New Project truck!!
 

Will be picking up new project truck in the morning SAT. the 12th. Meeting board member REV halfway in Murfreesboro TN. Truck is SWB stepside!! I cant wait!!

And your plans are??????

:agree: YOU LEFT US HANGING :fb:

Well thats kinda undetermined. Repaint black, smooth front bumper, 5/7 lower, 496 BBC with manual TKO-600 tranny. rear 4 link w/coilovers. Thats about as far as Ive got into the thinking process. I know I also will be putting a 245/40/20 in the front and atleast a 295/40/20 in the rear. May have to do a mini tub in the rear to get a wider tire. Also a 12 bolt or 9" rear will replace the current 10 bolt!! CHANGE THE GRILLE!! Is that enough for starters??

I GUESS SO :lol: :cool: :lol:

Congrats, I like that year of truck. Good luck with it...Later..Mike

Picked up truck today!! I will post a few pics later!!

I want to put a stout rearend under this truck to hold the 496 BBC power. Also want to use a 4 link or ladder bar w/ coilover setup. ANY SUGGESTIONS??

cool! EFI on the 496?

Dam, that is a nice truck! What you got planned is going to turn it into a very Bad Ass ride. Post up some more pics if you get a chance.
-Later

If you're gonna mini tub it,and swap the rears,I would do a 4 link.No sense in going half way :lol:

you would be best off to just balf half the truck and use a ford 9 inch housing

Ford 9"....can't beat 'em for durability plus they are pretty easy to change out the 3rd member when you want to go out for a little match racing.

was thinking about a Dana 60 unit. I want to retain the bed without cutting into it but also lower the stance of the truck in the rear about 7" or so. The ladder bar setup from competition engineering looks to be pretty nice. What rear is easier and more cost effective to use or get. Dana 60 or ford 9"??

Yeah that will be the plan. I like the edelbrock setup but wow $$$$. I already have a victor jr intake and a modified 850 DP holley that I will use to get it going.

Update just got a set of DJM 2" drop spindles. Ordered a set of Belltech 3" front coil springs and a set of DOESTECH nitro slammers. Also ordered a complete front end rebuild kit with all Polygraphite bushings from PST. Looks like I have some work ahead of me. I talked to the guy who is going to set up my rear ladder bar setup and he said to get the front where I wanted it to sit. SO here I go again. I really think this project will be a little more focused than my 83 project. There are so many more aftermarket parts available for the 88-98 that are proven to work. IMO.

Ford 9" is much more cost effective IMHO. Lots of them available and plenty of gear choices...plus you can have multiple carriers to change out whenever you are in the mood for something different.

Yeah I think the ford 9" will be my choice. Alot easier to find than a darn D60.

if you really wanna go all out i have a shortened ford 9" shell :D

I've had 2,a 88 and a 97 short steps these trucks are awesome and easy to trick-out and motor swaps a breeze........good luck

HOW short are we talkin and how about $$

A little progress. Got the back tore down and the front end. Setting up ladder bars and coilovers hopefully this weekend as well as the DANA60 rear.

Man thats a skinny frame, lol

looking great, keep up the good work and of course the pics.
Brad

Looks good so far, and yeah that looks like a skinny frame. Post up any more progress pics if you get a chance.
-Later

sorry i never replied man, it was 40" wide... i traded it off to two tires and a set of headers (it was a bare shell).... i can see if the guy wants to sell it though

When I do mine,I`m going D60.They`re easy enough to find in 3/4t trucks and vans.You can buy all you need to build a narrowed 5-lug.That`s gonna be a nice "SportSide".Not to be all technical but,the last stepside was built in `87.This new guy on here,70prostreet I think?,has all the info on the D60(about a week ago).

i just sold a whole 3/4 ton truck, swb frame, 12 bolt, d60 posi, tilt, dash, etc etc, for a couple hundred bucks. d60's areent hard to find, i bet your local yard has 10

updated pics
 

I made a little progress on the rear ladder bar setup. Got all the BS brackets of the frame and got it braced up squared for welding without getting a sagging frame!! Got the suicidedoors notch kit put into place and the rear setup at ride height and centered up.

Mmmmmm....plywood wheels. There is a cost-effective option that I never considered.

instead of ...."Dude, I smoked them off the line"....
it's more like...

"Dude, I splintered those mother-f'rs.....!!!!"

Those are high $$$ man. I just used those to mock up and set a ride height!! They will be for sale after Im done!!

Had to get a new set of spindles for the front. Bought a set used and found out they were for the 88-91 trucks therefore they have a diffrent length spindle shaft. Just got a new set from DJM. I am going to get the rear finished sunday.

Here are a few updates of my progress. Got the rear setup and tack welded. Tore it all back down and finish welded it all. Boxed the frame in and ran some supports to the front ladder bar mount. What do you guys think??

A few more!

Planning to put some paint to the frame tommorow. Any suggestions on a good primer/paint?

you are an abitious man. looks good. quite a few people swear by POR-15 and the rest swear by eastwoods

:phat:

thanks for the kind comments guys. I didnt get a chance to do any paint today as I forgot about the mothers day get together. Maybe tommorrow?? Ay info on the eastwood kit vs the POR-15??

Go Eastwood. The stuff is a total bear to get off, easier to apply, doesn't take the prepping and additional work that POR-15 does, doesn't have the sunlight constraints and is all around a better product.

Some reading: http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?i...88&iSubCat=852

Just my 2¢. I've used it. Several other members have chimed in about this in other forums.

Ordered a set of wheels today. Got them from Bonspeed. 20x12's in the rear and 20x8.5 up front. Will be running a 245/40/20 in the front and a 335/30/20 in the rear. I have made a little more progress on the truck mainly just cleaning up the frame. Let me know what you guys think. :)