'78 3/4 ton 4x4 FRANKENTRUCK

[joe231]

Good looking build, keep up the good work!
got a few questions for you....where did you get the switching valve?
and my stock valve on my '80 only has one wire, your appears to have several, what are the extra wires for, and did it come with directions?
thanks

[spudz]

I been following this build....I like it.... its a mans truck.....

[asphaltburner]

Yo! That's exactly why I thought this thing up and started building it from scratch! Thanks, dudes!
The 6 port valve is from JC Whitney and is made by Pollack. It swaps the fuel guage and corresponding return lines to and from the selected tank so it has wires for each fuel sender, one for the gauge, and 12V+ and -. Comes with full instructions and can actually be setup for three fuel tanks.

[joe231]

cool, thanks for the info
you have a part number for it?

[asphaltburner]

ZX812705U from J.C. Whitney, it's Pollack's 42-300P. Todd.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Yokes in place (gotta change a front oil seal),...driveshaft lengths measured for ordering,...still working on electrical for the fuel pump and switching valve. Nearly ready to tow the vehicle 20 miles for exhaust fabrication. Hope to have a Halloween party the weekend before the 31st and make a big deal out of FRANKENTRUCK's intro to the road (I'll do a cam break-in startup prior to). It'll be ready to 4x4 commute at that time. Todd.

[84 400]

good work there. Nice to see others taking the time and investing time and money into these old trucks. That sure should be a fun truck when done. It kind of reminds me of my willys project with the adapter kit and making different components work. Have fun with your project.

[asphaltburner]

Please allow me to thank you very much for your nice comments and appreciation of what I'm accomplishing,...
This truck will outlive me, and I've built it to be timeless,...the best of the best all in one truck. As an example, the custom built, twin stick NP205 has 32 spline outputs front and rear,...the 350V8 is a duplicate of the 350hp/411ftlb engine in my '76 Camaro that averages 15.5mpg,...I expect the truck to get reasonable mpg (but that is still to be proven!). And the truck has a completely rebuilt TH400 with a 1200-1500 stall converter.
Thanks again for your nice comments, and keep watching this thread,...oil seal and driveshafts go in tomorrow!! Todd.

[Walts_restoration]

lol, ill gladly live on the life of your truck todd, im only 18 and figure ive got at least 20 more years in me haha.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Damn dude! 18 and only 20 more years of good life in you? I'm friggin' 52 and I'd guess I've got 20 more to go,...as long as I don't accidentally kill myself at 135mph in my Camaro!! Actually,... considering how much better I felt 20 years ago, perhaps I DON'T want to last another twenty! But I'm sure not done havin' a good time yet.
I may be finishing my last automotive project though. Thought about that alot, and it's just too painful working under cars and trucks at this point. I'll go back and finish the eight that I've got,...most need paint, and some need a minor project or two completed to be finished. If, and when, I can retire, I'll start selling them off to support myself and my wife. I hope they'll be worth alot more then.
Ya best start saving up now,...LOL, Todd.

[Walts_restoration]

lol im investing, so far im at 15 pieces of "stock" lol, compared to my dads 135 i got a way to go!

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Y'all!
Finally had time this eve to get pics of what I've been working on for about eight months (when I haven't been working full-time!),...my nearly finished FRANKENTRUCK!
Any of you who aren't familiar, this is a free, pasture truck,...a '78 Scottsdale fullsize 3/4 ton 4x4 P/U "camper special". 350/TH400/NP203 fulltime 4x4. My donor truck ($100/ton at the junkyard when I'm done,...it's accumulated quite a load by now!!), is a '73 Custom 3/4 ton 4x4 flatbed (350/TH350/NP205). I kept the Dana 44 with Warn locking hubs and 5560 lb rated rear axle, AND the springs from the flatbed, and the TH400 from the P/U, and put them together in the P/U with a 350hp/411ftlb 350 V8 that I built, and an Off Road Design NP205 with twin stick and machined shift rails. Here's my hand built result,...(still finishing some minor electrical and then the trip for exhaust fabrication):
With it's new hood, and that axle that the '78 is not supposed to have!



The 350 V8 I built:



And the new driveshaft, the NP205, and the electric fuel pump system that I built (valve above, fuel pump inside frame rail left,...both in steel boxes:



Todd.

[thirdstreettito]

Nice truck! God job man! What are all the specs on that 76' 'Maro

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Back again!
As if it weren't enough, here's three more:
A bug-eye view of that magnificent 32 spline front output to the '73 Dana 44 with Warn hubs:



'78 Scottsdale 3/4 ton 4x4 with machined twin stick NP205,...RWD high and low, 4x4 high and low, and FWD high and low!! Gotta love the twin shifters:



And finally, the '78 FRANKENTRUCK with '73 Dana 44. A 600 Holley dbl pumper/2" spacer reside under that air cleaner:



Todd.

