Project TLOW - 1971 stepside

[Hartje]

I'm in. looks like great progress so far!

[Rod Run]

After quite a bit of searching, I finally got my tires picked out today. I was looking for around a 27" tall tire for 17" wheels and it's slim pickings.

I finally locked in on the Nitto 450 in 255/50 and 275/50 which will be mounted on Cragar soft 8 wheels.

I know 18" wheels open up my tire options tremendously, but I had to go the bargain route right now, just to get Project TLOW on the road this year, because I also need three other sets of tires for some of my other rides this year.

Hopefully next year I will be able to step up to something that I really like

[Rod Run]

I also finished the rough work on my firewall gutter today

[Rod Run]

I made up a patch and got rid of a rotted section in the passenger side footwell today. Just have to clean up the welds tomorrow

If you look closely, you can also partially see the holes where my A/C lines will exit the cab

[Rod Run]

I also cut the dash for my Vintage Air a/c controls

[Rod Run]

I spent most of the day yesterday, grinding and sanding, before throwing some etching primer on a lot of the cab

[Rod Run]

Since I'm putting speakers in my kick panels, I decided to get rid of the dashboard grill.

I cut it out, then made a template before welding it in

[Rod Run]

Here it is after rough bodywork

[Rod Run]

Haven't had much time to work on the truck this week, but the big brown truck did drop off my Lokar cables and brackets, along with some exhaust piping so I can start fabricating my exhaust.

I am expecting my tires and wheels to be delivered today too

I also just finished ordering some Spintech mufflers through Maryland Speed. They are the only other place I know to buy them, besides direct from Spintech. I saved almost $40 dollars buying from them instead of directly from Spintech

I am taking the weekend off from my job, so I can get more stuff done on the truck

[Rod Run]

Weekend didn't go as planned, so didn't get much time on the truck.

On the positive side of things, my new floor came in yesterday, my tires came in today (much later than expected). I should be picking up my driveshaft tomorrow and I will also hopefully be making my last big order from Summit Racing, for quite a while, because my last discount code (I used 3 of them) runs out in a few days.


Anyway.... Here are pics of my new NITTO 450's and my 17" Soft 8 wheels

[mcbassin]

Nice progress on the rust repair. Dig the new treads too. Very nice!

[Rod Run]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Nice progress on the rust repair. Dig the new treads too. Very nice!

Thanks. I put my new driveshaft in today. I still need to order a few little things and I'm hoping my mufflers come in soon, so I can fabricate up my exhaust, then it will be a 100% complete rolling chassis

[nate68]

Tire size?

[Rod Run]

Originally Posted by nate68

Tire size?

255 & 275/50/17's on 8" and 9" wide wheels. That puts me at 27" tall front tire and about 27 3/4" rear tire

[Rod Run]

Project TLOW just received this nice order of Lokar parts.

Also as I was stepping out of the shop today, an order of Spintech mufflers got delivered by the big brown truck

[Rod Run]

In-between dogsitting today, I was able to fabricate one side of my exhaust

[Rod Run]

It was a good day today. It FAR from an actual truck, but Project TLOW got to roll outside for the first time in over a year.

After sitting on rollers for so long, with old tall tires on it I was kind of shocked at how low the chassis is, once it was actually on the ground. Here are a few pics

[Rod Run]

I know once the body gets back on it and the suspension settles it should drop at least another inch

[mcbassin]

Your exhaust and chassis are looking good. Keep up the good work!

[68laydout]

Looks really good man! Love my Spintechs

[Rod Run]

Thanks guys. I'm finally at the point where I can start seeing the rewards from all my hard work

[Rod Run]

I was running transmission and fuel lines today (along with a bunch of other stuff) and I needed a bracket for the tranny lines. Here are a couple of pictures of the progress.

I started with a piece of scrap steel and ended up with a pretty decent bracket

[Rod Run]

It was a toss up between sectioning and moving the bumpers in, or this.... So I decided to save the easier job for later

Here's a couple pics

[Rod Run]

I've been totally slacking on updates for this thread.

As things sit now, I brought my cab to a friend's shop, so I would have more room and better access to needed tools (bodywork in not my forte).

I got the old floor cutout and the new floor pretty much in. Just needs to be finish welded, then it's on to rockers and cab corners.

Here's a couple pics

[Rod Run]

While down the shop I ran into one major issue though.

There was another project that a person bailed out on, so I ended up buying it. I am bringing it home soon, but I had to clean up my own garage first to make room.

Here are a couple pics of the new project