Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Chris, you've got mail!

Randy, I'very been busy paying off some bills and buying my first house. So no time spent on BU, just driving him. I have lots of parts collected, waiting to go in. Might dig back into it next year...

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

I understand Jason, Buying a house will definitely put a halter on things...

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Jason--glad to here you're doing well. life goes on and the tk can wait some. Good luck with your new house--enjoy!

Kimble

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Good luck with the house!

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Super sweet truck. I say keep it a longbed and keep the orange paint. Best of luck with it.

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Thanks, Brian. But it's a little late to keep it orange and a long bed!

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Ok Jason, thats twice in a week that Ive seen ya here! Good to see you poppin in. Hows the house coming? Hope all is well!

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Ya, I'm lurking as always. I'm itching to do some work on Bigetting Ugly but I'm studying for an exam at the end of October (for real this time) so I can't (shouldn't) get sidetracked until it is over.

I need to swap in a new short 32-spline input and twin stick shift rails into the NP205. I want to buy a new centerforce clutch and throw out bearing for use with the nv4500 bellhousing. Then a new hydraulic clutch line and a custom bracket to adapt the nv4500 tail mount to the factory SM465 tail mount.

I'm also trying to decide what route to go to make my suspension more compliant. I hesitate to swap in 52" springs up front because with crossover steering I have no clearance to run a sway bar unless I can find one that is really wide, wide enough to straddle the outside of the steering gearbox. I've been looking at the one on my bronco but I'm not sure that it's quite wide enough

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

The 95 and 97 F350s that i had put the sway bar behind the front axle. Drop is on the wrong side for your truck but another angle to look at. Who knows, might be able to get one and flip it on top of the axle instead of under?

Which BH did you get? AA or stock? I was tempted to get a CF clutch but am going to try and see if the Valeo that was behind the 396 will work. The 454 kinda broke the bank.

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Good luck on the exam!

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Yeah, sorry man. New to site and realized after I posted that you were past that point.

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

A while back I picked up a 92-95 nv4500 bellhousing with the passenger side slave cylinder. As long as i keep the truck at the current ride height and get the compression travel or bump stops right, I shouldn't really have a problem with the front driveshaft impacting the bellhousing in the spot where the slave mounts. This would save me from having to buy the AA bellhousing and the hydraulic clutch bracket (i could make this myself, in fact i may have already made one...) to the tune of $400. But I may need to buy a new slave cylinder and throwout bearing (maybe $200?). I'm 99% sure I can use the same clutch, but I think I'll find that I have some worn or broken pieces in the clutch disk when i pull it out (another story). I have the used items but I'd hate to have to pull the trans back out to replace a throw out bearing after the fact. In general i like using factory designed parts, so i'm going to try and make the factory bellhousing work.

I'm sure the clutch from your 396 will work on your 454. Do the 454's use a neutral balanced flywheel like the 396 or does it have to be balance with the rotating assembly? I never really understood the logic behind that design...

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Im gonna try the clutch that I ran with the 396 even though the 454 is ext balanced. I don't think it will be a problem as there are no index marks for the clutch to FW. I figure that hundreds of clutches are replaced at least weekly and Ive never heard of anyone tearing an engine apart to balance it when doing a clutch. I hear you on the AA and the 400 bucks. Thats the way I went and now I don't even have the money to paint the engine compartment. Just gonna have to wait to get a little more OT under my belt.
Get crackin on those books! Ive got an exam coming up for work pretty soon too. I gotta hit those books myself!

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Oh man! How did THAT get in there???

http://jase-ace.com/public/photo/196...0%20-%2002.jpg

Has Big Ugly been sneaking money out of my wallet again?

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Looks like BU got himself one of them there kingpin axles! Score!

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Nice!

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

when you used the shackle hangers from a 73 and up, did it move the springs out wider, and did you have to cut and relocate the spring pads on the axle. i am using axles out of a 89 blazer and the springs pads are 42.5 center to center. The 64 pad width is 40.5. I was wondering if by useing the newer hangers will that enable me to use the 42.5 location on my 89 axles. i am building a 1964 chevy short bed 4x4. I will start a thread soon with pics of my build.

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Your assumptions are correct. The 73+ trucks have the same width frame but a wider spring separation in the rear. Fronts are all the same. So you can use later, wider hangers with later axles without having to move the spring pads. That is what I did: suspension and axles from a 73.

Looking forward to seeing some pictures of your pickup.

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Thanks Jason, my name is John. Your build and Chris's build have been very helpful. I will start my thread soon, hopefully I can help out the next guy. If you get a chance could you give me a measurement center to center on your front bumper bolts, I have a slight frame horn bend I need to line up. Thanks again

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Sure, John. I can check it out when i get home tonight if no one else responds first.

Chris is always one step ahead of me, with the overdrive trans and the long front springs... There are lots of great people here with 60-66 4x4s.

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

John, I measured 26.25" on center as the separation between front bumper bolts. Sorry it took a couple of days.

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Ah, I get most of my best ideas from you Jason.

John, if you need any info, feel free to PM me or post to one of my threads. Always happy to help a fellow owner.

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Hey Jason, whenever you get a chance could you give me a measurement from the ground to the bottom of your door and from the ground to the bottom of your frame under the door area. Thanks for the help. John

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Jason, Jason where are you...You've been kinda quiet on here....any updates....How's big ugly and seahorse...

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Hey guys! I've been around. I've somehow managed to collect a couple more toys, and when you're up to 10 motorized vehicles you have to spread the love around. Big Ugly is working and driving so hasn't seen much change lately.

I picked up another 72 Blazer and it is under the knife right now. Once the Blazer is back on the road in about a month I might look to finally get the NV4500 swapped in. But I also want to soften up the suspension. I'm thinking about 52" springs up front and a shackle flip in the rear. I'm concerned that I'll lose some carrying capacity with the flip though.

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Haha, ya snuck in before the year deadline Jason! We were gonna send a search party out for you! :lol: Glad to see you back and still stayin' busy.

As far as the 52s go, I like mine. I may be looking into different shocks and an alignment soon since the front axle rebuild.

On the rear flip, Ive never heard that you lose carrying cap. Ive seen a few comments from guys that tow 10k + on their flips.

Anyway, get some pics of the blazer up. Would love to see some more of your work.

Waiting for the next installment like the next season of that GOT show! :lol:

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Chris,
Link to the Blazer page is now in my signature. I don't have a recent photo up though.

Well I do hope the rear flip retains good load capacity. I flipped the 56" springs on the Seahorse and its nice and soft with lots of travel, but I don' think it would handle a heavy load as well as the 4" lift springs on the pickup now.

The other reason I haven't gone with 52s up front is that it is notoriously difficult to put a sway bar up front with crossover and high-steer setup on the front axle. However I pulled one form the junkyard last weekend that I think might work.

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Love the colour of this rig and the 60-66 models in general.
What hitch did you use for the front of this? Realize this was 3 years ago but always reading and always picking up good info.

All the best and would love any info you could pass on.

Cheers,

Re: 66 4x4 my sons new project
 

Strider,
Thanks for the compliment. I built the front hitch myself. If you want any dimensions or specs let me know.

Jason