I saw this truck by accident and everyone told me not to buy it, and when I went to see it I thought it was cool as hell but had my doubts too, especially since there was no carb and the interior was shot too, but for a grand I was willing to think about it. I ended up bringing up my own carb to the lot and worked for two hours trying to get it run, finally when we replaced the spark plugs (with nasty old rusty ones from a blown engine sitting out back) it started right up! I knocked him down $100 and he threw in a free $150 tow to my house an hour away. So I just tuned it up and changed the oil and it runs great now, I took it for it's first drive to get the exhaust finished out this morning and I found out the rear end is tight as hell. It that has been changed from coil to leaf spring and moved up a foot, the bed is cut short also which looks cool, but I am bouncing around like a fool, and I can't deal with it because honestly, I am going to get spine damage. I am thinking the shocks are the wrong angle or rusted and siezed because they don't move and I am going to disconnect them Sunday. I hope it will send me in a direction, otherwise, I am going to assume the idea is conceptual and I will be looking for ideas on what to do as far as redesigning the way the rear end is set up from scratch. From the cab forward, the truck is great, no rust and the drivetrain is solid. I am going to gut the interior, paint the inner cab black, and reinstall a new seat, dash and carpet Sunday as well. I like the way the truck looks... I hope that even if the last guy rigged it wrong, and I can rig it right and make it good.

http://www.grossepointegothic.com/71stepside/

Tommy

Looks like the shocks might be bottomed out.

neat, but is it just me, or does that look just goofy for some reason(s)? what exactly did they do with the bed, there? I've seen some retarded things in my life, and this doesn't even come close to some, though, so it ain't that bad.

The bed is interesting. It doesn't look bad to me and it'll look a whole lot better once it's completed.

You're feeling bad vibrations because you have no rear springs!! Any idea why they're not there?

Okay, upon closer inspection I see what's going on. They moved the rear axle forward and took out the springs entirely! They fabbed up the shocks to take the place of springs which can't be done. However, assuming the welds are good and solid and the geometry is ok, you might consider coilover shocks which might solve your issues. My recommendation is to get someone qualified to look over your confabulation because right now it looks rather dangerous.

Wow, that is one interesting looking truck, definately not ever seen one shortened like that before.
Good buy with the front clip and as lon as the rockers and cab aren't shot.

Nope he has springs! I thought he didn't as well but in one of the other shots you can see the leafs on the outside of the frame rails. You can also see the trailing arm crossmember still in place. It's a curious little combination, almost looks like someone put a truck on a 2wd Blazer frame. Either way if the cab is truly rust free you stole it for a grand. If it's a Blazer frame I think I would sell the cab and slap a Blazer tub on there! Good luck and welcome to the board!

Looks like there isn't much suspension travel, kind of hard to tell with the angle the pics were taken at. I'd swear maybe 3-4" max! The frame rails are either pounded out from contact with the axle tube or they've been modified. With some work you will have a nice little pickup. What you've done so far on the engine looks good...

Any idea what the leaf springs might be from? Doesn't look like they could let the frame move much before you get metal to metal contact. Good luck with the truck and welcome to the board!

Is the axel centered in the springs or did they just move the axel forward as well and it is now not centered? This will cause a terible ride and is not safe if the axel is not locked on teh centering pin. Also how about a pic that is dead on from the side so we can see just how short this truck is!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

I like it! Good deal! Just fix that rear suspension before something not so good happens, it's dangerous. If you need parts check out the board, someone can get you hooked up with the right parts.
Dano
Safety First!

hell i would have bought it just for the good sheet metal.

looks like the fabbed (used loosely) shock mounts are bending up. That would indicate that they are bottoming out and pounding the crap out of that axle. I would ditch the bed, have a 4 link welded in and find another short bed and put it looking stock. Can't beat the price if it's running but it doesn't look safe to me.

Hum.. anyone else notice two different engines pics?

looks like the first was at the lot and second was after he got it home and dressed her up a little...

I think the right fix was mentioned.Either cut it off behind the cab and do a coil over with 4 link and use that bed or go to another short bed.

