Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

So here is how my trans cooler is currently sitting in front of the condenser and behind the grille.

Hope it shows up but I have about a 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch from grille and it sits about an inch in front of condenser. Still partially held in place by plastic zip ties but those will be changed out to bolts.

Pretty tight fit but I really wanted it to sit up front for maximum cooling without a fan required and upon the high recommendation from my transmission guy after I told him that I am not running the transmission cooling through the radiator. This seemed to keep him happy, regarding the upcoming warrantee of the transmission.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

So I am getting ready to put my cab back on the frame one more time! This time in order to confirm distributor room near firewall and plan a small firewall modification suggested and shown by Ogre.

This is to allow for room of the distributor module as found on the 350 Ramjet motor I am planning on getting.

Here are pictures of the floorboards and inner fenders which got primer and undercoated at the same time.The bond that you see on the floor boards is a fibreglass reinforced bondo put on over any welding I had to do. The rubberized undercoating is from Eastwood. You can see the epoxy primer on the engine side of one of the inner fender photos and the same undercoating on the wheel side.

I am pretty happy with the undercoating except the economy gun I purchased with the quart cans of primer did not work at all for me. I emailed Eastwood and they knew of the problem and are issuing me a credit right away. Luckily I had purchased enough of the undercoating in aerosol cans to do the vast majority of the job. The engine side of the inner fenders is getting Eastwood underhood paint, I think it is called!

Going to let this stuff sit for a few days then when one of my sons is on days off we will put it back on.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Well its been hard to get much done lately with lots of snow everyday that requires tractor to clear and visiting kids wanting old snowmobiles going. Too cold yet to ride them much but it is suppose to warm up in a day or two. probably more snow on the ground than we have had for years.

I have been trying to get a few things sorted out before we go to Arizona for a few months to escape winter. That way when I am down there I will know what parts I need to bring back.

Still planning on 350 Ramjet and 700r4 transmission in the spring.

These photos show lots of little things nearly complete including the firewall bulkhead connector for the air conditioning/heating, the transmission cooler placement, the dual spall fan ongoing fitting, my master brake booster and lines hanging and the distance I have between firewall and current mockup distributor!

Many of these things were worked out with considerable help from our forum members. Thanks for all the continuing help. Would be much harder to make these small gains without you all.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Not too sure of my attached pictures are working. Its been snowing pretty steady blocking my satellite internet from functioning properly, the kids have used up my monthly bandwidth and i might have used the wrong camera!!!

Ill check back in a day or two when the sky clears and the new monthly internet bandwidth starts over.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Looks like my pictures finally loaded and they look bad!!!

I will try to re-shoot them before I head south this Friday.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Hey 56,
Sorry if I missed it, but why the 2 holes either side in your grill fill panels?

Cheers, Jim

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

I am hoping to make some sort of fresh air intake system. After researching it some more I am probably going to only use the one on the right/passenger side.

Will also require a similar hole cut in the inner fender to get it into engine compartment.

I have not quit figured it all out yet as I just got it put back together and I am really going to need the Ram Jet engine installed to finalize it.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Well I have been fairly busy since getting back home from the sunny south. As noted in the general forum I picked up my new GM Ramjet 350 and now have it painted Chevy orange but I now also have the rebuilt 700R4 transmission. They painted it but it was a crappy paint job so I now have it sanded and ready for another coat of paint.

I have also finished the radiator, AC condenser and trans cooler mounting and have it installed in the truck. I will have to remove it at least one more time but it feels good to have it basically done.

I am hooking up the fuel lines and about to install a 10 micron in-line fuel filter.

Lots of things are coming together which feels real good but still lots left.

I think I have a guy to weld the bottoms of the doors up and will be taking the cab and doors to him later this month. He's about 1/2 the price of a body shop and will let me help so I am sure I will learn something. I did try to weld the bottom of one up but it warped like crazy.

I will also be dropping by a couple of body shops to get a quote on painting the truck.

Once I get a quote then it comes home to be removed from the frame for one more time. The cab will then go in to get the firewall and dash painted and in the meantime I will be installing the new motor and transmission. The cab will then come back and I can put it back on for the very last time and start the wiring.

Things are finally starting to come together!!!

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Well I have been pretty busy getting things done on my build!

