Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Thanks.........I think.:lol:

If you're brave enough to let me.:lol:

Yeah, progress is progress.:metal:

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Looks like you are making pretty good progress.My project is on hold till things pick up.Keep up the good work.BTY Semper Fi was at Lejune from 90 to 96

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

The name of your truck made me think of good 'ole Patches O'houlihan!

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Thanks. Mine may as well be on hold. I don't get to work on it like I want to sometimes, but I work on it when I can and when money allows.

Who were you stationed with at Lejeune? I started with 2/2 when I got to the fleet, but was transferred to 1/2 about a year and half later and that's who I served with until I got out.

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Good ole Patches. "If you can dodge a wrench you can dodge a ball."

I wonder sometimes if I should've dodged this project.:lol::lol: Nahhhh.:metal:

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

I was there from 92 thru 96.I did a med float with 2/2 in 92 I was stationed with 1/10 most of the time before that I was at New River

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Motor looks great!

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Any updates Shannon ??...Have you gotton around to installing the brake & fuel lines?....if not....GOOD LUCK!

I had and still having an ongoing nightmare with Inline Tube....I did learn quite a bit in the process though....especially about the routing of brake lines w/the later front axle (w/discs)...so if you need any info. just let me know....

Dan

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

It's been a year since this truck was touched!!!!

Dan,

I need that info for the new front axle...

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Dan,

Unfortunately, no new updates at this time to write about.:waah: The brake lines are still sitting in the box they came in from Inline Tube. How sad is that? I may hit you up for advice though when I get around to running my lines on the front. I've been in a funk lately or something. I hurt my back a few weeks ago and I'm slowly getting over that. I did spend a little time in the basement last night, the first time in a good while though, but all I did was straighten up a little. Hopefully, once my back gets to feeling better I can get back to work. I know excuses, excuses.:lol:

Your build is coming right along though.:metal: Keep up the good work.


Mike,

I've been waiting for you to chime in and give me a poke or two about my lack of progress.:lol: I've got to get some motivation somehow and get back to working on it again. I did order some more chassis paint from PMI yesterday. So now I can finish my driveshafts, tie rod/ends, drag link and touch up the frame from when I removed the spare tire crossmember. Hopefully, when that arrives I can get back in the groove, if it's not to cold to paint.:waah:

Your build and Dan's build does give me hope for mine though.:metal: Keep up the good work.

Stay tuned.

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Let's see...where to start.

The past 2-3 months have been hectic at work with the economy and lack of sales coming in to keep production going. My GM and CFO from corporate came down a month ago to inform us that we may be laying off employees if things don't get better. I actually had to give them a tentative list of employees in case we were to start layoffs.:( So I've been bummed about the guys here at work loosing their jobs and also about the risk of me loosing mine. So needless to say I haven't been spending a lot of money on the truck.

On a lighter note, I'm still working on the truck when I can. It's hard though to go downstairs and work on it when it's 30-40 degrees and no heat.

I've gotten bitten by a few of the old cliche's....like "hind sight is always 20/20" and "bigger isn't always better" and here's why. Me and a few other board members had some aluminum fuel tanks custom built for our trucks. Well with me and my way of thinking, bigger has to be better so I add a few inchs to the final measurements and sent them to the fab shop. I received what I ordered, but I couldn't believe the difference that 4" makes.:lol:

Anyway, here is the tank when I first received it. It's 12" at the rear and 13" at the front.
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...1/IMG_0096.jpg

Here it is mocked up in the frame rails. Keep in mind that my truck has a 4" lift.
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...IMG_0010-1.jpg

Well, the more I looked at it the more I didn't like it. So I go over to Alan's shop and set into cutting on it.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...1/DSC08816.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...1/DSC08822.jpg

I ended up cutting 4" out of it.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...IMG_0030-1.jpg

And here's the finished product. 8" at the rear and 9" at the front.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...1/IMG_0031.jpg

Here it is mocked up in the frame rails.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...1/IMG_0040.jpg

So contrary to what you might believe or have been told by your significant other an extra 4" inches isn't always a good thing.;)

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

I've also been tinkering around trying to get the crate motor assembled. Last week Alan helped me install the intake and carb. It's minor progress, but it at least it's progress.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...IMG_0022-1.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...IMG_0023-1.jpg

I bought a Lokar dipstick, basically because my local GM dealer's parts guy doesn't seem to care about selling parts. That's a whole different story itself. Anyway, I had planned on running ram horn exhaust manifolds, but I don't think my dipstick will work with those manifolds. The mounting bracket on the dipstick mounts to a header bolt, but given the thickness on the ram horns I may have to make a bracket for it to work.

