The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build

[Tx Firefighter]

Thanks for the kind words Jeff. I'm a Paramedic too, but like you, it's not really what I identify with. Its part of the job, but not really my main thing. I'm technically an engineer. I run an engine out of a single company non ambulance station in the poor end of the city.

My wife reads my thread every day or so to keep up. She says it helps her see what I do out in my shop in a simpler manner. She pointed out last night that my build thread is different than many in that no one ever says that I bought nice or exotic parts, they all compliment me on my work. That's what I try to achieve. I'm not into buying trick stuff anymore, I try to let my work ethic lead the way instead.

It's all icy and cold here but I'm going to register the truck tomorrow to get it legal. No matter what, I have to go get hay with it by Friday. If not, I'm gonna have some hungry livestock. So, hell or high water, its gonna be on the road this week.

[imjeff]

Great! I actually look forward to having a place where I need to get hay. I do miss being an engineer, now I'm a BC in the poor end of the city. I never felt right working in areas that were too clean, rich or slow. Don't forget to pass on your knowledge to those kids at work. We owe it to them and, as I'm sure you know, it's very rewarding. I'm sure your OCD is appreciated at work! I have a battalion full of it...to the mental illness level. Keep the shiny side up brother!

Jeff

[Zane M]

I can't wait to see what you do the the GMT400 4x4.
I use your builds and the videos from SWRNC on youtube as inspiration that doing it right the first time and not taking short cuts is the only way to go when I get that "screw it" attitude when crap starts to go wrong.

I also appreciate the fact that you stick to a budget, but take care of things with attention to detail and use of quality components.

[83GMCK2500]

I have followed this thread avidly and I am somewhat saddened to see it come to a close. Your attention to detail and workmanship are outstanding, we should all be as fortunate as you to have apprenticed under someone as meticulous as you have. (That is, I know I would have appreciated it.) I cannot think of any other truck or build on here that the owner can walk up to with the assurance that you can, that the truck will perform as intended.

Very much looking forward to your GMT-400 build.

[Stoney]

I have followed this thread as well. I went back and looked to see how long it has been. My how time flies, over a year. Can't wait till the next one gets started.

[legendman]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Pain and suffering are the only words I can use to describe this phase. Lord, what a beating it is polishing the inside of the rear Alcoas. I'm rapidly losing momentum. Time to downshift to another gear and keep pulling though. Only one more to go.

Little late to the party, just catching up in this thread...
The wheels look awesome!!!! Gotta hunt a set for my K30.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by Zane M

I can't wait to see what you do the the GMT400 4x4.
I use your builds and the videos from SWRNC on youtube as inspiration that doing it right the first time and not taking short cuts is the only way to go when I get that "screw it" attitude when crap starts to go wrong.

I also appreciate the fact that you stick to a budget, but take care of things with attention to detail and use of quality components.

Thank you for the kind words. I'm pretty quirky when I do stuff, being particular about stuff that most folks don't even think about. Lately, it's made me start to rethink selling my trucks like I have always done. I've undervalued my work in the past and sold good trucks to folks who don't appreciate the work and expense I took with the project. Now, I'm keeping my stuff more and kind of settling in to collecting my "last" trucks.

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

I have followed this thread avidly and I am somewhat saddened to see it come to a close. Your attention to detail and workmanship are outstanding, we should all be as fortunate as you to have apprenticed under someone as meticulous as you have. (That is, I know I would have appreciated it.) I cannot think of any other truck or build on here that the owner can walk up to with the assurance that you can, that the truck will perform as intended.

Very much looking forward to your GMT-400 build.

I'm excited about the K2500 project too. Probably more excited than I was about this one. I do think there will be a bit of delay before it though. I need to do some work on my tractor and stock trailer. I might make threads about those projects in the Alternate builds section on here. I have to haul my animals to be bred by April so I can have calfs in January. I just committed to buying a beat up stock trailer which needs maintenance and my tractor badly needs repair so I can mow my field and improve the grass quality.

Originally Posted by Stoney

I have followed this thread as well. I went back and looked to see how long it has been. My how time flies, over a year. Can't wait till the next one gets started.

I did lay off of this truck for a lot of that time. I just figured winter was a good time to try and finish this one up. Winter is almost over and so is the project. That 4wd is calling my name !

Originally Posted by legendman

Little late to the party, just catching up in this thread...
The wheels look awesome!!!! Gotta hunt a set for my K30.

Man, I sure suffered for those wheels. I always wanted a dually with Alcoas and I paid the price to get it, but I'd sure not be too excited about doing it again.

