Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Build thread on the 4x4 might be slow coming. I'm kind of in a funk about it. I knew the engine had a dead hole when I bought it and would need addressing ASAP.

Here's a couple of teaser pics.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...4a837f8ef4.jpg

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...46bc7a0e40.jpg

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...264318b435.jpg

That my friends is a burnt exhaust valve. Textbook example there. The valve seat in the head has a ton of tiny cracks in it too. Head is junk.

The previous owner told me that he towed a 30 foot boat from Florida to Texas with this truck. 70 miles per hour the entire way. 4.10 gears and no overdrive. That's quite a beating for a tired old small block.

I am currently sweeping the shop floor to see if I can round up enough parts to assemble an engine. A crate engine is out for financial reasons. I do have a roller cam vortec short block to work with. Maybe I can find some decent builder TBI heads. I'll see what I can round up. It's looking doable.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Looking forward to seeing you piece something together. I dig low buck.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Pick and Pull! Do not be disheartened. It'll be cool.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

I agree with the donkeys being protective. We have a mammoth and a mini....both are very protective of the other livestock.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

It took me a few hours but I read through this entire thread and I must say it is incredible! You sir do excellent work and have alot of patience. I really enjoyed viewing this thread and seeing the photos, especially the restored 14 bolt rear end :jdp:

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Thanks for all the kind words from everyone.

I've had a couple of members reach out to me via PM offering some engine parts for my 4x4 project. It looks like between that and the parts I have now, I can likely put together a nice little roller cam Vortec short block with some TBI heads. Looks like a new project is underway and I will have to drag up enough stuff to start a thread. I'll do it in the 4x4 section.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Looking forward to it!

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Count me in on your next build too,cant wait .

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Wow! I missed your last few updates digging into the 4x4, just caught myself up. I am sorry to see what you have found. If there is anything I can keep my eyes open for on my local CL or in my wrecking yard of preference, I would be happy to do so. I knew where a set of low mile reman Vortec heads were, would need a GMPP 12496821 (or equivalent) to fall out of the sky though.

I am checking the 4x4 Build section daily, ;) looking forward to your new thread as well.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Truly inspiring man. I love the attention to detail, and the fact that you take the time to impart some knowledge for those of us who want o know more. Keep it up!

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Whew! 38 pages is a lot of reading kevin. But enjoyable all the way through. As several have said your build threads are entertaining as well as informative. I'm glad to see you didn't scrap the 78 stepper. I have a soft spot for them as I had a 78 step myself for about 12 yrs. The deal with the stepson and the 89, well it just sucks is all I can say. It seems those close to you will abuse you over a deal quicker than a stranger. I hope he turns out to be a better man.
The dually has come a long way. It should tow/haul anything you need it to and be a good runner for a long time to come.
The 4wd is a good project too. We are all waiting to see your work on that one.
With all that you do jobwise and the animals and acreage at home, cycle restorations and personal truck projects, when do you find time to sleep? Brother I could not keep up with you. I wish I had your energy.
You have good fab skills. I can only imagine what you would turn out with a CNC machine.
And how's the finger? ;)

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

I'm tired. Too many irons in the fire. There's three trucks on my property now, the dually, the stepside, and my 4x4. That's it. These are my last trucks. I've lost track of how many there have been over the years, but this is it.

I did do a build thread on the stepside this morning. The link is in my signature. It's not much of an ongoing deal really. The stepside is reliable and that's about as far as I'm gonna take it right now. The 4x4 takes next precedence.

The finger is pretty well. When the fingernail fell completely off, the new replacement grew in pretty damn fast. Much faster than your normal nails grow. It's at least 80 percent grown in now. Pain free.

I'll start a build thread on the 4x4 soon.

