66 Pro Street Build (Domeringer)

[Gary V]

Been a while... here's what's new! Ordered a bunch of parts and it took a bit longer than expected to get everything drawn up, machined and fabricated. Here's the wishbone setup... kinda special with bronze bushings and hardened A2 shaft. Need to add a zerk fitting and some more gussets at the frame ends.

Next up! Mount the new ARB from Bears Performance... gun drilled 1.5". Nice stuff!

[Modges'66]

Your welding skills are making me look like a hack!!
Nice ARB, I need to find one similar for my build.
Do they make many sizes?

[Gary V]

Hey Modges... thank you! Your welding skills are excellent!

The Bear's stuff is a little pricey and this is their Pro Mod bar. Most race shops just use a a length of 1 3/8, 1/8 wall-4130 tube and sell a kit to weld up the arms etc. With these heavy trucks you need a pretty stout bar to cancel body roll. I Started to make my own 4130 version and then came upon this gem. Had all of the bearings and ends... they ended up fitting this Bear's bar. So just had to buy the bar and arms.

Ok to answer your question yes they do have different lengths that will fit. Take a look see Bear's

The second bar that I was looking at that looks really stout is this one from David Lemmond's I've read a couple of good reviews from truck drag racers using it.

Your truck is looking awesome! Keep up the great work!

[Bomp]

Great info. and Solid Build

[Modges'66]

Thanks for the info Gary!
Yeah, I am not so sure that I need anything this extreme for the street. it is kinda pricey.
I think that I may just make my own from 4130 DOM.
I am sure that I can machine up some really cool arms, and put something good together this winter when I am bored...
BTW, I am not a welder, I just pretend to be one in my free time! LOL!
Thanks again!!!

[Gary V]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Great info. and Solid Build

Thanks again Bomp!

Originally Posted by Modges'66

Thanks for the info Gary!
Yeah, I am not so sure that I need anything this extreme for the street. it is kinda pricey.
I think that I may just make my own from 4130 DOM.
I am sure that I can machine up some really cool arms, and put something good together this winter when I am bored...
BTW, I am not a welder, I just pretend to be one in my free time! LOL!
Thanks again!!!

Nor am I! Welding just for fun now a days. The ARB is pretty much just for drag racing. It will be disconnected on one side for street cruising.

[evan396]

looking good gary. my dad and I went to the 100 ft drags in Waterford at the speed bowl. maybe will see you there some night with your truck. evan

[Johnny_Lamebridge]

Hey Gary V,

I'm in... I want to see more awesome fab work! It's been a while since I've seen a Pro Street build.

I found your rear axle housing fabrication especially interesting. Many years ago I distorted the crap out of a late 50's nine inch housing while stick-welding ladder bar brackets on. It was definitely a learning experience.

Keep up the good work!

[Gary V]

Originally Posted by evan396

looking good gary. my dad and I went to the 100 ft drags in Waterford at the speed bowl. maybe will see you there some night with your truck. evan

Hi Evan, Thank you! My friend runs a dragbike there quite often. I will try to get up there next year... he says it's a blast.

Originally Posted by Johnny_Lamebridge

Hey Gary V,

I'm in... I want to see more awesome fab work! It's been a while since I've seen a Pro Street build.

I found your rear axle housing fabrication especially interesting. Many years ago I distorted the crap out of a late 50's nine inch housing while stick-welding ladder bar brackets on. It was definitely a learning experience.

Keep up the good work!

Thank you Johnny! I've been there with the arc welder. There is nothing that compares to the penetration you get... but hot. I love arc welding and will defiantly use that art later in the build.

Ok this ARB has been quite a project! Had to fab and machine the spherical bearing housings and brackets etc. Do you think I can route an exhaust system through the maze? I think yes! Very pleased with the way it came out. Going to be a bit till I post again with progress. I'm moving to a new shop! Cool old brick building! Was an old railroad equipment repair building right on the tracks. Will post pics when we get situated. For now here's some ARB install pics...

[duallyjams]

That's not a PRO street, more like a RACE that is driven on the street.

[Gary V]

Apologies! 66 Pro Mod Street Build may have been more appropriate

[endlessearth]

This is a very impressive build.

[Gary V]

Well... has been a busy 5 months! Unfortunately not all spent on the truck project. A few us hot rod guys got together and rented a very old railroad repair garage, the tracks are about 30 feet away. What followed was months of getting about 40 years of very heavy collected stuff to the dump yard followed by lots of electrical and plumbing upgrades and moving, moving and more moving.

Back on the truck! Put some legs under the table and pretty much wrapped up the finish welding on the rear end this weekend... installed a fill cap, drain, vents and capped the link brackets. Next... fixture the rear for the final step! Welding the bearing ends onto the rear end. Will post pics of the weld jig setup next week.

Here are some pics for now

[Gary V]

This will wrap up the rear fab! Finished Here are some pics of the fixture and final fab. Once the big Ford torino ends were welded in, the fixture bushings slipped in and out and turned effortlessly with only about .0015 diametrical clearance. Will mount the rear end up to the frame tomorrow... mock up the brakes, run the lines and order the 35 spline Moser axles Monday. Psyched about moving onto front end stuff.

[evan396]

Looking good Gary, the shop looks great too! Evan396

[Gary V]

Originally Posted by evan396

Looking good Gary, the shop looks great too! Evan396

Hey Evan thank you! Hows that K20 build going?

[Gary V]

Got it back up on the table today. Was going to work on the brake lines but found they sent me the wrong flex lines. On to the front end soon! Will be installing a Flatout Engineering Corvette crossmember. I'm really impressed with the quality of the product! Will post pics.

[evan396]

Now that winter is almost over! Were back at it. Dad pick up a 97 roller engine and took it to precision machine up in simsbury. He wants to know what kind of brake setup you have pictured. Thanks evan396

[Gary V]

Originally Posted by evan396

Now that winter is almost over! Were back at it. Dad pick up a 97 roller engine and took it to precision machine up in simsbury. He wants to know what kind of brake setup you have pictured. Thanks evan396

Man that was a long winter. Roller eh... nice! Here's a link to the brake kit Wilwood

[timmytimm3]

Great build so far! I'm from CT too.

[aggie91]

Looks great! Can't wait to see the front end...

[Gary V]

Originally Posted by timmytimm3

Great build so far! I'm from CT too.

Originally Posted by aggie91

Looks great! Can't wait to see the front end...

Thank you guys!

[Gary V]

We had what I think was the first spring like day since winter. Really hard to get motivated... just felt like standing around . Pulled the frame out and started working nonetheless. I picked up some really good saw horses at Lowes today with a 1200 lb cap for $30.00 a piece, was going to make some but for that price it was a no brainer... adjustable height and they fold up to about the size of a 2X4X4! (Blue Hawk Folding Steel Adjustable Sawhorse)

Hadn't tried to find the frame number until now and was pleased to see that it matched the vin number. So here's some pics to getting the frame rails ready for the C4 Flatout splice... lots of work to do boxing the frame rails and getting rid of holes that will not be needed.

[Gary V]

Little update... spent the day readying the frame for sandblast. Welded a new radiator cross member support in and added some angle to keep the frame square and parallel during the process. Off to the sandblaster Monday... hopefully back for next weekend so I can finish boxing and cleaning the frame.

[Gary V]

Frame getting prepped for the next step... coat the inside frame rails with POR 15 and box with 10 Ga. 1008 steel sheet.