like a two stage collapsible column. One at the shaft and a kind of sliding bracket mount much like modern cars at the top)
I am farming some of this work out, so don't ask me anything technical, but it has a GM (Holden Commodore VT) brake pedal assembly and matching booster fitted. Notice the heavy duty plate mounting it to the firewall. She ain't gonna go anywhere!




This shot shows the multitude of holes that had to be welded up in the firewall. Must have taken hours! Still a couple to do.




Although I have a Jag front end to go in, the builder was recommending I opt for a rhd rack and leave the thing as it is. I am still tossing it up at this stage. Pictured sitting on top of the Heidts Mustang II front end currently in it, is a Subaru unit, (not sure what model) which is very close to the right size, though work would need to be done to fit adapt metric tie rod end shaft to existing. His argument is just keep the current front end in there and save a ton of work, but I have spend a wad on the Jag front with basically new everything, and I have had the wheels machined to suit the hubs etc, and the Subaru unit (for example) is going to require some measure of engineering to fit, probably mitigating any savings I might otherwise make.
I mean, I could re-sell the Jag front end, but my thinking is: it is already complete without any mods needed to the steering rack.

Still have to weld up the dash, fix up some rust and swap the handbrake over to the right and make the steering column bracket. but it is progressing pretty well.
Thanks guys!
Peter

 

Looks like you have a good start! I don't envy you the job, tho. Don't forget to switch your headlights left-to-right too!

 

Hi Ross. Yep, they're done. Only thing is now my B&M shifter has the selection panel on the left hand side. No big deal I guess. Got lots of stuff to think about now. Will be keen to get that Jag front end fitted up! It has been over a year in the wait!

 

We couldn't find my spring compressors, so I tore down my wife's clothes line. I think an A for ingenuity, but my wife gives me a D for Doghouse







Total chaos! But I think we are getting somewhere! More to come!

 

Fitting Lokar eliminator pedal to the firewall floor.




Notice how the relocated handbrake lever is now well and truly in the road. A bit hard to tell front on, but there's only about 6 inches space between pedal and tip of handbrake.
Going to have to relocate it left of the steering column



somewhere about here.
More to come...

 

more to come!

 

[IMG]

[/IMG]
Stuart (my welder friend) cutting away the old boxed in section.




Old Mustang II front end cut out. Unboxed rails. Cleaned up ready for Jag IFS


Not quite the perfect fit. But as everyone knows, it needs a notch cut out of the front end to fit






cutting away area to be notched




I am soft mounting it, and this is where the front mounts sit in relation to the chassis. Not sure where to go from here? Fab up mounts off chassis. Anyone have any pictures or suggestions as to what they did here? If anyone has soft mounted theirs before??? Much appreciated.




I'm getting this front end bolted in, not welded. We used high tensile bolts over 3mm plate.

Probably the crappiest bit of the job is drilling the holes under the chassis. Crappy for Stuart. I was sipping beers at that stage




3mm plate with bolt holes drilled.




Stuart was able to avoid cutting out the Chevy engine mounts. Rather handy, that!




Adding a gusset for added strength. Check out those welds! See why I chose Stuart?




More support gussets. Just really nice clean welding, methinks!


Anyway, more to come!

 

Be careful grinding in those areas , that is where your chassis number will be .

 

i like this very interested keep the pic coming

 

Hi Scott. Thanks for that. Did a check there. Didn't find a number. Checked front crossmember because I think a number can be found there, but it wasn't there, either. I have a tag on a plate in the door jamb. The old girl has had a lot of work done to her in the past and it could be possible that it was ground off then.
Got me curious now!

 

Thanks Roy.
I thnk we're doing a bit next weekend. Today I have been told I have to help my mrs paint a room.....boring!

 

I have a blue stamped plate issued from the City of Nevada with a Vin and it corresponds to actual rego from when it was last registered in 2004. This plate has a control number on it as well. It is affixed to the inside of the lhs door. Does that mean it has been a reissued stamping? I cannot locate vin on chassis rail nor front crossmember.

 

Well, blow me down with a feather! About a year ago when I cleaned up the front crossmember, I took a photo of the chassis number and I have just found it in my files. Unfortunately, the photo was a close up and can't tell exactly where on the crossmember it is, so I will be rubbing back the entire crossmember with its multiple coats of KBS rustseal (a lot like POR15) that I remember putting on there. Let you know in about a month how I go, once I get this paint off.

 

I think that engine mount is real close to the vin

 

No, nothing there. The vin for this truck is on the crossmember that the radiator bolts up to. I just have to uncover the layers of rust seal to find it again...