1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes

[coggonobrien]

there's a few of us iowa folks here

[Dieselwrencher]

Yes there are. We need to try to all meet up with our trucks or not this summer somewhere.

[alwaysbroken]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Here are some pictures of some goodies. I had my wife start painting the new emblems. What do you think? They aren't finished yet.




Here is a pic of the turbo I scored on craigslist. I'm thinking it will go on the Longhorn once I find a different exhaust housing for it.


I also scored a pretty big turbo on ebay tonight and might use this for a primary in towing twins. I'll get pics of it once I get it home.

interesting!!

[Dieselwrencher]

Thanks alwaysbroken. Tonight after the get together my brother and I pushed the truck back into the shop. We had it in there last week but the first part of last week got ate up by a 07 dodge. The last portion was gave up to a new addition that took priority. Now I have to get busting nuts on this thing so I have a 2nd vehicle. My 05's trans is getting mad, and I'm too fat too be walking. I have been acquiring parts, and here is a list off the top of my head that has shown up and some stuff that is on its' way.

Chrome NP205 shift handle boot and knob. Thanks Sharpie!
Chrome short bumper gaurds. Thanks Frank!
Park brake and brake pedal assemblies with trim. Thanks Teeitup.
Auto trans linkage parts. Thanks Brothers69c10.
Stainless hub caps. Thanks Toomuchstuff.
Trans shift kit
Trans rebuild kit
Lokar throttle pressure cable
Trans oil pressure switch kit
Rough Country steering block
Pro Comp shocks
Chrome diff cover for D80 rear
New group 31 batteries
Outer rockers
All new brake parts for the D80
Used empty gas tank. Thanks Brothers69c10

Tach drive parts for the engine

And the most unique part for this truck to me, the 3600 red line diesel tach gauge cluster complete with a vacuum gauge and a 80psi oil pressure gauge. I'm sure I left out some stuff. It's hard keeping track of all of it.

[jbclassix]

how's the new addition?

[Dieselwrencher]

She's doing better and with any luck will get to come home tomorrow night.

[Dieselwrencher]

Well our baby is home now! No real progress on the truck, but I did start putting some emblems on the rh fender so I could see how they looked. They look awesome! I just need to get the measurements for the super emblem holes so I can mount them and take some pics. I also put 2 of my hub caps on and it is looking like it could be a truck one day again. I also got my tach drive and put it together. I have an electronic cruise control kit coming now, as well as a pair of rockers to make the cab look decent for now. I also made my most favorite purchase for the truck that makes it complete. A diesel tach gauge cluster. Now this build is getting somewhere!

[jbclassix]

I hope the little one is doing good! Now the fun begins! Coffee will be your friend! I wanna see that tach dash! That should be a unique touch for sure! could that vacuum gauge be making its way to becoming a boost gauge?

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by jbclassix

I hope the little one is doing good! Now the fun begins! Coffee will be your friend! I wanna see that tach dash! That should be a unique touch for sure! could that vacuum gauge be making its way to becoming a boost gauge?

Thanks! The little one is doing much better again. It is a good feeling to hear her crying right now.

I'll get pics of the tach dash when it gets here. I'll be keeping the vacuum gauge a vacuum gauge to monitor the vacuum just for kicks. The amount of boost this thing will make will blow that vacuum gauge apart I'm afraid. I'm sure this turbo will make 55psi + without an issue. For now I'm thinking I'll install a 3 gauge pod behind the dash pad directly behind the steering wheel. In the future I'd love to get one of the dash pads with 3 gauges built into it. We'll see how things go.

[coggonobrien]

got pics of the young un?

[watahyahknow]

congrats on the baby , time to pamper the lady leave her seaten with her feet up for a couple of weeks as whell as do some chores around the home , prepare yourself to sleepless nights and dirty daipers for the next year or so

you could mount the probe of the vacuumgauge between the filter and the intake of the turbine , a nice added advantage is that you can see when the filter starts to get clogged
there are combined vacuum boost gauges available for turboaplications as whell

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by coggonobrien

got pics of the young un?

There are pictures in this thread below:

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=442037

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

congrats on the baby , time to pamper the lady leave her seaten with her feet up for a couple of weeks as whell as do some chores around the home , prepare yourself to sleepless nights and dirty daipers for the next year or so

you could mount the probe of the vacuumgauge between the filter and the intake of the turbine , a nice added advantage is that you can see when the filter starts to get clogged
there are combined vacuum boost gauges available for turboaplications as whell

Thanks! That's a great idea, but I'm going to keep it a regular vacuum gauge for now.

