JR's 55 3200

[JR25]

OK.... enough "lurching" around everyone elses builds!!! I bought this 55 2nd series 3200 as something "fun" for me and my 5 sons to do. I have been working on it for several months now...... but wow what a slow process.

To get caught up to where I am, here are the things (briefly) that I have done:
tore down engine (235) and took to machine shop
waiting on parts kit from Patrick's
stripped/POR15 frame
'76 Trans Am rear axle with 2.41 will prob have to change
front and rear axles on top of frame
installed No Limits rack and pinion
installed front sway bar from 2000 Jeep Cherokee (took off my Jeep)
front and rear disk brakes
CPP master cylinder and booster
'86 Suburban fuel tank (25gal) mounted in frame
fuel lines with pump and filter
Lokar e-brake cables
'89 S10 T-5 transmission
started welding up firewall..... and thats about where I am right now

[JR25]

Need to realign my e-brake cable "mid-connections" and get my cab on the frame to start patch panel/corner repair.

[JR25]

At the request of my 8yo, here he is after moving the cab from the garage to the driveway with the loader..... I had rolled the cab up on the firewall to get the boards out from under it..... it looks as if he dropped it! lol!

[Kim57]

Nice build.
It's great your kids are helping.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

It all looks good JR. Especially using it as a mutual project with your boys. They'll necer forget it!

I'm really curious to hear how you feel the No Limit R&P steering works for you. I've thought of doing the same but have read pros and cons. Where'd you get the idea to use the Jeep sway bar?

[JR25]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Nice build.
It's great your kids are helping.
Kim

Thanks Kim!

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

It all looks good JR. Especially using it as a mutual project with your boys. They'll necer forget it!

I'm really curious to hear how you feel the No Limit R&P steering works for you. I've thought of doing the same but have read pros and cons. Where'd you get the idea to use the Jeep sway bar?

Thanks Dan. I willl let you know one of these days how the steering is...... If I EVER get it on the road!! everything seems to be really straight as far as the rack goes, so I dont see why it wouldnt be any different than the stock tie rod as far as bump steer goes. I have also read mixed reviews, so the jury is still out!!

Funny thing with the Jeep sway bar, I bought the Jeep a few years back from a College kid who had already lifted it. I had just returned from a vacation(LOL) in Afghanistan and realized my then 16yo had taken over my "toy truck" that I used for hunting and kicking around........ so I buy the Jeep. The swaybar appeared to be an afterthought when the lift kit was finished; wrong hardware etc so it rattled and irritated me! I took it off TEMPORARILY until I could get around to fixing it right------->>>>> fast forward a few years...... I was cleaning up the shop after working on the truck, and there lays this sway bar!!! I havent noticed bad body roll at all in the Jeep, so hmmmmm, let me just hold it up to the Chevy to see how close it comes to fitting! WOW... PERFECT!
I did have to "roll" the shocks to the rear to clear the bar, and actually I'm gonna have to go further. They clear the bar now as you can see in the pic, but they are nearly bottomed out, I only have about half inch of travel. I will move them when I get the inner fenders on to fit!

[JR25]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

It all looks good JR. Especially using it as a mutual project with your boys. They'll necer forget it!

I'm really curious to hear how you feel the No Limit R&P steering works for you. I've thought of doing the same but have read pros and cons. Where'd you get the idea to use the Jeep sway bar?

Here's a pic of the Jeep the sway bar came from:


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[Baldeagle SR]

Nice project esp with your boys. How far does the fuel tank hang down? Can't tell from the pic. Will the filler neck clear the bed ?
Thanks Rich

[JR25]

Originally Posted by Baldeagle SR

Nice project esp with your boys. How far does the fuel tank hang down? Can't tell from the pic. Will the filler neck clear the bed ?
Thanks Rich

The tank is not as low as the diff. I dont have the wheels/tires that Im gonna use, so a measurement would not be accurate, but here is a pic.
I will have to snap another pic of the filler later, but basically I un-soldered it, slipped it down into the tank until the horizontal portion of the filler was all but touching, then re-soldered! (Not sure if all of those were actual words, but I think it paints the picture)




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[_Ogre]

interesting use of rack and pinion on a straight axle
where did you get that setup?
how does the steering shaft attach to the rack?

