My '74 build- "Clifford"

[Jonboy]

I figured I might as well start a build thread on my '74. My daughter has christened him "Clifford", so I guess that's how it is. I jokingly referred to the red dually I traded for the '74 as Clifford (aka the big red dog), now all red(ish) trucks are Clifford. Hey, she just turned two, so I am happy she loves trucks. I traded Scoti the dually for this '74, so there are a lot of pics floating aronnd. I will take some others as I go, but there isn't really a whole lot of pictureworthy stuff going on just yet. I thought I would chronicle the stuff I am doing, though.

Right now, I have a new heart for him, and am slowly changing the interior from beigeish to black. I also have a tach dash to install, just need to do it. Here are a couple pics of carting the new engine and trans home. I was going to go LS, but found a great deal from a buddy on a TBI 350, so that's the way I am going. Can't wait for the overdrive, too!

[lolife99]

Your new truck, was one of the first trucks I followed on here.
(when I joined years ago)
The 73-74 model truck was never my favorite,... until I saw this one dropped on TTII's.
Any plans to put a set of Torq Thrust II's back on it?
(any chance SCOTI still has his old wheels?)

I loved SCOTI's old avatar pic!
How about 20's on all 4 corners this time!
(8's and 9.5's)

[Jonboy]

It might sound hokey, but I am going to run a set of slots on there eventually. It just seems like the right thing to do. I have a vintage (read:used) set of 15x7's and 15x8.5's that I will use. I thought about the repro Ansen Sprints, but they just don't have the right look to me.

[gloriavoxdei]

The 70's slots would look wicked, I love the new retro 70's craze. Although it did end 2 years before I was born.

[Jonboy]

I was born in '74, so I wanted it to be my idea of "period correct". My Mom had a '74 Monte Carlo with a set of U.S Mags slots on it, and it's just right to me.

[72BlckButy]

I wondered where this truck ended up...

[Jonboy]

It didn't get far. Scot is about 15 minutes from me.

[twoodson]

Sweeet Jon!!! U r da man & that's fact!!

[zimmstoy]

I gotta follow this build.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by lolife99

....Any plans to put a set of Torq Thrust II's back on it?(any chance SCOTI still has his old wheels?)

The TT2's are sitting on a moving dolley in the corner of my garage @ home.... 15mins from Jon. With a little clean-up & some fresh rubber, they'd work again.

Jonboy,
Did that driveway built AOL system work ok for the task?

[Devillusion]

Can't wait to see what happens. Nice start...

[Jonboy]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

The TT2's are sitting on a moving dolley in the corner of my garage @ home.... 15mins from Jon. With a little clean-up & some fresh rubber, they'd work again.

Jonboy,
Did that driveway built AOL system work ok for the task?

It worked great. I aired the bags to 40psi at the shop before I headed over to Twoodson's place, and couldn't believe how far it came up. I thought the picture with the do it yourself heart transplant was kind of funny; looks like it will be this weekend. I called in some reinforcements, so hopefully it will be under TBI/700R4 power by Sunday. I plan on scaring the heck out of Sunday by any means.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

It worked great. I aired the bags to 40psi at the shop before I headed over to Twoodson's place, and couldn't believe how far it came up. I thought the picture with the do it yourself heart transplant was kind of funny; looks like it will be this weekend. I called in some reinforcements, so hopefully it will be under TBI/700R4 power by Sunday. I plan on scaring the heck out of Sunday by any means.

I don't think I even put that much in when pulling the trailer. I typically just added enough to level the rear again.

[Jonboy]

I filled them before loading it, just in case. I bet it raised the rear 3" at least. Definitely a change in stance. Back to normal now, though.

[SCOTI]

I thought I would bump this for you since there should be an update . . .....

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I thought I would bump this for you since there should be an update . . .....

Alright Jon, wheres the progress report?

