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My Mater Build *** 71 ChevMC plow rig ***
Hey everyone, I'm Kevin. Please forgive me, I didn't see this 4x4 build section! I'm going to transfer most my build from the main build section, as I think it would fit best over here...
So I'm building a new plow truck for next winter. Currently I run a 90 Chevy short box with front and rear blades and an 89 K5 with the same setup. The K5 is rotten to the point where the body is literally sitting on the frame. So I've decided to use what parts I have and build a truck. I'm reading on this site every chance I get and working in the mean time. Progress is slow because of the family, a young toddler daughter and an infant daughter and Mommy needs my help whenever I'm not workin! The truck will have a Boss 8' blade on the front , a wooden box I built a few years ago and a 7.5' back blade too. My thoughts are tough the first time, less down time when snow flies in Michigan. I'll be running belt driven hydraulics robbed from the K5. Started with my donor frame - 86 K10 Longbed http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6719.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6718.jpg Stock Leaf Springs http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6744.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6746.jpg Donor Leaf packs / 86 10 bolt w/ 4.10 gears swapped in http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6745.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6747.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6748.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6751.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6753.jpg Frame marked to cut http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6759.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6760.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6761.jpg Donor rear axle with leafs - 86' 14 bolt / 4.10 gears http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6762.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6756.jpg Rough cuts lined up - Cleaned up edges following the straight edge, clamped frame in place and welded. http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6769.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6771.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6774.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6779.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6783.jpg Engine installed - 86 350, .443" lift & 212° duration cam, new lifters, pushrods, rockers, and valve seals. Edelbrock performer intake, 1405 Carb and Hooker Headers http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6792.jpg Fuel Pump Blockoff - Plan to run TBI in tank fuel pump w/ regulator http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6793.jpg My free cab and front clip - the cab needs plenty of work and it's not quite worth it. I'll get the truck going down the road safely and worry about another cab to work on later. It will be nice some day! http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6794.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6796.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6795.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6797.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6798.jpg Got the cab and front clip sitting on the frame just to get a look at how high it will sit. It's well over 7' tall at the top of the cab, it towers over my F250 super duty with 2" AAL and 35" tires. http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6803.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_6802.jpg I'll be manufacturing and selling this universal clutch alignment tool, for only 3 easy monthly installments of $29.95! ;) http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0022.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0023.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0024.jpg I know my vent hole isn't plugged! I tipped the tranny up on my dolley to get it in place. Looks like the ball socket that the shifter sits in is a little leaky too. http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0026.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0028.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0029.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0030.jpg Clutch pivot bracket bolted to the frame, something to line up when I'm figuring my trans mount. http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0031.jpg |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
lotta wok going on there. is a 60/14b full floater in the plans later down the road? did you fish plate the weld?
This is gonna be a killer plow rig |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
It seems that I have a stock pile of 14/10 bolt sets, so I figured I'd start with those. If I break all my 10 bolts I know I'll be on the lookout for a 60. I have a Driver's side HP44 from a 70's ford too, kinda saving that for the S10 SFA project!
I did plate the frame, I used 1/8" plate, 5"x8" with one 1.5" plug weld on each side as well. I realized I didn't get any pics of that yet. I've been plowing for 8 years, 4 years independently and it pays for my home heat and some fun too every year. Every year I try to make my fleet a bit tougher. Last year both rigs had TBI belt driven hydraulics because I was killing batteries and alternators left and right! |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
yeah seems like you know what your doing then. IF you got a stock pile of 10's m ight as well use em.
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
I'm comfortable with the build from the frame down, but the "new" body is what brought me here. Thanks for the input guys.
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Last night I cut all the parts for my trans crossmember, I'll hopefully get that all finished up today with some pics to follow. Progress is slow but steady!
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Last night I drilled the holes in the frame for the crossmember, got it bolted up and mocked a front driveshaft in place. It clears the notch so I can pull it apart and throw some paint on for good. Need to pull a retaining nut from another t-case for my front yoke and measure for driveshaft lengths. Slow progress compared to most on here, but what do you do? I'll have to start pulling parts from the K5 soon, flowmaster exhaust, gas tank. I think it has stainless fuel lines that I should be able to use, I need to pick up a fuel pressure regulator and then I'll work on firing up the heart of this beast to see how it runs!:uhmk:
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
So I cleaned the glove box sticker enough that I could get the VIN and decode it...:uhmk:
It was a 1971, 2wd, 1/2 ton V8. The original color is 524 Hugger Orange:metal: |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Last night I did some more little work here and there. I moved the rear spring hangers for 56" springs and now my shackles look happy again. I also got my rear bumper/back blade bracket clamped in place. Then I pulled the gas tank from my 89 K5, I'll need to pull the two crossmembers tonight and mock them up. The truck frame is a bit wider than the blazer frame and some of the geometry is different, but it should be easy to get everything fit up well.
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
More progress.
