71 NORRA Off Road Racer Build

[Prerun71]

I purchased my project truck approx nine years ago and either one thing or another has prevented me from getting started building it. It was a driver if you want to call it that. Running on 6 cylinders if I was lucky and creaks, rattles and leaks from every where. So there it sat first in the driveway then then the RV parking then out behind the garage , you know outa sight outa mind. I even contemplating selling it and buying a longtravel suspension kit for my daily driver and I justified it by telling the wife "this will just become my new project truck". I could just never part with the old 71 , so the project begins. Street Legal off road racer built to the specs of N.O.R.R.A. Vintage Open Truck or VOT. There are tons of vintage F@RD trucks out there in this theme and I think the build will be way cool. I look forward to sharing the journey.

[Prerun71]

Engine (blown SB400), Trans (TH350) and Transfercase (NP205) are out and gone. didn't get any pics of the dismemberment . The interior is gutted an d all the wiring has been removed. I will take some pics and post this afternoon. The plan is to complete the build in several phases as Funds are not limitless . First phase will be to get it stripped down rough in the cab cage and dash. Install the new wire harness. install engine and trans (not full blown race motor at this point in the build) and make it driveable. Second phase will include the bed and engine cages front and rear long travel suspension and rear axle. the third phase will include any changes or mods needed from the first two phases and tear down for finish work and paint/powder. the last phase would be a big HP powerplant and Rework the trans to handle it. oh and drive the snot out of it.

[Prerun71]

the interior is almost all removed, the fuel tank is still yet to come out, the dash, steering column and brake pedal will also be removed next. the bed floor was already pretty much gone when I bought it so there isn't much to remove there.

[Prerun71]

Made a little more headway today , got the original fuel tank from behind the seat removed and got the dash removed. The dash is bolted on the edges a lot the A-pillar but there are a series if factory spot welds (about 30) along the bottom edge of the window frame. So I first cut the main dash panel out then went back and cut along the windshield seam leaving only about 1/2 inch of the original dash material intact so not to disturb the windshield seam.
I suppose about 100 feet of 1.75x.120 DOM is next on the menu. and then I can start mounting the seats Install the new steering column and brake pedal assemblies . also in the meantime I bought a GM performance crate motor and am bolting on some basic goodies and it will be ready when the chassis is.
I am also kicking around the idea of Re-shaping the firewall behind the transmission Bellhousing so the engine can be relocated back a few inches. Now would be the time I suppose.

[96Indyram]

Oh yea ! You have my attention.... subscribed.

[zbm100]

very cool

[mx289]

Cool build.

Always wanted to see this done.
I will be watching.

[zbm100]

there some cool vintage desert racing chevy trucks and blazers in this thread
http://www.dezertrangers.com/vb/gene...lk/64812-4.htm

[zbm100]

this one looks recently built

[Prerun71]

WoW it has been a busy month of June,
From Graduations to Vacations the poor 71 has been on the losing end on time management. Ready to start making more progress now. Have decided to mock up a old bare cylinder block and heads and to see how far I can get the engine moved back without major redesigning of the interior space and the exhaust clearance is also a concern. the firewall can be cut and reshaped but how much can we get is the question and will it be enough to effect weight balance. On another note spent last weekend in Pismo Beach for the Annual (typically on fathers day) car show and there were some very clean c-10's but nothing like the style we have in store for this. I am re energized and the Wife Proclaimed Id better have ours done for Next year. We'll see. Better get to work....
P.S. like the picks and links I appreciate the input. I've seen picks of the white 67/68 before its a great looking truck although I'm shooting to keep a period correct bedside on mine. got some out of the box ideas on that too

[OldBlue71Chevy]

Good start.

Here is some more motivation for ya:


Race-dezert

[808_67C10]

I am in... I love me some pre-runners - especially when they are Chevy

[Prerun71]

Made a little more progress in the past few days. finished gutting the interior. and got the front clip removed. I don't think my original plan of building the truck in stages is going to work out like I planned. There are way to many aspects of the build that overlap. My new plan is to remove the entire body, box in the frame rails for added strength , reinstall the cab with solid mounts, and begin building the cage. the cab will in essence become a permanent part of the chassis from that point.

[mx289]

We all change our plans !

Keep on trucking.

[Prerun71]

Well got her down to the "brass tacks" today next stop media blast for the cab . sold the 4wd rolling chassis and picked up a nice 2wd frame that will be the base of the new chassis. Definitely want to move the Engine / Trans back for better weight bias so a good section of the original firewall will be removed and reshaped.

[hopped up]

Great plans., I'm in for this

[Prerun71]

More progress today. picked up the 2wd "Donor" frame today. worked out perfect paid scrap value $50 for it and it is everything I need. got it home and started stripping it out. It is in the low 100's today so had to take a short break you don't blame me do ya ?

[Prerun71]

The story on the new frame is, I bought the frame from a local guy that I do some parts trading with he has a few 67-72 C's . He purchased this one as a parts truck a while back due to the fact it was clean and the price was right. Shortbed , clean body , clean registration. Well what he did not know was it didn't start life as a Shorbed. After getting the truck home and inspecting he found what may be the worst long/short bed conversion ever. The frame rails were literally cut a was section removed and then it was Butt welded back together no brace no gusset really shady. Then as you may notice in the photo the rear cross member was not relocated, instead they decided to shorten the trailing arms to accommodate the now shorter frame. The frame was a total loss for him but due to the fact the "graft" was done a few inches behind the cab I will cut their poor workmanship off anyway to install the 4 Link . and I don't have to Kill a perfectly good C10 frame in the process Win !!

[Prerun71]

Well I guess we're headed to the frame shop first! the front of the frame in front of the front cab mounts is pushed over about 5/8" the block is sitting in line with the main frame and as you can see it is not in the middle , got a quote of $80.00 at frame shop so ill still only be into it $130.00 . little hiccups

[Mindl3ss]

Nice build!

Here's Steve McQueen's off road off road pickup for some inspiration.
http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-c.../2013/06/6.jpg

[Prerun71]

Off to the Chiropractor she goes... see you in a few days.

On another note I think I have decided on doing a equal length I-Beam front suspension. and 4-link rear. the I-beams will give me better travel numbers and will be far more durable than a long travel A-Arm set up with my budget. Should get 18-20" of usable travel out of the beams and they are bullet proof off road. While the rear will Yield around 28" of travel.

[Prerun71]

Mocked up the Engine to the firewall to help decide how wide the relief will need to be. I'm going to try and go rearward about 8-10 inches with the engine that should give me better weight distribution without confining the area around the drivers and passengers feet and legs. Exhaust will of course have to be a consideration as well but that should be easy. hope to get the Frame back soon from the frame shop. See the Mastercraft seats lurking there in the background? they are waiting their turn to get in on the mock up too

[zbm100]

Very cool nice to progress.

[Prerun71]

Still tossing the idea of a center mount A-arm design around. A buddy of mine from High School owns a fab shop and is convinced we can build a cool one for about the same cost as if I bought a I-Beam kit. Where the problem lies is getting the geometry all correct. So I have been spending countless hours a night on a suspension design analyzer . I am no engineer so its time consuming.

[Prerun71]

Here is a look at what I have , it has a overall width of 88 inches and cycles 24" of travel and only adds 2.5 degrees of negative camber at full droop and 2 degrees at full bump . the second pic is a representation of what the setup will look like

Any opinions out there?