Parts truck

[Vintage Windmills]

Curious what you find for 2.5 inch springs. I was looking some this weekend for my 71 K20 and it looks like 2 or 2.5 inch springs are a little over $200 each! Seems high for some leafs, these were tough country and skyjacker i think.

Looking good but if you could just remove the brown areas from the front clip, the truck would look really nice.

[ryanroo]

i havent even looked for them. i have a complete 4" set from my green one that i could use but if i can fit my 35s on less i would prefer that. that does seem high for just front springs.

the brown is actually the original paint from that clip. its the dark red color from 67. the entire thing is repainted just so happened that the clip and the truck were both repainted the sameish color. my plans are to dust it in flat black or flat tan at some point. then i will be on the look out for a nice clean body 2wd i can steal the body from

[jjzepplin]

I have some 4" blocks-bolts=and plates I am not using...

[ryanroo]

got home from work today and got a few things done. not visible is the fresh fill of oil in the engine and gear oil in the t-case. visible are the fresh 4 row radiator that is now installed in the modified 67 core support to allow it. i also tossed the battery in it using a cheeeezy hold down from AZ. als decided today to just do a 2.5 inch front spring and 33s

[6BT 56]

I have to tell you ryan I'm really enjoying following this build . Putting all your best of used parts together is making a cool old truck . One that will work better than a new one for years to come . I think you had better blow the budjet and go for some super cup holders ! This the only thing i miss when Im out in my 56 . Ok maby air but thats is what it is . Lookig forward to seeing this movin around . Any plans for a low buck paint job ? I think the fresh 2.5 spring will make the stance just rite . Sticken with the Steel wheels ? Keep up the good work !

[6BT 56]

Oops just saw the comment abt the paint above . Sorry for the repeat question

[ryanroo]

Originally Posted by 6BT 56

I have to tell you ryan I'm really enjoying following this build . Putting all your best of used parts together is making a cool old truck . One that will work better than a new one for years to come . I think you had better blow the budjet and go for some super cup holders ! This the only thing i miss when Im out in my 56 . Ok maby air but thats is what it is . Lookig forward to seeing this movin around . Any plans for a low buck paint job ? I think the fresh 2.5 spring will make the stance just rite . Sticken with the Steel wheels ? Keep up the good work !

Thanks! i find that i am really enjoying this build too. kind of reminds me of high school and college, except now i am choosing to make it cheap but tossing in a few nice parts here an there. in college i pretty much had to do it on the cheap its nice to do something where most of the parts are stock and the engineering is already done. all i have to do is put the right bolt here and connect the right wire there. i really like doing stuff like my green truck build but this is quite enjoyable too.

i was looking at the tunnel yesterday thinking about welding in some cup holders. we'll see about that when i get it on the road.

definitely getting a lot of my misc. used stuff. the radiator i had reconditioned ten years ago for something and never used it. most of the hard parts i had laying around from something. trying to replace all the soft stuff that looks suspect.

going to run the steelies. that was one reason i decided to go with 33s. hard to find a 35 in 16 inch rim. i would really like to run 17s on this truck so it will be able to swap with the green one but i just dont want to drop that cash right now with so much left to spend on the diesel truck. i dont even think i will paint the wheels. call it patina!

Ryan says the hot rod flatz prays pretty easy and it isnt bad on price, so ill probably use that and spray it at work some time when i have the patience for it.

[steelhorse]

Cool build. How about using some wheels from a newer model. I see then on craigslist all the time pretty cheap.

[ryanroo]

I like these old crusty ones. they match the ugliness of the rest of the truck.

here it is in some new shoes



they are cooper discovery STT's. didnt really need a mud tire, but i figured it helped continue the theme of redneckery.

i have gotten most of the wiring routed and installed in its proper place. i might go get some new power cables tomorrow or monday and a few glass fuses for the inline fuse holders. i got it rewired for internally regulated Alt. and got the cap and wires on the dist. a few other piddly things. new rear u bolts. finished bending a new rear hard line for the brakes as the one in there was leaking like a sieve.

[6BT 56]

Looks just rite now . Good call on the rubber . those are 33" ? Your not going to paint it flat blk are you ? The old yeller looks rite for the truck . Maby just a scuff and another coat of that ? You will be running soon I guess.

[ryanroo]

they are the metric equivalent of a 33. and for right now, no paint. not sure what i will do when i get there. flat black is definitely on the choices list. its easy and looks decent. i am really considering flat tan though. yellow just isn't my thing. i dont really give a hoot what color it its, but if i am going through the trouble of shooting it, it wont be yellow

[6BT 56]

Flan tan has my vote for sure !

[ryanroo]

Im leaning that way too. itll blend well in the local fauna.


