Frankentruck

[cwcarpenter98]

Ok, a report on the caster mod. I took an hour drive to a junkyard to get some parts. It had a couple miles of interstate driving. I don't have to steer between the lines anymore! There's no more heavy steering fatigue, so I definitely feel like I could drive all day without getting really tired. A couple years ago, I would have been completely worn out from driving over an hour one way. I definitely recommend this mod. The parking lot turning has not gotten harder, and almost seems a little easier. I believe that since the arms had been swapped before I purchased it, there was already some additional caster, but I had way too much positive camber. Unfortunately, I can't find the alignment sheet from 6 years ago, so I can only guess at this point.


Now on to the parts I went to get. The last modification I plan to do before heading back to Milledgeville for my last semester is new door check links. The aftermarket, stock set I got a couple years ago have already failed. I harvested a pair from a decent XJ Cherokee to swap in. The driver's side door of the Jeep was wedged against another truck, so I had to take it out of the driver's door and reinstall in the passenger door to make sure that it was still good. Thankfully it was, because most of the XJs there had already been picked over on the door checks. Best part was someone had already pulled the inner door panels, so I didn't have to fool with that

[SkinnyG]

Increased caster improves road "feel," self-centering, and stability at speed.

While you are attributing the "Caster Mod" as a worthwhile improvement (and it is, it is), what you are really seeing is your truck's "UNcaster mod" - getting the caster angle back to sensible.

I would imaging with 11° caster, you would have very heavy steering effort, which no doubt would tire you out.

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

Increased caster improves road "feel," self-centering, and stability at speed.

While you are attributing the "Caster Mod" as a worthwhile improvement (and it is, it is), what you are really seeing is your truck's "UNcaster mod" - getting the caster angle back to sensible.

I would imaging with 11° caster, you would have very heavy steering effort, which no doubt would tire you out.

I had not thought of it in that way, but you're probably right.
It drives about as good as my 95 Dakota now, so I'm going to have a hard time choosing which one to drive until summer rolls around and the no a/c makes the decision for me on most days

[SkinnyG]

You can piece together a complete under-dash AC system pretty gosh darn cheap. I think I'm into mine for aboot $400 CDN, shipped, minus the pump.

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

You can piece together a complete under-dash AC system pretty gosh darn cheap. I think I'm into mine for aboot $400 CDN, shipped, minus the pump.

It's been awhile since I've looked at A/C systems, so I should probably look again, but also thinking of starting the rust repair before I do any A/C stuff

[pdxhall]

I'm happy to see your camber mod problem has been solved. IMHO I would agree with you, rust is your biggest enemy and is only going to get worse. I'm also without AC but it is going to wait. I have found a couple of under dash units for that nostalgia look. As the weather warms up here in southern AZ it will become a bigger priority.

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by pdxhall

I'm happy to see your camber mod problem has been solved. IMHO I would agree with you, rust is your biggest enemy and is only going to get worse. I'm also without AC but it is going to wait. I have found a couple of under dash units for that nostalgia look. As the weather warms up here in southern AZ it will become a bigger priority.

I started looking at some AC stuff last night, but I agree with you on the rust. I won't be able to start on the cab rust until I graduate in a couple months, but then I've also got my CPA exams to pass, so I really don't know when I'll actually start that I'm still going to enjoy driving it though!

[cwcarpenter98]

My toes, hands and face are cold, but the new to me door checks are in. It's a brisk, high 20s here in Hickory Flat today.

Since I was able to find the versions with rubber stops, I decided to trim one stop into 3rds rather than halves. I wanted a smidge more opening than what the cut in half gives. It worked great and the doors are still far from the front fenders.

I am getting about 30 inches of opening from the body line point to the door frame on both sides.

This is another mod that I recommend for all 60-66 trucks!

[straight6chevyguy]

Good work Christian. Keep it up!

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by straight6chevyguy

Good work Christian. Keep it up!

Thank you! Won't be too much going on other than driving around for the next couple months as classes start back on Monday

[cwcarpenter98]

OSHA would not have approved.

The frame that I got my bed off of is headed to Alabama to go back underneath a truck

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

OSHA would not have approved.

The frame that I got my bed off of is headed to Alabama to go back underneath a truck

That looks like John's Truck Farm with United by Trucks!

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by aggie91

That looks like John's Truck Farm with United by Trucks!

I figured someone would recognize the building at some point
It is John's (Flashed) Truck Farm, but John and UBT are no longer working together.

