Thrash 2007: Will I drive it to the board meet?

[Alvin]

I ran firestone 2600's all the way around. It's not aired up all the way in the pics, just what is needed to get it up the hill and out of the garage.

Yeah, I've done something on it. It sucks how life gets in the way so much lately.

[Spray-Bomb]

Cool

Yeah, I know that
I've got so many things going on all at once right now, I can't wait till I get some stuff finished & get to work on my toys

I'm really close to getting my bug on the road, but every time I start working on it something needs my attention more !!!

[1LoC10]

lookin good

[Alvin]

Now things are getting exciting! I bought wheels (17" grey center American Racing Torqlite) today and pick them up tomorrow. Hopefully I can get the tires (255/50 and 275/60) mounted tomorrow too. At any rate, pics coming this weekend!

[BACKYARD88]

[my67chevytruck]

lookin good.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Cant wait untill the pics arrive...

[Alvin]

Wouldn't you know it, the wheels didn't come in today. Hopefully they show up tomorrow, otherwise it will be next week before I have any pics.

[BACKYARD88]

Sucks, good luck!

[Alvin]

Well, it appears American Racing is not going to produce the Torqlite wheels next year. This played havoc with the ordering system at the business I purchased them from, so they have to key the order manually (the part no. was already removed from the system). But they did change it so they ship directly to my house now. I will supposedly have them on Monday... we'll see.

[7T2]

I looked at those at Jegs a week ago. They look much better in person than they do in the catalog. Jegs seems to have a habit of putting wheels in their catalog that never get produced though. I've still never seen a Weld Rodlite II.

[Alvin]

Yeah, I found some pics on ebay that really sold me on them. And I couldn't beat them for the price... as long as they show up ok!

[Alvin]

Well I got one of my brake calipers back together and mounted on the truck. It looks pretty good, but I have my doubts about how well it will hold up. Gotta buy a couple parts to get the other caliper done.

Also, a pic of my 17" tires all lonely, waiting on the wheels to show up

And, ordered from Summit tonight:

- two 255/60/15 BFGoodrich Radial T/As (I will be using my two best 275/60's on the rear steel wheels)
- lug nuts for the steel wheels
- bolts for the aluminum water pump pulley
- thermostat switch for the electric fan

*edit* As a side note, it's not my fault I didn't make much progress this past month. After fighting a fever for a couple weeks, I was diagnosed with mono on Thanksgiving and have been out of commission since then. I am finally returning to work Monday and can't wait to get some spare energy to throw at this truck.

[Alvin]

No wheels today. I'll give them till tomorrow, then I'm paying them another visit.. possibly to get my money back!

[Rokcrln]

Mono What you been kissin on?
Progress is still looking good! What is your best guess at completion?

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Alvin]

Really not sure where I got the mono. Coulda been from kissing, but I'm not one to talk about that

I'm making a little progress here and there. Wish it was warmer so I could pull it outside where I really have room to work.

I've guessed on completion dates before and been way off, but I've also never been this close before. Depending on weather, health, and cash flow I could see driving it on the first dry day in the spring.

Things to do:

• Brake System
  • Finish rebuild of pass. side front caliper
  • Rebuild and install rear Camaro calipers (Found a set I'm trying to buy, these aren't required)
  • Install booster, master cyl, prop valve

• Drivetrain
  • Cooling system
    • Radiator
    • Electric Fan (The Jeep Grand Cherokee fan mod)
  • Belts & misc. hoses, wiring, and plumbing (aka fuel line from pump to carb)
  • Shift linkage (Lokar cable linkage)
  • Tranny cooler (Gotta bend lines to the radiator)
  • Driveshaft (From a local place)
  • Exhaust (No ideas yet)
  • Cut hole in bed floor to access fuel filler (kind of important)

• Air Ride System
  • Mount compressor, tank, and valves
  • Plumb compressor system
  • Hook up gauge and switches (wiring harnesses already completed)
  • Check for leaks!!!

• General
  • Double-check all torque values
  • Random interior junk... I just want to drive it!

So yeah, a long ways to go, but I think it's possible to work through it at a decent pace.

[Rokcrln]

Now take that list down to Kinko's (californias version of a copy store) and get it blown up to life size and post it on the shop wall. This way you can check it off as you go and add what you forgot in the empty space.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Alvin]

No wheels today.

Called them AGAIN.

"We had to have somebody at corporate in California enter the part number back into the system so we could place the order. You should have them Wednesday or Thursday."

If I don't have my wheels on Friday, I'm asking for my money back.

On a brighter note I did get my stuff from Summit. So at least the steel wheels will be ready to go.

[7T2]

Lots of ice storms to deal with if they are coming from the west coast...

[Alvin]

Got a message from them today. Not good news.

I have more bad news. Our rep called us and said the reason they killed that part number is the center caps do not fit on about 75% of the rims. Our rep said they are very sorry about this.

Oh man.. that sucks! But wait!

Do you like any other american racing rims? We can do them instead for no price difference. Even if they normaly cost more. Call or email and let me know.

So I went to American Racing's website and found some wheels that were still "off the shelf" and not custom built but still had the same size and backspacing as the wheels I originally purchased. I saved the information from the site (part no., name, specs) and sent them a message back that I would accept those as a replacement.

After just a couple minutes they sent this response:

Great done. They will leave today. He said 100% sure that is a good part number so no problems.

Let's hope it actually happens this time!

Now here's the kicker: I originally purchased the Torqlite wheels because I could not afford the grey-center Torq-thrusts (CL205s) I wanted. It was a way to get a similar look without the expense. However, the "replacement" wheels I found on American Racing's site are Torq-thrust Originals. They are grey-center with a machined lip! And I'm getting them for the same price!

Like I said before, let's hope it actually happens this time!

[SactoJim]

Aw yes........I've experience American Racing problems....lost my patience at 13 weeks!!!

What you are getting is exactly what I was waiting for and still wish I would've got, though I'm happy with the Vintecs.

Sounds like you'll get em cuz they were on the shelf......Besides getting color on mine, gettin wheels was the most exciting part!

[Ben IV]

I had problems with american racing too theyre website and catalouge dont match so when i got my wheels they had a different back spacing than the website said but the same part number. That and they had to custom make them because they dont sell enough to keep them on hand. Glad it worked out for you.

[Alvin]

Yeah, I looked at a few different sites and they all listed the same specs for the part no.

These are not CL205s but Series 309 Torq-thrust Originals which have the "A" shaped spokes different from Torq-thrust IIs and CL205s. I know they all pretty much look the same, but I'm happy to have the "A" shaped spokes and the machined lip. I don't want to have to polish anything.

God, I hope they get this right...

[Alvin]

Well here we go. They were delivered at 12:35 this afternoon.

Found this when I got home:


Outta the box:


And a bunch of other shots:







I'm very satisfied. I'm also quite tempted to do whatever it takes to get the tires mounted tomorrow... hrmm.

[Ben IV]

Ive allways loved those wheels, dident realize they redesigned them for disc brakes. The originals were flat on the back so they had to come out with the torq thrust d's d meaning disc brakes. The straight spokes look alot better than the curved ones imo.