'78 3/4 ton 4x4 FRANKENTRUCK

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Y'all!
I have this truck,...
Started with my ol' '73 3/4 ton 4x4 flatbed, from Missouri, that has a rotted and fractured cab. Dana 44 with Warn locking hubs, 5560 lb rated rear axle, 350/TH350/NP205. Asked around, and a buddy of mine told me he was buying a truck for $250 for the 350 V8 that had 15,000 miles on a rebuild (!!). Only 12 miles up the road, nearly in WY, out with the cattle in a field. Drove up and was shocked to find a near perfect '78 3/4 ton 4x4 P/U! 350/TH400/NP203.
Several trips to prepare the truck for flatbedding and $110, and it was in my drive. My friend and I pulled the 350 V8 from the P/U, and then the flatbed, and hauled his engine to his house. I proceeded to yank the entire drivetrain from each truck, used the flatbed's 350 as a core for my 350 shortblock and built myself QUITE an engine,...identical to the torque motor I built for my '76 Camaro. 410 ftlbs torque and about 325 hp. Swapped the axles, from one truck to the other, and had the P/U's TH400 rebuilt with the truck application in mind. My wife started calling the P/U FRANKENTRUCK, due to the mix of parts, and the name has stuck.
Found a great 4x4 dedicated company in Carbondale, CO called Off Road Design (they're at offroaddesign.com!) and the owner helped me discover that my TH400 required a "rare as the dodo" long output shaft to mate with the "bulletproof" NP205. Lots of calls and Plues, in Denver, was able to supply me with a two wheel drive long output shaft that is identical to the 4WD version, but is tapped for the yoke. AAMCO was kind enough to disassemble, install, and re-assemble the freshly rebuilt TH400 for me for free (You cannot imagine how embarassing a mistake that was! Glad I impressed them with my mechanical ability before they found out I'd missed a huge detail in my build plan!).
Off Road Design also sells a repro of the other "rare as the dodo" part that I needed, the TH400/NP205 adapter,...also bought a kick-ass rebuilt NP205 from them that has machined shift rails and a twin stick shifter. The two combined solves an age-old sloppy shifter that the NP205 originally had, and allows independant control of the front and rear axles. Rear wheel high/low, 4x4 high/low and FRONT wheel drive high/low!! The Dana 44 also allows me to unlock the front hubs to save gas and wear on the front axle when two wheeling.
New steel hood, tall tires, minor floor repair (with underlayment, 1/4" foil-backed wool, and new full-floor vinyl covering to finish the floors), new dashpad, and new upholstery. Finished returning the electrical system to factory condition last eve and yanked the 3 port fuel selector valve (!) so I can re-connect the twin fuel tanks. Pulled the fuel tanks (they were left uncapped in the field for four years and found the cheap aftermarket fuel tank full of running rust. Into the back of the flatbed it went with all the other left over crap to get hauled to the junkyard when I'm done (it'll get me $100/ton as scrap!). The flatbed's factory tank was shiny clean inside, just like FRANKENTRUCK's factory tank, so a little more swapping ensued! Got a new 6 port valve coming to properly swap the tanks and I have a Summit electric fuel pump to supply my 600 Holley.
The 350 is a 4blt main with 67cc chamber World heads (9.2:1 compression and 2.02/1.60 intake/exhaust valves), a Crane cam advanced 4 degrees with roller tipped rockers, Weiand manifold, and shorty headers.
Whew!! Enough of that, how 'bout a pic or two?
This is what I found near Wyoming, out with the cows:

These are the donor flatbed and FRANKENTRUCK next to my big garage:

FRANKENTRUCK in my big garage and it's 350 V8 (fender off for door alignment, and I'm still testing the stitch weld around the upper hinge where someone tryed to rip the door off the hinges,...ya know how folks like to throw the door open! Not good for any vehicle, especially these ol' GM products):

New dashpad and flooring installed:

And, finally, my upholstery job, toasting in the near 100 degree heat (softens, tightens, and smooths the freshly hog-ringed vinyl) last weekend:

Just need to put it all together now, so out to the garage I go!! Todd.