If you look close only the front of the engine was repainted. It's still blue by the headers. Don't get us wrong 2bits you have the start of a nice project on your hands.

Looks like the cab or the bed is not on strait. look at the back of the cab and front panel on the bed.

I like the old school tach.

Looks like a standard shortbed frame which has been wrecked. Looking at the pics the frame rails bend inward right where the coil spings should mount. The p.o. prolly didn't have the money to fix it right so converting to leafs and moving the rear suspension up to where the frame was still straight was his fix. Stiill I would have given a grand for it just for the cab and front clip.

move the shocks up to the studs that are further ahead. they look bottomed where they are & the studs look very weak the way they were installed...

looks cool. and you didnt have to add on to the garage. id have bought that for the unqies of it

Looks lie truck body on blazer fram with si\ome tuning and getting the suspension issue took care of it should handle like a dream
nice lil truck
Shane

I saw a 69 shortbed frame on the Dallas Craigslist a few days ago if you want to go that route. The lowering work looks a bit iffy on that 71... Here's a link.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/pts/254023329.html

-
I wouldn't think the shocks would work at all laying back at that much angle.....:confused:

LockDoc

I think that you have a longbed coilspring frame with a short-short bed. Looking at the pics, the crossmember that is near the rear differential should be in front of the rear differential(still has the OE shock mounts hanging down). Also look at the distance from the axle to the OE trailing arm mounting holes(can we get a measurement). Looks like a longbed frame that did not get shortened properly in the center under the cab. Instead they moved the axle forward(loosing suspension travel due to frame height) and just cut the very back of the frame off.

Anybody else see this??

Jason

It looks pretty good that short.. Welcome to the board. You could always put trailing arms on it agian make a swb..

Yes I agree best bet is to ditch that bed buy another one and weld in a four link

Hey guys, sorry for the late reply, I have been very busy with holidays and working on the truck, The glove box says the wheelbase was 127" I don't know if that is a short or long Bed, but I believe it was a short bed that was shortened. I do not believe it is a frame transplant or wrecked (pictures look funny sometimes).

The very first post was right on the money, I disconnected the shocks altogether and now the rear end moves freely. The only bad part to that is that you are also right that there is very little play so I can't really drive it still because the frame slaps against the rear end which obviously isn't a wonderful thing! I have been having oil leak issues from hell so I couldn't drive it anyway. The valve covers were blowing oil, so I put some chrome valve covers from my shelf on it that leaked on a another car, but for some reason I thought I would have better luck... yeah right, they leaked like crazy! So I swapped them out for the original valve covers after painting them, and it was better but still leaked like crazy from somewhere else that I could not pin down. I had the exhaust finished out the next day and flowmasters put on, so I could think while it was running, and then went after the leak again, I thought it was the distributor because it was coming from the back and the oil pressure line was good, but no such luck... the rear intake gasket blew out, so Tuesday night I pulled the intake off, and Wednesday I put it back on (I usually don't start working until 10pm so time is limited). Last night, after it had cured for a day, I took it out and the leaks are all resolved! The 400 tranny is shifting better now because there is actually vacuum! I painted the dash black to match also. Now back to the rear half... I believe it was a short bed that was made into a shorter bed, and the rear of the frame cut off. The issues with the rear are all resolved except the shocks. I think the angle of the shocks is totally bad, and the other shock mount farther forward probably wouldn't work at all. I am probably going to relocate the shock mount on the axle to the back of the axle and weld a mount to where the frame moves higher, because they just don't make shocks that short I am finding. I am hoping some coilover shocks will keep it stiff enough to deal with the short travel distance of the frame to the rear end. If not, there is a Monster Garage Custom shop right around the corner from my house and I will see what suggestions they have for me. I would rather make the existing set up worth rather than try to put it back to a stock configuration because I like it like this and it is almost done anyway, and I am working on a shoestring budget. More to come... here are all the current pics I have! thanks for the welcome!

http://www.grossepointegothic.com/71stepside/

Thomas

Looks like shes comming along very nice.. Once you get the rear of the truck fixed itll be a good little ride..