After a bit of trouble getting the proper torque converter for the 700R4 I got the engine and tranny married and installed in the frame. I then just had to install the Tri-Y headers and they seem to fit great.

I have also pretty much completed the core support with radiator and trans and air conditioning condenser and spall fans.

This really was the first time it was all (i.e. Ram Jet engine in frame with core support and fans, etc...) fitted together and after all the hard calculations and planning it seems like I have just enough clearance between my Vintage Air Front Runner system and the dual fans. I have about 1/4 inch!!!

Not sure if it was good luck or good planning. Of course I still don't have the cab back on with the inner fenders which will really tell the tale. It does look like I will be okay though.

The last photo is the cab loaded on a trailer going into Lethbridge to get the lower door skins replaced along with other things done before it goes to the body shop.

I found a great "metal guy" in the city who after working with him on and off for about 2 weeks am really impressed with his skills. He will get more of my work and I highly recommend him. More on him later!

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

After almost finishing the cab and getting it ready to go to the body shop I took some pictures. I fully realize now I should have taken a few "in progress" shots but we were so busy and I was so hyped to have a guy who was taking my project to the next level in my opinion.

His technique to weld on the lower due skins was amazing and I learned a lot. I can post again on his technique if any one is interested. It is a bit of everything I have read with his own twists. There was minimal warpage or tin-canning and required minimal planishing. It looks really good in person.

The door gaps that we could work on turned out really good. Not sure if you can tell from the pictures.

I had earlier tried to weld on one of the lower door skins and it warped really bad so I had to cut it off! Much harder than cab corners, lower steps, rockers and even the lower hinge pockets that I had done earlier.

I also had welded in a patch over the fuel filler hole but asked for him to do it over. It took him about 2 hours to re-do the gas filler patch and it was the best $100.00 I have spent on the truck!!!

We also built a custom lower dash extension. I plan on cutting 4 rectangular holes in it for my air conditioning vents and installing a transmission temp gauge and clock into it. I really did not want to cut any holes in my virgin dash. This was not all that hard for this guy but it did get a little tricky making sure the glove box door opened and that the Vintage Air condenser fit under the dash. Luckily he had a few more tricks up his sleeves and we got it all to fit.

The plan is to take the cab into a body shop I have been in contact with and have them prime it all using what little bondo they will need and it won't be much and paint the firewall and dash. I can then install the cab on the frame and get it running in order to get it back to the body shop.

I have also brought him the front fenders to work his magic on while I work on the box and rear fenders a bit more at home. No rust in front or rear fenders or the box but a few dents that he can massage out. He may also get the rear fenders but they really don't need much work. Not major anyway.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Looking real nice.
Kim

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Hey thanks Kim.

I finally feel like I am getting somewhere.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Just found your build thread and went through it. You're doing a really nice job! I've got a '59 lined up as my next project and have been considering a squarebody C10 chassis so its nice to find similar builds in progress.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Hey thanks Rick. Its been a long haul and now I am putting together a spreadsheet on all my expenses!!!

I did not go the cheap way as I had with all my other builds over the years.

This one is for me to keep and I am only going to do it this way once so it is what it is! Its still going to hurt though... next build back to donor vehicle(s) and used parts. I'm on a small ranch in the country so I have room to park stuff.

With that said this truck should be a really nice driver and I plan on driving it.

Always wanted to cruise the West Coast Highway and this one might be the vehicle to do it in. It would be fun to hit as many car shows and Friday night parking lot get-togethers as we can on the way.

I used the C10 chassis because it was close, cheap and already stripped. My original frame was bent a bit. I think I payed $500.00 for it. I have seen them go a lot cheaper with the body on.

It looks like Ridetech, at least I think its them, came out with several suspension options for the square bodies. Looks like really nice stuff. Anything you want to make it ride and drive like a fancy car. Air bags, adjustable coil overs, 4-link whatever you want!!!

There is also a place on line that sells a kit to mount the Task Force bodies an a square body frame. Cant remember who it is right now but it was about $700 or $800. If you can fabricate then you don't need it but it looks like a pretty good option for some.

However if you have a good original frame there is probably just as much, if not more, aftermarket parts available. I don't regret what I did but am not sure if I would do it again.

