Project "49 No Buck$"

[playinsafe44]

Do you think you are going to have the annoying problem of those retractors locking up on you randomly? It looks like your mounting the retractor 90 degrees from the the way it was mounted from the factory. I'm just curious because I'd like to do this in the future. Your build is great!!!

[kustombrad]

This little trick I learned from a friend of mine who did a lot race car prep. Put a jackstand (or something kinda heavy) at all 4 corners. Now I used 1/16" nylon rope/twine tied it to the stands and then set the height where the string is going though the rear axle and front spindle centerline Slide it as close as you can get it to the body without touching. Now take a straightedge and measure the leading (front) edge of the back wheel and then measure the back edge. Slide the stand until the string is dead even square on the wheel. Do BOTH sides the same way! DON'T MOVE THE STANDS! Now your string is a perfect 90 degrees with the rearend! Make sure your steering wheel is where you want it and then check your measurement same way on the front wheel. Adjust your tie-rods or cross link until the front wheels are perfect with the string. Once it's even on BOTH sides, you've now squared the front and rear together! I'll still take it and get the alignment done (caster/camber) but this will give you a really good idea of where you're at!

[weaintscared]

Cool ride
My build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=468622

[kustombrad]

As far as mounting the seatbelts that way, that's how the retractable part mounts. These aren't factory so don't go off of other ones. If I laid it flat it would want to bend the mount up during lock up instead of pulling evenly. I messed around with it and I don't think they'll lock up randomly.
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[ratty 46]

I dig the hose idea along with the late model gm under hood add on.

Sounds great too.

Ratty 46

[kustombrad]

Alternator mount... Took a stock, late model mount I had laying around and decided to clean it up a bit. Used masking tape to mark where I'd cut then put it on to see how it will look (it's bare metal in the pic) Hey, I'm still doing cheap and simple!

[kustombrad]

This little deal was just to make driving a bit easier. Anyone with AC on a carburated vehicle knows it can be kind of a pain. It idles high when the AC is off or dies when it's on and the idle is set too low. I grabbed an idle solenoid off an '81 Malibu with a Quadrajet trimmed the bracket to fit around the accelerator pump and bolted it to the carb stud When I finish wiring the truck, this will be inline with the AC system. When the AC is turned on, the solenoid will push the throttle just enough to raise the idle (easily adjustable) so the engine won't die. Pretty inexpensive (nearly free!) and it works well!

[daverod]

Lots of good cheap ideas. Just what I need, cheap.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by kustombrad

This little deal was just to make driving a bit easier. Anyone with AC on a carburated vehicle knows it can be kind of a pain. It idles high when the AC is off or dies when it's on and the idle is set too low.

Something I had not even thought of since I haven't driven an old car with AC for so long. Will add it to the list for my next junk yard run. Also, public thanks for the pulley! Patrick

[ChuckDriver]

Man you've really done some great work! Thanks for sharing!

[kustombrad]

Didn't want anyone to think I've been slacking, but I actually have been getting stuff done! Put new window channel, rubber and felt (what a major pain!), rebuilt and painted the factory heater (I'll show pics after it's striped) and finished my AC and power steering mounts! I've been busy on it! Sunday, Alex came over and started laying out the wiring (I hate electrical and he's THE man!!) and I will say it'll be way nice! I took the old windshields out to put new glass and rubber in and finished up the striping on the dash now that I could get my hand up there! I then decided to have a little fun... I bought a little Tiki guy, cut the base off of him and put him on a surfboard made out of 16 gauge steel and some bondo. I then shaped an old striping brush drenched in catalyzed clear, painted the surfboard, glued the brush on to my little guy and TA DA.... Surfer Tiki Striper! When the truck is finished, he will be the final touch!

[VA72C10]

That's cool! Will be a neat touch!!!

[xpickup]

I like that very much. That is cool how you made the Tiki guy personalized and the stripping brush line up with the stripe. Very cool.

Shannon

[52 Rat]

Now that is original; thinking out of the box! Nice touch!

[ChuckDriver]

Very COOL!!

[kustombrad]

Now it's getting to the time consuming parts! Doing the wiring at the moment and trying to hide everything! My friend Alex had a great idea for hiding the wiring in the intake area, so I fabbed up 2 looms out of some bar stock and a cut in half 40"x3/8" fuel line. I'll put black shrink wrap over the wires so the colors don't jump out so much. The only other wires you see, is where these come out of the lower toe board from the interior and that's only if you really look for them. I also brought the hot wire for the coil from inside the cab, so the engine compartment is very clean. That ugly HEI is going away soon too! Cleaned up the heater, blasted and painted it then threw some lines on it. I think I need to add some blue and green to tie in with the dash

[VA72C10]

Love the heater box and the wiring looks really clean!!!

[Kabwe]

Everything looks great and it was really nice meeting you last weekend. You and Alex are really cool guys.

[chevyrestoguy]

You showed the world my wiring idea (the tube) before I could copyright it. My lawyers will be calling and issuing a "cease and desist" order.

It's always so cool to go over to the shop and see how much more you've gotten done. You're getting close!!!!!!!

[ChuckDriver]

Hey, that was my idea! Nice work!

[LOW DOUGH]

Thumbs up
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[kustombrad]

Chuck, your engine compartment looks AMAZING!!!

[ChuckDriver]

Originally Posted by kustombrad

Chuck, your engine compartment looks AMAZING!!!

Thanks! I'd have say everything you've done looks AMAZING!

[kustombrad]

Went to Pick n Pull again this Sat. to look for some dumb little things (light pigtails, taillight brackets, etc.) and got one more thing crossed off my checklist! The front signals (or running lights, I'm not sure) on these trucks are just set up for just one of those things but not both. I found some old motorhome taillights that had a small 1157 style bulb bracket that I trimmed up and bolted inside of the stock truck light holder after I sandblasted it and painted it silver again I used amber bulbs because I thought they'd look cool with the stock clear lenses. Now the truck has running lights AND turn signals! Here's how they look in park mode

[Kim57]

It's been a while since I've caught up on your thread. The truck is coming along great and sounds killer.
Kim