Old School Hot Rod Truck (1964)

[Hart_Rod]

Just found this thread. I remember this truck from Kirtland AFB. I helped move it around a couple of times.....

[frmula505]

Originally Posted by frmula505

Nice truck you have there. Good choice on the hood. I like the older look of the 60, 61 hood. My 60 came with a 64 hood when I bought it. The hood was the fist thing I replaced.
Heres a pic of another New Mexico truck rescued from the ranch.

Wow i remember this thread. that's when i had first bought my truck. Hard to believe it looked like that at one time. Here it is now.

[61_FL_Apache]

yep, nice truck!

[Arekusu]

Wow! Heart Rod, you were the person who told me about this site. Crazy we're both in the same state. Is that suburban the one you had in the back of KAFB Auto Hobby? Nice job Frmula! Looks like I've been taking way to long on this project. All that's left is posi in the back and paint on the truck. I'm undecided if I should leave the Apache hood on the truck or put the original one back on with the 64 grill .

Alex

[fryer1979]

Arekusu: That's a Kool pickup you've got going there. Looks like your rattle can job came out quite well. My favorite is your "Christmas in Florida" picture, very kool.

[63sbssbbw]

I say keep the apache stuff,it looks way cooler
cool build btw
T

[Swifty]

Arekusu, great looking truck. i actually use to live in the same nieghborhood as you but recently moved. I still live in Mary Esther though. I see your truck every where and every time i see it, i have to stop and admire it.

This truck looks great in person and is deffinetly a driver!

[Arekusu]

Thanks for the kind comments all. Hopefully it'll have paint on it by next spring. It's getting finished SLOWLY...

[CVA59]

That new style engine looks great painted old skool orange, Nice work!!

[50bomb]

Love the hood..You did good on this truck.

[Arekusu]

Well I decided to buy new doors and inner fenders. I haven't skimped yet on this thing why start now. The only thing left to buy are the bumpers, new correctly spaced steel rims and maybe a ford 8.8 for the rear with limited slip and disk brakes. Should be finished by the end of this year I hope. Paint and all.

Alex

[knuckledragger]

The truck is lookin great.Did you get the rx7 going?I drove a buddies 2nd gen rx7 with a ls1 and 6 speed the other day.You are looking forward to a good time with that thing.

[Arekusu]

Yup Rx7 is just about 100%. I have to work out a vibe at speed.. which I think is a rear wheel bearing or the diff.. either way, I have both as replacements. Then a speedo install.. It's already registered and insured. So that for a while will become the daily driver and the truck (Penny) will come off the road for the final bit of work. Even with the vibe, mustangs just don't have a chance with that cars power of the LS1, T-56 gearing and diff at 4.10 and the weight of 3000lbs with me in it. It screams. I'm happy it has good brakes.

[Arekusu]

silly video..

http://youtu.be/4caZfy1MSbc

[chevyrestoguy]

Cool truck!

So you live in Mary Esther and from the sticker on your back window, you work on the Osprey? If so, PM me. I need to see if you know an old roommate of mine from my USAF days. He lives in Mary Esther and works on the V-22 program.

[kieth]

Originally Posted by Arekusu

Thanks for all the comments so far. The T-5. I love that thing. I'm at 2100 rpm at 70mph on the highway with 373's in the back and 255/60 r15's under it. It also makes mustang killing a little easier with 4th and 5th. The last 2 gears are like the ace up my sleeve.

I used the engine mounts from a 91 burb when I installed my TBI 350, it moved the engine forward and down which meant that my 700r4 and all of the engine electronics did not interfere with the firewall. I was pure dumb luck on my part but I tell everyone else I planned it that way. Kieth

this first picture shows the difference in the 91 burb engine mounting brackets, (the same as a 87 pickup)
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...03189305_KyUKk

This shows how we notched the frame and drilled other holes in the burb front donor crossmember to make the engine sit 1.5" farther forward, and 3/4" lower---clearances were fine and everything cleared the firewall.
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...03189432_aLzkW

Just click on next whre it says 97 of 416 to see the progression of the motor mounts.


Here is a shot of the cab on the chasis----the engine, the distributor, the cruise control------everything cleared just fine.
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...49354417_Z7puY


Oh forgot, here is a shot of the crossmember for the 700r4:

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...53807236_gi9yc

[Arekusu]

Well, heading home soon from the desert.

Plans -


Order Moser Ford 9" 35 spline axles with wave loc posi

Install rear fuel tank

Remove old 350 and install 454.

Paint engine bay prior to install then after paint truck.

Finish truck.


The Rx7 in my daily driver now. I need to do a diff swap though to an IRS 8.8 so it can keep up with the LS. After I get the truck finished, I'll do a light rebuild on the LS to ensure good rings, bearings etc. For now I'm focousing on the truck.. not much left.

Alex

[likaroc13]

great to hear! and sounds like some good plans for the truck too...i bet you can't wait!

[Arekusu]

Little Update... Getting ready for the big block and paint.. (finally!)

Alex

[Arekusu]

The big block 454 with vintage valve covers.. (hope they clear)

[Arekusu]

The 454 has to come apart though so I can add all the parts from summit to it.. like the cam.. new rod bolts and verify the tolerances on the bearings.

Alex

[Captainfab]

Those valve covers will hit the firewwll if you install the engine in the original location. I have those same valve covers on the 454 in my Suburban, but I moved the engine forward 2", and they clear the firewall by about 1/4" on the passenger side.

Originally Posted by Arekusu

The big block 454 with vintage valve covers.. (hope they clear)

[Arekusu]

My question is then...

What about clutch linkage (z-bar etc.) and bell housing mounting? Or are most people converting to a blow proof bell housing?

Capt. Fab, thanks for the heads up on that.

Alex
Posted via Mobile Device

[Captainfab]

A big block with a manual trans in one of these trucks is going to be a challenge making a mechanical clutch linkage. It can likely be done, but if it were me, I would convert to a hydraulic clutch.

[Arekusu]

Progress report