Are you going to leave the rear end where it is? If so I think you need to address the frame issue. Since the previous owner moved the rear axle forward without shortening the frame you have limited suspension travel. Anything you do to the rear supension (other than raising the truck) wont help bottoming out or riding rough.

I hope you don't mind but I was playing with you're truck a little.

hmm... now two things just gave me some ideas. I know my next big stage is going to be finishing the rear suspension. I will try coilover shocks first after a few more consultations, I would expect to ride rough with that, but it is a nice cheap way to go for right now. Something you said made me think too... "raising the truck"... that is an option I hadn't thought of yet! I wish I could grab that '69 frame, off Craig's list, but I can't afford to do a frame off right now! The rear end is stayin' put, and I will make it good! Here's an idea haha!

PS: I just started it up and went around the block and it is pretty awesome.

Well Thomas. This is an interesting little truck. The shorty wheelbase deal really works well for offroading like rockcrawling and such. And it is different to see a short one on the street. Has a uniqueness to it. I can't say I would have gone about the suspension mods in that way but for just a beater that most likely won't be hauling any loads or pulling any loads it may work out ok. The shock angle is useless as is. I've long forgotten what the preferred mounting angle is but it will have to be more vertical to be of much use. The lite rear weight won't see much up and down movement. You may need to have a tubed crossmember welded in to mount the top of the shocks behind the axle. Check out the shock mounts on other axles and note some of them are welded to the axle and extend down 4 or 5 inches from the tubes. They don't need to extend down past the wheel lip/scrub line though. This may help gain some needed room to mount a shock and still have some movement. I'm afraid using coilover shocks will only make the rear even more stiff. As far as the frame/axle housing contact is concerned you could have that "monster garage" cut the frame rails and weld in a piece of pipe as in a C notch for cleareance on each side. That will take care of the axle smacking the frame rails. I am not bashing your new ride but offering a couple of low buck suggestions. All in all I think it will make a good hotrod pickup. The engine cleaned up real nice too. Enjoy it. ;)

Hey Boog, Thanks for the suggestions! that is a good idea lowering the shock mounts! I was only thinking of raising them on the frame so lowering them on the axle too might get me enough clearance to get a shock in there. The frame has been notched, so that helps some, I don't mind a stiffer ride, it isn't that stiff any more now. I am really thinking about putting some more leaf springs in it to raise the end some too.

My buddies came over today and we put in a wood bed! we just used a sheet of 3/4" plywood with a good birch veneer on it and some trim boards (Why did they make beds 4 foot and ONE INCH wide???) but it turned out awesome. I am going to leave the tailgate off for a while now. It just looks too nice! I think I added some value to the truck today! Here is the truck site with the new pics:

http://www.grossepointegothic.com/71stepside/

Thomas

Cool project for sure Thomas. Got a real kick riding in it today. The truck runs like a scalded ape. I'd bet it's running around 375-400 hp from the response I felt. It has quite the cam in it...loping happily at idle.

The pics look great! The body of this truck is in very good shape and there's no rust anywhere, even the mirror holes have been filled...so well that I didn't know they were ever there.

Sure enjoyed today...my sides still hurt from laughing so much at the comments we were all making!!

Man I sure can dig the look that the previous owner was going for, hope you can get all the kinks out. One of a kind you got there

Thomas, had one hell of a good time at your place today. I also have to thank you for the birthday gift! :c2:
Once we get all the kinks worked out this is going to be one fun truck.
she sure sounds sweet! You got a real bargain on this rust free truck for sure.:c2:

I only have one question where is the fuel tank I noticed that the filler neck was shaved but I don't see a tank in any of the bed shots. Cool little truck you have there I have a buddy here that has a trazer and yours reminds me of that alot.

