My 71 Build - Project Full Throttle
 

Well I finally got my 71 fleetside back down into my shop. I've been working for a few months on my wife's jeep. All I had done up to this point was to start collecting parts. Here's some pics of what I'm starting with. I'm definitely doing away with the late model door handles and replacing the tailgate.

Some more pics
 

Here's a few more pics. I'm not crazy about the impala wheels, but I think the main problem with them is that the tires are much too large and the rears need to be spaced out 1.25" to line up right with the front. Right now the tires are 30" tall all around. I'm going with 275/50 and 255/50 to get the rears to 28" and the front to 27". I'm planning on replacing all the factory a/c with aftermarket to slick up the firewall. It has a 406 that's nearly new, but I'm replacing all the top end to get much more power.

Efi
 

I'm going to run an edelbrock pro flo efi system on the motor. I ran it for a month or so before selling my old 67. I wish it was a mass air type of system, but once I had it tuned before it was awesome and I bought a Innovate Motorsports LM-2 wideband tuner to log the data and tell what changes I need to make. Should make it easier this time. I picked up one of the Comp Cams XFI series hydraulic roller setups for it so I have almost everything to change the motor over.

Motor almost out.
 

I can't wait to get the motor and tranny out of it. It has a 700R4 in it and I really need to make sure it's the larger spline before I order a converter for it. I'm going with a PTC converter because I've heard great things about them. I figure a 2800-3000 that still has the lockup should be great. I've about got the motor disconnected so it won't take much more to have it out.

Almost forgot
 

I almost forgot. The truck already has the drip rail shaved, which I always wanted to do but didn't have the nerve. I'm also going with 1 piece windows from Vintage Glass in Lawrenceville GA. They make a jam up kit. It still used the small aluminum triangle, but my plans are to install billet motorcycle mirrors on them and polish them so that it looks like they are just mirrors. I ordered the glass all 20% tinted so I don't have to worry about tinting the windows.

Re: My 71 Build to be named later
 

nice looking project.

Re: My 71 Build to be named later
 

Lookin good! Keep workin on it!

Re: My 71 Build to be named later
 

sounds like a good idea about the mirrors....

Re: My 71 Build to be named later
 

Thanks. I'm thinking a 3.5-4" aluminum mirror, polish the triangle and drill a hole in it for the bolt with a larger hole on the inside for access to the bolt and then cap it with some sort of removable plug on the inside. I found a few places that had tons of mirrors online, but getting one that has the right type of shaft is the trick.

Here's one that is not terrible, but I need a solid shaft so that I could shorten it and rethread the end that attaches to the triangle.

Re: My 71 Build to be named later
 

you've got your self a nice truck there . that's your old drag truck that kevin has know isn't it.
i polished the little trianges on my one piece windows and used a pair of Arlin Ness motorcycle mirrors . i used a pair of surface mount tweeter on the inside to cover the hole used to mount the mirrors.here's a couple pics. keep us posted on your progress.
mike

Re: My 71 Build to be named later
 

I think the Impala wheels look good on the truck. There's a set with tires for sale on Craigslist here, but I am not paying $700 for them.

Re: My 71 Build to be named later
 

Mike Nutt,

I really like those No Limit dash inserts. I'm thinking they are in my future as well.

Tom

More Tear Down
 

I got it pretty well stripped down on my next day of work. Here's some Pics.

Tom

More Tear Down Pics
 

More Pics

More Pics
 

Here's more. Looks like it was originally orange. What a cool color.

I picked up some more parts too
 

I have been collecting parts again. I picked up a set of roller rockers, a new gm deluxe serpentine kit with a/c, new rear bumper, new lenses, new pedal pads and rings, new 4" lower rear coils, new ezwiring harness, a set of flex-a-lite electric fans, a bunch of chassis paint and some other powder coating supplies, etc. I bought some of it online, some at the Charlotte show, and some off craigslist. I don't have pics of all the parts yet, but here's the rockers.

Re: My 71 Build to be named later
 

What a great start to this project!

I am definitely subscribing to this one....

Good luck with the build!

Re: My 71 Build to be named later
 

Thanks,

I can't wait for it to be done. So far I've been taking the approach of take every thing off very neatly, bag it up, label it, and end up replacing it all anyway.

Tom

Pics of the parts I picked up
 

Here's the parts I got at Charlotte and off the web lately.

More parts bought
 

Here's the wiring harness from EZ Wiring, the electric fans, and the buddy buckets that I bought from member southernparts.

My new led lights from Justin
 

How about these. Justin's been working for a while on some lights for my truck. I can't wait to see them so I'm getting him to ship the front ones the back ones and the backup lights so I can check them out. I'm planning on having him do the side markers as well. They look super nice.

Tom

Re: My 71 Build to be named later
 

IS THAT A TALKING BASS?
ive always wanted one of those.

nice truck this one will definatly be sweet i think im gonna be subscribing to it to!

Re: My 71 Build to be named later
 

No it's a real one. Caught it when I was 11.

I appreciate it.

Tom

Re: My 71 Build to be named later
 

Looking good old buddy! I just noticed your build thread a minute ago!

Re: My 71 Build to be named later
 

looking good!What kind of powerr are you expecting to make?