Got my plow frame welded on last night, then cut out the rear crossmember and welded the blazer crossmembers in for the gas tank install. A few pictures of how the body is sitting now with it mocked in place. I'll need to make mounts now. http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0147.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0148.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0149.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0150.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0151.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0152.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0153.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/IMG_0154.jpg |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Ok, I have a deadline. I plan on going camping for nearly a week in about 8 weeks. The last week of July I recall. I'll be less than 15 minutes from the Silver Lake Sand Dunes in NorthWestern Michigan and would like to be able to go for a cruise with my wife. I've got quite a bit of work to do and not much time left considering my schedule so I need to make every bit of work count!
Fuel Lines from the tank to the regulator to the carb Power booster installed with pedal assembly Brake Lines and hoses run Front Clip hung onto the cab, figure all body mounts repair rockers/outer floors just strong enough to hold for a year until I find a decent cab to redo build body mounts and bolt body down Run some of the truck electrical using the 89 K5 as a donor for future ECM/TBI Cut down driveshafts Repair Steering Column or use K5 column, customize as needed to mate to 86 steering box Replace old critter eaten buckets with another set of buckets from an old GEO Tracker. Once I return from the trip I'll worry about mounting up the wooden bed if I run short on time, wire the lights and markers, figure wipers and all. Hope I make it, it's been 5 years since I've had any toys out there! |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Things are coming along ok. I ran the supply fuel line to the fuel pressure regulator and to the carb, jumped some wires to the fuel pump, distributor and starter and jumped with a battery on the front frame rail... :uhmk:
No fuel pressure. :waah: Come to find out my new regulator had two plastic diaphrams in it and wouldn't allow any fuel through. All is well after I pulled the second out. It fired up and it's close on time, but I've got some bad noises coming from the gear box :waah: I pulled the top cover back off, did some rework to the shifter rod while I had it apart, made sure the forks were in line with the gears and now I can't get it together again with the darkness. I'll wait until I can see what I'm doing without a drop light... Got some paint on the bare spots of the frame, the welds, the crossmember. It's nice to work on it now that I got the HUGE bumble bee's nest out of the heater box!:metal: |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Nice work! Those stupid bees and wasps sure make it a challenge for sure! :hehe:
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
sounds good man. I can't wait to get my sm465 in my rig but hav eheard the shifting fork is its weak link. Those damm bees can be a real bugger to get out.
Keep up the good work |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Thanks guys!
Those bees have been humming in the cab since I picked it up, but they just started flying around and making problems. It only took a few cans of spray, a shop vac running, a crow bar to dig the nest out and my hat to swat at the bees! I'm sure once I get the top cover of the trans figured out and put in it's place things will go smoothly from there. I'm really hoping so at least! It's nice having a body that's not so great looking, I'm not too afraid to try a cut here or there for the newer parts coming into the build. Then when I go find a nice donor I'll know where to measure from and what to modify to make everything come together. |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
So I know this is most likely my own fault, but I'm still having transmission issues. I got the top cover back off, situated in 1/2 reverse position, all gears set right, everything dropped together just like it should, but the grinding got worse. I have another transmission at a friend's house about 25 miles away and I'm thinking it will take less time to go get that to swap in then it will screwing around with this one. Nothing like things to set you back, huh?
This thing starts and sounds great for the 1/2 second that I fire it up to hear it grinding like crazy! I can't wait to go spin a wheel for a change! It's been 9-10 years since I had a 4x4 toy to go play with, 5 years since I've been in the sand dunes (2 hours away) and 3 years since I've ridden my quad. It's time to play and I'm ready even though I have a ton of work to do still. Tonight I also measured for body mounts. I'll dig my 1/8" stock out of my rack and start fabbing those some time soon. looking forward to having the body bolted down :metal: |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Hope this is ok to post on here, but I found a manual online. Maybe this will save me a trip and a sore back loading that big pig into my super duty...:metal:
http://www.zieglerdigital.ca/public/...sm465rbman.pdf |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
This weekend I got some time to do some work. I pulled the power booster and master cylinder off my 89 K5 to see how it would mount up. A couple new holes drilled in the mount and some trimming on the bottom for steering column clearance and it bolted on. Took some customization of the pedal assembly just like the clutch did but I have the top half of the brakes complete, just need to run some lines now. For the time being, since my steering column is shot and the cab isn't worth restoring, I'll be mounting the blazer column and hacking the dash to make it work. Once I get a nicer cab and decent rebuildable column I'll make sure to pay my respects to the old iron and splice the original column into the 89 K5 wiring.
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Sorry, I'll have to get pictures soon, but the custom body mounts are tacked on and the truck cab is sitting on body bushings. I hung the front clip to see how things will end up for the core support mounts. Ending up with about 13" between the 32" tire and the top of the fenderwell. I've got room for up to a 40" tire I'd say without wheeling it too hard, probably a 36 or 37 for moderate wheeling. Now that the body mounts are on the truck and things line up well, I'm going to pull the cab once again and get a different tranny in that's not grinding in neutral. Although it has to come apart again, I feel like I accomplished quite a bit in the few hours I worked.:metal:
Pictures to come. |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Here are the pictures of the body on the mounts and the front clip just sitting for some reference. Also my wooden box that I'll be mounting up and the C60 that came with the house. Some day I'll be sure to get it running to haul vehicles, wood, whatever needs to be moved I guess. The cute little girl is my oldest daughter. She loves to come play outside and turn a wrench with daddy!
