1972 Medium Olive SWB Driver Build-“Chester”

[Advanced Design]

Looks good Ryan!

[slowcpe]

Well looks like I'm going to have to find new wheels once again for the '67. Pretty sure these are staying on this truck. I'm very happy with the stance and look. Truck has come a long way in the past year.

Power steering is hooked up and changed out the worn out harmonic balancer. Found out my engine is more than likely a 305 and leaking from about every orifice. Looks like that may be next on the list.

[nlped]

Wheels look great! And that leaking motor ‘repair’ can be a slippery slope as you well know

[Ekliptix]

Any comments on the ride tech ride, vs the previous setup?

[slowcpe]

Originally Posted by nlped

Wheels look great! And that leaking motor ‘repair’ can be a slippery slope as you well know

Oh I know. I've been planning a motor for a while so I "should" be able to keep it in check. But then again I do have an LQ4 and T56 sitting in the garage

Originally Posted by Ekliptix

Any comments on the ride tech ride, vs the previous setup?

I really like the stance. I got it running and power steering lined out late last night and decided to wait to test drive it after work today. All I've done is back it out of the garage so I could clean the floor.

[Advanced Design]

Looks very good Ryan!

[Leonard1]

Think I'd take the afternoon off to test it out

[slowcpe]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Looks very good Ryan!

Thanks Doug

Originally Posted by Leonard1

Think I'd take the afternoon off to test it out

Its tempting. May be able to sneak out a little early.

[slowcpe]

So the internet was going in and out so I took advantage and decided to "work from home". Got home, torqued the lugnuts, checked fluids one last time and took a trip down the road. Overall it went really well. I've got the shocks set to their "street" setting and overall it rides and drives great. Given new tires and no alignment I didn't go but a few miles and kept it at low speeds.

With the suspension and new steering I've got to learn to drive the truck all over again. The play in the steering wheel is gone and I keep turning WAY too early. Good thing a cop wasn't behind me or he'd probably pull me over for suspicion of drunk driving.

I've got a couple of things to iron out and then I'll get it aligned. I have an appt for Wednesday.

[slowcpe]

Took the truck to get an alignment and now the truck is pretty much ready to go! I'm really really digging this truck now. Other than the complete lack of power its pretty fun to drive and seems to get even more attention than before.

I highly recommend the Ridetech Streetgrip kit. Pretty simple install and the ride is great. The only issue I have with handling is I can't keep myself planted in the vinyl bench seat enough to really test it out.

The CPP power steering conversion is another great addition. The steering is super responsive and tight but still very easy to turn. It seems it could benefit from a smaller diameter steering wheel though.

Washed it and took a few pics on my way home yesterday.

[nlped]

Ryan, truck looks great! LS & T56 and done....’ish.

[cornerstone]

Really nice. The wheels are just perfect.

[slowcpe]

Originally Posted by nlped

Ryan, truck looks great! LS & T56 and done....’ish.

Thank you. The thought has crossed my mind once or twice

Originally Posted by cornerstone

Really nice. The wheels are just perfect.

Thank you

[slowcpe]

So I haven't updated this thread lately as I've been out enjoying the truck this summer/fall.

However I believe the motor is starting to get a little tired and my throw-out bearing is getting pretty noisy. I'll probably replace the bearing but I've been looking at motor options. I've seriously considered going a simple route and putting in a 355 crate motor but as of now I believe I'm going to move forward on the LS swap in this truck. I've already got the motor, transmission, and fuel tank so I might as well.

I'll make my decision around Christmas as I'm getting a lift installed in the garage in a couple of weeks. I'm pretty excited about that.

Here's a few pics of my excursions over the summer.

I purchased another foxbody Mustang to flip but decided to keep. I'm having fun with it as well.



Drove the truck to TN for the truck nationals with a group.









Used it to move the inlaws



A couple of car shows



And overall driving the wheels off of it

[RedRider]

Been watching this truck for a while now, would be awesome to see an LS swap happen!

[nlped]

Glad to see some progress is being made.

[slowcpe]

Well I guess its time to do a little update. Not much to announce other than I drive the truck about every week. I logged about 2800 miles last year and about 500 so far in 2020.

We were working on a buddy's car the other day in my garage and took the truck to his house to pick up his new set of wheels. While backing the truck into his steep drive I hung the exhaust collector on the edge of his drive. This has now created a very annoying exhaust leak. So while on the lift I noticed the motor is leaking BAD. A set of collector gaskets did not fix the issue so I decided to apply some RTV. Haven't fired it up yet to know if that worked. Its a very temp fix and will explain more below.

