Frankentruck

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

I like option 1 or 3. Leaning towards #3 though, but I do like the center caps. On your truck, I think these 2 look better than the other options. JMO..

I have option 1 on my truck with the metal center caps. I might end up putting rally wheels on mine, so my centers may be up for sale soon. My wheels are 5 lug, but the centers should fit (I think).

Thanks for the input

My truck is 6 lug, so the rally wheels require 6 lug caps. The 5 lug wheels in your build thread are also truck rallies, but they came from a 2wd truck. My 6 lug rallies came from a 4wd truck

[jhrusk]

If you decide against the 15x8 steely let me know. 👍🏻

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by jhrusk

If you decide against the 15x8 steely let me know. 👍🏻

Already had you in mind if I don't use it

[cwcarpenter98]

It's been awhile since I actually did any major work on the truck, so let's get caught up.

The week before Christmas I worked for UPS as a driver helper. It is a seasonal position, so I knew that they wouldn't need me after Christmas. Over the summer, I worked for Advance Auto Parts, and my boss wanted me to come back and work whenever I was home. I started working for Advance again last Thursday, but today I finally got a chance to pull the old trans.

Everything was going great. Trans came out super easy, swapped over the shifter levers because the old trans levers were in better shape than the new trans, and was ready to get the new to me overdrive trans in. Being a much heavier trans, my dad worked the floor jack while I guided the trans into place. The trans slipped right in once we got it lined up right. I started putting everything back together and it was going great. Looked like I was going to be able to get everything bolted up and ready to go by tonight.

That's when the one thing struck again.. I did not realize that the output shafts were different Now I need to get the yoke on the driveshaft changed so I can hopefully finish the swap before I have to go back to school.

On a better note though, I was able to purchase a set of rally wheels that had center caps and bands. I just need to get the right screws so I can mount up the caps on the wheels currently on the truck. Not sure if I am going to run the beauty bands or not

[rusty76]

Hopefully you’ll get the driveshaft sorted out before you go back.

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by rusty76

Hopefully you’ll get the driveshaft sorted out before you go back.

I think I should be able to, I just need a chance to. I've been working a lot this break, and add all the rain that we have been flooded with, it leaves little time for me to work on the truck. Hopefully I'll be able to call some local shops about getting a yoke, and maybe having them install it if the price is right

[flashed]

Christian ,if you need more 15x8 6 lug Steelie wheels , I just bought another set with tires to sell .You know where I am .

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by flashed

Christian ,if you need more 15x8 6 lug Steelie wheels , I just bought another set with tires to sell .You know where I am .

Thanks John, I think a trip to the truck farm is in my near future

[cwcarpenter98]

Got a little bit of sunshine today, so I spent some time messing with the wiring harness and mounting the lockdown switch. I've figured out where I'm going to mount it on the Quadrajet, but making the bracket is my issue. I have limited fabrication tools, but I'll make it work.

I also put the trim rings on my wheels to see how they look. I wasn't a fan at first, but they are kinda growing on me. I do love the caps, so now I have to decide if I want to run caps with no trim rings or caps and rings

[flashed]

I like it with Rings .

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by flashed

I like it with Rings .

I do too. I like how they make the wheels look better because you can't see most of the scratches in the paint

[rusty76]

I like the rings too

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by rusty76

I like the rings too

Thanks for the input and following along


I've pretty much decided to run the caps and rings for awhile. I just want to get this trans swap finished up so I can drive it again

[cwcarpenter98]

Got a lot done on Frankentruck today. Got a new, 27 spline slip yoke at a local driveshaft shop, and the guy was super nice and installed it for free. Best part was that my u joints are still good, and he was able to reuse them.

Finally figured out the screws issue with the center caps so I was able to get 3 of the 4 mounted today. That last one I need to pull the wheel off so I can drill the holes for the screws I am using.

After I got that done, I continued working on making a bracket for the kick down switch. I had a flat bar of aluminium from when I added tie down points, so I just used that and made it work. I used a hammer and a vise to bend out where the switch mounts, and I used a hack saw to make all the cuts. The only power tool I used was my drill to drill the 3 holes. I smoothed everything out with a file, and will probably put some paint on it if I can get some warmer weather. Not sure if I should paint it black or clear coat it?

