Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Since Nate also asked concerning my "disappointment" with the ride quality, to avoid further confusion or misunderstanding, let me say that the ride quality is not a disappointment at all. The truck does not ride poorly. It is a vast improvement over stock, both in the stiffening of the chassis via the beefed up components, and the allowance of greater clearance at a much lower ride height. The ride of the bags feels very good. I was simply imagining a "sports car" like corner carving, but we have to remember that I hadn't just magically sat in a Porsche, I hadn't driven the truck in 9 months, I stupidly decided to run the power rack manually since I am running the I6 and couldn't find power steering brackets, and my throttle cable via the 71/72 pedal rod to cable swap was sticking dangerously. So my expectations may have been slightly off. That said I definitely recommend Porterbuilt as the kit was very nicely done and Nate, and Dave were great to deal with. Thanks!

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Do you think you would have been happier with the Porterbuilt coil over set-up?

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Need pictures!!!!

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

I'm not sure. That wasn't really my intention when building this one. I previously had a fleetside with a 4.5/6" drop, and I just kept seeing all these bagged trucks and thinking how great it looked. I'd look at the fleet with it's new "drop" and think "Hmm, that's really not very low at all, is it."

I had read someone respond in their build when asked how they liked the PB setup, and they remarked that it rode like a sports car, and I thought "Oooh!". The guy who narrowed my rear also builds chassis for race cars, and the truck was back at his place for something and he remarked how he liked how it was put together, and when I mentioned the person's sports car comment he was like "Um, no. It's gonna drive like an old truck." There are some winding roads around here that are fun to hit a little hard on the bike, or even in my "regular" car, that will make you say "WooHoo!!". I took one on the way home from the shop in the truck and I was like "AaaahhHHH!" :lol: I may have peed a little. Seriously though, I AM happy with their kit, and I do like the lowered, tucking stance more than I'm concerned with attempting to build a truck appropriate for autocross, but it certainly wouldn't hurt if there are some things we could do to our trucks for those times we'd like to have some fun in the esses. Another member commented about my alignment and suggested reading the "Make it handle" thread, of which I have read some. Maybe I'll alter the more straightforward alignment numbers I got. Hey, I only drove the thing once so far.

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

I took a bunch. I just never made a build thread. I'll have to post some.

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

I believe that some of your un-sport car ride might be due to the in-board mounted rear bags. The further the bags are apart the better the ride (IMO). I drove my PB truck 3-4 inches off the ground with the pedal to the floor. I have giving a few board members rides that can attest to this....ask stp67-72about the ride I gave him in Columbus ;) I still can hear him screaming!

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Yeah, I had no choice but to run them inboard with the stepside.
If only I lived closer to Texas! That's where most of the trucks I like seem to be coming from!

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Since Rochlow wanted some more pics. I'll take some better outside when it finally stops raining.

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Awesome!!!! Thank you, sir for the motivational pictures.. If I knew I didn't have a couple months of overtime ahead me, I'd print these pics and post them on my garage wall.

Oh and BTW.. If you think about getting rid of those wheels, let me know.

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

I know I've said it already mr james but your a tease lol, where's a shot of the whole truck? I know its tight down there in the city but come on lol
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Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Oh, come on now. The truck looks cool lowered, but it's just a rusty mess. Not really worthy of anyone's garage wall. Thank you though.
The wheels will have to stay for the time being since I have no money left after this leg of the project! 20/22's will have to be off in the future a bit!

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Tom, when did you become vulcan-something? I never noticed that. I don't mean to bore you, since you saw these pics already, but if you imagine #4 and #5 together it's like a shot of the whole truck. I only got those first two in between the house and the neighbor's chain link (that he loves) when I finally got it home last week. Seems like it's been raining since.

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Aint nutin wrong with a rusty mess.. Basically, I tell everyone I'm trying to make chicken salad outta chicken s*#t..

Basically, your truck is really similar to mine, except mine is a fleet.

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Thanks John. You had a stepside though, didn't you? Or a step bed for the truck you're working on now? I can't remember, although I had looked at your build.

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

No. Always had a fleet. The stepsides are really starting to grow on me now though.

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Dammit. Now I want a 67-72 stepside. Nice truck!

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

#TeamStepside!

