Lurker OrrieG Progress Pics

[solidaxel]

Thanks for the tip on the shifter cable.

[OrrieG]

I switched out my avatar for an older picture. This one was taken in 1985 right after the first 4wd conversion. Wife was cute is that 80's perm. It also still had a shine to the paint. heres a bigger version

[sgtusmc]

Hats off to ya OrrieG. That's some very clean work there.

[discodadee]

I really like those original wheels Orrie, am I correct in assuming those are the factory '59 rims on the '70s axles? And did you have to modify the fronts to fit over the locking hubs at all? Or did they just bolt right on? And what size tire is that? I have a '57 GMC I'm working on sitting on an eighties chassis and love the look of those old-school wheels with the tall skinny tires!!

[OrrieG]

Here is one 23 years later! I used it for a second spare. I wanted the knarlly stock look I remembered from the stock 4wd trucks the logger drove in the 60's. I think they are the wheels that came with the 74 running gear. The codes on the wheel is K-1-2 and CZ. The first is November 1971, 2nd shift. I couldn't find the CZ code online. I ran them because they are wider than the stock wheels. I tried 9.00 x 16 but had clearance issues in the front. The tire size on it is 7.00 x 16 Zenith Ultra Traction Lug. Lots of traction, but lots of noise and they were the old bias not radials. When they wore out I got 225/75/16 all weather tread which are about the same height but no noise or thump when cold. They have the center raised cap retainer, not clips. I was going to run dog dish caps but never got around to it, just tuned up the white paint with Rustoleum every few years. There were no fit issues since they are the same year range as the axles. I just noticed this one has tube, but that was so I could repair them back in the sticks if necessary. The ones with radials mounted fine without tubes.

Later: I have some stock 59 rims and can check them on the 74 axles if you want me to.

[discodadee]

Don't bother! You more than answered my question and hit that '60's logger look perfectly! Not too mention getting my hands on some early '70's rims should be much easier than original style fifties rims...right now I'm rolling some el cheap-o '80's chrome rims that are more rust than chrome and look super generic (but not in a good way...)

[OrrieG]

Lazy weekend. Worked on the trans cooler. In 85 I got a cooling condenser out of a small HVAC unit and had a contractor friend braze on some barb fittings. I ran high temp hoses to the trans, it worked fine. I decided to move it to the frame rail under the passenger floor well, I figure it is large enough to work there. If it heats up I left room for a fan. Took about 2 hours to straighten out all the fins, a couple more to decide how to plumb it (flare vs. ??) ended up decidiing to extend the 3/8" copper and use the barbs with short hoses at the trans. That will give me some flexibility. I made up the frame mounts, it will mount to the top or the frame when I pull the cab for final blocking.