Rat repair.

[swamp rat]

Well since i have joined this forum i have posted a bunch of stuff allover and never started a build thread to keep all my work and posts together. So being as my truck is in dire need of help i just cant let it go neglected any longer, i don't know where all the money will come from but i got to keep at before my truck gets just too tired and rusty, i just don't think i'm going to be able to do a frame off tho not having a garage large enough to put the rat inside. I'm also going to try and gather up some of my old project threads and merge them here as time permits.

A little history, My step dad bought this truck as a second owner and used it to haul hay for his animals over in Eastern Wa. and then later traveled a bit with a camper, I got to use the truck off and on when in high school and fell in love with it. The truck had 94,000. miles on it when i was able to buy it from him in 1994. After i bought it I rebuilt the engine in 1996, it really didn't need it but i wanted to freshen it up a bit and take care of the old oil fouling problems these trucks had with the valve guide seals. I decided to buy a set of Worlds Products heads, RV cam and bored .030 over and put a set of Doug Thorley heads on it, i also found that the stock carb had a problem, there are 2 vacuum operated pistons that adjust the metering rods, the pistons seized up in the bore, i got them out but thought it best to replace it and choose an Edelbrock 600cfm and a Performer intake and K&N air filter to round out the package. its been a nice strong running engine since.

Now living in Western Wa, we have a lot of rain and for a long time i didn't realize this truck had a few leaks and the leaks took there toll on the poor truck its now got a lot of rusted panels that need to be replaced, but i think more importantly it needs mechanical work to once again make it safe to drive, the brakes, ball joints, tie rods and bearings are all shot. I did some research and decided that although 14 bolt rear ends are plentiful, for now i'd go ahead and keep the Eaton rear and do a disk conversion as well.

I also need to finish up some other stuff on the truck i started but didn't finish for to both health issues and having to do remodel work on my house so i'll get that stuff done here as well.