Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild

[cmabolt]

Thanks Sparkyben!! I do have to make some heat shields for a couple things. thanks for your input. Funny you should mention the flanges on the headers. That is really the only thing I didn't like about them. How did you convert. Is there a kit? Do you cut the flanges off and weld on ball and socket flanges instead.

Chris

[sparkyben]

I havent had the time and decided to keep them or go to a ram horn exhaust and be done with the headers all together. I have a slightly built original motor in my truck. I dont think there is a kit exactly, my exhaust guy said the headers have to be cut and a ball type welded on but i saw a thread a while back where a guy made it work. Search "header flange" or "leaking headers" i think it was. Mine arent bad but i buy a new gasket every couple months, exhaust tic is a huge pet peace. lol

[cmabolt]

Update time. Well, fuel plumbing is absolutely done!!! I routed the lines straight back from intake, secured them on trans and then turned them out to hard lines just behind the transfer case. I also tried to route them so as to minimize exposure to exhaust heat. Took a while, but learned a lot.


Since I am getting closer to a test fire, thought I would start looking into how I am going to get my junkyard taurus fan in front of the motor in a cost effective way. Hmmmmmmm.

After mulling it over, looking at possibilities, reading forum posts, I decided to go with an aluminum shroud. I found a nice set of posts about how to get that Taurus fan into an aluminum shroud. I first cut the circular part of the fan away from it's stock housing.

Then I ditched the original shroud. I then took a look at the core support. It was not only in bad shape where the shroud mounts to the bottom, but it was not a good flat surface for a new shroud. I cut out the bad and welded in new angle steel at the bottom.




Next I made some measurements and a template for the new shroud. After doing some reading, I decided to make the depth of the shroud 4". This way
the 2.5 inch thick fan/motor will have about 2" of space away from the radiator to make sure the fan was pulling air across the entire radiator.
I will probably vent the top of the shroud as well to dissipate standing hot air when fan is not on. I had a nice 4 core radiator and didn't have to buy one
so the extra $$ on the shroud seemed well justified.


Now, all folded up and ready for the fabricator. I contemplated buying aluminum sheet and a few angle irons to bend the aluminum, but wanted it
to be clean and nice. The fabricator can do it in a day for $200 bucks and actually had some really good ideas about reinforcing the attach points for the fan. We'll see.

[Crash_OK]

Great progress...

[bilfman]

Great build ! Kudos on tackling it yourself.
Posted via Mobile Device

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by bilfman

Great build ! Kudos on tackling it yourself.
Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks bilfman! I appreciate it.

[cmabolt]

Update. Got the fan shroud back from fabricator. I modified the design a little so the fan sits 2.5 inches not 4 inches from the radiator. I think it turned out nice and the modification should draw thru the radiator better. It was made with 16 gauge T6 sheet and was riveted together. It weighs very little, but is very strong. Money well spent I think.



Another interesting development for those that have been following my build for some time. Finally found a body shop that won't require me to mortgage my house. The cab should be in the body shop this August. Crossing my fingers..... Before the body shop, I want to get some line-x work done. So, I spoke with the line-x dealer local to me and asked about getting the underneath of the cab line-x'd. he recommended Corathane (Sherwin Williams Product) as a prime for the line-x.

He said line-x sticks to this stuff like crazy. Expensive stuff at $100 for a gallon. I was told it goes far though. So off to harbor freight for some cheap tools.


I have to take a brake for a few weeks to do a job or two, then the cab will get some attention. Things are looking up for now.

[birdistheword]

Sweet truck. I only wish I had the time, money, and place to do this to my 4x4.

[cmabolt]

A little more progress. Hi all. Well, picked up an aluminum top cover for my sm465. I was going to piece a new one together, but found a reconditioned one
in Texas. Not cheap! It was faily easy to install and seems to have a much shorter throw. The best part is that it moved the shifter back about 2.5 inches which puts it almost in the stock position after moving the engine forward.


I also got the core support mounted with new shroud and hoses. So, cooling system is done.


I also scuffed up the underneath of the floor in preparation for Line-X.


The cab will go to line-X and then straight to body shop for filler/paint. Next I'll move onto some heat shield around the clutch slave cylinder and then get everything setup for a test fire. I am happy about the body work finally getting done, but tentative as I have been here before.

[mjensen]

Looking fantastic!

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by mjensen

Looking fantastic!

Thanks Mike. Appreciate it.

[cmabolt]

In the bodyshop!!!! Well actually, following the tow truck with cab to the body shop. I had the underneath of the cab sprayed with line-x so should be well protected from weather underneath. Watching that thing bounce around on the rollback was not the most comforting thing in the world. I think I'll have a neighbor take her home with a trailer for round 2.

