regretted selling my '70 so i bought this '72

[TexasLS1]

How difficult was the subwoofer install? I've never used a powered sub - Does it require any thing special? I have an aftermarket headunit and 4 midrange speakers but no amp and I need to add something for lows. This seems like an easy route that will fit in my (our) limited space?

[BugzC10]

Originally Posted by XwalkerX

just found a pic someone took of my truck at the pelican parts cars and coffee last weekend

Sweet looking ride

[DBK81]

What's the make model and specs on your wheel and tire combo? I've been looking for a more modern look then the standard 5 spoke.
Posted via Mobile Device

[DBK81]

How does the SSL sub preform? I've been thinking about that option as well.
Posted via Mobile Device

[XwalkerX]

Originally Posted by TexasLS1

How difficult was the subwoofer install? I've never used a powered sub - Does it require any thing special? I have an aftermarket headunit and 4 midrange speakers but no amp and I need to add something for lows. This seems like an easy route that will fit in my (our) limited space?

the install was not bad at all. mind you I have never installed a subwoofer/amp before and I had no trouble.

i only have a set of 6x9's in my doors and the really sounded like crap trying to hit the highs and lows so now that the sub handles all the lows the sound is WAYYYYYYYYY better IMO.

I ordered an 8gauge amp wiring kit from amazon.
I took my time running the power line in the engine bay to make it as hidden as possible then brought the power through the drivers side firewall, under the carpet until i reached the in cab gas tank.

i used one of the gas tank mounting bolts for a ground, then ran the RCA cables on the passenger side up to the headunit. (i read this would cut out any "static")

the SSA unit came with both screw down mounting tabs and heavy duty Velcro. i chose to use the Velcro and mounted it under the center of the seat on the hump and the Velcro seems very secure on the carpet surprisingly.

honestly it was a piece of cake and the whole thing prob took about an hour as i wasn't really in a rush.

Originally Posted by BugzC10

Sweet looking ride

thanks man

Originally Posted by DBK81

What's the make model and specs on your wheel and tire combo? I've been looking for a more modern look then the standard 5 spoke.
Posted via Mobile Device

they are US Mags "rambler" wheels

18x8.5 in front
18x9.5 in rear

Originally Posted by DBK81

How does the SSL sub preform? I've been thinking about that option as well.
Posted via Mobile Device

as i mentioned before im no audiophile but i think it really does its job well. i actually found it on amazon around Christmas time marked down from $250 to $99 and it has really good reviews, so i figured why not? plus amazon lets you buy a 2 year warranty for $14.

i actually have all the settings VERY low and it still hits relatively good (perhaps its the small cabin)

bottom line is for $99 (plus $18 for the wiring kit) i think it really improves the driving experience (especially at highway speeds)

[Arnulfo]

Beautiful truck!is that a stock steering column ?
Thanks

[XwalkerX]

as far as I know its a stock column

[Econman]

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Awesome truck. I really like the color.

Agree on the color.. probably my all time favorite shade. Any idea what it is, OP?

[XwalkerX]

no idea sorry.

the previous previous owner (did i word that right?) was the one who did all the body work

[XwalkerX]

so of course last week i finally got around to doing a few things but didn't take any pictures while the truck was actually clean so I figure why not go take some today after the crazy storms we had all weekend...

fitted the voltmeter fit in the cluster


installed the radio plate


overall shot of the dirty interior


oh and the MAF crapped out on me so I picked up a new one of those too

[Benny-]

Great lookin truck! How hard was the volt meter swap? Does the needle pop up when key is on?

[XwalkerX]

Originally Posted by Benny-

Great lookin truck! How hard was the volt meter swap? Does the needle pop up when key is on?

yeah it pops up when the cars on and it wasnt hard to install at all.
i trimmed the gauge a bit then drilled some new holes in the mounting plate so that it sat up higher. if you use the stock mounting holes there is a 1/8" gap at the top of the gauge and you dont see the 8 or 18.

i popped off the square body needle and swapped on the needle from the ammeter but it sits a bit high so ill prob trim it next time i take out the cluster.

[XwalkerX]

snapped a pic tonight to show the needle

[XwalkerX]

did some shopping around to replace the clapped out shocks on the truck

I went with these KYB gas-a-just units.

advanceauto, vatozone, oriley etc all wanted $70 each.

found them on rockauto for $32 each plus a 5% discount

[steelhorse]

Great looking truck. Keep the pics coming. BTW you better watch out it looked like some tree hugger got in your truck.

[lovemy71s]

I thank you very much for posting this. That thing looks great. I have a 71 about the same color and was thinking about those exact wheels. Someone cut a dang sunroof in mine that I am still not happy about but my mom bought it for my 18th bday for $150 with no engine or transmission. Its gonna get its powerplant back soon. Thanks again for this post. I love that truck

[XwalkerX]

bump.

hopefully scheduling a tune Friday at Black Bear performance in San Diego

also snapped some pics with my real camera...but havent edited them yet so deal with this gopro shot

[midnight rambler]

Let us know how the tune works out

[Benny-]

I've heard GREAT things about Black Bear.

[XwalkerX]

bump.
i havent updated this in a while and i realized im terrible at remembering to take pictures while i do this stuff...

so in the past month i replaced the o2 sensors (free of charge)*warranty from VatoZone* and i replaced the fuel pressure regulator/filter

i also noticed the charging system wasnt working too hot when i had my stereo on while using the AC so i ditched the 105amp alt for a 145 amp.
this then resulted in a new serpentine belt and while i was there i decided to charge my AC back up since it wasnt blowing very cold.

last night i finally changed out the beat up monroe shocks



prest-o change-o!










then i changed out these cab mounts





and boom. back to riding on a cloud...or something like that





while it was up in the air i greased up all the suspension and noticed a nail in my rear tire that was promptly pulled out then plugged.

i do actually go in for a tune at 2pm on friday at Blackbear Performance...FINALLY.

i have also been eyeing the Dakota Digital cruise control setup ($300) for my weekly drives to San Diego and started doing some research and found out i can just use the oem silverado cruise module which i scored on ebay for $30 and just have to come up with a means to set the system. a few guys sell the updated gm turn signal stalk with cruise control functions on it but i think it would look out of place so i just ordered up a toggle for power and a momentary to set. should get all that stuff this weekend and hopefully tackle it next week.







thats it for this update...

[BugzC10]

Who's bump stops are you running on the rear?

[XwalkerX]

damn I thought I mentioned it but looks like I forgot to...

I used these energy suspension bump stops and shaved off the first tier to give some extra travel for the axle

Amazon.com: Energy Suspension 9.9101G All Purpose...

[chevy72blu]

That is a beautiful truck.

I like the square body volt meter. I am still using the Torque app as a stop gap until I decide what to do with my gauges. I planned on going New Vintage USA for them, but they and the conversion components are so spendy - not to mention the fact that Torque works so well! If not a bit ghetto

[XwalkerX]

personally I think the stock gauges are perfect.

you should just get the Dakota digital conversion stuff.

im running this for the speedo

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...rod/prd886.htm

and this for the tach

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...rod/prd127.htm

the rest of the stuff is business as usual...

[chevy72blu]

After kicking it around for nearly 3 yrs, I think you're right.

I wanted a stock look and New Vintage has a setup that looks very nearly stock (and has a >5k RPM tach), but at $800 its not cheap. I planned on going that route so I considered the $300 converter to be a waste.

Well I still havent put aside the gauge money due to life and other hobbies... Think I'll pull the trigger. It'll be nice not to have to connect my OBD2 dongle and start an app every time I drive my truck to the store

Any issues with wiring up the volt meter?