Project Big Orange (70 to 67 ~ long to short)

[vexvader]

Thanks for all the encouragement guys!!!

Vex

[vexvader]

Still working slow and steady

Vex

[vexvader]

Well it has been over a year since the big project and I have driven it a couple thousand miles. All is good!! I still haven't squared up the frame. It drives fine so I am not real worried about it at this time. I bought a new radio and some new seat belts to throw in soon.

More to come...

[RCbowtie69]

looking good,keep up the work,love to look at the pictures of the progress,keep them coming

[vexvader]

Here is my newest acquisition. I really struggled with going 5 lug or 6 lug. The main reason I decided to good 5 lug is first of all the price I got on these but mostly the rims I want are 5 lug.

I got the rear-end and the complete spindles with new calipers and pads for $250. I could have bought the whole truck (71 long bed) for $500 but I don't have a place to keep it so, I went with just want I needed.



Here are the rims I want to get. They make something close to this but not exactly in six lug, so I needed to go 6 lug. I saw them on board members "ctrow" page and I love them.

[vexvader]

Here is a few questions that you guys might be able to help me out with.

1.) Is there a stamp on the housing of a rear end that will tell me the gear ratio? I know I can count the teeth or turn the wheels and count the shaft rotation but I was hoping to just look up a stamped number.

2.) Will the axles from a 5 lug 1971 rear end fit into a 1970 6 lug rear end? Here is why I ask. My 1970 came with a 250 inline 6 and I am pretty sure it is a 3.73 rear end. The 71 5 lug rear end I got came out a truck with a 350 so I think it is a 3.08. I am running a 700r4 trans and I am going to put 20's on it with a tire about 25' tall so a 3.08 is too high. I looked at a RPM calculator and the 3.73 puts a cursing speed of 75 mph about about 2150 RPM's which is perfect. The 3.08 would be about 1800 and I think that is too low. I would like to just swap axles if possible.

Thanks for the help!!

Vex

[Rokcrln]

No the axels will not swap over because the 6lug rear is not as wide as the 5 luger is. ECE sells axels that are 5 lug but the 6 lug length. Or you might be able to find a shop to re-drill yours for you. Are you sure the I6 had 3.73's? I have always found freeway gears in I6's and 3.73 or 4.11's in the V8's. What does the glove box SPID say on your truck (that is were the 6 luger came from right)?

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[vexvader]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

No the axels will not swap over because the 6lug rear is not as wide as the 5 luger is. ECE sells axels that are 5 lug but the 6 lug length. Or you might be able to find a shop to re-drill yours for you. Are you sure the I6 had 3.73's? I have always found freeway gears in I6's and 3.73 or 4.11's in the V8's. What does the glove box SPID say on your truck (that is were the 6 luger came from right)?

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Kevin, thanks! I am going to pull the diff cover off and just find out for sure.

PS: Your low buck build is what motivated me to join the club and start fabbing!! Thanks Bro!!!

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

No the axels will not swap over because the 6lug rear is not as wide as the 5 luger is. ECE sells axels that are 5 lug but the 6 lug length. Or you might be able to find a shop to re-drill yours for you. Are you sure the I6 had 3.73's? I have always found freeway gears in I6's and 3.73 or 4.11's in the V8's. What does the glove box SPID say on your truck (that is were the 6 luger came from right)?

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Originally Posted by vexvader

Kevin, thanks! I am going to pull the diff cover off and just find out for sure.

PS: Your low buck build is what motivated me to join the club and start fabbing!! Thanks Bro!!!

Not so fast my Friend(s)!!! Measure the 70 rearend and see if it is the same width as your 72. Some of the later model 1970 rearends were the same width as the 71/72s, they just had six lug axles. If they are thes ame width, you can swap the axles. Ask me how I know,.....I've got one sitting under one of my trucks right now, .

[vexvader]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Not so fast my Friend(s)!!! Measure the 70 rearend and see if it is the same width as your 72. Some of the later model 1970 rearends were the same width as the 71/72s, they just had six lug axles. If they are thes ame width, you can swap the axles. Ask me how I know,.....I've got one sitting under one of my trucks right now, .

Wow!! You are good. I measured my rear ends and you are right!!

I have 2 1970's and 1 1971 truck rear ends. The 71 rear end was 58 inches from drum to drum. So was one of the 70 rear ends. The other 1970 rear end was 56 inches.

I pulled the cover off the two that were 58 inches and the 71 5 lug that had a 350 SB was a 3.08 and the 1970 that had the 250 inline 6 was a 3.73.

I think that I will put the 5 lug axles in the 1970 rear end that is 58 inches and a 3.73. That way with my 700r4 trans and 25 inch tall tires, I will be at about 2100 rpm's at 77 mph.

That is a mouth full.

Thanks for all the help. I will let you guys know how it works.

Vex

[LEEVON]

Nice work on the conversion!

[vexvader]

Yep! I swapped out the 71 axles with the 70 one, no problem. Took about 10 mins. Now I have to put the rear end in the truck. That might take a little longer.

Vex
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[FRENCHBLUE72]

Nice work on the swb conversion... Good to hear you have been busy driving the wheels off it...

[67chevy1series]

glad you got it all swapped and now are driving it alot

[Mike Bradbury]

Are you done yet?
Hope you are taking pictures.

[vexvader]

Hey guys! I have not done much lately. New job, new house, new kid, so I have been busy. I did swap out the old quadrajet for a new edelbrock 4 barrel and put on a new alternator, voltage regulator and front wireing harness and it is running better than ever.

For those of you looking everywhere for a voltage regulator under $50 bucks, I got mine from Auto Zone for $24 and it works great. I may buy a second one as a spare because these are getting harder and harder to find.


I should dice back into in this spring. Pics coming soon.

VV
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[vexvader]

Updates and pics coming soon!
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[vexvader]

OK,

Here are some pics of what I have done since my last update

1. Got a 1967 front end off of CL for $100. Actually I got everything from the cab forward. I sold the bucket seats (from a Nissan it think) and then took the cab and doors to the scrap yard because they were nothing but rust. I got about $75 for the whole thing, so I only had $25 in the front end. The fenders were a little rusty so I just ordered new outer and inner fenders from Summitt. I used the hood and the front grill from my CL find and whala... I now have a 1967. I need to fill the maker lights on the bed.

[vexvader]

#2

I was having some serious electrical issues. The battery wouldn't charge, and then it would overcharge and boil, ect. Through the trouble shooting process I replaced almost everything.

- Replaced the battery & cables
- Replaces the voltage regulator
- Replaced the starter (Summit High Torque)
- Rewired much of the front end (I need to rewire the whole thing)

[vexvader]

#3

I finally got ride of the old Quadra Jet. Know they are good cabs and I probably should have just rebuilt it, but Summit had this 650 CFM Edelbrock on sale for $199 and I had a $50 credit, so I couldn't resist.

It runs much better and I don't have to pour gas in the cab if I don't start it every day. It sat for almost month this winter (I know what was I thinking) but it fired right up.

[vexvader]

I need to set my timing and my steering pump is in the way.

I also, do not see a timing tap on the block.

I found the groove in the balance, but I have no idea how to reference it.

I have a chrome timing tab that came with the dress up kit. Should I take off the pump, install the tab and then set the timing?

[vexvader]

I'm still alive. Posting some new pics soon

[vexvader]

My transmission (700r4) went out on me, so I pulled it this weekend. Going to clean up the motor with some new gaskets, detail the engine bay, and drop it all back in with a new trans. I will take some more pics and up load them soon.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1496794294

[NewType72]

Bummer on the trans going out but awesome conversion on the rear end axles that's so awesome!