So back up about 2 months ago I picked up a nice 350 crate motor out of another buddy's truck since he decided to go LSA in his '73. Its nothing special other than a clean, no leaks, 250hp engine. I've had it on the engine stand debating what to do with it. Now giving the leaking motor, leaking exhaust and the fact work is a little slow right now; yesterday I started the engine swap process.

Since I still have the LS and my work is running a little on the lean side right now I'm trying to spend as little as possible. Goal is new valve seals, Summit 1065 cam, lifters, valve springs, timing chain and Hedman mid-length headers. I won't be winning any races but should be a good sounding and running motor.

I still have a 6.0 and t56 sitting in the garage. I heavily considered just going ahead with the swap but to do it right is still going to cost a decent amount of money and I really dig the 3-on-the-tree. Its pretty nostalgic.

Oh and back in November I broke down and purchased a 4-post lift. Let me tell you its a total game changer!

On with the pics

Lift and new garage arrangement



"New" engine



And so it begins

[72 tigger]

I like your lift! Following your engine swap

[SCOTI]

3ott's are fun. Just don't lean on that long skinny pedal too hard in 1st or 2nd..... It doesn't take much to twist the input shaft right off of them.
Don't ask how I know this

[MDPotter]

Originally Posted by slowcpe

Oh and back in November I broke down and purchased a 4-post lift. Let me tell you its a total game changer!

My dad finally got one, the exact same one as yours actually and I totally agree. Using it now is like, "how did we ever do this before?" or "how were we going to do this without the lift?"

[Ekliptix]

Nice fox body. Stock? I've had 2. love em.

[slowcpe]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

I like your lift! Following your engine swap

Thank you!

Originally Posted by SCOTI

3ott's are fun. Just don't lean on that long skinny pedal too hard in 1st or 2nd..... It doesn't take much to twist the input shaft right off of them.
Don't ask how I know this

Its not a racetruck so hopefully I'll be fine

Originally Posted by Ekliptix

Nice fox body. Stock? I've had 2. love em.

Thank you. This is my 3rd in the last 25 years. I sold my '88 notchback that I owned for agout 13 years, 6 years ago to get into C10s. I bought this one to flip and decided to keep it.

It's a '91 5.0/5-spd w/75k miles. Car was basically stock when I bought it. Currently its got full exhaust, 17" Ponies, and full Ridetech suspension. I have 3.73s and a tubular GT40 intake for it. I've got a few other plans for it as well.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by slowcpe

Its not a racetruck so hopefully I'll be fine

LoL…. Neither was the one I was driving. But, I still killed the trans in spectacular fashion just from leaning a little too hard on the go pedal.

Motor was a dyno'd 300hp/350. When we swapped it in place, there was a Gentleman's Agreement that there would be ZERO clutch dumps & ZERO 1/2 hard shifts. I did neither. I did a normal 1/2 shift w/the rpms about like what you'd expect getting on the highway. While in 2nd, I leaned on the pedal a little harder than probably required to merge & BOOM. What a mess it made.

Originally Posted by slowcpe

It's a '91 5.0/5-spd w/75k miles. Car was basically stock when I bought it. Currently its got full exhaust, 17" Ponies, and full Ridetech suspension. I have 3.73s and a tubular GT40 intake for it. I've got a few other plans for it as well.

Good lookin car & the upgrades sound nice!

I had a 93 SSP car from Austin TX. 100k miles, White/Red, 5spd, manual locks/window car w/too many holes to count in the dash/console. I lowered it, did a 5-lug conversion, Bigs & Littles, shorties + Hooker 2.5" H-pipe off-road exhaust, CAI, UD pulleys, & interior re-fresh (dash repair, console replacement, seat inserts, carpet cleaned, headliner, map pockets deleted, & flush package tray w/speakers mounted under the package tray deck).

Fun little cars for DD stuff around town. The Hooker exhaust was set up perfectly w/a slip fit assembly just after it passed over the rear end. I had the OE style LX straight tip look in 2.5" pipe & a 2nd set-up we made that was the 2.5" tubing into a SS 3" short tip that you could barely see on either side of the gas tank. It freakin' sounded wicked w/those 3" stubby dumps. The howl that came during the 1/2/3 3500rpm shfts was bliss. All in such a sedate everyday reliable ride.

[cjohnson6772]

After putting more miles on it, how would you rate the StreetGrip kit ride and overall feel? I'm not autocrossing, but I would like a comfortable ride and good handling for spirited back road cruises. Thank you in advance.

[LT7A]

Great truck and great setup. Not my place to advise, but I think that 350 would be a great way to keep a more traditional theme to that truck, especially when you switch the Billet Specialties wheels over to the 67. It would be easy for that truck to start to get in the way of your "real" project if it gobbles up the whole drivetrain.