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_7320.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_7321.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_7322.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_7324.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_7325.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_7326.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_7327.jpg http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/100_7323.jpg |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Nice..Helpers are always good..!!!
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Nice progress!
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
The wood box is interesting, nicely done. Building a 63 K10 for plowing industrial/ commercial sidewalks.
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
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Do you have a link for your 63 build? Sounds interesting! This weekend was busy, but I managed to get SOME work done. I cut up the exhaust from my K5 and managed to piece it together to fit the new build. Flowmasters are installed and sound great! Now that the open headers are sealed up, I could pinpoint more of this grinding issue. Ends up being that I've narrowed it down to the clutch. I can see the clutch fork rattling pretty violently when I start the engine. My father in law is coming on Tuesday to help me get the tranny pulled to see what exactly is grinding. I know there can't be much going on in there, but who knows until it's apart! |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Good luck with the dead line. I know all to well about what you're going through. :lol: It can be a real pita sometimes. But it'll be worth it in the end!
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Thanks Diesel! I'm only concerned with 2wd, brakes, steering, and all the vitals to keep the engine safe! As long as I can cruise in the dunes and just roll around in the sand I'll be happy with my progress!
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
That'll be pretty cool for sure!
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
The grinding problem is fixed! My pressure place is the diaphram type with the short bearing. My issue was that the fork was not clipped to the pivot point properly! Dumb me....:uhmk: But she's quiet now and I will be able to continue the build! Yesterday I moved the cab back near the rear tires, removed the brake booster/mc and pulled the trans/t-case loose, found the issue, got everything assembled the way it was supposed to be, the trans and t-case back in then my father in law showed up to help me some. He finished welding the body mounts in place and helped with other little things. We moved the cab back in place, got the inspection/PTO covers back on the transmission and found a couple bad plug wires from the old race engine so we'll use the new ones from the blazer. We put the master cylinder back on along with the brake booster and tonight possibly we'll start on brake lines. I need to shorten my steering shaft then the blazer steering column will work good enough for now. We discussed using a set of gauges and ignition panel off one of the race cars, so we'll need to find those at his place. Soon I'll need to pick up me seats from his house too!:metal:
No real point in pictures, it's just rework for the most part:devil::sumo: |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Atleast you're making progress!
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Well it's looking like the deadline won't be met.:waah:
I faced reality last night and it's evident that time and money are short once again. It's ok though, because I'm a single income father of two beautiful girls and a husband to an amazing wife who works harder than I do at home and I'd be selfish to put some old truck in front of what I've got with them! We took our oldest daughter to her first mud bog last weekend and she got to ride in one of the big trucks a couple times and SHE was the first one in the big pit! She wanted to play in the mud so I took her down to get dirty up to her shorts;) For the 4th of July I'm taking my wife canoeing and kayaking with a couple friends because we don't get out enough and need some peaceful uhmdrinking time with adults. My deadline was supposed to be in time for our family vacation up north but the sand will be there next vacation and the truck should be done by then. |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Hey man, I'm glad I checked your plow build. Awesome progress and awesome work! Now if I could only get my wife out in the garage to help I'm sure I'd save a boat load of time! Have a great 4th of July!'
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
I guess it helps when that's where she grew up. 3rd generation circle track racer, I lucked out with her! Good luck with your build, it looks like you're off to a nice start:metal:
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
Well all things considered, I'm still trying to get things done on the truck. Due to our family's schedules and racing, the 9th of July we will start our new roof on the house instead of using the weekend for the truck. That's pretty important though, I hate seeing homes turn to junk because of neglect.
Last night after the girls went to sleep I worked on my steering column mounts. The 71 column is trashed and I have a good K5 tilt column, so that'll work for now. The new style columns definitely take up valuable space under that small dash! I had to hack up the 71 and the 89 mounts on the pedal assys to make things come together. It's scabbed in place and with some gussets I think it'll fit just great in it's new home. I'll have to rework the clutch pedal again but that's why we do what we do! Question for anyone, would two stainless hose clamps work for the firewall mount to keep the column in place? They seem to work in my driveway but wouldn't want something simple to cause a safety hazard with 8' blades on the truck... I planned on using the electrical from the blazer to run all the controls and lights, but I think I'll just make a wire harness for the lights that jumps into the column controls and use an ignition harness from one of the old race cars. This year the truck won't have a radio and most likely will have two heater options - on or off;) Wiper options will be a must for plowing so I'll have to see how good of shape the original setup is. |
Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
I like 4x4 builds!!
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Re: Pardon the new guy... My plowrig build
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Unless I get a second 67-72 just for summer months, I can't see why it would be smart to built a 2 wheel drive... I was thinking though, it sure would be cool to find a running/driving C20 out west next year to haul my donor body back to Michigan! How fun would that be to drive american iron across the great Route 66?:metal: |
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