Dream '69

[mjensen]

Looking great! I also used the Extreme Chassis Black on mine. Great coverage and so far it's holding up to my beating and banging pretty well. Of course we'll see how it handles when I actually get it put together

[lawest]

Originally Posted by mjensen

Looking great! I also used the Extreme Chassis Black on mine. Great coverage and so far it's holding up to my beating and banging pretty well. Of course we'll see how it handles when I actually get it put together

I know what you mean, I already have several places where I have had to grind rivets off or something and need to touch it up already. I really like how this paint goes on and looks though.

[lawest]

Its been pretty cold in the shop and I was out of town for a while so haven't gotten a lot done. I did get the new front axle mounted up with the new springs from the lift kit. Also have the front sway bar crossmember installed and just need the weather to warm up so can touch up the paint before I install the new sway bar bushings, shocks and steering stabilizer. In the meantime I am working on getting the rusted ubolt nuts off the rear axle. I will post some pics of the completed front axle set up this weekend.

[Big Tex]

Lawest-
This is a bit off topic, but I noticed the saying in your signature. My dad and his buddies, building baja bugs and dune buggies back in the 70's and 80's used to say "beat it to fit, paint it to match" is that from something? Like an old movie or TV show? Sorry to hijack your thread, that just intrigued me.......

Cool build by the way. SWB 4x4's of this vintage are too cool!

[lawest]

Originally Posted by Big Tex

Lawest-
This is a bit off topic, but I noticed the saying in your signature. My dad and his buddies, building baja bugs and dune buggies back in the 70's and 80's used to say "beat it to fit, paint it to match" is that from something? Like an old movie or TV show? Sorry to hijack your thread, that just intrigued me.......

Cool build by the way. SWB 4x4's of this vintage are too cool!

I'm not sure where it came from. I used to work in a shop where it was sort of the moto

[mjensen]

Haha...our motto in the garage is hammer to fit, paint to match. My dad and his friends also used to build bajas and dune buggies. Must be a Volkswagon thing

[lawest]

Time for an update. I got more paint in and finished the frame and some other parts and pieces. Ended up with 3 coats of the Eastwood 2K ceramic chassis black on the frame. It should hold up pretty well.


Installed the '78 disc brake front axle with the tuff country 2" springs, sway bar, new shocks, and steering stabilizer.




I ordered a new F*%d Falcon fuel tank which will be installed behind the rear axle. I plan to order the AAW wire kit this week so I can get the rear harness installed at the same time. need to pick up some more brake line, and get some tranny lines ordered too. I will be working on that this weekend if the tank arrives, as well as setting the t-case in the frame.

[swamp rat]

Love the shop, the build looks great too, i'll keep dreaming that some day i'll have a shop to work in, from Sunday to Monday it dumped 3" of rain, the snow or rain really hasn't let up all winter.

Did you read about using a Falcon tank elsewhere? curious why you chose that tank?

[lawest]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Love the shop, the build looks great too, i'll keep dreaming that some day i'll have a shop to work in, from Sunday to Monday it dumped 3" of rain, the snow or rain really hasn't let up all winter.

Did you read about using a Falcon tank elsewhere? curious why you chose that tank?

I know what you mean, if I didn't have the shop I would never have attempted this project. My shop is a 1000 sq/ft. larger than my house, which is just right in my book.

There is a lot of information on this site about the different options for an under bed tank. It really depends on what you want and if you have a need for a in tank fuel pump and return line to feed a fuel injected engine, which I don't. I went with the Falcon tank because it a) doesn't hang so low as to be visible below the rear bumper, b) it doesn't require cutting structural bed supports, and c) its cheaper than either a custom made alum. tank or a blazer tank kit. I wanted a new tank that had never had fuel in it because I am going to have to reconfigure the filler neck and sending unit mount and don't want to blow myself up.

[mjensen]

Looks great!

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by lawest

I know what you mean, if I didn't have the shop I would never have attempted this project. My shop is a 1000 sq/ft. larger than my house, which is just right in my book.



There is a lot of information on this site about the different options for an under bed tank. It really depends on what you want and if you have a need for a in tank fuel pump and return line to feed a fuel injected engine, which I don't. I went with the Falcon tank because it a) doesn't hang so low as to be visible below the rear bumper, b) it doesn't require cutting structural bed supports, and c) its cheaper than either a custom made alum. tank or a blazer tank kit. I wanted a new tank that had never had fuel in it because I am going to have to reconfigure the filler neck and sending unit mount and don't want to blow myself up.

