The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build

[Tx Firefighter]

Thanks for all the kind words from everyone.

I've had a couple of members reach out to me via PM offering some engine parts for my 4x4 project. It looks like between that and the parts I have now, I can likely put together a nice little roller cam Vortec short block with some TBI heads. Looks like a new project is underway and I will have to drag up enough stuff to start a thread. I'll do it in the 4x4 section.

[swamp rat]

Looking forward to it!

[flashed]

Count me in on your next build too,cant wait .

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Thanks for all the kind words from everyone.

I've had a couple of members reach out to me via PM offering some engine parts for my 4x4 project. It looks like between that and the parts I have now, I can likely put together a nice little roller cam Vortec short block with some TBI heads. Looks like a new project is underway and I will have to drag up enough stuff to start a thread. I'll do it in the 4x4 section.

Wow! I missed your last few updates digging into the 4x4, just caught myself up. I am sorry to see what you have found. If there is anything I can keep my eyes open for on my local CL or in my wrecking yard of preference, I would be happy to do so. I knew where a set of low mile reman Vortec heads were, would need a GMPP 12496821 (or equivalent) to fall out of the sky though.

I am checking the 4x4 Build section daily, looking forward to your new thread as well.

[FunKing85]

Truly inspiring man. I love the attention to detail, and the fact that you take the time to impart some knowledge for those of us who want o know more. Keep it up!

[Boog]

Whew! 38 pages is a lot of reading kevin. But enjoyable all the way through. As several have said your build threads are entertaining as well as informative. I'm glad to see you didn't scrap the 78 stepper. I have a soft spot for them as I had a 78 step myself for about 12 yrs. The deal with the stepson and the 89, well it just sucks is all I can say. It seems those close to you will abuse you over a deal quicker than a stranger. I hope he turns out to be a better man.
The dually has come a long way. It should tow/haul anything you need it to and be a good runner for a long time to come.
The 4wd is a good project too. We are all waiting to see your work on that one.
With all that you do jobwise and the animals and acreage at home, cycle restorations and personal truck projects, when do you find time to sleep? Brother I could not keep up with you. I wish I had your energy.
You have good fab skills. I can only imagine what you would turn out with a CNC machine.
And how's the finger?

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by Boog

Whew! 38 pages is a lot of reading kevin. But enjoyable all the way through. As several have said your build threads are entertaining as well as informative. I'm glad to see you didn't scrap the 78 stepper. I have a soft spot for them as I had a 78 step myself for about 12 yrs. The deal with the stepson and the 89, well it just sucks is all I can say. It seems those close to you will abuse you over a deal quicker than a stranger. I hope he turns out to be a better man.
The dually has come a long way. It should tow/haul anything you need it to and be a good runner for a long time to come.
The 4wd is a good project too. We are all waiting to see your work on that one.
With all that you do jobwise and the animals and acreage at home, cycle restorations and personal truck projects, when do you find time to sleep? Brother I could not keep up with you. I wish I had your energy.
You have good fab skills. I can only imagine what you would turn out with a CNC machine.
And how's the finger?

I'm tired. Too many irons in the fire. There's three trucks on my property now, the dually, the stepside, and my 4x4. That's it. These are my last trucks. I've lost track of how many there have been over the years, but this is it.

I did do a build thread on the stepside this morning. The link is in my signature. It's not much of an ongoing deal really. The stepside is reliable and that's about as far as I'm gonna take it right now. The 4x4 takes next precedence.

The finger is pretty well. When the fingernail fell completely off, the new replacement grew in pretty damn fast. Much faster than your normal nails grow. It's at least 80 percent grown in now. Pain free.

I'll start a build thread on the 4x4 soon.

I just got back from Oklahoma yesterday where I picked up a pair of good used TBI heads from another board member on here. Definitely one of the nicest board members I've met. I'm up to my neck in building the engine for the 4x4 now. So far, it's a roller cam 4 bolt 350. I'm doing it stupid cheap. Like, doing my own block prep and cam bearing install and collecting good used parts from three different engines to have enough. I'm up to 240 dollars invested in it so far.

[chevy72pu]

It took me three days of reading in my spare time to cover the whole thread. I thoroughly enjoyed it. You do quality work.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by chevy72pu

It took me three days of reading in my spare time to cover the whole thread. I thoroughly enjoyed it. You do quality work.

Man, I feel like I owe you an apology for taking up your spare time. I need to start making shorter threads.

I'm Spending every spare second I have building an engine for my 4 wheel drive right now. I guess that will be my next thread that I start.

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Man, I feel like I owe you an apology for taking up your spare time. I need to start making shorter threads.

I'm Spending every spare second I have building an engine for my 4 wheel drive right now. I guess that will be my next thread that I start.

No need to make shorter threads. I think the level of detail and insight you provide in your projects is top notch. For those of us that are have a smaller budget to work with, your tips and techniques make alot of sense.

I thought I had a good handle on alot of the things I have done to these trucks, but your info has made me rethink a few things and given me solutions for others

Please continue to provide the same level of threads you have in the past!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by aggie91

No need to make shorter threads. I think the level of detail and insight you provide in your projects is top notch. For those of us that are have a smaller budget to work with, your tips and techniques make alot of sense.

I thought I had a good handle on alot of the things I have done to these trucks, but your info has made me rethink a few things and given me solutions for others

Please continue to provide the same level of threads you have in the past!

Agreed.... It's not a waste of time. It's an investment .

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

I agree with the donkeys being protective. We have a mammoth and a mini....both are very protective of the other livestock.

They are very protective, we have always had one in the fields with our cattle, I even once witnessed it stomp a young rottweiler to death before I could intervene. The dog had no collar, though it is odd to think of a rotty being a stray.