[JR25]

Ok, finished grillin' some steaks burgers and dogs, stuffed myself full and watched my five boys make pigs of themselves! Happy Father's Day to all you fathers!

Quick update before I take an afternoon nap.
We got the T5 put back together and painted last night! I installed an input shaft from a Jeep T5 to have a 10 spline so I can use original fly wheel and just replace the clutch and pressure plate that originally came on the 235. The T5 was really not all that complicated to rebuild once I read the book pictured in the pics!




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[Kim57]

That came out nice.
Kim

[Baldeagle SR]

Thanks for the pic on the tank. That's what I needed to know.
Rich

[JR25]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

interesting use of rack and pinion on a straight axle
where did you get that setup?
how does the steering shaft attach to the rack?

Sorry I didnt answer your question earlier Ogre
It came from No Limit Engineering http://www.nolimitparts.com/

It attaches with a "slip shaft" -- 1" double D that is hollow that a 3/4" double D shaft that will slide into it.
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[JR25]

You're welcome Baldeagle.

Thanks for the complements Kim.

Here it is sitting on the frame, why do some people (me) go to so much trouble to pretty up the stuff that will never be seen again???
I have GOT to clean up my garage so I can push the frame out in order to set the cab back on! One reason for setting the transmission on the frame is to see where the shifter will stick thru.

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[Kim57]

I know what you mean by painting things that will never be seen. I painted my trans also but then I can see it until the cab is back on which may be a while.
Kim

[JR25]

A question...... Can ANYONE tell me what caused the dents in the top of these original radiators? I have seen at least 3 others with the SAME dents. I have seen some on threads, but waaay to old to ask. And when i took my radiator to be boiled out and pressure tested, he had one sitting there with the exact same dent, but didn't know what caused it. A good place for your knee when working on the engine? Emergency pressure relief?

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[Baldeagle SR]

JR I believe those dents came from someone working on the motor putting their knees on them . probably some one short like me.
Rich

[OrrieG]

Wild guess, maybe some radiators were manufacturered just a little tall and need some assembly line relief for the hood and latch the sit and work right? I have never paid any attention to how close the rad is to the under side of the hood. Shipped stacked and some got squished?? Extraordinary negative pressure (vacuum)?? My original does not have any dents, nor does the big truck radiator I replaced it with.

[JR25]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Wild guess, maybe some radiators were manufacturered just a little tall and need some assembly line relief for the hood and latch the sit and work right? I have never paid any attention to how close the rad is to the under side of the hood. Shipped stacked and some got squished?? Extraordinary negative pressure (vacuum)?? My original does not have any dents, nor does the big truck radiator I replaced it with.

Never thought about the negative pressure!
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[JR25]

Have not posted a pic of my manifold test fit. Its torn back apart for now, this was just to fab the lines and throttle linkage. I rotated the carbs 90* in order to use cable vs rigid linkage. The fuel and vacuum lines, choke wire, and throttle cable will go to the firewall and around the back of the engine instead of having the lines on the front of the motor.



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[Kim57]

That's a real nice set up.
Kim

[JR25]

Originally Posted by JR25

Have not posted a pic of my manifold test fit. Its torn back apart for now, this was just to fab the lines and throttle linkage. I rotated the carbs 90* in order to use cable vs rigid linkage. The fuel and vacuum lines, choke wire, and throttle cable will go to the firewall and around the back of the engine instead of having the lines on the front of the motor.



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Thanks Kim.

Left out that the carbs came from Tom Langdon, and a big thanks to Norm S. for ideas and advice on this setup!!!

[OrrieG]

Looks nice, my only comment is that I like to run my fuel line so I can keep track of it and spot any small leaks.

[dubie]

I'm interested to see how a rack and pinion works with your solid axle. Looks like a nice set up. This is a build worth keeping an eye on

I hear ya on the care and painting of everything that nobody will ever see. I painted my entire frame a hammered silver color and everything else a charcoal grey, then lowered the truck 6" and nobody will ever see them.