Okay, don't haul it down then.

 

Hmm, seems to be a bit of confusion here. Let me try to clarify things a bit and let you know how my thought processes R.E. the project truck are running.

Mike, Clint had suggested to me that he would like to bring the truck up to your place so that I could pick it up there and wouldn't have to drive all the way down to Merced to get it, thereby saving me something like 4 more hours of driving. I would like that, but am still prepared to go the whole distance if it's necessary. And I don't want Clint to do more than he is currently able to do in trying to save me a little time.

As for Tim's rear end (I mean the one for the truck, not his...nevermind!) I would indeed like to have it brought to the meet if he can manage it. Here's what I have outlined to do on the truck when I get it up here:

Convert to 4X4, install Dana 44 that I've purchased

Adapt/install power steering box and all associated linkages

Remove current 3.54 rear and install Tim's 4.10, using brakes and axles from 3.54 or my 3.73, or the other 3.54 I have. Alternatively, Tim (or I) could pull the ring gear/carrier assemply and the pinion from Tim's rear end and I could install it into one of the other housings I have available (yes, I know I'd need to set up the gears...not a biggie)

Borrow 429-460 block to mock up for motor location and get some 351M/400/460 motor perches to put it on, and install tranny/T-case and drivelines. I have a bunch of drivelines, including the ones that came from the truck that the tranny came from. (Although the rear consists of two separate driveshafts due to the Gear Vendors O/D that was in the truck...those I'll be hanging on to along with the O/D unit.) I also have a lathe so I can build a shaft if needed. I may be able to find a direct fit rear shaft at the wrecking yard, but since they use forklifts to move the vehicles around, straight driveshafts are tough to come by there.

Also, I'll throw on the tubular front bumper and the rollbar that I have for the truck.

I'd like to have the truck ready to roll and all set up for the motor so that you'll just have to drop the motor in and work out the exhaust and other incidentals, as well as whatever other details pop up.

I figure I'll need a day or so to accomplish all this, how quickly can you get the motor ready?

 

lol...ya...in about a day...

 

OKay...so if Tim can manage the rear, you'll just haul it back

I'll bring the engine to my place

Whatever works out for the truck is fine, just as I mentioned, I won't be around tomorrow till late in the day.

Clint,

if you want to bring the truck here on the 31st, I'll be in and out most of the day before I'm able to head up to Lodi, so I can be here to unload it for you, the Dan cn scoop it up on the 1st before heading home.

 

Things do get complex when too many people get involved. Dan, you get to call it. I will deliver the truck to the rest area outside Modesto on Sunday Morning, or you can come on down and pick it up.

If you come to Madera I will donate $100 towards the gas, and we do have a spare bedroom.

I should also say that I don't have a trailer, and that I intended to drill the front bumper and mount a towbar onto the truck. I was not going to bother with a DMV trip permit so I would be carefull where and when I drove.

Madera is about 2 hours south of Lodi.

On Edit: looks like things have crossed in the mail - you guys work it out and let me know what I need to do.

 

I've searched this thread for specifics. I must be having a blonde moment because I can't find it. Andy and I aren't 100% if we're going, yet but are trying to work out the mad details.

So, can someone again, post an official who, what, when, where, so we know right where to go, what to bring to properly plan for this? Maybe in something like an invitation format. I think evite might have been a better idea that way we know who's coming and who can't make it. PM me if it's more convienent.

And thanks!

 

1 Fine Babe, I agree with you on all accounts. It is JagRed's show. Mostly it is a show for the local F100 club, but he joined us with them.

Micki Grove Park is an amusement park in Lodi, with full vendor services. It even has a city zoo. Gate opens at 9 am, but people will be there from 7 am. I think he arranged for a bbq area for us, and people intend to make a picnic out of the day. Some of the group will move to a private campground and spend the night - they have some bluegrass music planned, and an evening campfire.

Should be a fun day. You can do a quick search and find more information on the park, and all sorts of maps on how to get there. Lodi is between Stockton and Sacramento, on 99.

I will not be there for health reasons - I avoid crowds as I live in fear of contacting some virus. I am also on a very restricted diet - I would kill for some bbq! But about everyone else from the central valley will be there.