Is anyone else using a Lokar dipstick and ram horns?

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...IMG_0024-2.jpg

So long story short I'm still here slowly plugging away.

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

hope the job situation works out... you can always reenlist!

Funny how that tank resembles mine... now!:lol:

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Build looks great, I may have missed it but I thought you were going with a 72 front end but you bought some 68 front end parts. Also, did you use the original frame, or did you get one that wasn't cut?

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Mike,

We're all laying low right now at work. The good thing is I guess that everyone's '09 budget's finally got approved apparently, because within the past 2 weeks we've been going wide open. Corporate even approved overtime if we needed it to complete jobs in a timely manner. So hopefully we can keep our heads above water.

Yeah, the tank is almost a spitting image to yours huh.:lol: Go figure. That's why you don't mess with a good thing.:waah:


Jtrux,

I'm still going with a 71-72 front end. I bought a bunch of new repro parts a guy had and it was an all of nothing deal. The deal included new 67-68 fenders and (2) 67-68 take-off grilles. That's why you saw the 67-68 parts in my thread.

The "original" frame was a hack job, so I looked around till I finally found an original, unmolested swb frame. After tearing this thing apart I made it one of my goals to start with a solid foundation and go from there. Once again "hind sight is always 20/20.

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

This is an original Transfer Case "numbers matching" truck!:lol:

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Don't forget the transmission, it's original as well. This is the true definiton of a ground up restoration.:lol::lol:

On a side note the cab we discussed last year here locally is still available. I talked to the guy yesterday and he asked if you still needed a cab or not because the other guy never picked it up. I told him you were set with a cab.

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

This is a MIDDLE OUT RESTORATION not a ground up!

that cab is available.:lol:..what a joke... He said that the guy was coming over that evening to pick it up... I'm in Orlando right now if he wants to bring it down! LOL

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Tank looks really nice. Too bad I don't have any aluminum to weld up you'd be hired.

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Thanks Alan. I've always enjoyed welding. I must admit though I'm a little rusty after sitting behind a desk for the past 5 years. Don't let that weld fool you though I had to "practice" a little on some scrap pieces before I felt comfortable welding the tank back up.:lol:

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

You could have made all our gas tanks Shannon!!!! nice work...

I assume that you were able to clean up the holes that Boyd welding left all messed up...

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Thanks Mike. I welded full time for 8 years prior to my current job.

Yes, I cleaned up all of the holes while I had the bottom off. I still have to fix the vent tube and filler neck. The vent tube was supposed to face the same way as the filler neck. The filler neck was supposed to be double mitered instead of the 45 deg cut like it currently has now. I think the 45 will have a negative effect when filling it. I could be mistaken about that, but I'd feel better if the neck had a smoother radius in it. Also, depending on what late model fuel door setup I go with I may have to change the diameter of the filler neck itself to match the diameter of the hose from the donor fuel door.

What are you doing to vent your tank?

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

Build sounds awesome, I was wondering about the welding too. Nice job. I can't hold a candle to that, if it can't be MIG or stick welded I can't do it.

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

I'm doing a straight fill neck with cap that "shouldn't" need a vent since it won't be going through a long hose.

I am going to add a bung to vent the outgoing fuel so it doesn't create a vacuum when the engine is drinking the fuel.

Re: Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"
 

J,

Thanks. I only welded the bottom plate back on. I didn't weld the entire tank up. Back when I welded for a living, I primarily tig weld with a little mig every once in a while. I used to weld stainless all the time and aluminum is like a treat for me. I'd rather weld it than stainless.