>>>My shop is a 1000 sq/ft. larger than my house, which is just right in my book. << Yer a lucky, lucky man!

Just the first time i have herd of anybody using the falcon tank is all. Yea if i was gonna have to weld on a tank i'd want a new one too, i have brazed a crack on a small engine tank before but i just dumped the gas and rinsed it out then filled it almost to the top with water, then stuck the torch close to the opening a couple times first, yea i was 18 and a bit nervous..

[CUSTOM/10]

Hey Lawest,

Great project !!!!! I just love the SWB 4x4's ...... I'm in the process of building my 4th one, and this one is my Dream Truck ! I just picked up a front sway-bar & cross-member set-up to install in my truck. Did your frame have the steering box reinforcement plate on the inside of the frame ? If so what did you do to work around the ?

Gary

[Greenlee]

Nice truck!

[lawest]

Originally Posted by CUSTOM/10

Hey Lawest,

Great project !!!!! I just love the SWB 4x4's ...... I'm in the process of building my 4th one, and this one is my Dream Truck ! I just picked up a front sway-bar & cross-member set-up to install in my truck. Did your frame have the steering box reinforcement plate on the inside of the frame ? If so what did you do to work around the ?

Gary

Gary,
I don't have a reinforcing plate on the inside of the frame for the steering gear box. I did have to drill new holes to mount the sway bar Xmember as it sits a little farther forward.
Larry

[lawest]

Originally Posted by Greenlee

Nice truck!

Originally Posted by mjensen

Looks great!

Thanks

[lawest]

Time for another update. I have been busy cleaning up around the place since the weather has warmed up, but have worked a little on the truck as well.
I painted the rad support, intake, alternator and water pump black.



I got the new GM 350 crate engine onto the stand and installed the peripherals.



Installed the overhauled tranny and mounted up to the T-case.

[lawest]

I need to put a coat of clear on the tanks and upper portion of the new aluminum radiator, then I can install the radiator support and radiator.


Also, I am going to get started on fabbing up the mounts for the new fuel tank. It will go under the frame at this location. Once it is painted black it should blend in and not be too visible from the back once the bumper is installed. I plan on having the filler behind the license plate holder.

[swamp rat]

Nice progress, real interested in the tank and how it works out.

[lawest]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

>>>My shop is a 1000 sq/ft. larger than my house, which is just right in my book. << Yer a lucky, lucky man!

Just the first time i have herd of anybody using the falcon tank is all. Yea if i was gonna have to weld on a tank i'd want a new one too, i have brazed a crack on a small engine tank before but i just dumped the gas and rinsed it out then filled it almost to the top with water, then stuck the torch close to the opening a couple times first, yea i was 18 and a bit nervous..

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Nice progress, real interested in the tank and how it works out.

A little more about the F*&D Falcon tank: I first read about it on this site when I found a thread from pdxhall who installed one in a '66. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=515110

In those trucks the body of the tank actually fits between the frame rails and the flange bolts on top, very clean install. After researching it I found that my short bed frame is a little tighter and the tank won't mount on top of the frame. This is okay, because I really didn't want a bed fill anyway, and I don't want to cut my bedside to install a filler door. One of the important aspects of my build is to keep the truck as stock appearing as possible, especially from an external appearance perspective. Also, being a short fleet 4WD, my truck has very little room behind the axle, so I needed something that would fit between the rear spring mounts. With this tank and an early '90s Caprice license plate bracket, I think I can meet all of my requirements. I will keep you posted, thanks for looking.

[Dean'smeanmachine]

sub'd awsome project!

[lawest]

Originally Posted by Dean'smeanmachine

sub'd awsome project!

Thanks Dean

[lawest]

Random pics and upcoming projects: Clear coated the new radiator today.


bought these manifolds off of ebay then had them ceramic coated by Performance Coatings in OKC.


Picked this set up off of another site. Not sure If I am going to use it on this project or not, but couldn't pass up the good deal.


The new wiring kit from AAW purchased through a site vendor.


Started mocking up the new tank.

[lawest]

Trying to figure out this damn PS Pump. I think I am missing something. Anyone know where this bracket goes?


This is what my pump looks like. It is off of a '78.

[lawest]

Some of the body damage I am going to be starting on soon. Not looking forward to it, as I don't have a lot of experience with this sort of thing.

[Dean'smeanmachine]

that manifold looks great. rust dosent look too bad, not as bad as mine was that is. just take it slow and research and youtube. alot of work but very rewarding in the end.