You guys know that you want one! Fleetsides are nice, but there is something sexy about nice lips stuffed into a step bed.

James, I have not driven my truck in a few weeks, but I did not build it to be a corner carver, but it does move around in a manner that I am pleased in in corners and such. Now that I am going to have a T56 and the 6.0L, handling will be something interesting....in a good way. Maybe shocks can help out (firmer/adjustable ones)

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Did you say you have a power rack,... but no p/s pump?
Would you be better off running a manual rack?

I would keep it power and add a set of these brackets:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/194-215-230-...sories&vxp=mtr

You will like driving your truck so much more with power steering.

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Thanks!

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

#TeamStepside!!
Nate mentioned different shocks and a rear swaybar recently. We'll see. Since I only drove it one time so far I'll wait until I have a better feel for it. Haven't driven it again because I've got to fix my sticky throttle cable--I was going to put the rod back on, but I bought a Lokar cable--and fix the leak that's got the truck laying out in a day (ordered check valves).

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Yes, I have the power rack run manually because I couldn't find brackets. Thanks for that link, btw!! Nate had even given me the name of Alan Grove, but he had nothing, so I ran it manually. I called Unisteer and they told me it's been done, but the teeth on a manual rack are deeper and engage better. Trying to muscle the truck around definitely makes for a less enjoyable and responsive feeling truck.
I have also been thinking of keeping the EGR(?) pump on it since you never see those left on, and having someone fab brackets to keep the PS pump in between that and the alternator, which I also need to upgrade since it's only a 65amp. I'm guessing a CS130 at 100 amps could be the ticket for the two compressors. I have no radio, AC, electric fans...

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Leon, those ARE nice lips, aren't they? :lol: Although I've seen nicer...

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

The right accessories make all the difference.

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

LOVE the PBR box!!!!

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

I know, right?! I was looking for a beat up rusty box I could actually store some stuff in and throw some pinstripes on, but this caught my eye in a Sanford & Son-like junk shop I passed one day.
I just bought those power steering brackets, btw. Thanks lowlife99!

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Cool deal on the brackets!

What size tire are you using on the rear of your truck!
It looks perfect!

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Yeah, thanks for that!
Rear tires are 295/40/20

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Goodbye EGR pump, hello power steering!

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Looks great man! Can't wait til I put my stock gate back on and hopefully a stock bumper lol.

Rochlow, where in st albans are you located? As I type im getting unloaded at the st albans co op on federal st.
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Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Looking good bro!
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Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Thanks!

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Right around the corner on Pearl Ave. About a minute from the co-op.
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Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Oh nice! Yeah I go there quite a bit. Ya got a nice looking project there. Still trying to figure when nim coming to staten island next.
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Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Well let me know next time your in town. You can stop by and check out the project.
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Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Truck looks great Jim, all you need now is to get your power steering hooked up and put some put some big brakes on there. It will ride alot more like the sports car you want.
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Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Thanks Keith! I've go to fix my sticky throttle too. I did the 71/71 pedal swap and ran a 2wd V8 cable. It's got a short loop in it and is hard as hell to operate. I was going to put the rod assembly back on, but I ordered a Lokar cut-to-fit cable and I'll try that first.
I did put disks in front, but I need to add a booster. It's way too crowded around here for "braking early" to be reliable. I have to figure out what booster to use to have clearance with the stock air cleaner on the I6. I hate the way the offset air cleaner thing looks. Hate it...
Can a booster be mounted directly to the firewall without a bracket unnecessarily pushing it out?

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Thanks James! Looks great! I agree...once you fix those items, you will be impressed.
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Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Lots of custom boosters sold here:
http://www.performanceonline.com/universal-brake-parts/

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Thanks!

Re: PB bagged 69 stepside-because Leon asked...
 

Has anyone actually used one of those PS brackets? I ask because my recent purchase "stella mae" has a PS pump/alt bracket on it that Keith recently added(ps install is not complete) but I throw a serp belt after 10 min of driving as the alt pulley does not line up with the crank and fan pulleys. There is no way to shim it forward 3/8" so I am simply going to need a new bracket. I'd hate to drop the $ on one and have the same issue with the one currently on the truck.(sorry for the hijack, I'll start a thread with pics in the right forum)

Truck looks great! You don't have any extra "Step" stickers around by any chance do you? That is awesome.