John's LS 49 Dodge

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by ratty 46

You r correct ... I'm looking at a '64 Swept Line right now outta cally to bring east ...

Air ride & engine/trans upgrade & presto - instant kewl for an ungly truckling.

Keep up the great work.

R46

Ratty, I'm in Lawrenceville, where are you? If you get the Dodge be sure and start a thread here. I've always been a Mopar guy for daily drivers but liked the older Fords and Chevy trucks better. My last truck was a 69 Sweptline Adventurer but sold it to buy the 57 Chevy I have now.

[reaper71]

Yes.. This is a very simple way to ensure your vehicle will sit where you plan on. (although it can be adjusted a bit from here)
Also the Horton products are very nice and not to pricey...

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Horton Welder Series has some good products.
Looking good!
Mark, did you set your rear end up where you wanted it to be at ride height then build to that?

[reaper71]

A few more pics to tide you over...

Another view of rear end put together..

[reaper71]

Pic #1 the new shoes,cyl. etc

Pic #2 first shot after we set her on the ground..
(again customer did not want this super low! Not my thing,but I'm just doing as asked )

[reaper71]

Here I'm getting the master and prop valve put together ready to mockup..

2nd pic of it mounted to firewall..


Mark...

[reaper71]

Pic #1. the new speedway hotrod steering column.
I will make a sleeve for this to slide over the end of the column and give it something to stop on at the bottom.

Pic #2. here is the sleeve.
Take exhaust tubing (had to slice it open a bit to fit column nice and tight)
Then using a large washer and drill out the hole to fit the "D" shaft, slide the washer and sleeve over column.

[reaper71]

Pic #1. the sleeve and washer over the column.
At this point tack the washer to the sleeve.
Remove and weld seam around the washer and the gap on the sleeve.
Do all your metal finish etc. It is now ready to be installed into you floor/firewall.

Pic #2. showing the column set in place (you can see the tube in the floor between the two pedals) once it is mocked up as needed weld it (sleeve) to the floor and your column can slide in and out.

[rusty76]

Looking good!

[Advanced Design]

Great explanation on a very useful idea! Was looking at my burb today and thinking about steering column mounting...perfect timing.
Thanks for sharing!

[RockinKees]

Nice idea on the column sleeve!
Is the column also clamped down with a bolt in the sleeve, or is the sleeve such a tight fit that that isn't neccesary?

[reaper71]

I failed to mention....
I drill a hole for a flange nut for a 1/4 20 bolt and weld the nut to the tube. Install bolt to lock it in..

[reaper71]

Hope it helps my friend...

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Great explanation on a very useful idea! Was looking at my burb today and thinking about steering column mounting...perfect timing.
Thanks for sharing!

[reaper71]

Quick update....
Here is a 2 shots of the steering wheel adapter.
John wanted the stock wheel back in the truck for an O.E. feel, so I made a plate from 1/8" and cut and welded the stock splined piece from the O.E. column to this plate. (So you can put the stock nut on to hold wheel to plate)
Then I drilled holes for the new quick change adapter to be bolted to the plate.
Now you have the look of O.E. with the modern convenience of the removable adapter...
All pieces will be painted black later for a cleaner look..

Mark...

[Advanced Design]

Great idea Mark. Well done! Like this column. Looks like it doesn't allow for a center horn button. Maybe a push button on the side of the column for the horn?

[reaper71]

Thank's A.D.!!
These "hotrod" columns are really basic, so it will have the stock style turn signal unit that clamps to the column and the horn button I will put in the dash for him..

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Great idea Mark. Well done! Like this column. Looks like it doesn't allow for a center horn button. Maybe a push button on the side of the column for the horn?

[ratty 46]

Dig the vintage look wheel with the Q-disconnect ... very well thought out.

R46

[reaper71]

Here is another update....
The exhaust system...I bought all the pieces needed to Fabricate my own system. listed below are the Items I picked up from speedway..

Ls block hugger header #9300114 for $199.99
(You will have to move your motor mounts forward with these headers)
Adapter plate to move forward (I made my own) #91618016 for $69.99 pair
Tubing kit #91013824 for $139.99 (includes 4ea. 48" straight,45's,90's and 180 U-bends)
The only part I picked up elsewhere was the dual in/out muffler it has a cross flow design so no X pipe needed...
Dynomax muffler #17553 for $150.00
(all exhaust was 2 1/2")
These pics are after the Fab was done and welded I also used several flanges for this so it can be unbolted and taken apart as needed...

[reaper71]

Here are a few more of the exhaust..
Before and after painting with ceramic paint..

[reaper71]

Pic #1. the muffler..
As you can see from this pic the tail pipes were welded to the muffler.
the flanges bolt to the extension pipes..

Pic #2. the system bolted back up to the truck, It is a VERY tight fit in the crossmember area do to the "dump" of the header but these will keep the tubes from hanging under the truck...
All pieces are tucked under vehicle (sorry not alot of pics for the exhaust)


Mark...

[Advanced Design]

Nice exhaust set up...especially for how reasonable the prices are. What is the ceramic paint you used?

Backing up a few, what brake pedal and mount did you use? Looks like it has a bit of offset to clear the column.

Great ideas Mark. You could write a book with them. Thanks for sharing,

[reaper71]

Your to kind A.D. Thank's again..

The pedal assembly is from speedway #91631991 for $99.99 (mount pedal)
The paint I used is VHT ceramic spray paint..

Mark..

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Nice exhaust set up...especially for how reasonable the prices are. What is the ceramic paint you used?

Backing up a few, what brake pedal and mount did you use? Looks like it has a bit of offset to clear the column.

Great ideas Mark. You could write a book with them. Thanks for sharing,

[reaper71]

Update time...

Pic #1. Front end all taken apart and and painted...

Pic #2. a quick shot of the front components painted in silver (for contrast)

[reaper71]

Pics of the front end going back together...Whew!!

[RockinKees]

Nice Mark!
Factory new

[reaper71]

If it came from the factory like this we wouldn't have things to Mess with!!!

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Nice Mark!
Factory new