My cab is now at the body shop to get dash and firewall painted and rest in primer then I get it back. Hope to put all body on frame, get it running and back to body shop before I go down to Arizona around Christmas. Then it should be done in body shop when I get back up here in March/April.

Anyway thanks again for the nice words. Just holler if you have any questions.

Barry

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

That is a nice build you have going there. Keep up the good work!

-Joe

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

I have been busy especially now that yard work has dropped off. My wife and I had a lot outside projects planned and completed around the place this year.

The major components are on the frame and I am waiting for the cab to come back from the body shop.

I had to sand off a couple of places on the frame and am impressed with the Eastwood primer and chassis paint. It was a bear to get a good ground.

Anyway here are some pictures of the frame and driveline. Not sure about final routing of tailpipes but have lots of time to think about that. Might leave them the way they are!

I built the exhaust from the headers back and for the most part am pretty happy. Its not perfect as I had some challenges as the headers did not both aim straight back. So both sides are not symmetrical! I bought the x pipe with a few other pieces and another exhaust kit - all aluminized pipe that welds really nice.

Also I am still working on the cold air intake system. I am installing the IAT out on the end of the intake tube. After looking at welding in an aluminum bung or rather finding someone to weld it in I have decided to try setting the IAT sensor in a rubber grommet and then drilling a hole in the aluminum intake tube. I will actually drill the hole, insert the grommet and them the IAT sensor!

It should be a lot less work and something I can do myself. My research has indicated that this should work! Many IAT sensors are actually in rubber grommets inserted into plastic air intake tubes.

The driver shaft in the pictures is one I had laying around. I was shocked when it fit but I only have chevy truck stuff laying around the place. It is actually between a half and three-quarters of an inch too short but after researching it a ton I think I will be okay. I wonder once I start dropping the cab and body back on if the will be even less of a difference. I am thinking the weight of the body will drop the suspension some and push the yoke in even farther! Not sure if this makes sense!!!

Have not started any wiring yet but that will start once the cab is placed back on the frame for the last time! I have the AAW classic update wiring harness waiting in the wings!

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

I just got the call that I can go in to the body shop and pick up my cab.

Boy am I excited now!!!

The original plan was to only paint the dash and firewall and give it back to me to put on the frame and hook everything up and then get it all back to them running before I go south for the winter in January.

I was surprised when the body shop owner texted me pictures with what looks like the whole cab painted. In actuality the dash and firewall have two coats and everything else has only one coat. He said it would seal up the high build primer that is overtop the epoxy primer.

I was surprised when I noticed one of my firewall holes to mount the Vintage Air evaporator was filled in! They left the top one but filled in the bottom one! I will have to re-drill it but am pretty sure I will be putting a few other holes in the firewall as well. At least it will be going back to them for final paint and I will just bet you to fix up a couple of my "screw-ups."

Made sense to me but I am going to have be more careful. Going to buy many rolls of masking tape before I start crawling all over it.

So the colour is close to the original blue/green and is actually very close to seafoam green in the sample colour book they showed me. They shot me some colour on a can a few days ago and I really like it.

Now the fun begins as I have been collecting all the parts - I know I will need more - for the last few years!

I am pretty sure I will have some questions especially regarding the linkages for the engine and transmission!

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Wow, that looks like it covered really well for one coat - looks great!

The crimpers that AAW sells work really well for securing terminals when you start in on wiring. I tried some generic crimpers first that just weren't getting the job done.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Cab looks beautiful.
Kim

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Thanks so much for the compliments. I guess I should change my handle to 56hotrodblue!!! My first inclination was to paint it red but decided against it.

That is good to hear about the crimpers because I bought a set of their crimpers when I got the wiring harness.

I am getting ready to go pick up the cab now and will no doubt be down in the shop till late tonight. I have one of my sons around so with his help and my tractor we should be able to get the cab sitting on the frame today.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

thats cool,nice to see more than less done when you get it back. the color looks good.
are you going back to stock driveline, suspension etc?
I am in calgary n.w. I have a few parts for the 57-58 series. let me know if you need something specific. no body parts really except doors but if you need some little interior part or something. I'm not going stock interior or underside so i have a few extras.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

This one is a Restomod with a 350 ramjet engine and 700r4 transmission. Its also sitting on a shortened 1980 C10 frame.