[flashed]

Tomorrow should be a better day for you to work Christian . I hope I feel up to some work tomorrow after my Ambulance Ride to Northside this morning . My day SUCKED BADLY .

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by flashed

Tomorrow should be a better day for you to work Christian . I hope I feel up to some work tomorrow after my Ambulance Ride to Northside this morning . My day SUCKED BADLY .

Aw man, that sucks! I hope you feel better man. What happened?

Tomorrow we have to move some more furniture out of my grandparent's house. Sunday is going to be a great day to hopefully finish up the swap

[flashed]

Christian , I was clearing very Moldy furniture and Junk out of a storage area at work and had an Alergic reaction to the mold . It caused my throat to almost close up and the Workers Comp people told me I needed to have someone call 911 and get me to a Hospital. They gave me a steroid shot and a Pee test and let me escape a few hours later .Feeling better but still wired up from the shot and my throat is still scratchy . That mold was growing some serious HAIR all over everything .

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by flashed

Christian , I was clearing very Moldy furniture and Junk out of a storage area at work and had an Alergic reaction to the mold . It caused my throat to almost close up and the Workers Comp people told me I needed to have someone call 911 and get me to a Hospital. They gave me a steroid shot and a Pee test and let me escape a few hours later .Feeling better but still wired up from the shot and my throat is still scratchy . That mold was growing some serious HAIR all over everything .

Dadgum! That mold is some nasty stuff! I'm glad you're on the mend though. That stuff must have been sitting in storage for a long time

[Captainfab]

Keep an eye on that aluminum bracket. Most all aluminum flat bar is 6061-T6 which doesn't like to be bent. It is quite possible that bend will crack.

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Keep an eye on that aluminum bracket. Most all aluminum flat bar is 6061-T6 which doesn't like to be bent. It is quite possible that bend will crack.

Thanks Captainfab I was not sure what it was made of, and that explains why it did crack a little bit even though I put some heat to it while bending. I am probably going to remake the bracket at a later date, but I'm trying to work with what I've got so I can get the truck back running again. Not sure if this makes a difference or not, but I can't easily bend that part of the bracket with my hands.

When I remake it, what material would you suggest I use given the tools at my disposal?

[Captainfab]

I would make it our of say 1/8"-3/16" steel. If aluminum is easier, then get a piece of 5052 aluminum sheet to work with. That alloy will bend without cracking.

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Thanks Captainfab I was not sure what it was made of, and that explains why it did crack a little bit even though I put some heat to it while bending. I am probably going to remake the bracket at a later date, but I'm trying to work with what I've got so I can get the truck back running again. Not sure if this makes a difference or not, but I can't easily bend that part of the bracket with my hands.

When I remake it, what material would you suggest I use given the tools at my disposal?

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I would make it our of say 1/8"-3/16" steel. If aluminum is easier, then get a piece of 5052 aluminum sheet to work with. That alloy will bend without cracking.

Thanks! I'll be making bracket number 2 fairly soon

[cwcarpenter98]

Quick update:

Got the driveshaft in today, put some gear oil in the trans, put the lockout cable back, and continued to repair/modify the wiring harness. I could drive it in lockout right now, but I really want to test the overdrive during the first test drive. It's so close!

[cwcarpenter98]

I got a lot of stuff done yesterday and today on the swap.

Got the kickdown switch mounted yesterday after running some errands and laid out where the harness needed to go. I did not have a clamp for the lockout cable at the transmission, so some zip ties worked perfectly

This afternoon I extended the wiring to the kickdown switch, wired up the relay for the HEI cut out, and plugged everything up. After that was all done, it started to get dark and I realized that I did not have a fuse for the power wire. I'll get that done tomorrow and hopefully be able to go for a test drive

[cwcarpenter98]

I was able to drive the truck today, but overdrive won't engage. Not sure yet if it is the lockout lever not all the way back, or the kickdown switch wired wrong, or a bad solenoid, or a combination of those.

It does drive good in lockout mode though. Seems that there is a different gear set in this trans compared to the old 3 speed. Definitely seems to get up and go a little quicker now