Dug's 1959 Fleetside

[mongocanfly]

haha...lots of determination went into that bumper...its still a long ways from perfect...im gonna use it at first but am already thinking of building one after I get it all going

[dsraven]

I like it sitting level.
the stock air bags would work and you could connect a simple air spring leveling valve from a big truck if you wanna do it on the cheap with no electronic leveling or remote controls etc. they bolt on and have an adjustable rod to the frame and a little peg that is used to center the valve for adjustment at ride height. connect the airline to the valve and pull the peg out when adjusted. the air bags should stay at that height. one valve per axle is all that is needed unless you want to do a side to side leveling as well. the envoy frame has the electronic leveling switches but they are spendy and need some sort of electronic valving arrangement as well. the stock compressor set up is also pretty spendy. anyway, just a thought. if buying some used bags check them closely for cracks in the rubber

http://www.plazafleetparts.com/air-s...ol-valves.html

[dug224]

Originally Posted by dsraven

I like it sitting level.
the stock air bags would work and you could connect a simple air spring leveling valve from a big truck if you wanna do it on the cheap with no electronic leveling or remote controls etc. they bolt on and have an adjustable rod to the frame and a little peg that is used to center the valve for adjustment at ride height. connect the airline to the valve and pull the peg out when adjusted. the air bags should stay at that height. one valve per axle is all that is needed unless you want to do a side to side leveling as well. the envoy frame has the electronic leveling switches but they are spendy and need some sort of electronic valving arrangement as well. the stock compressor set up is also pretty spendy. anyway, just a thought. if buying some used bags check them closely for cracks in the rubber

http://www.plazafleetparts.com/air-s...ol-valves.html

This is good stuff and, as usual, I'll do it on the cheap. All I want is the ability to raise and lower the rear of the truck with the flip of a switch within roughly a 3" range....or I could find 300 lbs of tractor weights to permanently haul around. Would help with traction for sure.

[dug224]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

wow!!!...that's a lot of fab work you had going on..looks really good

Agree. After seeing what you did on the IH 4x4 bumper, I should have hired you to do my bullets!! Great work.

[mongocanfly]

Looks better low !..

[mongocanfly]

That turned out great!....

[dug224]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

That turned out great!....

Thanks! Was unsuccessful registering the truck today due to a state holiday here in Alabama....Jefferson Davis Day. I've been here 50 years and don't remember that holiday. Tomorrow! So, when I got home I masked off and painted the border. Adds that finishing touch. Hope they let me use it.

[rgunlock]

That plate turned out really well. Interesting that in today's environment where they are removing his statues, a government agency still takes the day off for his birthday. Good luck tomorrow!

[dug224]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

That plate turned out really well. Interesting that in today's environment where they are removing his statues, a government agency still takes the day off for his birthday. Good luck tomorrow!

Thanks.....like I said, especially from 10 feet away! I was thinking about fattening some of the obviously thinner letters/numbers but I'm afraid I'll do more damage than good so it will stay as is.

I've met a number of peopled who have moved here from over regulated states. Alabama, in my experience, has never been a place that governs too much.....

[mongocanfly]

You can use yr of manufacturer tags in Al..theres a list of rules associated with it ...but you can get around that if you know what I mean...I've got a buddy with 6-7 trucks with yom tags...

[dug224]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

You can use yr of manufacturer tags in Al..theres a list of rules associated with it ...but you can get around that if you know what I mean...I've got a buddy with 6-7 trucks with yom tags...

That's good to hear. My motorcycle buddies say they use old tags all the time hence the reason I thought I could get away with it. Frankly, I'm more worried about not having windshield wipers. Ordered them 4 weeks ago and the guy finally responded and said ..."Hello Sorry for the delay We have an ETA of 6/12 to ship Thanks." Is that an ETA of 6/12 or is that when they ship? Anyway, at least it appears as though there is a human on the other end with my wiper kit. Hope the gal was telling me the truth when she said that they only look at the VIN.

