Long Awaited Transformation

[78scottsdale]

Before my deployment, I had bought a 1978 Scottsdale for 4500. I know most will think I over paid, and maybe I did. But I love this truck. It's pretty mint, clean all around. I finally drove it for the first time in a year since I bought it. Now that passion for modifying vehicles has once again been lit. So I have a few questions in reguards to suspensions components and body parts.
I wanna lower the truck a tad and want to know the best way to achieve this as well as who makes good parts.
And I need to do a bit of work on the stepside bed. New wood, and a nasty dent on the driver stepside fender.
Does anyone know if it's possible to install a six speed into this truck?
It was originally a 305 switched to a 350. The transmission from what the list says, was a 3 speed on the column? Now it's a 4 speed with that pita mechanical clutch I fear of breaking. Anyone make a hydraulic clutch or should I stick with mechanical?
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[primrrd]

howdy Scottsdale, Welcome the the board.
Show us some pix now that the square truck bug has bit you.
as for the tranny questions... the pat answer is:
" anything is possible, it just depends on the heft of your wallet!"

[irishman999]

Originally Posted by 78scottsdale

Before my deployment, I had bought a 1978 Scottsdale for 4500. I know most will think I over paid, and maybe I did. But I love this truck. It's pretty mint, clean all around. I finally drove it for the first time in a year since I bought it. Now that passion for modifying vehicles has once again been lit. So I have a few questions in reguards to suspensions components and body parts.
I wanna lower the truck a tad and want to know the best way to achieve this as well as who makes good parts.
And I need to do a bit of work on the stepside bed. New wood, and a nasty dent on the driver stepside fender.
Does anyone know if it's possible to install a six speed into this truck?
It was originally a 305 switched to a 350. The transmission from what the list says, was a 3 speed on the column? Now it's a 4 speed with that pita mechanical clutch I fear of breaking. Anyone make a hydraulic clutch or should I stick with mechanical?
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Pretty sure you can find a hydraulic set up in the parts yard, 85 or 86 they switched over to hydraulic.

[lilpoindexter]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=300087
The T-56's are hydraulic clutch. I sort of used this article as the basis for my hydraulic clutch T5 in my '78. Basically you need to mount a master to your firewall and connect it to the slave on the trans. You just need to look at it a little bit. I used an '87 bellhousing and the master cyl from an '88, i used the line from an '88, but I had to bend it up something ugly. If you are near any farm supply places, they can whip you up a hydraulic line, or by the same token any place that services AC or 18 wheelers can make you a custom line for a few bucks. The clutch in my truck feels like maybe it doesn't completely disengage, but then again I'm using a beat up original 1983 camaro T5.
I think shifting gears is pretty cool, but to be honest with you...on the next one I'd probably plop in a 700r4...these trucks aren't sports cars, and I live in the city with lots of traffic, so a automatic, while losing cool points, would be a lot easier to drive.

[78scottsdale]

I'll post pics soon, I wanna get those questions figured out first. I'm overwhelmed to be home finally and can't wait to work on the Scottsdale.
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[terryj]

From one veteran to another, "Welcome home and a heart felt "Thank You" for your service.

Hope all works out on the Scottsdale, mine is an 83 3/4 ton Scottsdale with a little of a 100K on it. It has the 350 HD engine and the TH400 tranny.

[78scottsdale]

Thanks terryj and others for quick responses. Who makes a good product in regards to front and rear suspension components?
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