Thanks so much for your offer. At this point I think I have most everything but you never know.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

It has been a big day and I am now beat!

Went to Coaldale, a town about an hour away, to get my cab and then got it home and with the help of my wife and one of my sons and a tractor got the cab on the frame without even a scratch.

No small miracle as my tolerances are tight. As you will see in one of the attached pictures the trans dipstick tube has about 3/8 ths of an inch with the electrical plugs on the distributor about an inch of clearance.

I am going to pull out the wiring harness first thing tomorrow and see how hard it is going to be to install it. I hear I can index the distributor and get those plugs pointed to the passenger side or worst case scenario I can slide my motor forward a bit. I installed some Dirty Dingo sliding motor mounts to move the engine back for clearance upfront but have a bit to spare I think.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

looks great!

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

That looks really nice. Well, done job this far!!

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

are you gonna have room for the distributor plug in?

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Yes, you can move that distributor. Mine points to the Drivers side and clears just find. Hardest parts was pluging in the oil pressure sensor under the distributor.

Looking nice. :devil:

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Thanks for the kind words. So far I am pretty happy with the way it is turning out.

I was looking at that oil pressure sensor plugged hole under the distributor but do not have to use it. My Autolite oil pressure gauge does not use that hole. It uses one of the holes down by the oil filter. Way easier as I already have the sending unit installed.

I plan on indexing my distributor to point towards the passenger side but have not quit figured that out yet!!!

Right now I am also trying to figure out my AC and heater lines. I think I have all the lines in the engine compartment side figured out but its a different story in the cab side! I have installed a custom bulkhead fitting and am trying to figure out how to get from the evaporator to the bulkhead. Its tight but I think I am on the right track. I may have questions if I can't get it!

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

I really love that color! Mine was originally that color or close to it many, many years ago, then some previous owner painted it white. Once everything else is done, I'm going back to the original color, with a white roof.

Yours is really looking nice!

-Joe

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Hey thanks.

The more I am around it the more I like it. It looks different in the sun, much nicer actually. The lights in the shop do not do it justice.

I am working out a lot of little things like AC hoses, starting the wiring, building in behind the seats so I can put my engine wiring harness and computer back there and much more.

By the way I really did not like the wiring harness that came with the 350 Ramjet engine. It took me a while to get it laid in and then I had only one place to mount the ECM and it just did not look right. Many have been splitting the wiring harness and extending the wires to the ECM but I am going to get a whole new engine wiring harness system from Ron Frances Wiring that will give me multiple options.

Making another order tomorrow.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Ron Francis makes a top quality product in my opinion. I bought a harness kit from them about 20 years ago. It was very easy to install and the quality of the wire used is much better than Painless. Their support is excellent and it is easy to upgrade. If you haven’t used them before, you will be impressed.

-Joe

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

The Ron Frances 350 Ramjet wiring harness looks like a good system. The harness that came with the Ramjet was disappointing to say the least.

I am only using the Ron Frances for the engine wiring harness as I already have an AAW custom upgrade truck wiring harness. It also looks like a good system.

I should have some more pictures soon as I am working on lots of little things and everything is laying all over the place. Looks like a bomb went off in the shop right now!!! But stuffs getting done!

Had to make another order to Summit for a bunch of little AC & heater fittings and other things. Thats when I ordered the Ron Frances harness. Lucky for me they have one in the works so I might get it sooner than later. One thing about Ron Frances I don't like is their long order processing. It can take 2 weeks to get stuff. But I guess Summit is spoiling me.

As said more photos soon.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Lots getting done although shop still looks like a bomb went off. Heres a few more photos that I took a few days ago of whats happening. I have come a long ways since these were taken and will take more photos today.

You can see the lower dash extension we built and I now have it marked out in order to cut the A/C vents and a couple of gauges like the transmission temp gauge and a clock to maintain balance. The far right A/C hole is going to be tough to get to because the Vintage Air evaporator is right there but I think I can build a little box behind the A/C hole with a way to attach the ducting. I did not want to cut holes into my virgin dash.

