Rusty, crushy, but trysty.

[makman1297]

Owner 84, its a stock replacement for a 6-line tank setup. I think it was for 81-87 models and if i remember correctly i got it from e-bay for around $60 new. Its stamped for 60 PSI max, so the 12-14 of tbi should be just fine. I had to order the connector seperate, which should be in tomorrow.

[makman1297]

Not much done today, pulled the lh hub and spindle. It was really stubborn. I also dropped the wheel spacers off to be machined out.

[jbwolfe]

Great progress on your truck! I thought my 71 CST/20 had bad rust, now I'm thinking it's not so bad. I've never done any kind of body work, but I'm thinking about replacing the rocker panels this summer, and doing some repair on the floor panels and cab corners.

Thanks for posting this thread! It's encouraging to see an old truck get saved from rust, and makes me realize I should really start doing some body work on my truck.

[makman1297]

Got some parts in today, found out i was shorted on one part. Its the first time rock auto ever messed up an order, but they fixed it right away. Picked up my spacers for the front wheels and i dropped the wheels off to be bored out. Hopefully tomorrow i will get some work done on the front end.

[owner 84]

Great.... excited to see you next step

[makman1297]

Yeah me to, i have the ball joints and gears for the front, think i will be doing that, then i can get the front drive shaft in, make sure it fits right and then might start the exhaust.

[gshibler]

Wow! Somebody has been busy. It looks great, little did you know the old beater work truck was gonna get such a facelift. Were you planning this when you bought it or did things just develop.....

[makman1297]

Worked on the front end, got the old ball joints out. Got the ring and pinion in, that was about it for today.

[makman1297]

Today i put the pas side spindle, hub and lockout back in, cleaned up the rotor and put my spacer on. I have a pic of the rims i plan on using, think it will work good. Installed the steering stabilizer, the front and rear shocks. Cleaned up the front end and painted it as well. I need a u-joint to for the lh axle and they gave me the wrong one for the front drive shaft. I also installed the new steering arm, what a pain it was to get the old one out. The front axle re-geared better than the rear did, they are now 4.10, which with 33" tires and the 700r4 should be good even for a daily driver. The front brake lines even worked out pretty good, just had to mount the line on the bottom side of the frame.

[makman1297]

gabriel, no not when i bought it, but then again the wife actually got it, not me. I was planning on the 700r4 when i first got it, but that was about it. This like so many other things is always changing from what we plan.

[makman1297]

Worked on the sway bar drop brackets, got one complete and the 2nd almost done, hopefully they will work fine. Cleaned and painted the sway bar.

[owner 84]

Great....

[makman1297]

picked up the u-joint for the front axle, hopefully will get the dr side hub put back together.

[squaredaway]

Good job, brother. I'm enjoying this build. You are working your tail off.

[makman1297]

Tried putting in the axle shaft u-joint, total failure, never have i had such an issuw with a u-joint. I broke the new one installing it. I did manage to get the front driveshaft joint in and installed. I tried the t-case with and with out the spacers under it, to my suprise everything lines up better with the t-case dropped down. Will pick up a new joint in the morning and get that dr side back together.

[makman1297]

Well today went pretty good, picked up a new u-joint at the local car-quest, that guy always has what i need. I slid right in with no problems, guess the axle just didnt like advance u-joints. Put the dr side hub in, installed the new caliper, installed the dr side brake line, as well as the wheel spacer. I then finished up the sway bar bracket and got that done, think it will work good. I then decided to start on the exhaust system. I had some pieces bent at the local shop to go around the transfer case. I already had the rest of the system. I also had a box full from summit racing, it had a set of header buddies (dont use the gaskets, fit realy good), 02 bungs, glass pack mufflers, crossover tube, and tips. The system i had i picked up last year, it was a pre made 2 1/4 two wheel drive for header back. I had to cut and fit the pipes but it worked out, just need to get two hangers and two clamps to finish it up. The area on the pass side where it runs by the fuel pump i will be wrapping the pipe in header wrap put putting a sheet metal shield in between to cut down on the heat, i think that will be good.

[makman1297]

A couple more.

[gshibler]

Wow thats serious progress. I hate doing exhaustwork. Yours looks great. I take it the swaybar was missing some parts for the lift. Now I know what you were talking about when you wanted the drop downpieces when I picked it up for you.

[makman1297]

Gabriel, exhaust has never really bothered me, kinda of fun setting up, but a pain in doing all those welds. I was originally talking about the drop steering arm, but after removing the fatory one i dont think i would be very easy to reuse one. I didnt really think about the sway bar until i was reading another thread and then realized it would not line up.

[makman1297]

Ordered the parking brake cables, drag link joint, got the header wrap and clamps, might be able to finish up the exhaust tomorrow.

[makman1297]

Today i got the exhaust done except the tips. It fought me pretty good, thought i had it done then realized i didnt have the spare in there, so in went the spare and then i had to do some more adjustments to clear everything. I wrapped the rh pipe with header wrap next to the fuel pump and then under the transfer case. I still need to make a heat shield. I also out the tranny shifter linkage in and found that needed a little finess to work right, had to cut and weld it shorter, but it clears now. I also put in the O2 sensors, look like they will clear every thing as well.

[makman1297]

Had to order a new fuel pressure regulator sping, the old one was rusted into two pieces. I also put in a different starter i had, its got the shorter style solenoid on it hopefully the exhaust wont be as hard on it.

[butch86]

just courious are you going to make a heat shield of some sort around the spare tire? just looks like the exaust is very close. looks great. had to do the same thing to my trans shifter. the 700r4 has a different detent and slightly different setup i had to cut and reweld the bracket to get my shifter indicator to line up right.

[makman1297]

I was just thinking of using some exhuast wrap, i have enough left over i just half to get some more of the clamps for it. I got at least 1.5 inches, but not sure how hot the exhaust will be back there.

[makman1297]

used up the rest of the exhaust wrap, got it around the tires and by the fuel valve. I also installed the lh parking brake cable, started installing the plug wires, and finished up pulling out the wiring from the cab.