FRANKENTRUCK roams!

[asphaltburner]

Yo!
FRANKENTRUCK has been on light duty, roaming northern Colorado, and is now due for some down time to retorque the head bolts on the brand new 350 V8.
For those of you not familiar, FRANKENTRUCK is a custom assembly of a '78 Chevy 3/4 ton 4x4, custom built 350hp/411ft lb torque 350 V8, TH400, NP205 twin-stick, and '73 axles: Warn locking Dana 44 front and 5560 lb full-floating rear from a donor flatbed. Pics:









And here's a link to the build thread:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=301610
Farmed out only one job to the only mechanic I trust,...in Galeton, CO,...and that was the brakes due to the horrible change in the weather this last month. Cost me $1200 for complete bearings, brakes, and a tie rod end, so I'm glad I didn't attempt the rebuild in the garage at single digit temps! Far bigger job rebuilding the 35 year old axles and steering than I had origonally anticipated (typical, huh?)!
But now it's PERFECT! Just like a new truck,...but better! Now it's time to pull the headers, re-torque the head bolts, and re-assemble. THEN I'll beable to turn FRANKENTRUCK loose! Haven't felt comfortable bringing the 350 V8 up to high rpms without having the engine broke in properly. The truck has 4.11:1 rear gears and is at good rpm at 70 mph even with the 36" diameter commercial truck tires (I worry about the big valve heads even though I get good back pressure with the 2.5" "H" pipe duals and turbo mufflers).
All systems are a "go" at this point, although I still have an open circuit in the fuel sender line, so my fuel guage pegs beyond full (no big deal, I installed a second 20 gallon tank when I built the electric fuel pump-with returns system!).
Still need to install my w/s squirter lines on my new steel hood, but squirters work nicely, and I have one dash light that intermittently goes off and on, but effects nothing except guage lighting. Wire for my electric choke and one to my installed dash toggle to turn off the "ever-on" interior fan will finish electrical. I DO have some door threshold trim to finish installing too.
I'll have a new w/s installed when the weather is good enough,...already have the rubber gasket and chrome trim for it.
I'll be covering my new upholstery with a cheapy seatcover so that my dogs can enjoy the ride too, and then all that will be left is some minor bodywork and paint,...it'll be the same as the factory,...medium green,...perfect for a FRANKENTRUCK!
Wish the weather would co-operate! Been nice during the work week and crappy on the weekends, but my job has changed a bit, and I may have more chances to work on the little stuff soon! Been replacing a door latch assembly and window regulator in my daily-driver '76 Camaro recently, so that's been slowing me down, as well as the holiday responsibilities.
I know this sounds drawn out to alot of you, but I work full time, do all my own work, and don't have a heated garage.
Took me eight months to build FRANKENTRUCK.
Anyway, damn thing fires right up, even without a choke, has tremendous power, and I'm still amased by the front wheel drive!
Hope to post some tire smoking pics soon, Todd.

[joe231]

Right On!
can't wait for the tire smoke

[Tx Firefighter]

Please tell me what size your tires are. They look nice and tall and skinny. I need something like that for my dually project.

[James McClure]

TX, I have the same truck basicly and stock tire size is 235-85R16. They are 31" tall. Right now I'm running 245-75R16 because they are what came on the chrome factory slots I got. They are 30" tall. Would like to get a look at some 245-85R16's if they even make them. I'm looking to stay pretty narrow but a little taller like 32 or 33". 265's are to big in any width. jim

[Tx Firefighter]

I just went a read his other posts on the truck build up thread. He's running 245/75/16 tires.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Tx Firefighter found it! Yeah, 245/75/16 Peerless Widetrack Baja AT Commercials. They're 30" tall. Good tough tires for Colorado,...
I'd sure like to see pics of that dually project when available!
More on FRANKENTRUCK as I finish the details. Sure turned out to be a great truck,...I LIKE it!! And from a POS '73 flatbed and a FREE pasture truck! Amasing. Todd.

[jimmy norman]

i like it i bet its a beast sweet

[DirtyLarry]

Yo! That truck turned out nice from where you started. Nice work!

[grinch4om]

I see that truck red, with a red bar light on it....a little gold leaf work....ahhhh

[boatpuller]

like a rock hoss.

[asphaltburner]

Yo!
Thanks, dudes! The whole project was kinda just to see if I could latch up Chevys' best of about that era,...the easily altered 350 V8, the heavy tranny that came with the "pasture truck" (the P/U), and the selectable axles and NP205 of my old flatbed donor.
Had to find some "rare as the dodo" parts (as some called them) though. The TH400/NP205 adapter and the long output shaft I needed for the TH400 to latch up to the NP205. Off Road Design in Carbondale, CO hooked me up with the adapter, my nicely rebuilt NP205, and the twin-stick conversion with machined shiftrails. Plues Transmission, in Denver, CO supplied me with the long output shaft, although I went with a 2WD shaft due to the unavailability of a 4WD shaft (2WD is just threaded for a yoke).
Had to figure out how to complete the proper NP205 side mount since the old torque bar that was on the NP203 was not the right length, and I wanted to do what Chevs' engineers had done. I felt that I should simply copy Chevys' design by transfering the flatbeds' NP205 mount to the P/U. What a PITA, drilling through the frame and guessing the proper height, etc,...finally got a nice side mount to the frame for the NP205 though!
Bustin' loose the '73 axles from the Missouri flatbed was also a PITA, but once done, dragging them under the P/U and installing was easy,...reinstalled the P/Us' old ones under the flatbed for the junkyard trip.
FRANKENTRUCKs' color is pretty damn good for a "FRANKENTRUCK", so I'll repaint to the metallic light green. Thanks though, grinch! That color scheme would be a good one! But I've got refurbished green door panels, new buckskin dash and upholstery now.
Sure wish I could work on it today, but it's in the lower 20's outside, and my garages are not much warmer after the single digits overnight! The chance will come soon.
Thanks again! Really got a kick outta the "big thumbs up" from DirtyLarry. Todd.

[66truckin]

It's coming out great! Around here in IL deep in the rust belt you have to take about 5 of these truck and slap all the good parts together to make one good truck. I used to be big on 73-87's but I'm burned out on them for now as you just look at them crosseyed around here and they rust out before your eyes good luck with your project!

[asphaltburner]

Yo! I understand perfectly 66truckin! I'd love to have a truck, or several, from the '60's (that's MY era!), but I had to deal with the '73 flatbed,...get rid of it, or do something with it! Just got lucky to find what I did, and be able to assemble FRANKENTRUCK with the combo! Thanks! Todd.

[grinch4om]

forgivr me, it's the fireman inside trying to come out...

[jchav62]

Looks good! Nice work...

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Awesome looks great bud! Turned out amazing. Can't wait to see some smoke pictures!

[Justins76]

Nice. The seats are awesome looking.

[84 400]

Nice work todd,
Can't wait to see that thing laying a patch. I hear you about the cold weather... my hands are just stating to thaw out after working on the 77.

Good Job