The Ron Francis Ramjet engine wiring harness arrived on Saturday and I am well into its installation. Looks like a nice system! I have included a picture of the wood I have attached behind the seat in order to attach it. Lots of wires getting run and at this point I hope I made the hole big enough to get them all through. You can see the hole in the floor behind the seat where the wires will come up and I have outlined the spot with pencil where I will mount the Ron Francis system and my ECM.

Also started to run A/C lines in both engine compartment and under dash. Nothing is crimped yet and the lines under dash are a real pain. Not much room and some of the hoses will be seen although they will not be as visible as they are in the photo. I can still shorten them up a bit.

I am having a hard time figuring where to put the auxiliary positive and negative wiring junction blocks and want to keep them close to the battery that is on the frame under the passengers feet. They are currently wire tired to the inner fender as you can see in the picture.

By the way the inner fender is still in gray primer while I keep drilling holes to mount things!

I also got my electric wiper motor and arms so it has to go in real soon before that real estate gets filled up.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Got several more things moving along tonight.

I ran the AAW rear frame/body (i. tail lights, license plate light, brake lights turn signals, etc.) wiring along with the fuel gauge sender and fuel pump wires out to the back and have them sitting on the fuel tank.

I still do not have the main fuse panel and that wiring started yet because I want to install the windshield wiper motor and arms. I also picked that up last time.

You can now also see most of the Ron Francis engine management wiring harness taking shape behind the seat.

And finally a good portion of the engine wiring including the injector wiring.

I think most of the wiring is turning out pretty nice! Sure nicer than the original Ramjet "octopus" I had previously installed.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Very nice work! If you do not have a fuse panel, then what is the big silver box mounted on the wall in, what i will call photo #2?

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Hey thanks.

Yes there are 8 fuses in the Ron francis Ramjet Fuel Injection System but they are designed to protect the right and left injectors, ignition coil/feed, fuel pump relay, ECM and the likes.

The American Autowire fuse panel provides the remaining bumper to bumper wiring and protects everything else in the truck.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

Things are moving slowly on my build as I am now fully engulfed into the wiring. Slow going but I now have the AAW fuse panel in and am starting to hook up individual circuits.

The wiring under the cab is secured and covered with braided loom and cable clamps. That alone took the better part of a full day!

In the 2 photos you can again see the Ron Francis Ramjet wiring in the cab behind the seat, still not hooked up to main control unit as I am waiting for some individual wire clamps/tie-downs to fasten them down and keep things neat back there!

You can also see the beginning of the AAW install with as much Dynamat on the firewall as I could stick down.

I am leaving a fair bit of slack in the wiring to the dash so in the future I can take it out and basically set it on my lap, when I have a seat in, to look on or work on things. It looks like I have room under the dash for the extra wiring that is a result of this slack.

So far I am happy with how far the Dynamat has gone. I know its expensive but I have about $200.00 invested in it so far and that has covered the firewall and the roof. I will need more to do the floor and will have to talk to the body shop, as they still have my doors, about making sure the insides of the doors get something also. I can't believe how it took the tin can sound out of the roof!

I am running into a few issues that I don't know how to deal with yet!

For one I see that I have a wire identified to go to the electric choke! I don't have an electric choke with the Ramjet 350!

Do I just eliminate that wire? Do I totally remove it?

I am also trying to figure out the electronic speedometer! Not sure at all what needs to be done there!

Might have to email AAW and/or Ron Francis to see how that goes.

I am sure there will be more questions for both companies.

Sometimes the answer(s) presents itself as you move to the next step or otherwise look ahead at the instructions.

One example of that that made me feels stupid is that when I was running Ron Francis wires in the engine compartment I installed a wire to each the water temp and oil pressure gauges but low and behold those wires are included in the AAW classic update kit. I had to look ahead a step or two in the instructions when all of a sudden I had 2 sets of wires for each of them. Kind of a duh moment.

I am sure there will be more as electrical stuff has always mystified me!!!

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

What gas tank are you using. Looks killer!

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

That gas tank is a 20 gallon tank from No Limit. Its fits nice in the 1980 frame but I did have to move a couple of things around, like the rear brake line mount and I had to move the rear crossmember back.

One of the things I like the best about this tank and the way it mounts is that it sits up higher than most. Looking straight on the back, with the rear bumper on, you can just barely see it. That was important to me to get it up as high as possible.

Re: 56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures
 

what a great color!