Yeah, I've been looking at GMC Pauls Blazer relocation tank kits today actually, because when I got this truck I definitely caught the guy in mid-project! So now you can guess to fill my tank you open the door, lean the seat forward and then lean the TANK forward and fill 'er up! He just unbolted the thing and slid it over! That's a great way to get high if you're into breathing gas fumes which I am not haha... so the new shock mounts and shocks are first, then gas tank relocation is second on the big project list! I guess I'll go out and see what the rear axle ratio is also. I think the consensus yesterday was 373. I'm heading to my friend's junkyard after that, lets see if I can get that seat and dash today!

Thank to Kelly and Smokey for coming over and working on the bed! I had a blast too! :metal:

Thomas

That is a very cool lookin truck.I really wish the fella had shortened the frame properly though,it'd make things so much easier for you.
Make sure to keep us updated on your progress!

BIG Problem solved! I was at the junkyard today, and I was getting this gas pedal out of a 70 model truck and I just happened to notice the front shocks and I thought man, those are short! Well the gears in my head started turning, and I already knew the length I was looking for, so I head up to Oriellys and they pull a set and they look like they are the right median length. I buy them and get home and bolt them on, and even though the angle is still too drastic in my opinion, THEY WORK! If anything they are at the top range of the shock, so I can still relocate the top to within 15 degrees and then it will be perfect. They are moving in and out as they should right now though, and I just took a haulin' ass cruise down Duck Creek which is a big time bouncy road and I never got even close to hitting the frame, and the ride feels just fine too. How ironic it is that I can use the front shocks for this truck on the rear! That's a major stumbling block accomplished! Even though it is not perfect, I can actually DRIVE the truck now! I won't be trusting that rigged top mount for long though don't worry hehe HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well there ya go. One little prob at a time. Oil leak stopped, floor in bed and shocks mounted. Alright! ;)

the truck certanly has potential , when i first saw it i thought they used a blazerframe and put a pickup cab on that .
it does look good i might even do it this way when i shortening my long bed fleetside in the future

Wheew! you are saying alot there! The only benefit to this way is that the frame that is left is all in tact and not cut. As long as I can get an upper shock mount that is trustworthy, I guess everything on the rear end will be good. I wish he would have put the leaf spring mounts a little lower so A: All four bolts will be in the frame and B: That would give a lot more clearance for the frame to rear end. I guess he really wanted it lowered though. I probably end up cutting the weld and then moving the mounts down to where they ought to be on the frame and that should let me load up the bed for hauling stuff.

I also finally got under it and spun the wheels, and the driveshaft spins 4 full times to the wheel making three complete turns. now given a margin of error for tire size what does that sound like for a rear end gear ratio??

I'm putting front shocks on it today and going for it's first long drive! I'm going back to the junkyard to pick up a cool steering wheel I forgot to get yesterday and see if I can get lucky if the other yard is open that has the seat and dash. I might put the tach back in so I can see what kind of RPMs I am pulling on the freeway. Wish me luck that I can finish the interior today!

Thomas

Very cool you got the shocks to work!!

The rear tires are 295/50 15's. I didn't measure them for height. The noise and rpms sound like it's at least a 3.73.

What steering wheel did you spot? I need to go to that yard soon to see what all he has.

It's funny because it is the exact same steering wheel you have Kelly! It doesn't have the center cap, but a generic chrome one will work fine.

I just got home, I got almost to downtown and hit a traffic jam and didn't want to sit through it with the tranny shifting only when I let up on it, and the RPMs so high it was driving me crazy. I made sure the vacuum lines were good, so the tranny has got to go. The rear end too... Maybe I'm simple but I can't imagine why anyone would put those kind of gears in on purpose. I am doing 65 on the freeway and the engine is going crazy! I'm just a freeway driver though, not a racer, but how can you win a race if, you top out at 75mph?

I'm going to get in the Jimmy and head back out to the yard now, I spotted a rear end sitting on TOP of the back of a 70 model truck that just came in a little while ago, I am going to verify what it is and take it home if it is good. If he has a good tranny laying around I will get it too but I doubt that, I'll need to pull one at some point. I may be doing a rear end swap tonight haha...

Thomas

Must be higher than I thought then....4.11's probably. You can open it up after the swap and find out by counting teeth.