I just got back from Oklahoma yesterday where I picked up a pair of good used TBI heads from another board member on here. Definitely one of the nicest board members I've met. I'm up to my neck in building the engine for the 4x4 now. So far, it's a roller cam 4 bolt 350. I'm doing it stupid cheap. Like, doing my own block prep and cam bearing install and collecting good used parts from three different engines to have enough. I'm up to 240 dollars invested in it so far.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

It took me three days of reading in my spare time to cover the whole thread. I thoroughly enjoyed it. You do quality work.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Man, I feel like I owe you an apology for taking up your spare time. I need to start making shorter threads.

I'm Spending every spare second I have building an engine for my 4 wheel drive right now. I guess that will be my next thread that I start.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

No need to make shorter threads. I think the level of detail and insight you provide in your projects is top notch. For those of us that are have a smaller budget to work with, your tips and techniques make alot of sense.

I thought I had a good handle on alot of the things I have done to these trucks, but your info has made me rethink a few things and given me solutions for others

Please continue to provide the same level of threads you have in the past!:metal:

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Agreed.... It's not a waste of time. It's an investment ;) .

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

They are very protective, we have always had one in the fields with our cattle, I even once witnessed it stomp a young rottweiler to death before I could intervene. The dog had no collar, though it is odd to think of a rotty being a stray.

Though it seems if you have multiple donkeys together they lose their protective instinct/aggressiveness towards dogs. Our little Aussie had a healthy fear of the single donkey in our cattle field, but our neighbors that raise donkeys, he has been known to herd the donkeys into circles and run them towards the barn. Not bad for a little 20lb runt of an Aussie.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

This. X10.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

I think they are great, prefect for reading on a rainy day or a cold winters night by the fire. :thumbs:

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Y'all will shake your heads when you see some of the stuff I'm doing on the 4x4 engine. I decided I wanted to build a low budget engine using parts from three different engines ...so far. By selecting good used parts, I've been able to gather up parts good enough to not need any outside machine work. Other than buying a 30 dollar cam bearing installation tool, everything I have used is either common tools that most guys have or that you can borrow from the parts store. I've been very hesitant to show too much because I don't want to answer to hecklers. As soon as I get the engine assembled I'll start that thread though.

Right now my pistons are in the cleaning vat. If you soak used pistons in diesel for 24 hours they come out clean and carbon free.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...b0f5205a65.jpg

And I've been touching up the face of my cylinder heads with the Hillbilly milling machine.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...745d4646d2.jpg

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...93b95cf28d.jpg

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

It's been a few years since I've done a motor on the cheap with used parts. When I was racing stock cars on dirt tracks we used to get pretty creative as to what was "within acceptable limits". Those motors may have been a little on the loose side, but they ran like scalded cats. I'm looking forward to that thread. Thanks Kevin!

Jeff

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Twenty years ago I basically swept the floor to collect pieces and put together a 350 engine for a truck I had. I even salvaged a similar matching piston out of a second engine to complete the set. I also used a used Erson camshaft with new lifters on it. New timing chain, bearings, and rings. A set of heads off a different engine. Lapped the valves by hand, new valve seals. I used a high volume pump to boost the oil pressure for any wear on the crankshaft and used cam bearings, just in case.

To this day, my buddy still drives that same truck with the same engine. The cylinder bores were about 5 thousandths loose when I put it together. He says its started to burn a little oil lately, but it went many a year and many a mile before it started doing that.

I've gotten more realistic over the years about the grey area between perfect and unacceptable. There's a lot of judgement in between the two. Like you pointed out, a liberal interpretation of what is "good" can still produce an engine that does the job very well.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

I was thinking about that this past week, people used to re-ring an engine and keep going. Now people want to throw away the pistons if they tear it down.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

I am very much looking forward to the 4x4 build. (I keep checking the 4x4 build section almost daily.:o) Dumb question, but will you copy/paste/repeat the things in this thread into the new one? :)

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

I will include everything in my thread over there.

If I started it today, It would go like this.....

I bought this truck (insert a dozen pictures)

Then I tore the engine apart to rebuild it (insert another few dozen pictures of engine pieces)

Then nothing but the sound of crickets chirping while I await further engine parts to arrive.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Jeez man, your pretty much a bad a-- ...plain and simple!