OK, now it's actually in the body shop. Today I went by to confirm the paint color. It is still going to be Honda basque red pearl. I looked at the ppg vibrance equivalent and the basque red pearl actually has the vibrance pearl in it already. So to keep things simple and cost effective, went with the honda production color. Here's a decent pic of the color on a cobra.


Jason Aldean concert in Hershey PA. good show. I can't always be working on the truck.

Actually I need to get crackin on the bed metal work as the bodyshop said it should be about a month to get the cab back. Started laying out wiring for the fan assembly and startup.

I have a few more weeks of jobs and then back to the truck full time for a bit.

[swamp rat]

3 relays? 2 for headlights and one for? Oh wait do you have 4 headlights instead of 2?

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

3 relays? 2 for headlights and one for? Oh wait do you have 4 headlights instead of 2?

1 relay for low speed on fan and 2 60 amp relays for high speed on fan.

[quadzero]

Very professional shroud you built. Nice paint guns too, keep up the great work.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by quadzero

Very professional shroud you built. Nice paint guns too, keep up the great work.

Thanks quad zero. I wish I could take credit for the fab work, but without a brake in my shop, I had to pay $$$ for my cardboard mockup to become a reality. If i had a tig welder i would have given her a whirl for sure.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Nice choice on color..

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by FRENCHBLUE72

Nice choice on color..

Thanks frenchblue72. I wanted to keep the look simple and clean. I do like 2 tone, but could never arrive at two tones that I really liked. Though, thought seriously about champagne as the light and rootbear as the dark for a bit.

[cmabolt]

update. Got a few moments the other day and thought i would fill the 16x9 speaker holes in the doors and get the new sport mirrors test installed.

After plate welded in

Door Mirror holes.

I used this reference that was here on the forums. It was very helpful as the factory assembly manual references templates or something that didn't seem to have real world garage meaning.

[Vintage Windmills]

Nice build! I see you have more than 2 leafs in the front leaf springs, are those lift springs you purchased? Curious what you went with for those.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by Vintage Windmills

Nice build! I see you have more than 2 leafs in the front leaf springs, are those lift springs you purchased? Curious what you went with for those.

Hey vintage windmills. I went with the tough country EZ ride 2" suspension
lift kit. I wanted as nice a ride as i could get and not too much lift. Just enough to give 33" tires some breathing room.

Cheers
Chris

[cmabolt]

slipped in a little more truck time between jobs.
I needed to get a bunch of holes on the bed filled where the auxiliary tanks were mounted. A bit tedious, but got it done.


I also need to clean up this area inside the bed where the side filler was fabbed. I wish i would have done this myself. Would have been much cleaner to just make a nice box with tabs at the bottom.


A slurry of filler and welding rod. Not too pretty. I'll see what I can do. Never know, might get aggravated and cut the damn thing out. Start over??

I also managed to get all the fluids replenished in the motor, frt/rr axle, trans and transfer case. I decided to go with 75/90 Synthetic for axles and trans/transfer case. Sounds like many people are using this stuff with good results. It must have been a long time since I replenished all the fluids in one of my vehicles because I nearly blacked out after looking at the receipt. This stuff must be made out of an exotic mixture of refined gold. Oh well, it's only money right.

So, bed is almost ready for body shop and motor is almost ready for a startup.

[cmabolt]

Update. Well, had today to try and get some stuff done. I grinded a few more welds in the bed floor and then turned my attention to the huge leak that started when I was pouring fluid into the transfer case.

It appeared to be coming thru the input shaft seal that i just replaced. hmmmm

So removed driveshaft and yoke to take a loo at the seal. I bought a rebuild kit online so wondering if this is the culprit.

After careful inspection, the seal wasn't even touching the yoke shaft. therefore the fluid was just pouring out. So off to Napa to get'r fixed.
While I was there i picked up a 78 steering box with the quicker ratio and got her installed with my drop pitman arm. I give the credit to crash for doing this with good result.


I am waiting on a few electrical connectors and some bulk wire to get started wiring the motor.

[cmabolt]

made a little progress yesterday. Got some wiring stuff delivered. I soldered together some nice weather pack connectors for the fan setup.

Got the core support grounded to the frame.

Most importantly, I got all the temporary wires hooked up and some fuel in the tank for the test start. I did run the fuel pump to pressurize the lines and only had one leak at a loose line fitting. Tightened her up and back in business. I also cycled the pump till I heard the return line dumping fuel back into the tank. Very happy it works.


Dropped a bolt in the frame to hold the DBW pedal

I am a little concerned about priming the engine. It has been sitting for months and part of that time upside down. Any suggestions? This isn't like the old small block. I was thinking I would take out the plugs give a squirt or two of WD40 in the cylinders and dry crank till I have pressure. Then close it all up and give it a go? Hopefully next post will be a video of the motor living. On your mark, get set...

[mjensen]

Drumroll please!!!!
That looks awesome! Where did you source the weatherpack connector?