Though it seems if you have multiple donkeys together they lose their protective instinct/aggressiveness towards dogs. Our little Aussie had a healthy fear of the single donkey in our cattle field, but our neighbors that raise donkeys, he has been known to herd the donkeys into circles and run them towards the barn. Not bad for a little 20lb runt of an Aussie.

[Low Elco]

Originally Posted by aggie91

No need to make shorter threads. I think the level of detail and insight you provide in your projects is top notch. For those of us that are have a smaller budget to work with, your tips and techniques make alot of sense.

I thought I had a good handle on alot of the things I have done to these trucks, but your info has made me rethink a few things and given me solutions for others

Please continue to provide the same level of threads you have in the past!

This. X10.

[legendman]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I need to start making shorter threads.

I think they are great, prefect for reading on a rainy day or a cold winters night by the fire.

[Tx Firefighter]

Y'all will shake your heads when you see some of the stuff I'm doing on the 4x4 engine. I decided I wanted to build a low budget engine using parts from three different engines ...so far. By selecting good used parts, I've been able to gather up parts good enough to not need any outside machine work. Other than buying a 30 dollar cam bearing installation tool, everything I have used is either common tools that most guys have or that you can borrow from the parts store. I've been very hesitant to show too much because I don't want to answer to hecklers. As soon as I get the engine assembled I'll start that thread though.

Right now my pistons are in the cleaning vat. If you soak used pistons in diesel for 24 hours they come out clean and carbon free.



And I've been touching up the face of my cylinder heads with the Hillbilly milling machine.

[imjeff]

It's been a few years since I've done a motor on the cheap with used parts. When I was racing stock cars on dirt tracks we used to get pretty creative as to what was "within acceptable limits". Those motors may have been a little on the loose side, but they ran like scalded cats. I'm looking forward to that thread. Thanks Kevin!

Jeff

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by imjeff

It's been a few years since I've done a motor on the cheap with used parts. When I was racing stock cars on dirt tracks we used to get pretty creative as to what was "within acceptable limits". Those motors may have been a little on the loose side, but they ran like scalded cats. I'm looking forward to that thread. Thanks Kevin!

Jeff

Twenty years ago I basically swept the floor to collect pieces and put together a 350 engine for a truck I had. I even salvaged a similar matching piston out of a second engine to complete the set. I also used a used Erson camshaft with new lifters on it. New timing chain, bearings, and rings. A set of heads off a different engine. Lapped the valves by hand, new valve seals. I used a high volume pump to boost the oil pressure for any wear on the crankshaft and used cam bearings, just in case.

To this day, my buddy still drives that same truck with the same engine. The cylinder bores were about 5 thousandths loose when I put it together. He says its started to burn a little oil lately, but it went many a year and many a mile before it started doing that.

I've gotten more realistic over the years about the grey area between perfect and unacceptable. There's a lot of judgement in between the two. Like you pointed out, a liberal interpretation of what is "good" can still produce an engine that does the job very well.

[68Timber]

I was thinking about that this past week, people used to re-ring an engine and keep going. Now people want to throw away the pistons if they tear it down.

[83GMCK2500]

I am very much looking forward to the 4x4 build. (I keep checking the 4x4 build section almost daily.) Dumb question, but will you copy/paste/repeat the things in this thread into the new one?

[Tx Firefighter]

I will include everything in my thread over there.

If I started it today, It would go like this.....

I bought this truck (insert a dozen pictures)

Then I tore the engine apart to rebuild it (insert another few dozen pictures of engine pieces)

Then nothing but the sound of crickets chirping while I await further engine parts to arrive.

[mickeykreg]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Twenty years ago I basically swept the floor to collect pieces and put together a 350 engine for a truck I had. I even salvaged a similar matching piston out of a second engine to complete the set. I also used a used Erson camshaft with new lifters on it. New timing chain, bearings, and rings. A set of heads off a different engine. Lapped the valves by hand, new valve seals. I used a high volume pump to boost the oil pressure for any wear on the crankshaft and used cam bearings, just in case.

To this day, my buddy still drives that same truck with the same engine. The cylinder bores were about 5 thousandths loose when I put it together. He says its started to burn a little oil lately, but it went many a year and many a mile before it started doing that.

I've gotten more realistic over the years about the grey area between perfect and unacceptable. There's a lot of judgement in between the two. Like you pointed out, a liberal interpretation of what is "good" can still produce an engine that does the job very well.

Jeez man, your pretty much a bad a-- ...plain and simple!

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I will include everything in my thread over there.

If I started it today, It would go like this.....

I bought this truck (insert a dozen pictures)

Then I tore the engine apart to rebuild it (insert another few dozen pictures of engine pieces)

Then nothing but the sound of crickets chirping while I await further engine parts to arrive.

(how do we not have a general thumbs-up smiley...?)

[95stepside]

I drove past the local fire station yesterday, and lo and behold,what was sitting out front but a white current gen dodge (whatever the years are) with a fancy barb wire pinstripe 4x4 sticker that looked nearly identical to what was on your 89 when you bought it. I, of course, immediately thought of this thread lol.

\hijack

[Sodell]

[QUOTE=Tx Firefighter;6611612]I decided I wanted to build a low budget engine using parts from three different engines ...so far.

You, building a low budget anything?? I am amazed..lol

[Tx Firefighter]

[quote=Sodell;6627854]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I decided I wanted to build a low budget engine using parts from three different engines ...so far.

You, building a low budget anything?? I am amazed..lol

Do I seem like a man of means to you ? I've spent less money on this entire truck project since I started building it 17 months ago than other guys spend at Porterbuilt on their front suspension.