[cwcarpenter98]

And now, Frankentruck is back in Milledgeville for the next couple months. Interstate driving is much less sketchy now.

I've got 3 classes this semester to finish, then I will be graduating at the beginning of May.

[aggie91]

Did not know they parted ways. I met John a couple years ago, really great guy!

[cwcarpenter98]

No snow here in Milledgeville, but mom sent me a couple pictures from back home that almost made a big sad.

For the stuff I can't keep in the garage, a tarp over the trailer is the next best storage spot. I have 3 rear bumpers keeping the tarp from holding a bunch of water

[allaboutchevelles]

Nice looking build. Your truck is the same green mine came from the factory as. Mine was also a long bed.

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by allaboutchevelles

Nice looking build. Your truck is the same green mine came from the factory as. Mine was also a long bed.

Thank you! I noticed the green in your windshield frame when I was reading through your thread. Seems to me that the dark green was chosen for new trucks much less than other colors

[Apache1961]

Did you end up not doing the ball joint flip? I still need to swap the 87 parts I got onto my 61 and plan on doing the caster mod, but was not aware of the ball joint mod. I know taller ball joints are popular on Chevelle front suspension's.

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by Apache1961

Did you end up not doing the ball joint flip? I still need to swap the 87 parts I got onto my 61 and plan on doing the caster mod, but was not aware of the ball joint mod. I know taller ball joints are popular on Chevelle front suspension's.

I chose not to use a taller ball joint for one reason. The ball joints I installed 6 years ago were still in good shape. I might go that route when they need to be replaced again, but that'll hopefully be a long time from now

[cwcarpenter98]

It was only a matter of time until it happened, but it finally did. When I installed some halogen bulbs a while back, the retaining ring on the driver's side had a slight bend in one spot. I didn't realize it until I tightened up the screw and the bulb cracked. The crack was small, so it's been like that for a few years. Over the Christmas break, the driver's headlight lost low beam, but still had high. The crack finally got bad enough to let water in, so that's probably what killed it. Anyways, replaced that today.

Went out just now to test it in the dark and the high beams decided to not work. I've noticed that for a few months, I've had to lightly tap the grille around the passenger bulb to get the high beam to turn on. Well, the relay harness I have is starting to come apart at the connection to the battery. I can wiggle it around and make the high beams turn on and off. The low beams are fine. Of course, all my wiring tools are back home, but I know my church family down here has what I need. It'll get fixed eventually

I'm also thinking of switching around the wires in the headlight switch plug so that I can have both the park lights on and the headlights on at the same time.

And last for the night: check out how well the under hood light works. I didn't use the flash on my phone to take the last picture. It's from a 87-96 Dakota and I think I have an 1156 bulb in it. I got it from a junkyard, so it was around 5 bucks. There's a plug at the bulb and at the base of the hood. I will unplug it at car shows or when I don't need it on while working under the hood. I can check the oil at night without needing a flashlight

[roll_the_dice]

It's always something! Keeps us on our toes anyway!

When I replaced my wiring with the AAW kit, I wonder if the new light switch comes so the parking lights and headlights come on together...because mine do and I never had to do anything special for it.

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

It's always something! Keeps us on our toes anyway!

When I replaced my wiring with the AAW kit, I wonder if the new light switch comes so the parking lights and headlights come on together...because mine do and I never had to do anything special for it.

That, it does!
Could be the new wiring for yours. I have a factory reproduction fuse block, so I think I just have to switch a wire around in the plug. Slightly more annoying in my case because I have to take the speaker out to get up under there

[350TacoZilla]

love the underhood light, I have one I snatched from a mid 80s chevy truck that has a on\off switch and a reel so you can take the light with you and wind it back up. I have had it for years waiting on this project lol.

Edit: I feel like I've already said about this light but not sure lol. they say the memory is the....wait,what was that saying again?

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by 350TacoZilla

love the underhood light, I have one I snatched from a mid 80s chevy truck that has a on\off switch and a reel so you can take the light with you and wind it back up. I have had it for years waiting on this project lol.

Edit: I feel like I've already said about this light but not sure lol. they say the memory is the....wait,what was that saying again?

Thanks! I had heard about the light as well, but wasn't able to find one when I found the Dakota one. I knew the Dakota one would work well because the original one to my 95 Dakota is still working great. I also like how it's got a plug at the bulb and a plug at the hood, so I can unplug it from the hood side if I need to pull the hood off.

I know I had talked about the light before in my thread, but I was taking night pictures, so figured I would mention it again