The building of "Monroe" 72 4x4 swb

[tutone]

3/5 drop installed. Shock mounts after that,and next is to set the cab off, pull the old 6/manual out and powerwash the frame, slice it and put in the sbc/700r4. Then back with the cab and go get a drive shaft made.

[Getter-Done]

Great Plan.

Looking Good

[tutone]

Thanks, Gonna try to get it going and all the bugs worked out before Super Chevy in Memphis in April. (3 hour trip). Also if this engine turns out ok, Spring Rod Run may not be out of the picture. Those are both lofty goals, but with very little body work left, it's just a matter of mechanics.

[raggedjim]

Nice work, I like the shortbed 4x4 trucks. I hardly ever see them anymore. Was just in Hickory a couple days ago picking up a MrCool unit from Ingrams!

Good luck, Rg

[tutone]

Thanks Rg, you should have stopped by grabbed a wrench. Got it all lowered and while relocating shock mounts in the rear, I found out I should have ordered ubolts. I will from now on. I stopped by Southern Ky Classics yesterday and got some. Those 50 year old nuts do not want to budge.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by tutone

Thanks Rg, you should have stopped by grabbed a wrench. Got it all lowered and while relocating shock mounts in the rear, I found out I should have ordered ubolts. I will from now on. I stopped by Southern Ky Classics yesterday and got some. Those 50 year old nuts do not want to budge.

Ha! Some day I'll take you up on that! Those u-bolts are a bear, I've started cutting them with a side grinder if they have never been out. They sound like a shotgun when they break through!


Good luck, Rg

[tutone]

Well the cab and long frame have undergone a forced seperation for a little surgery. Out with the six/manual in with the V8/auto and slice a foot out of the middle. Maybe the cab wont be sitting outside too long.

[tutone]

Ol blue is officially 115" now. Got the rear mounts tacked on and headed to town for some bolts, nuts and welding rods. Yank the six next and in with the new eng/trans.

[tutone]

Six out and on the floor.

[tutone]

Not much to report today. One exhaust routing pipe installed through the crossmember.

[tutone]

Well the prep work is pretty much finshed on the frame. Ready to hook up the brake line and cut off the gas lines to fit. Then a coat of paint and I can start cleaning the eng combo and set it in.

[tutone]

Got some black paint on the chassis. Engine install next.

[tutone]

Motor and tranny in. PS not hooked up yet because of brackets not fitting due to exhaust manifold change out. Gonna have to scavange a set of brackets pretty soon. Will degrease and wash the transmission as soon as these weekly bouts of weather let up.

[tutone]

A quick effort to get the cab back on before this next round of winter weather. Now I have some things I can do in the shop for the next couple of days.

[tutone]

Well the old shop truck is going back together. This winter project is spilling over into spring, but I am happy with the results so far. 7 out of 8 bed bolts dropped right in. The 8th took one hammer tap. That isn't too bad for the amount of hacking and cutting involved in shortening one. I still have to tack my back stake/supports and finish bolting them together, but It is a process. Here are a few shots of where I am at. Thanks to my buddy Jerry for his help setting the bed on and aligning.

[Getter-Done]

Nice Work

Looking Good

[tutone]

Thanks, worked on getting the tailights and stakes tacked today. Had a little work on the driver side to get a good gap. Working with the cheap aftermarket chrome makes me want to pull what's left of my hair out.

[tutone]

Funny how none of the aftermarket crap fits. I keep telling myself that its just a shop truck. The back is pretty much complete. I bought the lower tailgate trim but I think I will save it for another truck. The back wiring harness was a good investment all in all.

[Leonard1]

Just read the entire thread, and I must say that it doesn't do this truck justice. I've seen it in person a couple of times, and ol Tutone has done an excellent job on this little ride!

[tutone]

Thanks for the kind words. Just a few more days of wiring, brakes, and this and that and this puppy should fire off. Got the front end back on and still plugging away.

[tutone]

Well I've been piecing together the cooling system on this truck. Ended up getting a 4 core Champion radiator. Top hose from Advance for a 71 c10 fit like a glove. Bottom hose, forget it. Searched the forum and got a squarebody lower hose. No dice. Went with a flex hose and got it to fit. That's been holding me up this week. Rain moving in for 3 days, so maybe I can get this thing further along. I lack hooking up the starter and HEI to crank it. Next post , maybe she will come alive. Will let you guys in on it as soon as it does.

[Getter-Done]

Good deal

Part Numbers Please on that radiator stuff.

[tutone]

Will do on the part numbers. I will be out in the shop tomorrow and get some photos. Everything fit pretty good surprisingly.

[tutone]

Here are a couple of shots at the radiator and hose setup.
Champion 4 core radiator frm Southern Ky Classics
Upper hose from Advance Auto (part # in pic)
Lower flex hose from Auto zone.# 81351 Dayco
I think they are ugly but there isnt much choice right now.

[tutone]

Guys, this is the part of the build that nail biting takes over. One little victory at a time. Put the battery on, hooked it up, (no fire dept call), hit the key and she spins over. I will fill the radiator, wire up the hei, and rig up the throttle and cross my fingers that all this work wasn't in vain. I pulled it outside to do a little shop cleanup and took some glamour shots, or not. Drivers door has some WD40 on it. Gotta get that shiney mess off.