[Jonboy]

We worked well into the night Saturday night. It was about 12:30 when we got the engine sitting where is is supposed to be. We had the rear of the truck peeking out of teh garage to have enough space to move the engine hoist around, so it had to go in before we could shut the doors. It got really cold here Saturday night. Anyhow, long story short, the new engine and trans is in the truck, but that is about as far as I got. I spent today cleaning up and moving stuff around.

A BIG thanks to Zimmstoy for coming up and helping out with my swap. I couldn't have got nearly as much accomplished without his help. It is very much appreciated. I will post some pics later, but it looks like Clifford's heart transplant was successful.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

We worked well into the night Saturday night. It was about 12:30 when we got the engine sitting where is is supposed to be. We had the rear of the truck peeking out of teh garage to have enough space to move the engine hoist around, so it had to go in before we could shut the doors. It got really cold here Saturday night. Anyhow, long story short, the new engine and trans is in the truck, but that is about as far as I got. I spent today cleaning up and moving stuff around.

A BIG thanks to Zimmstoy for coming up and helping out with my swap. I couldn't have got nearly as much accomplished without his help. It is very much appreciated. I will post some pics later, but it looks like Clifford's heart transplant was successful.

Give me a shout if you need more help since I'm prob alot closer than your other 'Scott'.

[twoodson]

Good job Boss!! I was supposed to have been there but Saturday was a day and then some (son's band practice from 9-noon, his private lessons from 1-2, then at the barbershop with for a couple hours) . I hope I can chip in Jon on the next meeting date. I will talk with you tomorrow. I will be the camera man when I come out..

[menace121978]

nice job guys!!! thank goodness someone will get us some pics!!^^^

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by menace121978

nice job guys!!! thank goodness someone will get us some pics!!^^^

I tried but my cell was super low on juice. It wouldn't let me take any pics.

[Jonboy]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Give me a shout if you need more help since I'm prob alot closer than your other 'Scott'.

I will definitely do that. I imagine I will just be doing light reassembly after work this week. I get to have my wisdom teeth pulled Friday. I am looking forward to that, let me tell you.

Originally Posted by twoodson

Good job Boss!! I was supposed to have been there but Saturday was a day and then some (son's band practice from 9-noon, his private lessons from 1-2, then at the barbershop with for a couple hours) . I hope I can chip in Jon on the next meeting date. I will talk with you tomorrow. I will be the camera man when I come out..

How can you spend a couple of hours at the barber shop? You have the same haircut I do?!?!

Just kidding, except about the haircut. We had a pretty good time, until it got cold.

Originally Posted by menace121978

nice job guys!!! thank goodness someone will get us some pics!!^^^

Yeah, yeah, yeah.....


It was almost like a little mini meet at my place Saturday. Zimmstoy got to the house pretty early, and we went ahead and finished pulling the engine, and powerwashed the frame and firewall. My fairly new powerwasher took a dump right towards the end of the first washing. Timjt came over, and picked up a couple parts. Scott and I finished cleaning up, and went and picked up the 87 SWB parts truck for him to take back to Austin, and to make sure we didn't need any parts during the swap. Auggiestyle came over, and grabbed a few things off of that, as I was stuck at O'reilly's getting parts (for an hour. Grrrr). Scoti came by, and helped us get the new engine and trans together, and get it ready to set in. His insight to what had already been done was great, and helping push it up a slippery driveway was great, too. Thanks again, Scot.

What should have slid right in place, didn't. We fought pulling the trans crossmember, as it really shouldn't have been needed. The 700R4 is a good bit bigger around, and was hanging on the floorpan with the crossmember in place. We honestly figured that we would have the engine stabbed and be in the house, warm, by 10-10:30 ish. Not a chance. The frustration level went up as the temperature outside dropped, and the the truck was partway outsideso we couldn't shut the door. I am glad to be back to work so I can relax today.

[JohnC]

Glad to see you got a thread started man! Looking forward to the progress, and like Dennis stated. PICS!!!!

[Jonboy]

Oh, I almost forgot. Scott picked up an NOS grille for me, too. My old one was nice, but this one is nicer. No pics of that, either.

[SCOTI]

You need one of those gas space heaters for those occassions where the door can't be closed.