Low Buck Wheeler: Project Stump Jumper

[stumpjump]

Project Stump Jumper

Well I picked this up last October in Newport, Wa so this is the last 9 months off building on and off in review.

Here's some pics of when I brought it home.

I bought it for $350, it was a running driving rust bucket. It's a 74 K20 with a strong 350, turbo350 (slips pretty bad), a full time 203, a 14ff and a dana 44 with flat top knuckles. All that and i drove it 90 miles home.

Here's the truck:

 

[stumpjump]

Here's stage 2 when i installed the lift but hadn't put the tires on

Here's a few of the truck with a quick rattle can job and the door off an 84 I used to have (i'm going to save the rusty one for half doors). I still need to mask off to give it a hard line btw the two colors but it looks better that the rust/ blue combo

 

[munepit]

That's a big improvement, good job! Keep up the good work!

 

[stumpjump]

Here's the next step:

After I got it to that point but didn't like the length of the rig so I took 20" out of the frame and bent a tube bed for it and trimmed the fenders...

I drove it a for a bit like this but didn't like the auto and the full time 4wd 203, or the front 44, so I tore it down for yet another rebuild...

I put a 60 in, along with crossover steering and new stainless steel brake lines. It ran and drove good but I needed a shorter front drive shaft, b/c of the larger pumpkin and the my current shaft had the wrong size u joint. Since I needed a new front driveline and new yokes it seemed like a perfect time to swap in the 4 sp and 205 I had stashed away. I pulled the turbo 350 and 203 the and sold the turbo 350 which payed for the new driveline.

Then I installed my sm465 and 205, along with my hydraulic clutch pedals and cross members. and twin sticked the 205, but still haven't finished the shifters.

I also came up with a new cab and front clip off an 84. The new cab is on, and herculined and cleaned up. I stripped down the factory dash and am going to ad after market gauges. The cab is temporarily in place set on brand new energy suspension body mounts. Once I get the 205 shifters built and installed i'll do the final bolt down on the cab.

The front sheet metal is also pinched 18". I haven't cut down the hood yet but the core support is all tacked and ready for final welding and the fenders have been sucked down to check clearances.

I picked up a set of 39.5 tsls on a trade, the treads not awesome but they'll work for now. And got the cab all cleaned up, not i just need to bolt the body down, cut the hood and do some wiring

Here's some update pics:

Here's the new look with the pinched and cut fenders and the tsl's ( the front axle is going to come forward an 1.5"

Here's my rust free floorboard with fresh herculiner...

New Energy Suspension mounts:

Dash progress...

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Let me know what you guys think of the latest progress...

 

[stumpjump]

And here's where things began to change course. I got a job in Maryland, where the vehicle laws are much stricter and the distances to decent trails are much father so I decided to move to a more streetable but still capable wheeler. I finally made the swap over to 52's (from a burb) up front and 64's out back (from a 1/2 ton 04 chevy)

I've decided not to narrow the front end and to toss a shortbed box on it. I'd like to bob the bed and was hoping to get an idea of what it might look like with a foot out of the back side of it.

But on to what i've been up to. All the engine and light wiring is done and i did the 52/64 swap using Diy4x's b52 kit on the front and a home brew shackle flip on the front.

Here's some pics with the 52" front springs, the 64's and the short bed.

Here's a pic of the front hangers and where I frenched in a receiver tube into the front frame and diy hangers.

Here's a few crappy pics of what the short box looks like on there. I need to trim the box before I can throw my tsls back on.

I've done a bit since I took photos last so I try and get some updated pics soon.

 

[stumpjump]

Ok here's the latest Pics.

I built a new set of front fenders and found a set of brand new inner fenders (never installed) for 20 bucks on craigslist so i cut the lip off the back of the fender and welded in angle iron and beat the new inner fenders back.

I also tossed my front bumper and stinger on there. The plan is to build some headlight protection into it.

Here's a few shots of the rear shackle flip:

 

[stumpjump]

Here's a few interior pics of my bucket seats, corbeau 4 point harnesses and my shifter and trans tunnel set up.