[joe231]

looks nice!
love the twin stick too!!

[Walts_restoration]

tis a nice looking truck, you know where to send the keys when your bored with it lol

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Fabricating brackets and wiring HAS to be some of the most boring activities in mechanics! Power steering and accelerator now have brackets, and the electric fuel pump wiring is complete. Today I'll finish fuel switching valve wiring, and be sure this truck rolls and stops so that it can be flatbedded tonight and transported to Ken's Mufflers in Ft Collins for exhaust fabrication tomorrow.
Once I get the dash toggles wired, in goes the seat bottom, nearly completing the interior (except for the seat back). Down to the very small chores. I'll start and do cam breakin when the truck is back from Ken's.
Still finding the donor truck to be useful,...stole a length of yellow wire from it yesterday! It'll stay here until I'm satisfied that there's nothing more that I need, then off to the junkyard for $100/ton!
Once cam breakin is done we intend on a Halloween bonfire party to fire FRANKENTRUCK up at! Most folks don't build their own and everybody I know asks about it all the time. Should be fun. Todd.

[grinch4om]

Originally Posted by asphaltburner

Yo! Fabricating brackets and wiring HAS to be some of the most boring activities in mechanics! Power steering and accelerator now have brackets, and the electric fuel pump wiring is complete. Today I'll finish fuel switching valve wiring, and be sure this truck rolls and stops so that it can be flatbedded tonight and transported to Ken's Mufflers in Ft Collins for exhaust fabrication tomorrow.
Once I get the dash toggles wired, in goes the seat bottom, nearly completing the interior (except for the seat back). Down to the very small chores. I'll start and do cam breakin when the truck is back from Ken's.
Still finding the donor truck to be useful,...stole a length of yellow wire from it yesterday! It'll stay here until I'm satisfied that there's nothing more that I need, then off to the junkyard for $100/ton!
Once cam breakin is done we intend on a Halloween bonfire party to fire FRANKENTRUCK up at! Most folks don't build their own and everybody I know asks about it all the time. Should be fun. Todd.

wow, this build has been fun to read! I am one of those weirdos that loves fabrication and electrical work. That is challenging because I can always improve factory wiring. being a master mechanic i guess it's the challenge because everything else is , well, easy. I noticed your fuel lines, it would be wise to make all that steel and use rubber for connections only. on a moving mechanical device to a non moving one (fuel line to engine) rubber is required also. not picking but I have seen lots of accidents from this use of rubber fuel lines (NHRA mandates 6" of rubber in entire fuel system) Being a firefighter I have seen many a car fire from this practice....food for thought

[84 400]

it better be loud for that bond fire!!!! Are you going to be running a lift and larger tires or is it going to retain the stock white steelies?

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Naw, no lift. It's got some bigass commercial tires I bought that raise it plenty.
Out of the garage and onto the flatbed this afternoon:





A seat in place, for the first time ever since I've had the truck! Just enough room for the short throw t/case shifter, even with the seat all the way forward. This is where I adjust the seat to, and my 5' 2" wife felt she could drive it like this:



Off for exhaust in the AM. Hopefully it will be 2.5" duals from the header collectors to straight out the back with 2.5" turbo mufflers and an "H" pipe. The t/case could make that challanging! Wish me luck! Todd.

[MylilBowTie]

Originally Posted by asphaltburner

Attachment 395402

Are those tires 215/85/16s? That would be my guess anyway.

[asphaltburner]

Wow! We're back! Dual 2.5" exhaust from the shorty header collectors to straight out the back! "H" pipe, Summit turbo mufflers, and chrome 90 degree cut tips,...all nicely routed, and the tubes carefully bent and welded! Pics tomorrow.
Getting very close to that initial start!
Kinda overwhelming as the dream suddenly becomes reality! Todd.

[Walts_restoration]

Get it done todd!!

You wanna go to carisle 09? im planning a dream cruise lol

[asphaltburner]

Yo!
I'ma gettin' 'er done! Here's that pic of my "H" pipe and exhaust:



Hmmmm!? How far is Carlisle from here?

Geeze, what vehicle should I take!!

Todd.

[73CheyenneSuper20]

Originally Posted by asphaltburner

Yo!
I'ma gettin' 'er done! Here's that pic of my "H" pipe and exhaust:

Attachment 395606

Hi! Quick question, why the crossover in the exhaust pipe?