My daily driver/beater : How I turned lemons in lemonade

[WhaJac]

Nice build, thanks for taking us from 1" of floor schmeegma to current and anticipating the reveal.

[flashed]

Still following and cant wait for the rest .

[rusty76]

Looks like a headache rack on the back to me. Looking good......

[jott_06]

I bet you will get some looks when you pull in a parking lot at full lift and all of the sudden that innocent looking farm truck is slammed in the weeds.

[Tx Firefighter]

Its gonna look like a cartoon. I still have a few tricks I haven't showed anyone yet.

It's freakin low. Full lift is still like a 4/6 drop below stock height. Full dump is frame on the ground. It's not like the local low rider kids who can make their stuff look like its on tippy toes when aired up.

I even used flat plates on my lower control arms rather than cups to try and keep the ride height up. With my 3" spindles and 27 inch tall front tires, the damn thing is flat out road grater height.

Before I started the dropmember airbag stuff, the truck was 4/6 drop. Now my ride height is about 2-3 inches below that. The dropmember makes it less risky though since it gets the front suspension up and away from the road. The control arms won't ever dig on, or crossmember drag, like a deeply dropped static drop does.

[aggie91]

I like what you have shown us so far, but your becoming a tease...

[mcbassin]

Kevin, I'm sure I missed it but what are you running for inner fenders?

[Hunyoc]

The black and white has got me thinkin i'do it like this! never felt that. Just was along for the craftsmanship,handy tricks, and good advise. But I'd flat cream yellow with white bumpers, rims,and trim. that way I could take my lemonade to the shade.

Because of your stand on safety and use it like a parts chaser attatude. (I like) I hope you do a long term test with heavy haul and thrash and pull testing. the fab. parts looked good going by on my bucking mule but if they can't stand the test of time It's hard to make that jump too the cartoon for a paying friend that wants it to take what his stocker has . I do not think bad of any of the parts or fab. Just know if you where using any of my parts I would respect you and this forems input greatly to create the next generation of parts.


I Is a fab man all things break nothing is to strong and i'm only as good as i can convince you I am by my actions.

[P-DAWG'85]

Looks awesome in black and white but come on Give us a PIC!

[Cashed]

Nice build, Kevin. I cant wait to see this one rolling down the beautiful, bumpy streets of Springtown! I should have the known the blue and white truck was yours. I liked that truck a lot. Everytruck Ive seen in town that I like turns out to be yours! I need to come check out your builds...Seeing as how it takes about 5 minutes to walk across Springtown!

[Tx Firefighter]

Cashed, do you live on Old Springtown Road ? When I drive down there I always see a mailbox says Cash. Didn't know if that was coincidence or what ?

[Cashed]

No sir, that isn't me. That is actually my uncle. My grandparent live around the corner from him on Young Rd. I live behind Bryant's Real Estate. If the last name is Cash and they live in Springtown, then they're likely kinfolk.

[hick]

So, a few months ago i rolled my truck into storage.

It was never supposed to come out, but a chain of events led me to driving it for a few months this summer.

Where it sits now, short of a similar chain of events (which i've taken great lengths to prevent), is where it will sit for at least the next 5 years, if not more

I have chosen to do this in part because of this thread, and other your have written.

I HATE half assing stuff, and I refuse to start anything on my truck till I am 100% capable. Even if it means tucking it away for awhile

Thank you for continuing to post. It shows me that good things really do come to those who wait, and it allows me to sleep at night knowing that I am going to build my truck with intentions of matching your quality and workmanship.

This is also the ONLY thread that I have read every single comment in.

[mcbassin]

Waiting for color pics still.

[Tx Firefighter]

I've been suffering from low motivation lately. It's real cold in the shop for one. Number 2, the Little Larrys valve block has turned out to be a piece of sh1t. I'm going to have to go into it and see what I find. It leaks though. I'm kind of skeert that I'm going to have to completely redo my air system for something other than the LL valves.

I do have the front clip all back on it. Other than the hood, the entire truck is assembled and adjusted and aligned as best as you can align a 73-80 model GM truck body.

I'll get there.

[Chevy-Art]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

...the Little Larrys valve block has turned out to be a piece of sh1t. I'm going to have to go into it and see what I find. It leaks though. I'm kind of skeert that I'm going to have to completely redo my air system for something other than the LL valves.

This is a slick truck/project. What happened with the Little Larry Valves? I need your attention to detail, you do some awesome work. And I appreciate you showing us this project, and your other projects.

[killthewabbit]

Sucks about the Little Larrys valves. I had considered those in the past myself.

[Tx Firefighter]

Right out of the box before I even installed them they felt kind of crunchy when you moved them. An o ring seal in an aluminum bore shouldn't feel crunchy so I kind of knew there might be problems. I just need to remove them from the truck and take it all apart. I'll get good quality o rings and rebuild them with lots of care and lube. Let's hope the machining work is not the problem.

[mcbassin]

It sucks to read about the valve issues. Looking forward to another update when the weather warms. I completely understand, I would rather soak up heat inside than freeze in the cold shop....

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

It sucks to read about the valve issues. Looking forward to another update when the weather warms. I completely understand, I would rather soak up heat inside than freeze in the cold shop....

His 'debut' deadline won't allow for the weather warm-up. Usually our areas cold period is Jan - end of Feb which is when he wants to drive it into the Decatur Swap Meet.

TX..... bummer to hear about the valve block on top of the cold temps curbing the enthusiasm. I look forward to our next Meet & Greet to see Lemonade in person.

[lolife99]

Ever consider just using the manual paddle valves?
Build a panel for the same location and send the Larry valves down the road,...

[aggie91]

What did the mfg of the LL valve have to say about it? It sucks you have to get inside it to correct what could be a manufacturing problem.

I talked with my boys last night about the Decatur Swap Meet, it is the same weekend as LST down in Conroe. Looks like we are going to attend the Swap Meet. Hope to get together and meet you and the truck in person.

Don't loose hope...I agree the current weather does not help your motivation when you have a shop like ours...

[JakeDW]

Not to go back to something you have already gone a different direction on but when you set that pan hard bar up to you set it up level and centered at ride height that is the only way it works right.So when it goes up or down it only move 1/2 as much side to side as if you set it up all the way down level or all the way up level if you follow what I am saying.

The pan hard bar on my buddy's 77 only moves about 1/2 inch side to side with 22 in rear wheels 2600 bags with the bag on bar set up.And it's pretty short and I was not fond of that.

Single leaves will break its just a matter of time.

Cool truck .

Jake

[JakeDW]

Check how the pan hard bar is at an angle all the way down when the truck is at ride height it will be level and you can see the shock on this is standard not side mounted.

Jake

[JakeDW]

http://youtu.be/Onc6P6fHnfo

2 link

Jake