I have a 3.07 in mine, you shouldn't have any trouble getting a 3.07 or 3.08. Good luck on the axle and tranny!

I like this wheel even though the horn buttons never work on them, but you know how to get around that one!

Well good news on the rear end front... does that make any sense? I put an ad out to trade my high gears for whomever's low gears and the guy came out last night and we popped open the rear case to see what they were, and well, he didn't get what he wanted but I did. It has some crazy low highway gears like 2.73 and it is an 8.5" too, so it's a good rear end for what I want which means I don't need to replace it! It also means that the tranny that I already knew was messed up is really messed up big time haha, but I was going to swap it out anyway. I love to take road trips, so those gears and a 4 speed will do fine, except I can't afford a 4 speed I will have to settle for a 350 haha... anyone local got one for $50?

I have a NP435 on the parts board if you're interested.

What in hades is a NP435! I probably only have $50 for the tranny budget so it will be a junkyard 350 unless I win the lottery!

It is a longbed truck that they moved the axle forward on and then choped the excess frame off the back. You can tell by the double front bed mounts as used on the long beds. Cool truck though

What in hades is a NP435! I probably only have $50 for the tranny budget so it will be a junkyard 350 unless I win the lottery!
It's a 4 speed truck trans that came mostly in Fords but GM used them in some trucks. Mines out of a 2wd 1970 3/4T

2bits. Can you feel the trans make the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts? Is it slipping? What does the fluid look and smell like? Full? If not slipping maybe it has a high stall converter? With a 2.73 gear that thing should be almost idleing down the road. Good cruiser gears. Using the Richmond gear calculator that 2.73 gear, t350 trans, and 26" tall tire should net you about 2400 rpm @ 70 mph. Not exactly screaming.
Might be able to save that tranny. Before you head off to buy another one maybe run it by a trans guy and get his opinion. You're getting there.

Wow, I never heard of that tranny, thanks though! I know I am shifting to third because I have to do it manually with the gas pedal to get it to shift. Like the modulator or governor is gone or something. I was thinking about the high stall too. It slipped out of gear twice last night when I took it for a cruise, and it will shift up and down from 2nd to 3rd and back again over and over if I hit just the right speed around 40 or so. The fluid is full and smells ok though. I am glad to get those gears too, I love road trips and just cruizin around, I've never had a problem with power with my old highway gears in other cars, never tried to race anyone either lol... I think this tranny is pretty well hosed but taking it to a shop to be looked at might be a good idea, but I am thinking they are going to charge me $100 no matter what, my labor is free and I would like a 350 tranny better anyway. I guess it will be which ever comes first, if I find a tranny at the yard today, otherwise, I'll take it into the shop next week.
Thanks for the info guys!
Thomas

I am fan of the THT350's as well. My 400 in the Buffalo shifted funny [read too quickly] from 1st to 2nd, but it never slipped like yours is. Did you find a tranny at the yard?

Well it has been an interesting day! I got a late start and went down to the yard to get the seat and dash I have been lusting over and I got the seat and decided that my dash will be recovered. The guy also had a 400 tranny still connected to the tranny that he guranteed at $125 so I got the seat for $25 (hell yeah) and I left I came back after making sure Johnny didn't have one for cheaper, and got a hundred and came back and he said no problem, just take it off the engine yourself. Well I came home full! I also found some factory metal pedals!

http://www.grossepointegothic.com/71stepside/week3/

Tomorrow we are supposed to install the tranny!

Thomas

Nice seat...looks like you scored on everything, but I see the price you paid, lol.

The seat looks good! I like the wheel too...didja get the horn to work on yours? Maybe we can get the tranny in before I have to leave for Lewisville.

Well, I spent the day swapping the tranny and it would have been a great story if the tranny was good. Now I get to do it all over again... Thanks for your help Kelly, and thanks for letting me keep it at your house for a bit until I can get a good one!

Pics: http://www.grossepointegothic.com/71stepside/week3/

Bummer that tranny wasn't good, hope you get your cash back on that one. Glad I never had to leave, though. Had a great time and got some really cool pics. I'll post them tomorrow to the web and set up a link. Bill's new shop rocks, that fork lift really came in handy!

