Scrap Truck to Race Truck
 

Hello all, this is my first post on this site.
A friend and I are building a race truck to run on the local track here.
We picked up a 72 long box from the wreckers for $200. It had no drive train and no box. We also got some long box bed sides, box front and a pair of fiberglass rear fenders for a step side for $50.
The truck will be a short box step side.
After getting it home a Saturday was spent stripping out the cab and then the frame was cut to shorten the wheelbase.
Two more weekday evenings and the box sides and front were shortened, then tacked into place and the fenders attached.
The cab is really rotten but that doesn't matter for a race truck.
Here are a few shots of the 1st evenings work after the frame was shortened.
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Here are some shots of the second nights work:
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One more evenings work and the roll cage is starting to take shape.
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We got a little more work done on the roll cage this weekend in between rainstorms.
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We also removed what was left of the front clip so that we can replace the fenders with some decent used ones that were donated. The doors also were removed from the cab so that we can finish the roll cage and then repair the floor and rockers.
I got a line on front floor pans, floor braces, cab corners and outer rockers all for $340 CAD.
With the front clip removed you can see the outriggers welded to the frame to support the roll cage. The rules are 6 points welded directly to the frame and because the frame on a truck is so far inside from the edge of the body the outriggers are needed.
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Today I ran the truck over to a local blasting shop and had the seven layers of paint taken off.
It looks much better now that all that mess is gone.
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Welcome to the site. I would say I hate to see a truck destroyed at the track, but that is far better than the scrapyard. At least you're giving it one more chance at live. Looks like you aren't wasting any time getting it ready. Good luck and have fun.

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Thanks Bill yes if it was in any better condition then we wouldn't race it. It was just rusting away at the back of the scrapyard. Long before we ever set eyes on it, the truck was rode hard and put away wet.
We found evidence of a pretty serious collision. The driver's side front frame horn has been patched in from some other frame. The driver's side windshield pillar has also been transplanted and the cab side above the gas tank shows evidence of a pretty hard hit.
Someone in the past also patched the cab corners and replaced the rockers rather poorly. They just slapped new rockers over the rusty old ones.
It must have been some time ago as all the repairs were brazed in. Who brazes nowadays anyway?
What we started with was a poorly repaired frame and a rusted out cab. No engine, trans or box so nothing we are using would ever have seen the streets again.
The goal at this moment is too get most of the heavy metal work done before the cold weather sets in here. It costs far too much to heat up my shop in the winter so that welding and body work can be done.
Over the winter a 350 and three speed manual trans will be implanted and then we can start setting up the suspension and braking for track use.
This is essentially street stock so we need to stay as close to what was available from GM in 1972 as possible.

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I made the two hour run today to get the cab repair panels.
2 cab corners, 2 front floors, 2 outer rockers, 2 front floor braces and 2 rear floor braces all for $340 tax in.
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My buddy who is doing all the welding is working out of town so nothing major will get done until the weekend.
This weekend past we got some more of the roll cage in and farted around with a few small things.

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This weekend was very productive being that it was a long weekend we had an extra day to work on the truck.
The floor pans are now fixed as well as the cab corners and outer rockers got welded in.
Keep in mind that this will be a race truck and doesn't need to be pretty. The floor is solid now and doesn't have any holes in it. We will still be doing a little more work to clean it up a bit and then shoot some color on it. Probably just flat black.
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A few more pics:
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Today is a quiet day so we decided to pull everything out of the shop to do a major clean up.
This is one of two projects I completed a couple of years ago. Matching C4's both verts, one is a six speed and the other is auto. I got both cars in Florida and while sound they needed prettying up and a good refreshing of the mechanical.
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Also this weekend we got a steal for free. Somebody was getting out if racing and gave us this roll cage from a late model car. There is more that enough tube to finish the roll cage for the truck and should save a lot of time bending up pipe.
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5 hrs later and the shop is usable again.
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I think that will be cool. What eng/trans you going to put in it?

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It will be a 350 with a 3 speed manual transmission. It will be mostly stock as that is the class of racing. Some small mods are allowed and some won't be found out.;)

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What race series is this being built for? Is it FTMS Pure Truck? If so, that looks pretty fun.

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You hit the nail right on the head. Here is the link to the track's website:
http://www.fullthrottlemotorspeedway.com/

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I got busy and forgot to post last weekends work. This build is a family affair. The driver is building it with his two sons.
Here is his 15 yr old trying his hand at welding.
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This shot shows the truck's driver explaining to his 18 yr old what is being cut off the wrecked race car's cage to be recycled into the roll cage of the truck.
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Next the passenger door was gutted to keep only the outer skin. It was hung back on the hinges and tack welded temporarily into place so that the door bars could get bent up and tacked into place.
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Then we worked on setting the base for the race seat.
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We decided that the front hoop from the race car would work better than what we had originally done, so we cut it out and then welded in the car's hoop bars.
Driver's side:
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Passenger side:
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Here you can see his son's first attempt at welding up the holes in the firewall.
keep in mind that this doesn't have to be pretty and it's not bad for the first time.
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Here is a quick shot of the passenger door from the outside, tacked into place to fit the bars. Once everything is in place the door will be welded shut.
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Very productive weekend. Shot some color on the truck. Finished the pass side door bars and got the reinforcement X installed. Installed the seat mounts and the mounts for the 5 point harness. Painted the cage(mostly).
Fixed the PO's pass door lower section replacement. Welded up the pass door. Hung the pass fender. welded shut the door handles. Fixed some rust in the pass door and shot some more color on the truck. Hung the rear pass fender to see how everything lined up.
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I think I might just follow along.