[mongocanfly]

Just make sure you got at minimum ,a bill of sale...you can read the requirements for using yom plates....http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.../40-12-297.htm
Also make sure you got insurance

[dug224]

Stood in line outside for 10 minutes while waiting for them to open at 0700. Was in my truck headed home with tag in hand at 0821. The two biggest challenges were the "dash" between the 5 and 6 what color I wanted to call it. She ended up disregarding the dash and she was nice enough to state "black" even though only 10% of it is actually that color at this time. Total cost: $72.88.

[dug224]

Ordered some factory style air bags (that clip right in), 1/4" compressed air tubing and schrader valves all for about $150 and achieved and adjustable rear suspension in about an hour. Pressure is about 31 psi on each side which gives me a stance about 2.5" lower. Really satisfied with the results. Will leave it here overnight to make sure it is not leaking. I still have to build a bracket for the shrader valves which will mount somewhere around the license plate. I will buy a compressor and additional plumbing in the future for more control. It's raining outside so no opportunity to get a shot from the side.






Also bought a 5.3 badge for about $6 which I will mount discretely inside the front grill much like the old square bodies.

[bobinbc]

Congrats on getting your registration done, plate looks good on there!

[dug224]

Originally Posted by bobinbc

Congrats on getting your registration done, plate looks good on there!

Thanks! Long time coming but finally made it!

[dug224]

Got the shrader valves installed. The air pressure held overnight so I took it for a quick spin in the neighborhood. The truck is now 2.5" lower in the back and the tag does not drag. Real pleased with the final results.

[mongocanfly]

Looks sweet...stance is great!..

[dug224]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Looks sweet...stance is great!..

Thanks! What I love about this solution (other than the low cost) is that it is infinitely adjustable.

[dug224]

Experiencing a bit of 4L60E transmission slip. Trans only has 60k on it. My transmission guy told me to start by installing a $20 Corvette servo. He actually told me to start with a mass air flow sensor due to codes he read. Since I had no idea where the one I had came from, I invested a new one and it cleared up the codes. The Corvette servo dramatically helped the 1st to 2nd gear shift, however, 2nd to 3rd still slipped pretty badly. He's coming to visit on Tuesday.

While I was test driving, I swung into a recycling place and had them weigh the truck with me in it and with a full tank of gas. The total weight of exactly 4,000 lbs seems a little suspicious but I say close enough. At approx 300 hp stock, the 5.3 gives me a power to weight ratio of 0.075. I was surprised to see that the front to back weight split was as close as it is.

Front axle = 2,160 lbs
Rear axle = 1,840 lbs
Total = 4,000 lbs

Corvette Servo Kit

[dug224]

Fast running out of the little stuff to do. Still waiting on my wiper kit, front struts and upper and lower ball joints.

Installed the 5.3L badge in the grill. Riveted a small bracket to the back of the grill and installed the badge via the 2 sided tape it came with.



Installed the finish cap on top of the radiator. Cleaned up the top of the radiator nicely. I need to reroute the radiator filler neck one day to get it in a more discrete location.

[ChuckDriver]

Truck is looking great, time to put some miles on her!

[mongocanfly]

Cool keychain dug !!!.....rainx will do wonders...I've got rainx washer fluid in my truck and rarely even turn the wipers on...
My gas tank only had the vented cap...I was worried about the venting problems as well..so I added a vent line to my tank...

[dug224]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Cool keychain dug !!!.....rainx will do wonders...I've got rainx washer fluid in my truck and rarely even turn the wipers on...
My gas tank only had the vented cap...I was worried about the venting problems as well..so I added a vent line to my tank...

Drove the truck this morning about 5 miles to pickup some fresh gulf shrimp. Tightened the cap before I left. Minor loss of power on the way back. Feels like I'm proving my point. Verdict still out. I'll do some studying to determine where the vent should go but it seems as though it ought to go just downstream of the where I mounted the gas filler cap (that has a rubber seal).

[mongocanfly]

Is your cap a vented cap?