Got a rebuilt 400 tranny installed Saturday, it runs great now. Sunday I got the truck home, and that night I installed a new heater core and rewired alot of the engine compartment. The starter soleniod is hanging and sometimes won't work at all, if I tap on it, it starts working again, so yet something else that is preventing me from driving it, but I am getting all the kinks worked out anyway.

I've got to halt work on it for a while so I can work on my Cutlass to get it sold because I am going to be pissed if I have to seel this truck after all this work. I am getting sick of fixing up cars just to end up selling them!

Thomas

Looks a lot like this project over on 60-66 board.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=179289&highlight=project

I forgot to tell you last night you can just buy the solenoid....that's what Bill did when his was acting up.

Glad the new tranny is in and good! Yeah, you need to keep this one.

This project is coming along nicely.
Dano

You should see it now.....we transplanted in a new motor. Maybe I can get him to update the thread....Thomas, you out there?

Didn't his mouse crap out and he put in a 6 cyl in front of that T400?

Yeah I was checking out his site, I don't know why, but his truck is cool!

hehe I am still out here! I have just posting to my local East Texas board lately, not enough time to update this board, and the Inliners board. I haven't even updated my own website in a while, but rest assured I have been busy! Here's an update:

Yes, I found a sweet deal on a new 250 inline 6 from a junk yard for $350, and it turned out to be new for real! check out how clean that head looks!
http://www.grossepointegothic.com/forums/hpim0208.jpg

I put a new carb on it and this engine runs great with the 400 tranny behind it, I can spin the tires all day long if I make it. It has plenty of of pick up and plenty of power and thanks to the highway gears I cruise nicely at 70 on the freeway with plenty of passing power. Gas just hit $2.90/gallon here and I can still drive my "hot rod" every day :cool:
http://www.grossepointegothic.com/forums/HPIM0267.jpg

Got new crank and water pump pulleys to get the power steering working, gotta love that...
http://www.grossepointegothic.com/forums/HPIM0424.JPG

Ordered a Hot Rod Air under dash A/C unit which should be in this week or early next week.
http://www.grossepointegothic.com/forums/underdash1.jpg

I found a set of used front and rear springs, and have installed the rear so far. (Thanks for the help Kelly!)
http://www.grossepointegothic.com/forums/HPIM0437.jpg
http://www.grossepointegothic.com/forums/HPIM0458.JPG

Got Haggarty classic insurance, and the title and tags finally, and got it inspected yesterday, and my court date was set for the small claims suit against the guy who I bought it from for damaging the front roll pan.

Today, I got a new windshield put in as well as getting a temporary exhaust flex pipe removed and had a real pipe welded in! Here's what it looks like today!

http://www.grossepointegothic.com/forums/HPIM0492.JPG

Next on the list is: Installing the Front springs, getting 275/60 tires all the way around, installing the new A/C, and relocating the gas tank to the bed. I am looking forward to driving it on a "three hour tour" for a camping trip with Kelly and Smokey (from this board) this weekend!

You bet my friend....glad to help out. It's looking good and running good!!

The six is a torque monster [as some of you already know] and can burn the tires at will. It purrs like a kitten!

Since we are going up to OK, I'm gonna fill up the tank and see what kind of milage I can get out of it this weekend Kelly!

Glad you drove the Jimmy....best to save a long run for when you have the gas tank relocated and the radiator/water pump fixed.

We had a great time this year Thomas...thanks for joining us....we'll be going again in Oct-Nov. I'll post the dates as soon as I know...:D

Yeah just having the A/C was a motivator enough with all the humidity lately, I'm glad it was really nice once we got up in the hills! My A/C will be in the stepside this week tho! I had a great time too!

Some new shots of the truck. I painted the rear end, frame and leaf springs, just rattle canned it... Also painted the front grille and headlight shadows, finished more of the A/C work.

Lookin' good!

it had a v8 when you got it ?