[Walts_restoration]

Looking good man, i cant wait to see it together.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! 'bout stroked in the garage today,...it was 103 outside, hit over 93 in the garage, and installing the heater control and cables nearly did me in,...no air circulation in there! It's 89 in the house. Cooling off now,...slightly anyway.
Snapped the bolt and threads off my fuel tank mounting strap from the flatbed's fuel tank. Also snapped off the bolt that secures the plastic tank protector, so I think I'll check the junkyard for the entire unit,...short mounting angle and attached strap. I'll look for a fuel filler spout of the same type that's in my '78 also. The '73 has a short flange for the gas cap (tightens up flush), and when my aux tank is installed, the hole will not be recessed as on the passenger's side. That longer flange will allow the cap to extend beyond the body surface, allowing me to mount the filler spout from behind the hole in the body rather than on the outside, like factory. More work after it becomes reasonable outside and in the garage. Todd.

[andresco50]

Nice seat man congrats

[old Rusty C10]

looks great!! we need lots more pics tho

[Walts_restoration]

I dont use the plastic tank protectors, took em off all mine after one rusted a hole in my dads tank, stuff gets inside it and no way to get it so it rusts the tank. Luckily we fixed his with some jb weld (old work truck, nothing nice and dont owe us a thing)

[Pyrotechnic]

Nice project, I like the color. Is that one of those chrome grills from LMC ?

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Pyrotechnic! You're absolutely correct,...LMC for that and Classic Industries for alot of the rest! Thanks for the complements, all! Geeze, more pics,...well I best get my butt in gear! Be right back! Todd.

[Walts_restoration]

your still up? its two am over here.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! I was, 'till about two thirty,...a whole lot cooler than at four PM!! About passed out in the truck yesterday afternoon, despite having soaked my head with water! 103 outside, 93 in the stuffy garage, and the gargage fan is ineffective inside the truck.
Installed my new chrome tailgate handle:

You can see where the cows chewed FRANKENTRUCK,...can't wait to yank that bumper and install my new chrome one!
Threw the instrument panel in place for a quick shot this AM after my heater control installation (that nearly killed me!), and glueing my loose shifter tube in place (retaining tabs were broken, and I KNOW where PRNDL2L1 are! Stupid idea using a cable attached to a rotating tube to move the spring -loaded indicator needle! Camaro has the same thing (moved by the console shifter!!), but it was repairable):

I still need to investigate rebuilding the horn mechanism,...I've got the pad for it, but nothing to secure it with so far.
Here's what FRANKENTRUCK is NOT supposed to have:

And probably what everybody is waiting to see, the NP205 with machined shift rails and twin stick:

It'll be what diverts all that torque and horsepower to the desired wheels!!
And I just couldn't resist getting one more pic at 2:30 AM, just for fun:

BTW, the color IS just perfect for a FRANKENTRUCK isn't it?! Green.
Cooler today, so off I go. Later, Todd

[68GMC454]

that is a nice truck fro being out in a cow pasture....

[Walts_restoration]

Originally Posted by asphaltburner

And probably what everybody is waiting to see, the NP205 with machined shift rails and twin stick:

It'll be what diverts all that torque and horsepower to the desired wheels!!

I want it...... *scratches at screen*

[babyJay]

Nice project. I also dig that color, it fits the name perfectly.

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Looking good so far keep up the good work!

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Thanks Y'all!
Pulled that ugly bumper today! Took two hours, and finally had to break two nuts to get it off and into the flatbed,...$100/ton when I'm done! Finally torqued all the wheel nuts,...since brakes and axles seem to be in good order. Designed the fuel system plumbing and electical. Cleaned up and put tools away, and made a list of final parts so I can make the purchases and plan next week. Gotta hit the junkyard for that fueltank mounting strap and attached short hanger. Also helping a friend sell his '79 Berlinetta, so gotta find time for that too. Todd.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Been dealing with the friend and his Berlinetta,...trying to get it sold. And work has kept me late each evening so far.
Some of my stuff showed up today from LMC Truck, so I installed new inner door glass seals on both sides, and a driver's glass run,...others are tolerable as is. New cowl screen too, and filler spout and vent rubbers came. Fuel senders and the rest of the parts for the fuel system should arrive tomorrow, and I'll hit the junkyard on my day off, Thursday, for the short fuel tank mounting bracket and strap. Then I can install the tanks, cut a new hole for the driver's side aux. tank, and install the remainder of the fuel system. Once that's done, it's driveline installation,...all ready to go, just need to wait for the tank installation, etc,...so it's out of the way, and I won't have to work around it. One step at a time. Todd.

