72 Longbed "Project Grinder"

[silverspeed04]

So this is the beginning. The picture I am attaching is the image I pulled from Craigslist in Nashville last deployment. I had my wife sell our CJ7 and a week later I had her pick it up. I am 30 years old and had waited for this truck for 15 years....I have it now. I have some more pictures being taken as I had to set it aside for a while but finally am at a point to start a rebirth.

I know this is a build page and after this it will stay a build...A short background of myself. I grew up driving anything I could, installing car stereos and changing oil, little things just to be close to anything with gears or wheels. I had minimal training after high school but was too cocky to learn the basics of what I needed to know. Since then I have spent the last 10 years in the Army, 1st as a radio retrans operator and the last 6 years as a IT/data management administrator. In the mean time, I have been the neighborhood repair guy, fixing anything with wheels to fund my personal hobbies, cars, trucks, bikes, quads, anything that goes fast. So with no formal knowledge of mechanics I figured it out. Watching the odler guys I look up to. Talking to people, reading forums, just observing then applying.

The picture doesnt clarify the rust holes hidden under the rocker panels, the holes, in the inner cab above the visors, a heater on a toggle switch (lol). Those pictures will be up soon. I have to finish tearing down the truck and get the panels blasted to see how much I am going to have to replace or what kind of body work I am looking at.

Plans include
LS swap, trying for an LQ9 but looking more like a 5.3
4L85 Tranny
CPP big brake kit
CPP 3/5 drop
All new bolts and weatherstripping from LMC
Shaved cab, doors, (still debating the side markers)
US Mags Rambler Wheels 22x8.5/22x10
BFG Rubbers
Dakota Digital Guages
Seats from 03-05 Chevy
Custom Center Console
Brothers Single Glass Electric windows
Mohganoy Wood Kit for the bed
Headmen Headers
QTP 3' Stainless Steel Exhaust cutouts
Magnaflow mufflers with Stainless Steel pipes for the full exhaust
Flame thrower kit for the cutouts (just for ****s and giggles)
Curry Rear End
4.10 gears
No Limit Fuel Cell
No limit ECU flash
Halogen headlights
LED tail lights
Roll Pan
Cowl Induction Hood

Still deciding on paint...I am not a big fan of chrome. Leaning towards dark/sinister look

Down the road, supercharger, audio, and maybe some general stuff as I look at it.

[silverspeed04]

Here are some of what I got.

I have removed the headlights, grille, tail lights (due to a wasp nest behind each light), insturment panel is out. Carberator got taken off so I could put a plate on it to pull it. Pulled the seat cover back all before I deployed to try and give me a better idea. Radio is out. I pulled the ashtray and made $1.36 back and traced the truck back to Oregon from the reciepts and buisness cards in there so I understand the rust...no biggie but here is m

[silverspeed04]

Heres the tail lights after I went ape **** on the wasps

[silverspeed04]

Herre are some of the inner cab roof and engine bay. The 350 is coming out..wasnt numbers matching...all the wiring was too messed up and going by-by too.

[67-72crazy]

good start so far. can't wait to see how it turns out.

[silverspeed04]

Thanks crazy...I spent some time living in greenfield. Went to hs in knightstown. btw. I was told if I build it on paper I have a better chance of completing the project...we will see

[Tinkermc]

looks like a good place 2 start plans sound very nice

[silverspeed04]

The wife's Daily Driver. Have to allot funds for that one too. lol. and the old 04 Single Cab. There will always be one in my driveway