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No drastic moves forward this weekend. Saturday was spent at the u pull it yard. Scored a complete rear axle and trailing arm setup. 3.73's in this axle too so it will be a complete swap. The axles need to be drilled out to install the racing wheel studs.
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Also scored a gas pedal, clutch pedal linkage, power steering lines and a few other small items.
We also hung the driver's rear fender and the better driver's front fender and cut out the inside of the driver's door and hung it temporarily to see how it will all line up. The lower outer edge of the door is shot like the passenger side so that will be patched once the final install of the door is done and it is welded shut. There is more interior work and roll cage work to be done so the door will be coming off and wait until all that is done.
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We also scored a racing steering column for free. Had to cut it down to fit but it is now mounted with the removable steering wheel.
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We also installed all new front brakes, rotors, calipers, pads and flex lines. No pictures of that because it is all stock and pretty boring.

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It's looking good. Are you allowed to used fiberglass body parts?

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Nothing in the rules says you can't.

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Sweet

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Yeah they will be easier to fix if they get hit. Hopefully the only part that gets hit is the rear bumper. Hoping to be faster than everybody else so they're all behind us.:lol:

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Just have to watch this one.

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I've been busy lately and forgot to post an update.
We started playing with the ride height. The track rules allow us to drop the truck to just 5 inches off the ground. However it must retain stock components and aren't allowed to notch the frame so the best we could get so far is 10 inches from the bottom of the cab to the ground.
This is just a test and we cut down some extra front springs and just set them in place. The front springs were heated with a torch to drop the ride height. It will get lower because there is no engine or transmission in the truck yet.
We also swapped out the second axle with the better set of trailing arms and installed all new rear brakes(shoes,drums,wheel cylinders and hardware).
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So do you have to run a stock frame? Would it be possible to z the rear? Keeping the stock frame rails. Also could you use inline six springs up front that might get you lower. Or maybe V6 springs from a 73-97 truck. I know they might be minute but some thoughts. We used run in the street stock class at our local track and the car was really no where near stock. It's funny how street stock now is so different track to track. We ran an inline six in an old nova. It had a pretty good kick up in the rear and truck arms. That darn car was absolutely predictable. No matter wedge or not. Then we got another car that was more like a late model. Multi link out back. It was a pain to dial in. Oh me it was fun racing and I really miss the early years. Cool truck. I really look forward to seeing more.

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Yes stock frame with no notching. I don't know what you mean about Z the rear can you explain it to me. As far as the springs go what we are using now is just to test the ride height.

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A few more things done this week. The driver's door cage bars are built and installed.
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Also the driver's door skin we were working with was total junk. Somebody in the past re-skinned the door poorly. Then it rusted out and a lower skin was installed over the rusted out re skin. Basically the entire door was junk so we got another good door unmolested. Once the inner were cut out a test fit was done. It needs a little dent repair but will be much better.
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Next the racing accelerator pedal was modified and installed. We also installed the clutch pedal linkage.
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Interesting build and cool you started from almost nothing, excited to see the changes coming yet.
Mudman.

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It's been a long time since I updated this thread because I have been away on winter vacation. I got some pics today of the truck.
It's ready for the engine and transmission to be installed now. After that just a little wiring and she is ready to race.
Enjoy!
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I feel bad for not replying sooner. But I was wondering if you could cut the rear frame move it up towards top of bed. Basically a kick up in the rear. I feel sure you wouldn't be able to but I was just curious what the rules are. Truck is looking great.

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When you do go racing make sure you post some video and pics of the truck.

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Hey Rusty, yeah no mods to the frame are allowed.
I saw the truck in person the other day and heard it running. All I can say is wow. She is race ready except for final setting of the toe and camber and to weigh it.
The next time I am there I will shoot some more pics and will shoot a video during track trials next month.

BTW the driver's kids love it so much they are building their own truck too.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...80#post7910480

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The truck got out yesterday for trials. It beat the track lap time for a truck. I tried to upload a video without success. I will try again later if I can figure out how to do it.

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Awesome keep us updated. Pics are great and videos will be appreciated.

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Awesome truck and story. I'm in for more!

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https://www.facebook.com/tacman7.aqw...3373525046389/

I finally figured out the link to the video. Sorry for the crappy quality and the language. I didn't film it. It seems that one of the hood pins was left out and the hood blew off after only two laps. The stagger of the rear wheels needs some tweaking and it should be better for the next trial run this Thursday.I will get to see this trial in person and will film it if possible. The first race is scheduled for this Saturday but most likely will be called due to rain. Updates to follow. The other truck isn't quite ready yet so It won't make it out for the trials or the first race night. Hopefully the next week it will be done.