1971 gmc 2500 4x4 dana 60f / dana 70r 44 boggers

[BIG HEAD]

I posted last week I thought I was going to start my 1972 suburban next. Well after giving it some more thought, I am going to build my 1971 GMC 4x4 2500. I have so many great parts that need to be used. For starter the best cab and doors that I have seen around here in a long while. A nos GMC tailgate, all metal work is done on 8 foot bed sides. New in box fenders (aftermarket). New set of 19.5/44-16lt boggers. Front lift kit. Dana 60 front / dana 70 rear (4.88 gears and lockers) all new joints,bearings,seals, brakes, and hubs.
The major body parts I need are rear bed cross seal, front bed panel, hood, new front and rear bumpers, and grill.
I have a new set of World Product heads with stainless valves. A complete Comp Cam kit. A 203 front half / np205 transfer case. (I need the doubler kit). MY truck has a 1966 327 truck engine in it and 4 speed transmission. I want to use both of them.
THE BIG PICTURETHE TRUCK WAS ORIGINALLY RED so i want to paint it bright red. Put all the name plates and badges on it. Put the lower wide moulding with white stripes in the moulding instead of the original black or wood grain. Finally an original looking truck with big lift and tires. But with stock style 16 inch wheels that have been widened to 14 inches, painted white, and stock style center caps ( half size hub caps).

WHAT DO YOU THINK? CAN YOU PICTURE IT? OH AH, OH AH LIKE THE 4TH OF JULY

[snj8198]

sounds like a cool build but nows the time to stuff in a 5 speed! have any starter pics?

[Yukon Jack]

Build it! About how much lift you thinking you will need?

[BIG HEAD]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

Build it! About how much lift you thinking you will need?

I have been thinking about this. Because I started out wanting to build a truck that I could drive on the street. I got caught up in the pond bogging. Anyway MUDDER is talking about changing his springs so his truck will ride better. I know were he is coming from. I like a soft ride, I also like a 4x4 to sit higher in the front. It's like breading a truck to a pit bull. Makes it look tuff. Hence BULLDOGGIN.
To answer your question, about 12 in the rear (via 8in springs & dropping front hangers 4in / rear 4in shackle flip). 15 in the front (via 10in springs / 5in drop hangers like in pictures i posted in Johnnyreb Homemade lift kit) The less lift or arch the spring has the softer the ride. That is why I like dropping the spring hangers. In the Tire/Lift size first page 71blksuper4x4 (second picture) has a truck that I like alot. I like the way the body sits down on the tires. But I dont want the tires to rub.

[BIG HEAD]

Originally Posted by snj8198

sounds like a cool build but nows the time to stuff in a 5 speed! have any starter pics?

What does the nv4500 have for first gear (double low/granny?)?

[BIG HEAD]

Sorry,can`t post a WTB without a subscription.

[special-K]

The NV4500 has a compound 1st like the NP435.But,what`s o/d needed for on a truck with 44s?I think there`s a point on a modified 4wd where o/d is not a useful feature.

[snj8198]

Gearing for the NV45000:

1st: 5.61
2nd: 3.04
3rd: 1.67
4th: 1.00
5th: .73
Rev: 5.61

Special-K: i agree that an overdrive trans is not necessary for a mudding truck spinning 44's, but as Big Head stated his build will be using the 327 that he already has. We all know typically deeper gears are often needed to compensate for lack of power. Not to stick my foot in my mouth but regarless of how built a 327 small block is, it takes a lot of torque to spin 44's in the mud. Steeper gears are more likely necessary in this application versus when combining big block torque and big meats. This is where an over drive unit comes in handy. Unless Big Head plans on making this mud machine a trailer queen he is most likely planning on doing some street driving to get to the play ground thus OD will drop is rpm's undoubtly being produced by excessively deeper gears. A bit off course manuals benefit from deeper gears versus autos do to the lack of a torque converter which as we know acts as a torque multiplier as well.
I will admit though that if this truck is to see little pavement or long drives then doing a 5 speed swap may not be in his best interests.
-steve