[coggonobrien]

did you end up keeping the 4 inch lift or getting rid of it?

[Dieselwrencher]

I ended up keeping it and probabaly will. I like the way it sits so far.

[Tex_50613]

looking good,
I may be calling you befor too long, I'm helping a buddy with the cumming conversion in his 79 F350 extended cab highboy showtruck

[Dieselwrencher]

Thanks Tex.

I did make some progress on the truck and hope to make more tomorrow. I removed the bumper, grill, and radiator support. Cut the old engine cross member out, repositioned the engine and trans. Installed the tcase for a test fit, and also got the rear drive shaft to see if it needed lengthened or shortened. Luckily it just needs shortened. I also found another trans cross member so I will have an option for clearance on the front drive shaft and exhaust if needed. I also put my modified exhaust manifold on and put my new turbo on to see if it would fit. It did, but unforutatley my smaller exhaust housing won't fit. I guess I'll have to run this one until after I get the truck running. I'll try to get some pics tommorow of the progress!

[propanemudtruck]

This truck should definitely be on the cover of my diesel power mag in a few more issues! I'll be looking for it in the next year or so! The only comparable truck I've seen in there is Matt (UFC Fighter) drawing a blank on the last name but he has a 65 GM with a Duramax,

Hughes! Matt Hughes!

[Dieselwrencher]

Thanks man! I don't know how soon it'll get pretty. I will get it running and driving and then see if I'm going to build a crew cab for it or not. More to come once I get the pics to upload..............................

[Dieselwrencher]

Here is a more detailed progress report. This past weekend was pretty progressive. I dug my NP205 out of the snow and put it on the trans to mock up the engine this time. Man that SOB was a PITA because I left the carrier bearing cross member in the frame. There isn't a lot of room for the tcase to go straight up, then in. You have to put the tcase up and rest it on the cross member first, then lift it up and stick it on the trans. I had to get my brother to help me the second time.

Next up was to build a new engine cross member. I used 4" C channel and boxed the ends. I added a 1/4" plate on the top to attach the channel to my old cross member mounts in the frame. Welded it all up, ground it, and primed and painted it. I wish it went as fast as it reads. Next I had to drill out my axle housing vent because coming back from KC last fall, my old cross member was too close to the diff and smashed the vent. It broke the end of the fitting off in the housing. I got it drilled and tapped, now I just have to get a new fitting.





I installed a different exhaust manifold and put my new turbo on. I don't like how close to the heater box it is, so I'm thinking about going a different route. I'm thinking about going back to the industrial manifold but I will need a T4 to T3 adapter.

I also had my brother help me put the 04 dodge seat in the cab. It actually fit better than I figured it would. I will have to modify the brackets so i can get the seat where I want it.




One other thing I did do last week and I haven't posted the pics of, is the emblems. Here is the RH fender. I haven't done the LH yet.



Now for the good bad and ugly. My drear drive shaft will only need shortened and maybe a different weldment installed for a bigger rear u-joint. My front shaft from the 92 dodge is really bad. It will need totally rebuilt. I have one from a chevy but it will need to be lengthened. The real bad deal lies in the transmission. I decided to go ahead and have my Dad rebuild it. We tore it apart, and it is a good thing we did. The trans was initially assembled incorrectly and did not have enough end play. This caused the front drum to put a lot of pressure on the intermediate shaft and it ruined the intermediate shaft and thrust washer. The low/reverse clutches are fried, and numerous other thrust washers are worn severely, a sun gear and drum is bad, and 2 planetary assemblies are bad. Yee haw.

[Dieselwrencher]

Here we go! The long lost vac tach cluster. Wait a minute, it only goes to 4,000? What the heck?

[y5mgisi]

All you guys with your awesome 67-72 projects have really got me wanting to get one!!!

[Dieselwrencher]

I only have 2 of these 67-72's. I'll sell you my 2wd.

[y5mgisi]

As much as it sucks, I can only seem to get myself to own 4x4's! The fact that your in Iowa dont help much either. On the other hand, My name is Mitchell. So i could fit right in out there? Maybe?

[Dieselwrencher]

Yes, I'm sure you could.