Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Thanks for the info, I was just curious why the IRS didn't happen (nosy:lol:). My truck will be putting out MAYBE 400hp so I'm not too worried about the 8.8 I'm putting under it...but I know in the back of my mind I'm thinking about possibly turbo'ing it sometime later. If that happens I wouldn't run too much boost but the numbers could get up to 500hp I imagine.

Just coincidentally I measured my 8.8 yesterday and it is also 61" flange to flange. I am wondering how wide a rear tire I can get under the stock step side without having to tub? I assume 8" rims but maybe 9's?

PS: I love the Dakota HDX gauges too but man, it's pricey as hell. Guess I'll have to see how bad the budget is bleeding when I get to that point. REALLY admire yours though. Nice choice!

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Dan,
I bet you can get a 10-10.5" wide tire if you get the offset just right. Mine are about 13" wide and I was about 1.75" short with the fender tub installed. I will widen them 2".

A big part of my decision to buy HDX gauges was ease of install. With my LS motor they're basically plug and play. It hurt but I think it was worth it in the long run.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Couple fresh pictures. Decided to puts some go fast parts on the engine. Pulled it out to replace the oil pump and while I was there I sent it out to the machine shop for a refresh. All new bearings and rings, bored .030 and installed flat top pistons. Meanwhile I cleaned up and reassembled my L92 heads with comp beehive springs and trunion upgrades. When I got the shortblock back I put together my fist top end. Installed a comp xr275hr cam, high pressure oil pump, the L92 heads, and an LS3 intake.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Here it is going in.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

All plumbed and wired. Added the dual electric cooling fans which work great. Spent about 10 hours extending my efi wiring harness so I could pigtail it off the back of the engine and put all the important stuff inside the cab. Cleaned up the engine compartment a lot.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Here it is a few days later all back together. Had to get it aligned because when I had the motor out I removed the transverse leaf spring and installed some coilovers. Ran good right off the bat but I had to wait about a month to get into my tuner who was really busy. I cruised it around a bit in that time but stayed out of it because I didn't want to hurt anything without knowing what the fuel tables looked like. Ran great.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

A little out of order but here's the work I did while the engine was out. Had to notch the frame a bit more to mount the sway at. Installed the coilovers and painted the frame with por15.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

So I got it back from the tuner just in time to make it to our local Goodguys show. I entered the autocross having never done it before and if you can believe it, I won the truck class. It's literally the most fun I've ever had. I had no idea what to expect but the old truck hauls ass and handles great. Here's a video of one of my runs.

https://youtu.be/t0M46-FjGos

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Congratz on your win in the truck class!!
I can see why :metal:

Truck is looking great!!

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Thanks Kees!

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Very nice work.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

It all looks great!

:uhmk:

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Thanks guys!

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Very Nice Progress.