AND.... Drumroll please.

in my best Dr. Frankenstein voice.... IT'S ALIVE!

i drove it around the neighborhood late this afternoon. hits all three forward gears and reverse as it should. seems to function corectly in all other ways as well. i need to poke around and see what is up with the left turn circuit. has hazards and the lights both work but it only blinks like twice and then stops on the turn signal. maybe the flasher itself. or maybe i need to clean some grounds or something. probably need to do some vacuum guage tuning to get timing spot on but so far so good. fires right up on the first bump of the starter with no choke and purrs like a kitten. no leaks of anything unexpected.

Ryan

[6BT 56]

Thats good news . I bet that was fun . There is a truck around the corner that has me looking at your boild and thinking i want to do a fun simple build too. There is a 76 chevy canadian militairy truck . Not as cool as your CUCV's but still neat . They had Dana 44 F 14 bolt rear . 203's th 350's and a 350 4 bbl. They had the cool little things like black out lights , skid plates, tow / lift rings , grill guard , a cool truss on the d44 F as well. the dude has allready pulled the eng and trans , they are in the box . the body seems solid . id like to get it and find a rusty 6.2 truck and transplant it's guts. Add 4 in springs and run my 35 's on it . Just a fun goof around truk for here on the farm . I need sumtin to replace my dodge after it donated it's guts to the 56 .

[ryanroo]

Sounds like fun to me!

[ryanroo]

I have been piddling with stuff, fixing leaks as i can, cleaning out crappy wiring that goes nowhere. etc. been tweaking the timing. it runs pretty darn good now and starts good cold and hot. must be close. maybe ill hook a vac gauge to it this weekend and "set" it. i also ordered a intermediate accumulator oring and spring. some halfwit had pulled the spring before i got into it. it is also leaking out the accumulator cover like a banshee. hope to get that taken care of this weekend as well. maybe next week i can get to the DMV and start to actually go for a little drive here and there. i need to order longer rear shocks and/or move the lower mounts. i havent decided if i need to install the 2 inch steering block or not. i do need to get a boot for one of the tie rod ends. need to wire the elec. choke so it starts and stays running when cold. need to install inner fenders. need to remove more of the aftermarket a/c that was in there.

i ordered some 2 inch springs for the front a while back, and they showed up earlier this week. after work it looked like the rain was going to hold off for a while so i hurried up and installed them. there are 4 mounted tires, an SM465, a radiator, a couple of old D60 rotors and some inner fenders in the rear so it is a little low, but i was still surprised at how tall the front ended up. still looks pretty decent but hopefully it will look better when i chuck all that crap on the trailer.

the springs are tuff country ez-ride.

[ryanroo]

it also seems to be getting a little more fuel that it needs. probaby due to the altitude. it runs great when warm but stumbles if you punch it when its cold. if its just started and you pin it, it will sputter to a stop. stupid carbs...

[BigRed76]

Just read through the whole thread, it's cool to see an ugly duckling getting some attention So in that last pic that's with the 2" front springs installed? It does look a little tall like you said.

[jbclassix]

I have been going back and forth on what springs I want to run in my Suburban, and the TC 2" were edging their way to the top. I think they just landed solid at #1. That is the height I am after.

[BigRed76]

Originally Posted by jbclassix

I have been going back and forth on what springs I want to run in my Suburban, and the TC 2" were edging their way to the top. I think they just landed solid at #1. That is the height I am after.

I agree, I've been debating between TC 2" & 4" springs for my K20 resto and the 2" springs look like they'd clear 35's

[Vintage Windmills]

Looks good ryan, hows the fit and quality of the springs? Did you find a deal or end up having to pay the going rate of $400+ per pair? I suppose you don't know yet how the truck handles with those on since you mentioned the dmv in the near future...?

[ryanroo]

i bet they would clear 35s.

they fit fine for me. it was a quick swap out in the drive way last night. took maybe an hour and half if that. got them for a bit of a deal. didnt have to pay 400$ but close.

i did drive around the neighborhood a little, but that isnt that great of a testament to how they handle. they seem plenty stiff but that isnt so bad. i also dont have rear shocks on it yet so that gives it a bit of a sway it probably wont have when they are installed

ryan

[ryanroo]

had the camera out earlier. decided another shot of the beater was in order. for being so ugly i'm pretty happy with how this beast looks!



also, i got the accumulator cover leak fixed. drained some oil out of the engine and that slowed the leak there significantly. it also appears as though one of my drivelines will fit in the front. i think i will order a new one for winter, since i am a hubs locked in kind of dude. in the interim, i can make it 4x4 though. i also got the elec. choke hooked up. the abortion of an aftermarket a/c is removed and now i just need to fix and reattach the factory heater wiring.

[DeadheadNM]

Whoa you are an animal! I'm on board for the build...and hope to see you soon.

[6BT 56]

Hi Ryan Whats your thoughts on master cylinders? My 56 still has the 70 K 10 master cylinder under it . With my now dana 60 and 70 combo with much bigger breaks the breaking power is not what it should be also id like less pedal travel. What Master cyl did you use on this truck ?