'51 Hodge Podge

[joedoh]

looks cool!

[kvjb]

Originally Posted by joedoh

looks cool!

Thanks, I had a look through your thread and I enjoy the symbiosis of your builds. I imagine it's more cost effective that way, not to mention time saved hunting down parts. One day I'd like to try doing a swap with a Crown Vic chassis, keeping all the systems, and a TF body. It would take some planning tho, the missus gets annoyed with just one vehicle blown apart around the yard. Something about having to park on the street...

[kvjb]

Ok, what's next. I put the stock truck exhaust manifolds on and there was definitely a spatial conflict between them and the frame rails.

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The drivers side is worse but nothing a little surgery couldn't cure. I also had to make a relief for the steering shaft, it protrudes about a 1/4" into the exhaust path. The drivers side will still flow better than the stock stock passenger side tho so I'm content with the way it turned out. I have no idea whether they'll hold up after a few heat cycles but they are currently crack free. I'll get some pics with them mounted as soon as the engine is back in.

[kvjb]

I finally got around to doing some work on the firewall, a chore I was loathing since the beginning. Filled 83 holes, moved the steering column hole over an inch and welded on a backing plate for the brake booster.

I also test fit the cross member and trailing arms from a '71 c-10 and bolted up an 8.8 rear end from an Explorer. I'm not too sure what path I'll head down for the rear suspension. I'm leaning towards a basic shrader valve air bag set up. I like the idea of having adjustable spring rate as well as the ability to haul stuff on occasion.

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[kvjb]

I've been slacking this week and haven't done a whole lot on the truck. I find that if my momentum slows on a build, I start working on something else so I decided to put the bed on to check the fit. I bought some 18x7.5" steel wheels a few months back from a Ford Escape, they have a fairly high positive offset that worked perfect on the front, not so much on the back. The bedsides fouled by about 3" each side so I had a go at flipping the barrels on the wheels.

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I should have about 1/2" of clearance to the fender if I measured right ( sometimes a crapshoot tho). I'll put the bed on tomorrow and see what's up.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by kvjb

Thanks, I had a look through your thread and I enjoy the symbiosis of your builds. I imagine it's more cost effective that way, not to mention time saved hunting down parts. One day I'd like to try doing a swap with a Crown Vic chassis, keeping all the systems, and a TF body. It would take some planning tho, the missus gets annoyed with just one vehicle blown apart around the yard. Something about having to park on the street...

thanks! and I bought a house with a 200ft driveway and at the end of a dead end street for that exact reason, only a couple people even see my stuff.


I like how you flipped the barrels, I was thinking of 18" camaro steels with reverse offset for the next one

[kvjb]

That sounds like the perfect setup Joedoe. Our next house will definitely have an expansive yard, I'd love to have somewhere to park a trailer.
The 18" Camaro steelies would be a nice choice, I've only seen one set for sale and fella wanted $800 for them. I'm assuming they are more reasonable around your parts.

[lv2tri2]

Originally Posted by kvjb

Thanks, I had a look through your thread and I enjoy the symbiosis of your builds. I imagine it's more cost effective that way, not to mention time saved hunting down parts. One day I'd like to try doing a swap with a Crown Vic chassis, keeping all the systems, and a TF body. It would take some planning tho, the missus gets annoyed with just one vehicle blown apart around the yard. Something about having to park on the street...

Had to look up Symbiosis, but I agree.

[kvjb]

Originally Posted by lv2tri2

Had to look up Symbiosis, but I agree.

Haha, I don't think I've ever used it before but it seemed fitting...

[kvjb]

I managed to put the box on yesterday to check the wheel offset and the wheelbase, quite the ordeal by yourself.

[IMG][/IMG]

I'm happy with the way the wheels sit in the fenders so I trued up the centers and welded them in. Wound up with 5.5" of backspacing on the 7.5" rims. It gives me about 3/4" clearance on each side. Hopefully it will be enough with Heim joints on the panhard bar.

[IMG][/IMG]

I also decided to put in a small notch in the frame. I used some 4" pipe and then I got ridiculous with the reinforcements. A 5/16" plate in the center of the frame over the notch, another on the outside of the frame and then boxed the inside as well. There is a thread on here where someone ran all the numbers and said that with the outside plate and the boxing plate, the frame would be as strong as original so I added one more to the equation just in case. I plan to use it as a truck on occasion.

[IMG][/IMG]

[lv2tri2]

Originally Posted by kvjb

I managed to put the box on yesterday to check the wheel offset and the wheelbase, quite the ordeal by yourself.

[IMG][/IMG]

I'm happy with the way the wheels sit in the fenders so I trued up the centers and welded them in. Wound up with 5.5" of backspacing on the 7.5" rims. It gives me about 3/4" clearance on each side. Hopefully it will be enough with Heim joints on the panhard bar.

[IMG][/IMG]

I also decided to put in a small notch in the frame. I used some 4" pipe and then I got ridiculous with the reinforcements. A 5/16" plate in the center of the frame over the notch, another on the outside of the frame and then boxed the inside as well. There is a thread on here where someone ran all the numbers and said that with the outside plate and the boxing plate, the frame would be as strong as original so I added one more to the equation just in case. I plan to use it as a truck on occasion.

[IMG][/IMG]

The notch is very well done, should not ever be a concern