1 1/2 tons of fun

[budgetstperformance]

hey guys here are a couple of pics i took while towing my dually. good thing the 454 wasn't in the dually. my 1/2 ton isn't the best tow vehicale with the 4.3 v6. but she got the job done nice and slow.




squarebody train arriving at the station.

good old shop truck got the job done

[bigblock79]

what are your plans for it

[TexasJeff]

Pretty cool pic's, will be nice to look back when they are both finished.

[old Rusty C10]

great pics... i had one of the 86models with the 4.3 and i towed with it too and like you said it didnt really make anny speed records but it did the job ( especially with the th400 coupled to it).. I dragged an 84 T Bird from south jersey and it did it just fine
so whats the plans for em?

[budgetstperformance]

hey thanks for the replys,

when i purchased the dually it was to be my shop truck and tow my car trailer. shortly after putting a few hundred miles on the dually the th400 took a $h*t. to make matters worse the 454 spun a rod bearing. the motor and tranny were on there way out when i got the truck. if i had done some more maintnence and not rode it as hard maybe it would have lasted a little longer but live and learn.

when i first got it (80's paint job was crazy)

after a few spray cans


so i needed a shop truck fast and i was on a tight budget. here is what i got for $500. the truck was a one owner a belonged to a lobster catcher from maine. he used it haul the lobster traps.
1986 custom deluxe. 4.3 liter v6. th350 power steering. power brakes. no a/c

the bed was so rusted the tailgate must of just feel off somewere.

the rust didn't realy concern me. the truck ran good shifted good and had some chubby tires. what do you want for $500.

i went to work pulling the bed. i already had a clean long bed. and fabing up my custom hitch. cleaning up the fram, plus lots of flat black. also picked up some 15" alloys with 255/70/15 for $100 off c/l


do not cut, weld or modify

[budgetstperformance]

snap on



so i have a heavy rat rod influence and am keeping the half ton as it is. for now i would like to slam it but it needs to be functional for trips to the junk yard and hauling car parts from to and from my shop.
i am a honda technician and have a small garage were i do motor swaps and performace upgrades.

as for the dually the th400 tranny has been rebuilt and i am curently in the process of completly rebuilding the 454 with all new bearing rings new rv cam ect.
my plains are to convert the suspension to 1/2 ton cause i love the crew cab but don't need the dual wheels and am not a big fan of the fibergkass fenders. here is the 1/2 ton suspension donated by a 89 burban.

im looking for a nice 1/2 ton rear so it will end up like this

i m gonna run a staic drop and 15" but i love the look of this truck

[old Rusty C10]

tell ya this tho for all that rust and rot on the bed and cab of the custom deluxe the frame looks better than mine

[nekkidhillbilly]

braver than me i hate dollys i towed my buick on one it was white knuckle cant imagine a 1 ton

[budgetstperformance]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

braver than me i hate dollys i towed my buick on one it was white knuckle cant imagine a 1 ton

hence the title "tons of fun" . on occasion my lack of good judgment and total disregard for public property has been mistaken for bravery. haha but seriously i was going about my 10miles to my buddy property and i took all the back roads when there was not alot of traffic and i probably never exceded 35mph. although i must admit i was tempted to jump on the interstate.

[budgetstperformance]

hey whats up guys?
It has been quit a while since i have posted.
I had to put my truck project on the back burner and focus on my business.
I have not given up on the project,
I will get it done no matter how long it takes me.

so here is an update,
i sold the dually bed and the dana,
i got a 5 lug 1/2 ton rear.
i got it bolted up to the truck but i will be notching the frame and flipping the axle before it goes on the road. maybe a 4 link but its mono leaf for now.


I parted out a suburban with my neighbor and kept the manual window doors. i hate the power window doors and none of my power windows worked.



so im on a super tight budget with this truck,
that is mostly why it is taking me so long.
when i say tight budget i mean i have to sell or trade something i already have for for truck parts.
so i traded my 3 wheel bike for an XBOX which i traded for a very clean fleet side long bed.


and thats how its been sitting for over a year,
picked up this rust free tail gate from a friend,


back in the shop for front suspension, i got a pair of bags and upper plates and a set of custom lower control arms,






its sketchy with this beast on my lift. It honestly does not fit in my shop.

the bed is sticking out the door.
so this is how it is currently sitting,

[TwoFiftyShifter]

That's really cool. That blue slammed crew you posted really does have a killer look, and I don't usually like anything lowered.