Thelonerifes 72 stepper

[Richard8971]

Originally Posted by thelonerife

I got a couple more things blasted. One hood hinge and a 1968 plate.

Nice... I just got a '67 Arizona plate for my stepper. Too cool.

Keep up the good work.

Don

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Wow very nice.... Keep up the good work..

[thelonerife]

thanks guys!

[thelonerife]

I got one hood hinge painted. I took a pic of the other hinge to show the before and after. Looks pretty good I think.

[thelonerife]

I got the bottom of the drivers door painted and the inside roof lip, also the white on the front fender.

[tdave00]

Looks like progress to me. Keep it up.

[thelonerife]

I took the factory ac stuff off and mounted the new ac compressor and brackets.

v

[thelonerife]

[nuke1]

So Shiney!!!! did you end up going with a vintage air setup?

[thelonerife]

So far I just have the compressor and brackets. i will be getting vintage air or old air to finish it up.I'm getting prices now. My wife said'' you bought that truck because the air worked now your taking it out'' and rolls her eyes. But I want to upgade it now and try it out and if it works I'll do my other truck too.

[BACKYARD88]

Sounds like me, I buy them because they run, then tear them apart lol.

[thelonerife]

Well I priced everything else I need for the ac/heat stuff from vintage air and it came to about 950.00. Then I see on ebay a vendor selling the complete kit for 1000 with free shipping so ordered that. So I have a backup compressor now. i just have to wait a few weeks for it all to show up.

[5150]

cool Chuck, you can wait about 4 months or so before you'll need it

[thelonerife]

Yeah I know I'm early for the heat but hopefully by then I'll be up and runing. I still have to dynamat the cab too. Ordering that shortly. I'm going to get your lights out this week.

[tdave00]

Looking good Chuck.

[thelonerife]

Thanks Trai. I cleaned up a little bit of that side of the motor area. Got rid of the vaccuum lines and wiring for the old factory air stuff. Changed the vac. port that was behind the carb. put some new vac. lines on. Temporarily fit the blockoff on the firewall. I'll pull it off and trim the clearance needed for the lines and drill a hole for the drain. I'm not going to weld up any of the holes on the firewall as this is just going to be a daily driver not a show truck. I'll post pics. later.

[thelonerife]

Still have more to do like plug wires, heat shields etc.

[tdave00]

BTW...why are you going with the vintage air setup? Is it just more efficient, better technology? Just wondering.

[thelonerife]

yes and yes. it is more efficient and the newer technology should be easier on the motor. I have the original setup on my other truck and as it does work and blow cold but it is plauged by the problems of an old system. One, the compressors that you get that are rebuilt will work fine but will start to leak oil out from around the clutch area eventually. This is my second compressor since having the truck. And since it still on 12 it runs about 300.00 a pop for getting it up and going again. two,I would rather put that money towards a system that is proven to be more efficient and since the compressor is smaller, less of a strain on the motor at kickin of the clutch. Also parts that are new for the original system are very expensive. The system that was on the stepside did work but wasn't cold enough. I was told by the po that they had to have it recharged every other year. It was converted to 134 btw. There is an option to swap the compressors only but you still have to install some new parts to make it work. I opted to do it totally vintage air to get away from the old stuff altogether.

[tdave00]

Gotcha. Just wondering why someone would go with Vintage Air when they had a working setup. Makes alot of sense.

[thelonerife]

I have been thinking of doing it on my green truck for some time now since that compressor is throwing oil out. I figured since this one needed a recharge and the truck is apart and not in a have to drive case I would let it be my prototype project. If this works as well as everybody says I'll do the green truck.I've gotta have air either way.

[thelonerife]

I got the Dynamat in the cab. Well part of it. I went up behind the gas tank and by doing that I ran out of it. I will have to get some more. I also want to do my doors so I should have gotten two boxes to begin with. I put he gas tank back in. Ran a tap through all my holes for the tank,seat, and seat belts. I also cleaned my seat belts and they are drying. I'll wait to see how they look. I may have to do them again. I drilled the holes for the trim screw/studs for the rear of the cab/divider molding.

[thelonerife]

Got two of my wheels in. 17x8 w/4.5 bs.

[BACKYARD88]

Sweet wheels! I love that seat too.

[thelonerife]

Thanks. The seats grown on me and I decided to go with a retro style truck. The seat is sooo dated its pathetic. but now I like it and I even have a sample from sms fabrics for the new plaid. When I decide to redo it that is..