[Walts_restoration]

good luck on his berlinetta, im looking at a 78 berlinetta with t tops right now


Then ill hotrod my gold 80 and make the 78 a driver.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Ryan! I sure love driving my '76 Camaro. It screams! Same engine as this truck,..411 ftlbs torque, about 325hp. Rumbles at idle! Burns the 295/50/15's at will. Dangerous on the wet pavement, and you could powerbrake 'till the cows come home on cement! Came out very nice! Can't wait to see what FRANKENTRUCK's 4.11:1 gears and tall tires can do with the same! Todd.

[Walts_restoration]

im planning a n/a 377, 6" rods right at 10.9 compression ratio and a roller cam, maybe efi but for right now ive got a nib 750 double pumper for the little gold car.

[hdflstf]

ORD twin stick is a nice setup. You might be tight on clearance to the bench seat though.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! hdflstf!
Thanks! I've been eyeballing that since I got the NP205,...the twin stick will reside almost directly over the crossmember and I believe that will put it just slightly aft of the original NP203 shift location. Looks like I could be OK and I have fairly long legs, and the TH400 (no clutch is what I mean), so I could leave the seat adjusted back a bit. If it's a problem, I'll be doing some interior alteration! I'll see as I put it together and let y'all know. Todd.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Spent this AM buying a '76 fuel tank from the junkyard,...meant to get a replacement hanger and strap but found the '73 hanger to have a different bolt pattern, and the flatbeds' tank had been banged at the front, so thought I'd chance buying the whole thing. Good thing I did! Not only is the bolt pattern a bit different, but this '76 tank is perfect, and IS an auxillary tank! Mirror image of the '78 FRANKENTRUCK's tank and mountings. So I don't even have to turn the straps around! Shiny inside, and now washed and dryed inside and out.
Spent a good portion of the day on the phone helping Classic Industries figure out a fuel sender mislabelling problem,...seems their supplier has mislabelled LH fuel tank senders as RH, and when I got off the phone this eve, my rep was going to pull ten of the thirty they have to see if ANY of them are RH senders,...he hopes there weren't 1000 of them to begin with!! Imagine the return issue! Yipes!!
Used my 9" grinder to remove the eight rivets that secure the farthest rear crossmember in the P/U,...somebody tryed to tow/pull something BIG and bent it nearly 90 degrees! Didn't effect the frame back there, but it was partially torn away. I can use the identical crossmember from the flatbed, and bolt it in with grade eights.
Gotta start installing my new fuel tank valve that'll swap tanks for me, and the Summit electric pump. I changed my mind and expect to mount the pump within the angle of the frame just aft of the emergency brake mechanism. It'll be at the level of the bottom of the tanks, well protected, and away from the driveline/tcase. Coming along,...Todd.

[Walts_restoration]

Sounding good man, im hoping to find a 4x4 frame soon, might just stick another front clip on my 77 and run it as a 2wd for a while, then tear it down next summer when i can drive my camaro again and convert it to a 4x4 fix the rust and paint it.

[DirtyLarry]

Man, that is a great ranch score and a cool project you got going on. Very nice work and good taste with your resurrection style and choice of components. There are so many idiots around these days that would have just hacked up a perfectly restorable truck and made a truggie out of it or something stupid. Wish you lived closer and I would be over there playing trucks with you.

I hear you on the heat lately. I was trying to work through some fine ECM tuning calibrations Saturday to finish up my 8.1L swap while it was a 108 degrees in my garage. My laptop got so hot it finally shut itself down. Come January we will wish for those 100 degree days again.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! DirtyLarry!
A huge bow, and thank you very much for your appreciation of what I'm trying to do! What a nice post! Thank you!
Got home this eve from work and tackled the big one,...driveline installation! A little nervous, since I'm designing into the "dark zone" as far as I know! And I'm not sure how I'll get the tranny and tcase installed,...and in what order! TH400 mounted to the crossmember, sealed to the adapter with RTV and paper gasket,...slipped under the truck on my creeper and jacked with cedar blocks, NP205 ready to mate with the tranny, sitting on my 3 ton jack and plywood:


If they could build pyramids, I can sure build a truck!
Need to do this now, because I'm unable to design the fuel system without knowing the final position of the driveline parts. Still think I might resort to mounting the electric fuel pump on a steel shield attached to the crossmember,...better routing. More progress tomorrow,...beer tonight!!
Cool that our tiny town had a huge fireworks display downtown (about a mile away) just as I started my driveline installation! Easily visible from outside my garage. Todd.