Project Daily Crew

[71blksuper4x4]

Hey guys, with putting in lots of fab time in on my 72 Crew Cab project, and having open heart surgery last summer, I decided to buy a truck to build and drive in the meantime while continuing my big build.
I found a 89' V3500 for a good price and went to look at it which I bought and drove home. Enjoying the feeling of driving an old truck, plus a crew cab, which is a new feeling for me. The truck came with a set of brand new SRW Hubs, so that was a plus.
Here she was when I drove her home.

[71blksuper4x4]

Drug it home and began Dismantling. Decided it was too long for me, so chopped her down. Found a usuable bed floor in a salvage yard for $100 and decided to buy new bedsides. Also, converted the front to SRW.

[71blksuper4x4]

Then came the itch to lift her. Had a set of new 37" 16.5 wheels and tires. Started with a 4" I bought from a salvage yard with a 1" ez rate in the front. These are without lift in the rear yet.

[71blksuper4x4]

Finally got the rear lifted via an ORD 4" Shackle flip and stock 1ton springs.

[71blksuper4x4]

Got my bedsides but didn't want to wait for Classic Parts to get some in with doors, so I just picked so.e up at LMC and added the doors in to keep moving.

[jhama78]

I dig it, especially like the aluminum slots.

[71blksuper4x4]

Then found a great body for my truck only an hour away. So I pulled the trigger and drug it home and began Dismantling again.

[71blksuper4x4]

Started pulling the red body off the frame. It's drivetrain was 454, th400, np205. The C30 was 454,4 speed.

[71blksuper4x4]

The back half of the C30 frame was in a lot better shape than the v3500's. So I decided to rob the 4x4 brackets off the red frame and out them on the gray frame and redo my frame chop with the better section. I would rather it be done right and it only made sense to use it since I had it. It was also when i located a FF14bolt and rebuilt it. So out came the Dana70HD.

[71blksuper4x4]

Found a great deal on a nv4500 on Craigslist and figured it would make this truck come alive more than the th400 auto. Stepped up and bought the advanced adapters conversion bellhousing, slave bracket, and spacer to make the job easier.

[71blksuper4x4]

Figured it was time to clean up the frame. I sandblasted the frame and expoxy primed, then good ole tractor paint for the frame. I have had great results with the tractor paint holding up on frames.

[71blksuper4x4]

Picked up some 16x10 Eagles and modified Chevy caps to work with them. Also found a set of brand new 315/75/16 Goodyear Duratracs for an unbeatable price.

[71blksuper4x4]

Also pulled the engine for some tlc.

[71blksuper4x4]

Got the engine sat back in the frame, and that's where I am now.

[MTCK]

Holy cow. Cool truck and nice work. How long have you been at the project? Keeping the TBI on the 454?

[71blksuper4x4]

I drove the truck home in March, and have occasionally been working on her.
I will be keeping the TBI unit on the 454, that's until I run into a 12V Cummins maybe. It wouls be nice to already double the mileage.

[gearheads78]

LOL at this being the small filler project. Nice work!

[71blksuper4x4]

I did get the tranny and transfer case in. Had to make a 2" square tube spacer for the bottom of the nv4500 to work. Also replaced my rear driveshaft joints.

[ironroad9c1]

Man I hate to see a long bed truck cut up and go to a more useless bed, but the resto work looks good ..

[71blksuper4x4]

Got some more done on the old girl. Deciding paint colors since I am just about to that stage.

[87max]

looking good!

[lt1wrangler]

That looks really good!