 

[swettysblazer]

Very nice! I like all the work you've done to it, it looks real clean for a trail rig. Although i kinda have to say I did like the rear of the truck with the tube on it

 

[jt512]

And here's where things began to change course. I got a job in Maryland, where the vehicle laws are much stricter and the distances to decent trails are much father so I decided to move to a more streetable but still capable wheeler.

Yes, MD pretty much blows as far as wheeling goes, add in the rust issues and it's just not a good state to be into old cars/ trucks .
The truck is looking pretty cool though, big change from when you started, keep it up

 

[USSkoval]

I like it! It's went from cool old truck, to cut up trail rig, and then back to cool old truck that still makes a good trail rig.

 

[HeftyFabworks]

I like it! It's went from cool old truck, to cut up trail rig, and then back to cool old truck that still makes a good trail rig.

Thats kinda what I was thinking. Almost full circle.

 

[max 02]

I like it with the short box on it, looks bad ass! Keep up the good work!

 

[stumpjump]

Thanks for the props guys. It's certainly come a long way, The only thing left from that original truck is the frame (minus 20") and the motor, the rest has been pieced and cobbled together. A buddy of mine figured out that I have alot of years of Chevy represented in this truck.

73: Windshield
74: Frame and Engine
77: Frame Scabs for steering box and frame splice
79: Rear Drive Line
81: 14 Bolt
82: Dana 60
83: Doors and Bed
84: Cab and Driveline
85: Np205
86: Sm465 w/ Hydraulic clutch
87: 52" Leaves and Tilt Column
04: 64" Springs

The next step is to wire in my gauges, mount my shocks, build bumpers and slap a coat of paint on it. Once that's done it'll be time for a cage.

I still have my 39.5 tsls but they run so rough down the road I never put them on the truck so I'll probably be putting them up for sale soon. I'd like to pick up a set of recentered H!'s and some 37" Goodyear radials and run those for a while but as always funds are tight. Thanks for the comments guys i'll try and keep the updates coming.

Any Opinions on color? it'll be a rattle can job...

 

[andyblack]

I like the stealth gray color that's already on there. If my truck needed painting that's the color I'd go for. Everything looks awesome so far. You've done a lot of good work in a short time. Kudos!

I noticed you have a Rough Country dual steering stabilizer kit. How good does that setup work? I've thought about putting that same deal on my truck to fight bumpsteer.

 

[stumpjump]

I like the stealth gray color that's already on there. If my truck needed painting that's the color I'd go for. Everything looks awesome so far. You've done a lot of good work in a short time. Kudos!

I noticed you have a Rough Country dual steering stabilizer kit. How good does that setup work? I've thought about putting that same deal on my truck to fight bumpsteer.

The Rough Country kit is pretty good the install wasn't the easiest b/c of the tubes on the 60 being so large, I ended up having to make slotted holes on the housing bracket to get the u bolts to grab.

Once it was installed though it really smoothed out the steering and got rid of the little bit of death wobble i had bw 35 and 40. I highly recommend it and at under $75 dollars is a good buy.

 

[USSkoval]

White or blue Rustoleum, or both. It has a little gloss and is easy to touch up.

 

[stumpjump]

Flex Shots

I'm due for an update but heres a few flex shots... Front tire was 40" off the ground

 

[shovelbill80]

wow...that rig is sweet....and "stock look" too. i love it. just street legal too, huh?

in the last picture, on driver side above the reciever hitch...what let loose there, core support mount? how does she drive on the road with those springs?

 

[stumpjump]

wow...that rig is sweet....and "stock look" too. i love it. just street legal too, huh?

in the last picture, on driver side above the receiver hitch...what let loose there, core support mount? how does she drive on the road with those springs?

Thanks man, it's certainly been a lot of work to get it where it is. I've really been going for the highly capable stock look so it's nice to hear that it looks that way.

I actually forgot that I hadn't bolted the core support down, the bolt i put in there are to long and i haven't got shorter ones yet lol so nothing let loose I just need to get some bolts in there. It goes down the road pretty well, I don't have shocks on the front or rear yet so it gets a little squirrely from the swaying but once I get the shocks mounted i think it'll work well.

What do I need to do to get this moved over to the driveway? there wasn't a build thread forum when I started.

 

[bronc3buster842001]

I would Pm Rene and see if he wont move it for ya.