Contact Jag Red with any questions about the meet, and Tim (oldfordstone) if you want to camp out on Saturday night.

Andy can come or not as he wishes, but we sure want you there - any chance for a grass skirt? Or does that go with bluegrass music?

 

A dana 60 with 3.54 gears? Heck yeah I want it! I can even give you a dana 70 with 4.56 gears for the project truck. That would save me some $$$ in gas bills. However, I would have to bribe someone to do the swap as getting down under the truck is not somethign I can do comfortably with my knee injury. What si the going rate for a rear end swap these days two 12 packs or four?

 

I wouldn't get into a hurry - your injury may well be healed before you can get the rear end. We need a good 4.10 for the project and will not turn lose of the 3.54 until we have one. In addition, you need to worry about the brakes. As I remember it, the drums were close to $100 each.

Also, if you only got 6 or 8 MPG at 50 MPH I wouldn't expect taller gears to help that much. It sounds more like you need an engine tune - what sort of vacuum are you running?

 

The knee injury will not get any better, it happened as a result of an auto accident in 1998. As for the 3.54 rear end, I was not expecting it to be overnighted to me And if I don't get that one, I can look for one down here. I see no reason to run 4.56 gears with a stump puller 460 under the hood. I will not come close to the 8,000 GVWR of this truck in my lifetime.

I was thinking about doing a tune up on the motor, and changing oil, filter, and trans fuild (going to buy a trans cooler, might as well change the fluid, filter and gasket at the same time). I don't know what kind of vacuum I am pulling now as I have no vacuum gauge to check it. However, the engine does not sound like it has a vacuum leak. Of course the hoses could have small pinhole leaks and be causing problems. I could just replace all the vacuum lines when I do the tune up.

All these upgrades/preventive maintenance will have to wait until after the Ranger is down here though.Another thing I want to do is check/align the front end. Looks like the rt front tire is wearing out on the outside. And the left front keeps losing air a little at a time.

Olfordsnstone, yeah having a camper on the truck means I can pull over most anywhere that is quiet and sleep. I have seen RV's parked out in some Wal-Mart parking lots. That is a cool policy. I am going to try and go up there. But I don't know if that will be possible. Would like to meet everyone. Also, I checked Camanche Reservoir, and it is $38 a night for RV overnight camping. The Stockton/Lodi campground is cheaper, and closer.

 

Andy and I are nothing short of "joined at the hip". I wouldn't be there without him.

As for the grass skirt... I probably won't be showing too much leg if Monday's rain continues in through the weekend. I'll be praying for warm weather and lots of sun!!

 

I just called Stockton/Lodi Rv Park. They do have tent spaces too, if someone wants to tent camp. They are $26 per night. If you are a triple A member (or comparable club member), you get a 10% discount as well.
The guy I talked to at the RV Park said that it would be ok to have two tents on each site, as long as they weren't huge tents. I guess that if you have a huge tent, just one would be the limit. He also said that 4 people could share one tent site, so if anyone wanted to pair up and split the cost, they could do that as long as there were only 4 people and two medium sized tents (is the way I understood him). Anyway, just some intel for those interested.

 

$26 a night, and you bring your own tent. For an extra $8 you can bring your own RV and camp there.

Yeah, they told me when I called asking about the RV spaces that if I was a Good Sam/AAA/KOA member I could get a 10% discount.

I will just find an empty Wal-Mart parking lot, and save 100%

 

Ok, I'm all set. The sign is done and the wife is packing extra hotdogs for anybody that may show up hungry. The sign will have a balloon attached to it, so look for a big guy next to a sign that looks like: / I'll have my FTE teeshirt on and maybe my new JAG hat if it's ready in time. We'll be pulling in about 8:30am depending on if we have to stop or not. Two years ago we were all sitting on the side of the 99 freeway with a brokedown Ch**y engine in a 56 F100 about 8:00am. Nobody was happy for about 15 minutes until we found out the hotwire to the coil was bad. Then it was all smiles again as the group cruised into the park. Hope to see everybody there. John

 

I'll be there tonight. Will bring brickets, hot dogs, buns and generic lemon lime soda. I'll find a place to camp and then pull in as early as possible tomorrow.