87 TTB K5 - Luxury Prerunner

[Mkuhn138]

Most recently I've been working on my exhaust. I spent hours trying to figure out how I wanted to do it. I knew I wanted 3" all the way both sides, with an X-pipe. I ended up running the passenger side up over the crossmember with a 90 right behind the TC, ran it back towards the front of the vehicle and put a Ubend on so it runs up over the crossmember and falls in line with the drivers side. Then runs into the x pipe.

That's where I'm at so far, but will be running 2 -3" borla XR-1 round mufflers and then exiting both right in front of the drivers side tire.

 

[Mkuhn138]

More exhaust pics. Also, I used mostly 304 stainless bends, but the tubing is 409. I really do not like welding stainless, and unfortunately I do lots of it at work!! I'm used to grinding stainless welds and it makes me cringe to leave these. Next time I'm gonna try that Solar flux paste and see if it works. I can't justify back purging this size of pipe though...

 

[Mkuhn138]

For anybody who's interested I used Stainless V-band clamps I got off ebay for $25 each and they are badass - I would recommend them to anybody looking for an exhaust clamp.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-V-Band-FL...Parts_Accessories&hash=item58a1576dbe&vxp=mtr

 

[andyblack]

Man that's some cool stuff. And definately different from what you normally see on these trucks.

One question though - why are you getting rid of your choke? Or are you just blocking off the electric choke so you can run a manual choke?

 

[Kaiser85]

Are there some of the whole truck?

 

[Mkuhn138]

Ill post some later. It's still incomplete

 

[Kaiser85]

Ill post some later. It's still incomplete

Thats okay man! Its a build thread, not a built thread

 

[Mkuhn138]

Man that's some cool stuff. And definately different from what you normally see on these trucks.

One question though - why are you getting rid of your choke? Or are you just blocking off the electric choke so you can run a manual choke?

The choke has given me some trouble so far and I don't really need it in SoCal. On the colder days a few strong pumps before turning it over and it fires right up. Also removing the choke horn on this engine combo is good for 2-3 HP, which is pretty much negligible. But for me the benefits of removing it outway those if keeping it.

 

[andyblack]

I hear you man. My electric choke on my stock Quadrajet drives me nuts. It gets stuck all the time and the engine won't run worth a crap and smoke comes out the tailpipe. The choke light glows lots of times too. Gets on my nerves.

 

[Kaiser85]

I hear you man. My electric choke on my stock Quadrajet drives me nuts. It gets stuck all the time and the engine won't run worth a crap and smoke comes out the tailpipe. The choke light glows lots of times too. Gets on my nerves.

I had this same problem.... i fixed mine with an edelbrock manual choke carb. Lol
(Sorry for the brief hijack/bump)

 

[andyblack]

I think I can find a manual choke that will work on my carb. I thought about just blocking the choke off like on this thread, but I don't think it would run at all during the winter when I first start it up.

 

[Mkuhn138]

Have you ever taken your air cleaner off and watched the choke? It only creates a choke for maybe 30 seconds... It would be worth a shot to wire it open and see if you could get it started without it. Lots of guys on hotrodders that live in cold climates run without one without issues

 

[andyblack]

I'll have to try that. If it will start and I let it just sit there and idle, it's okay, but if I try to give it any throttle at all, it will stall. That's with no choke. When the choke it stuck, it just keeps running rough and won't idle too well until it eventually stalls out, unless I give it some throttle.

Anyway, hijack over now. Carry on. What design are you going to put on the valve covers?

 

[Mkuhn138]

Here's a few of the entire truck as it sits right now

The sun is creating enough glare to make the photos difficult

 

[Mkuhn138]

So far I have the passenger side front fender and door jamb painted. I played around with a few colors and ended up with TCP Global's phantom pearl black color. Looks great in the light. I used Southern Polyurethane's CA compliant universal clear- best clear coat I've ever shot. It laid down with close to no orange peel, one pass with 1500 left the panel totally smooth. I picked up a devilbiss tekna gun that I'm sure helped me get good results.

 

[Mkuhn138]

Pics of the fender, grill, and spray gun. I sent a little off the beaten path with the grill. I used Alsa corp ghost chrome over black basecoat, it kind of gave it a raw steel or cold rolled look. Had all the trim pieces powder coated satin black, and the bowtie powder coated silver

 

[andyblack]

Man that paint looks killer! I'm sure it looks flawless in real life too.

So what exactly did you use to finish the grille and headlight bezels? I need to paint mine but I don't know what will stick to the plastic. Plus what did you do about sanding them?

You need to get that thing out of the garage and take some pics outside for us to see.

Edit: I went back and read what you did to the grille, but what about the headlight bezels? Same thing?

 

[Mkuhn138]

Yeah same thing. I bought a new grill and bezels and just scuffed the factory surface. If you're going over an older surface I would probably use adhesion promoter before paint. IMO it was definitely worth it to use a basecoat clearcoat even on those parts

 

[Mkuhn138]

Haven't posted any updates for awhile. My build has taken quite a turn. I've been keeping my eye out for a diesel for sometime so I don't have smog issues - I picked up an 83 diesel for $500 and stripped it completely. I'm using the frame and the cab, and am transferring everything else over. It's at my buddies shop and will be for sometime.

I ditched my carburetor and decided to go the MPFI route. I'm piecing it together - Holley HP ECU, Trick flow 48 lbs injectors, Wilson converted the manifold and made my fuel rails, and Wilson throttle body.

Lastly, and you guys (especially the purists) are not gonna like this... I'm ditching the one ton axles and building a custom 9" - housing and hubs from Camburg. The front end will be getting a modified dana44 TTB setup - My buddy at Richer racing will be fabricating/modifying the beams and setting up the steering - the setup will pull 20-21" of usable wheel travel. I know this seems stupid to a lot of the hardcore wheelers and crawlers, but my truck is being built for high speed desert stuff - TTB is perfect as it will allow me to retain 4x4. I will probably end up getting a 241 or an atlas since I will need a driver side drop.

Pictures to follow!

 

[Mkuhn138]

MPFI converted manifold