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

:c2: (how do we not have a general thumbs-up smiley...?)

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

I drove past the local fire station yesterday, and lo and behold,what was sitting out front but a white current gen dodge (whatever the years are) with a fancy barb wire pinstripe 4x4 sticker that looked nearly identical to what was on your 89 when you bought it. I, of course, immediately thought of this thread lol.

\hijack

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

[QUOTE=Tx Firefighter;6611612]I decided I wanted to build a low budget engine using parts from three different engines ...so far.

You, building a low budget anything?? I am amazed..lol

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

[quote=Sodell;6627854]Do I seem like a man of means to you ? I've spent less money on this entire truck project since I started building it 17 months ago than other guys spend at Porterbuilt on their front suspension.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

[quote=Tx Firefighter;6627869]but your finished product looks expensive. maybe not a high dollar budget, but the budget on time, organization and doing it right, is through the roof!

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

[quote=Tx Firefighter;6627869]What are you talking bout, firefighters make bank! Sarcasm doesn't translate well on the computer....I have followed this build, and I think we are like minded, I do things myself if possible, I don't use credit, and I buy the best parts I can afford..looking forward to your 4x4 build.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Awesome thread, I have read the whole thing through once, and gone back to see different parts a few times, like now, ha. I have a question for you about the 14 bolt. I have one that i am going to put under my 66 C20 (you answered my question about the noob with a torch thread). Got the perches cut off and started looking at the brakes and figuring out what need to be replaced. Stuff all looks new, but one drum is beyond help due to a PO runnning the shoes until there was nothing there and they have 2 DEEP gouges.
Anyway, the question is, do you have to use a press to get the studs out and then back in? Or can they be hammered in somehow? Gonna get new drums locally, Rock Auto can beat the price until you throw in the shipping on those monsters. While I am in there, just gonna replace almost everything, it is really cheap and easy while it's on jackstands in the garage. Also, saw the Speedisleeve thing you used on page 14 of this thread and one side needs that as well.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Earl, I can't give you a straight answer on whether you'll need to press the studs or not.

I did, but there were two factors in play in my case that likely won't be in your case. First, I had my lug studs replated. I'm sure that added somewhat to their outside dimension. Second, when I powdercoated the hubs, I purposely let the powder overspray into the holes. I could have plugged the holes to keep the powder out, but I like to fog a little in there. That way if any of the holes were oversized a bit from past stud removal and replacement, the fit would be a bit tighter.

In your case, drop the drum and hub together and start the studs into their holes. Then work at them with a drift and a significant hammer. Go round and round, here and there, don't try to do them one at a time. A little on this one then skip over and whack a little on that one. Worst case, you'll get them mostly into the holes and have to press them the last little bit to get them down all the way.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Great advice, thank you.

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

Hammer & punch weren't enough on mine w/o additional force. I wound up having to cinch them down w/the lug nuts & a spacer (w/a liberal coating of anti-seize).

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

I had to remove some nuisance trees around the property so I thought it might be fun to use a big block rather than a chainsaw and shovel. Sure enough, drop it in low and take it up to about 2k RPM, and when you hit the end of the chain....doik...tree comes up and out of the ground.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...842ece2257.jpg

My little border collie loves these adventures. She just runs and jumps into the air yipping and flipping and rolling. What a crack head.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...88f070abc0.jpg

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

That sounded like fun ,man I like that truck . I have got to get back to my 1 ton ,still no funds though .

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

I forgot to post this picture. The previous owner included a pair of side boards when I bought the truck. I don't often run them since they don't look that great to me, but they came in handy today for loads of smaller branches. They're good quality aluminum and steel all riveted together.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...acb0145283.jpg

Re: The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build
 

I guess the truck was once blue.

Those alcoas still look great! Did you powdercoat them clear to keep them looking good?