[BIG HEAD]

Picture 1 rear rotors, 2 front rotor hubs for single rear conversion ebay find, 3 rear calipers, 4 seal & locks, 5 1410 yoke for dana 60 front

[BIG HEAD]

Picture 1 more bearings & bushings; 2 warn deluxe locking hubs; 3 dana 60 front / 70 rear; 4 rear disc conversion kit; 5 60r / 70r

[BIG HEAD]

A few of the 71' pictures. I am possibly going to use the blue cab that is on the back

[BIG HEAD]

I'm getting a little closer to this one. Maybe two tone red & black.

[special-K]

That`s what colors you want to paint?That`ll look sharp.Hey,is that an automatic with a twin-stick setup?Looks factory.

[BIG HEAD]

according to the decal in the dash it was originally an automatic. but when i bought it, someone put a 4 speed in it. So it still has the auto column in it.

[BIG HEAD]

If you will notice first picture up that has the dash. I think I bought the truck just because it has a factory tach. I've never owned one with a tach.

[Mudder]

The red and black will be awesome.......... A driver, huh?

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Wow thats going to to be so sweet when you get it done . I can't wait to see it, 44"s are so bad! I do like that dash too

[BIG HEAD]

Originally Posted by Mudder

The red and black will be awesome.......... A driver, huh?

Yes, I live about 8 miles from work, so something to drive to work a couple days a week. Maybe more? Drive to the forest on week ends, play in the mud a little and then sell after I've enjoyed a while. Move on to another project. Either my 72' burb or the project I want sell. My first car. A 1963 Chevy II Nova two door hard top. My dad bought it for me for 16th birthday in Tupolo, Mississippi.

[71blksuper4x4]

Big Head, unfortunately I sold my black swb to purchase my blue and white one that needed a full on restoration back when I was a senior in high school.

I can tell you though, I was only running around a 9-10 lift at the time and I had to cut the cups a little on the fenders when I ran it on 42''s, but maybe by the time you get this going, the guy building those bigger wheel lip fenders will be into production. Trevor

Here are some pics of the black one I have on my cpu.

[71blksuper4x4]

oh and those wheels I ran on the 42"s were a set of Rare 15" x 16"w 8 lug Weld outlaw looking rims. It gave it that ballooned monster truck look.

[BIG HEAD]

Originally Posted by 71blksuper4x4

oh and those wheels I ran on the 42"s were a set of Rare 15" x 16"w 8 lug Weld outlaw looking rims. It gave it that ballooned monster truck look.

I love it, one of my all time favorites.

[Yukon Jack]

Originally Posted by BIG HEAD

I love it, one of my all time favorites.

I agree, Trevor's black truck was incredible!

[onlyifihadachevy]

Are you using the boggers from your pond truck and put them on this and get bigger tires for that?

[4x4Poet]

I'm impressed by new school:

Trimmed fenders and the lift kept less than six inches to run agressive 37s or 39s no more than 13 inches wide mounted on 16s or 17s that are 8-10 inches wide. That set-up digs in where wide tired rigs wallow in the mud. Much better streetablility, too. The tread must be agressive, though. Boggers and such.

Add pneumatic bead locks for totally secure tire beads. Combine with normal forged rims for lightweight strength over bolt-on bead locks. Lockers are a must. Going as agressive as you plan is a waste of money without lockers.

Spectators will be impressed with such a sleeper's astounding performance.

BTW, impressive parts collection. Press on with more good planning for what you want out of the truck.

[BIG HEAD]

Trimmed fenders is the one major mod I am concidering. And I say major because I dont want it to look like they are trimmed.
*
My 60 front / 70 rear have lockers in them. I got the pair with the lockers and 4.88 gears for $800.00. I have spent more money on them, but a good starting price.
*
I do have my mind set on using the new set of 44 boggers that I have and a stock style widened steel wheel. I just want the truck to sit down on the tire.