[Tx Firefighter]

I did get the truck registered yesterday. It's mostly legal now. Then last night Valerie helped me set the toe in. Tomorrow when I get off work, its time to go get hay. I haven't even driven it 100 feet since I did all the work either. I hope nothing pops up and bites me on the maiden voyage. You might see this hillbilly rolling a round bale of hay down the road from town if it does. If I don't get hay soon, the donkey is gonna burn the barn down.

[SCOTI]

I have 100% trust in your mechanics abilities

[Tx Firefighter]

Impressions after the first drive....

1) the swap from 4.56 to 4.10 was just what the truck needed. Its so much better to drive now.
2) I've got a hanging idle. It acts like the IAC is working slow. If you give it time, it will drop back down.

The results of the work and expense are pretty dramatic though.

[GCncsuHD]

Very nice!

[N2TRUX]

Truck art right there.

[aggie91]

Awsome!

[rusty76]

Looks good.

[83GMCK2500]

Oh yeaaaaaaaah! Good to hear that the gear swap was an improvement, sounds a lot more driveable.

[Stoney]

I bet the donkey is even happier....

[Troy Sr]

I used to make those bails out in Eastern Montana!!!

[aotte1]

The 30 looks really great, always take a second look when I see an older truck on the road. The step side is nice too, I like the single headlight look. How much is yours lowered. May do some lowering to mine after I see how it sits when back together, want just a little clearance above the tires.
Les

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by GCncsuHD

Very nice!

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Truck art right there.

Originally Posted by aggie91

Awsome!

Originally Posted by rusty76

Looks good.

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

Oh yeaaaaaaaah! Good to hear that the gear swap was an improvement, sounds a lot more driveable.

Originally Posted by Stoney

I bet the donkey is even happier....

Originally Posted by Troy Sr

I used to make those bails out in Eastern Montana!!!

Thanks fellas.

Stoney, I was kidding with the lady at the feed store awhile back. I told her that the donkey had sent me a text message while I was at work saying that if I didn't bring donkey food home she was gonna burn down the barn.

The lady looked at me dead serious and said "now how is a donkey going to start a fire?"

She got embarrassed when I asked her, "now how would a donkey send me a text message in the first place".

Originally Posted by aotte1

The 30 looks really great, always take a second look when I see an older truck on the road. The step side is nice too, I like the single headlight look. How much is yours lowered. May do some lowering to mine after I see how it sits when back together, want just a little clearance above the tires.
Les

Les, the stepside is 5 inch dropped in the front and about 6 in the back. Front is spindles and cut springs, rear is a flip kit.

[flashed]

Tex ,that truck looks even better with that roll of hay on it .Would you share a pic of the donkey ,we had one that got mistaken for a deer a couple of months ago and was shot and killed ,we miss that donkey ,he was like a puppy .He met me when I got home from work wanting a carrot and his ears rubbed .

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by flashed

Tex ,that truck looks even better with that roll of hay on it .Would you share a pic of the donkey ,we had one that got mistaken for a deer a couple of months ago and was shot and killed ,we miss that donkey ,he was like a puppy .He met me when I got home from work wanting a carrot and his ears rubbed .

People make fun of me for saying it, but I love my little donkey. I've never owned a kinder, gentler, smarter animal. And, she protected my little calf from coyotes and dogs better than a platoon of US Marines could have. I once saw her try to stomp the neighbors dog to death. When the dog finally got free, it ran through a barbed wire fence at full speed to escape death. There was meat and hair hanging on the barbed wire. For those that don't know, a donkey is a God given guard animal. In any field with small livestock, you will always see at least one donkey. You can put one with a calf or other small animal and the donkey will stand guard next to them day and night without fail, never getting more than a few feet away from them. Nothing will hurt your calfs as long as you have a donkey around. Not a person, a coyote, or a wild pack of dogs. They're born protectors, no training needed.

[flashed]

Thanks for the pic ,my wife loved it and me too .Our donkey was just as you described ,helped birth calves ,protected herd from coyotes and just plain lovable . We miss our donkey terribly ,thanks again for sharing that.

[68Timber]

Looks great. Can you post a sound clip? I'd love to hear that big block wake up through the magnaflow.

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

In the upper left background...is that Val on a jet pack, UFO, or something else?

Congrats on the maiden voyage, truck looks great!

[Troy Sr]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

In the upper left background...is that Val on a jet pack, UFO, or something else?

Congrats on the maiden voyage, truck looks great!

Looks like a power cord plug!