Markeb01 Build Thread

[markeb01]

Well my son came over again yesterday, and we got the TH 350 installed in the truck. The flexplate is in, along with the converter, and the transmission is completely bolted in. The new TH350 driveshaft yoke is installed, and the driveshaft is in place. I had the shifter mounted long enough to measure the placement, which I will cut in the floor pan tomorrow before the carpet shows up. The dipstick tube and dipstick are in place, and only one bolt remains to be removed from the clutch master cylinder. It's moving along rather nicely. Here are a couple of shots of how the tranny looks mounted in the chassis:

[Palf70Step]

Nice

[Indian113]

won't be long Now, keep up the good work

[markeb01]

This Friday my son will be back over to help finish up the truck. The only things that remain are:

Make hard lines connecting transmission to the radiator tranny cooler.
Connect speedometer ground.
Fabricate back up light switch (or toggle switch).
Install transmission oil filler pipe and dipstick.
Fill transmission with trans lubricant.
Install passing gear kick down linkage.
Install shifter and floor pan.
Install carpet and seats.

I think that's about it, and we'll be motoring around again!

[Captainfab]

It sounds like you should be done in time for the weather to dry out and warm up a tad.

[markeb01]

That's what I'm hoping for!

[markeb01]

Well it finally warmed up enough to work in the garage for a bit. So I got the transmission cooler lines hooked up to the inline cooler, and to the tank at the bottom of the radiator. Here's what the inline cooler looks like. I got one that's round, black, and 17" long, The picture of the silver one is a goof I can't figure out how to delete.


I also picked up vacuum lines to connect the transmission shifter to carb, and am ready to install the kick down linkage as well. In the next day or so, everything under the hood will be done and only the carpet and interior is left to complete the project.

[markeb01]

My son came over today to hook up the kick down linkage to the carb. Unfortunately we didn't have the right parts, so I ordered them from Summit and they should arrive by the weekend. The picture of the bracket is at the 1st link below. I'm not sure why the photo is squished up.

[Grizz1963]

Great seeing you onto this latest phase in the trucks life with you.

How many years have the two of you been together now??

[markeb01]

I believe it's been 30 years now, and we're still going strong!

[markeb01]

The temperature finally climbed up to 40 degrees today, so I went out and started installing the carpet. I aligned it forward and sideways, and got the passenger side seat brackets installed. If the weather holds up tomorrow, I may actually get both seats installed and be done with the transmission upgrade!

[350TacoZilla]

Glad to see you getting it buttoned up man! Can't wait to read the update where you have driven it for the first time again. That interior always makes me think this thing should be in one of the old hot rod movies.

[Palf70Step]

[markeb01]

The temp outside today was 50 degrees, so I got a few more things done on the truck. I connected the gas linkage under the carpet inside, bored out a hole for the dimmer switch, hooked up the reverse lights on the shifter (I used the neutral safety switch for the backup lights), and connected the rest of the shifter/boot & lockout lever and shifter knob. Nothing left but the seats now and we're ready to hit the road again! My neutral safety switch is run through the dashboard now.

[realvc]

Moving right along on this project. You will driving again very soon.

[Palf70Step]

Glad to see it is almost ready to cruise again!

[Grizz1963]

Good to see things headed in the right direction Mark.

[markeb01]

The outside temp yesterday was over 50 degrees, when our youngest daughter came over and volunteered to help finish the truck! So we set to work and got 99% of it done. We finished installing the driver side rear seat bracket (she installed the under floor washers and nuts), after which we installed both seats and the driver side outside seat belt. My wife helped run the bolts down inside the cab, and she readjusted the tension on the shifter so it now works perfectly. Today we picked up some 90w lube and topped off the rear axle. All that's left now is adding 1 more gallon of trans fluid, adjusting the kick down linkage on the carb, and installing the inner seat belts to the floor mounted brackets. I also have to reinstall the rocker sill moldings. Once all that is done, I'll shoot some more photos of the finished interior in the daylight and get them posted tomorrow! Tomorrow we take it out on the road again!!

[Indian113]

Mark, I will be so happy for you when you slide under that steering wheel and take it for a drive again! Ray

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Mark, I will be so happy for you when you slide under that steering wheel and take it for a drive again! Ray

Totally agree with what Ray said.

Looking good Mark.

[markeb01]

Hopefully this Saturday will hit 55 degrees again and i'll be able to finally complete the truck and take it out for a trip at least around the block.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Hopefully this Saturday will hit 55 degrees again and i'll be able to finally complete the truck and take it out for a trip at least around the block.

Excellent news Mark.

Looking forward to a good report.

[Indian113]

I wish I could ride along with you! Enjoy it Mark.

[markeb01]

Well the weather finally warmed up enough to get some work done, and I discovered the cheap chrome transmission dipstick tube was leaking terribly, so I ordered a new flexible unit from Summit made my Lokar. Here's a photo of it:

We spent all day yesterday attempting to remove the old tube with no luck. So I started over today with a hose clamp wrapped around the tube, hooked it with a crowbar over the frame, and kept smashing the other end with a 5 pound steel hammer. It finally popped out of the transmission! So we pulled the old tube, and slid the new one in place. Unfortunately my wife isn't strong enough to force the sleeve into the transmission, and try as I might I just can't get my legs to work well enough to get down on the creeper. So we're stuck until Monday when my son will come over and get it in place. After that we should be out on the road finally having some fun with it!

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Well the weather finally warmed up enough to get some work done, and I discovered the cheap chrome transmission dipstick tube was leaking terribly, so I ordered a new flexible unit from Summit made my Lokar. Here's a photo of it:

We spent all day yesterday attempting to remove the old tube with no luck. So I started over today with a hose clamp wrapped around the tube, hooked it with a crowbar over the frame, and kept smashing the other end with a 5 pound steel hammer. It finally popped out of the transmission! So we pulled the old tube, and slid the new one in place. Unfortunately my wife isn't strong enough to force the sleeve into the transmission, and try as I might I just can't get my legs to work well enough to get down on the creeper. So we're stuck until Monday when my son will come over and get it in place. After that we should be out on the road finally having some fun with it!

I think that's the same one I used.
Do you have to drop the pan to install it? That's how I had to install mine.