Project "49 No Buck$"

[jackson]

Originally Posted by kustombrad

It didn't have a core/radiator support when I got it, so I just kinda faked it. I left the hood on and took the fenders, grill and the other sheetmetal off as one piece. When I put it back together I closed the hood, bolted the frontend to the cab and made the front frame support brackets (see page 10) to support the sheetmetal. It works good!
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thats kinda what i was thinking would work. cool, thanks

[kustombrad]

If anyone gets bored, here's the build on the 'Camino I did for my dad http://www.chevelles.com/forums/show...29#post2797929

[Kim57]

The El Camino came out great.
Kim

[kustombrad]

I forgot to show this awhile back. I found this in an old motorhome and thought it would be cool in the truck. An SW Motor Minder vacuum gauge! It's kinda cool watching how it works while cruising!

[OrrieG]

Vaccum gauge is becoming a forgotten dianostic tool. If you look in the old (before mid-60's) auto manual it is the first tool of choice for figuring out what is going on in a carburated engine. I learned from my Dad how you can use it to check timing, vaccum leaks, and valve and ring sealing. That and a timing light and dwell meter could cover most of the tuning problems. I'll need to check out your Elky link, I'm a Gold member over there but haven't spent much time since I started on the truck.

[kustombrad]

This one was more for the goofy cool factor, but I use a vacuum gauge for most of my engine stuff! Use it for dialing in the idle air bleeds on the Holley and adjusting the valves! It's amazing how helpful they are for tuning a motor!

[99 to Life]

second that on the vacuum, I run a gauge on my firewall. I'd trust it over a timing tape if you don't know if your balancer is true zero. It's just a great tool all way around.

[iehotrod]

Originally Posted by 67 cst swb

Dude, love the wheels...


These are on my "68 shortbox 2wd build...

You mean your 68 frame rails. LOL nah I Kid, I Kid...... I awsome wheels I totally dig them who makes them?

[jackson]

brad , my buddies are all telling me it cost just as much to do the mustang ll as it would your way with doing all the bushings balljoints etc. i told them they were on crack. tell me im wrong

[99 to Life]

The cheapest IFS I have seen complete was like 1100 and most are like 1800+ depending on your preference with bagging or what stages you want. I'd say you can considerably do the s-10 cheaper. I got my drop spindles used but pretty much bought new everything, stripped it and painted it and I'd have to look at receipts but I doubt it was even 1100 and we are talking front to back. It can be long debated but s-10 route will be cheaper. It's all preference. If I had money falling into my pockets I'd do IFS's on most builds but the s-10 has its pros and cons. I definitely like having the strength of the s-10 frame though. Just my take on it.

[jackson]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

The cheapest IFS I have seen complete was like 1100 and most are like 1800+ depending on your preference with bagging or what stages you want. I'd say you can considerably do the s-10 cheaper. I got my drop spindles used but pretty much bought new everything, stripped it and painted it and I'd have to look at receipts but I doubt it was even 1100 and we are talking front to back. It can be long debated but s-10 route will be cheaper. It's all preference. If I had money falling into my pockets I'd do IFS's on most builds but the s-10 has its pros and cons. I definitely like having the strength of the s-10 frame though. Just my take on it.

i have an s10 ext cab i dropped 4/3 dropped spidles i" springs in front rear stock leafs with one leaf pulled with 3" blocks and it rides stiffer than i like. im a little nervous going with the s10 frame on an ad truck and putting it in the weeds . i cant afford bags

[kustombrad]

Hey Guys! I went with the Malibu front clip because I knew where to score one for nothing and didn't want to spend the money on the Mustang II front suspension. The same price, not even close! You could find a front clip for a $200, drop spindles for $150, bushings etc. $250, turn the rotors and go! Waaaaay cheaper than the other, just lots more fab work. The S10 thing is kind of cool. I had a truck here I did some paint work on that was an S10 chassis and other than not liking how they mounted the rear shocks (way wrong) it drove very nice! It had front and rear wheels with very little backspace to kick them out without using spacers and it wasn't bad. For the price it's not a bad idea either!

[xpickup]

kustombrad, On my panel I used the whole Malibu chassis, just made it to the wheelbase I needed. On it I did not even need to run spacers/adapters and the wheels fit great. Now on a truck I would just use the clip because I do not know how the rear frame would be with bed. But most just raise the bed floor anyway, so it would probably work to. Nice looking truck.


Shannon

[kustombrad]

Trying to finish up some little details and one was the door armrests. New they cost between $30-35 per side and with as little as I've spent I couldn't justify it. I took a measurement of the door screw spacing and figured I'd do a little research. One thing I love about the Chevy R&D guys is they used a lot of the same things and measurements on LOTS of their stuff! Makes it nice when you want to be creative. So I'm walking around the boneyards looking for something that would work and noticed the 70's Chevy vans had the same screw spacing as the early truck! DON'T use the later ones because the holes go at an upward angle and won't work. Alex found 2 perfect ones out of a '77 (Ice Cream van!) with no windows, so they didn't get rotted out. 8 bucks for the pair, cleaned them up, sprayed the same vinyl dye I used on the other plastic in the truck and I have my low-buck arm rests!

[VA72C10]

Those look great! Look like the 69-71 style ones...

[jackson]

just wondering if you used the ad core support with the malibu front steer . what kind of clearance problems would you run into

[kustombrad]

For those who were wondering, there are 2 versions of the plastic I used; Komatex and Sintra sign PVC. I'm pretty sure I used the 4mm thick version. Hope that helps...

[kustombrad]

I don't think the factory core support would have been a problem. If it had, you could always do a little surgery!

[BC Toy chest]

Kool dor panel.

[kustombrad]

Im having a ball driving this thing! I changed out the converter to a 2200-2500 rpm because I was hating stop lights with the cam it has in it. While I was at it I took the trans back out and had it reconverted into a lockup to see if I could get a little better mileage. I put a switch under the dash so I can turn it on when I do the freeway thing and it's up in 4th gear. It's like having a 5 speed now and one of the coolest things I could have done!
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[solidaxel]

You are right, I love that lock up feature.

This is the first 4 speed auto I have driven, so that lock up happens at 52 MPH and it drops the RPM by 300.

These 4L60 e and the 700R4 are sure neet, I much perfer driving the auto in town as I am tired of the 5 speed in the GMC .

[jackson]

Originally Posted by kustombrad

Im having a ball driving this thing! I changed out the converter to a 2200-2500 rpm because I was hating stop lights with the cam it has in it. While I was at it I took the trans back out and had it reconverted into a lockup to see if I could get a little better mileage. I put a switch under the dash so I can turn it on when I do the freeway thing and it's up in 4th gear. It's like having a 5 speed now and one of the coolest things I could have done!
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post up what kind of mpg your getting when you figure it out , thanks

[kustombrad]

Gonna be making a big road trip shortly, so I'll let everyone know what kind of mileage it gets! Decided to take the Leadfoot off the doors last weekend because I got tired of questions aimed at the local speed shop! Now it's aimed a little more towards me and what I do
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[kustombrad]

Gonna be making a big road trip shortly, so I'll let everyone know what kind of mileage it gets! Decided to take the Leadfoot off the doors last weekend because I got tired of questions aimed at the local speed shop! Now it's aimed a little more towards me and what I do
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Posted via Mobile Device

[kustombrad]

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