Short bus going under the knife

[thedrip]

The tub & front clip are just getting too hashed to get the thing legal on the street. They're really picky here, it sucks. I want to move back to az. End result will be a ridiculously shortbed truck. Probably end up with a 4-4.5' bed.

The donor trucks:

1977 Jimmy "The Short Bus"
350, th350, np203
d44 posi, eaton spool, 4.10
4" front spring, homebrew shackle flip
square tube shaft, HAD 1350 cv shaft
crossover histeer
custom dash, gutted interior
no hvac, wired from scratch
Trashed front clip, doors, tub.

198? (I always forget if its 4 or 5 or 6) M1028 CUCV
stock.
6.2 diesel, th400 (broke), np208 (broke)
d60 posi, 14bolt detroit, 4.56
Questionable electrical
Good front clip, body, beatup doors.

The plan:

77 Jimmy frame
6.2 Diesel
th350
np203
squaretube driveshaft/HAD1350 driveshaft
d60 4.56 posi
14bolt 4.56 detroit (w/ discs sooner or later)
ford 57" spring up front, relocated spring hangers, total forward move of 3-4"
chevy 56" springs out back, 5-6 leafs total, shackle flip
crossover lowsteer.
Fab'd flatbed w/ integrated toolbox sides
relocated gastank.


Total under 6" lift

tires 40+, depends what comes up between now and when I need them.

Most of what I don't/can't use I'll be selling off as it gets taken off. If you need something specific, you can PM me, but if it doesn't fit in a flat rate box, its really not going to be worth it.

Today's progress. I gutted the electrical out of the yellow truck tuesday, only cut about a half dozen wires, will be reusing the harness and fusepanel in the new build. Spent 2 1/2 hours gutting everything useful from the tub, and removing front clip. Truck is now a tub with seats, a steering column, a motor, trans, tcase, and axles/suspension. Significantly less than before. Heres some *really* bad pictures. Old camera thats dieing, in the dark. Front clip came off as an assembly, inner & outer fenders, rad support, various brackets and such that go with those.

 

[imiceman44]

I wouldn't use the ford 57" rears on the front.
They are too soft for the rear and most break them, don't use them in the front where the engine weight is.
Use GM 56" springs instead. They will be on the rear of that 1028 you have.

 

[thedrip]

I have 3" wide 57's, out of a F250, I'm thinking they'll be a little stiffer than the typical 2.5" 57's out of a ranger that I see most people use. I do have two sets of 56's here, so its a possibility doing 56's front and back.

 

[thedrip]

How come things come apart faster than they go together?

Body is OFF. About another hour worth of effort, and a little help from the backhoe, and the body is gone. Chassis, suspension, driveline, and nothing else.

 

[garlicbreath]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the 6.2 diesels have a BOP bellhousing pattern?

 

[thedrip]

OK, if you insist. You're wrong. 5.7 Diesel olds do, but 6.2's use a standard SBC/BBC bellhousing pattern.

 

[imiceman44]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the 6.2 diesels have a BOP bellhousing pattern?

You're wrong, he corrected you

 

[tRustyK5]

You're wrong, he corrected you

Hey, wasn't the 6.2 a converted 350 gas engine?

Rene

 

[imiceman44]

I have 3" wide 57's, out of a F250, I'm thinking they'll be a little stiffer than the typical 2.5" 57's out of a ranger that I see most people use. I do have two sets of 56's here, so its a possibility doing 56's front and back.

All the ford 57" springs are 3" wide, they still bend and break when used in flexy form.
Just relaying the info I have so far.

 

[tRustyK5]

Actually the F-150 57" springs are 2.5" wide...you were wrong and I corrected you.

I just chucked a set of them in the trash.

Rene

 

[imiceman44]

Actually the F-150 57" springs are 2.5" wide...you were wrong and I corrected you.

I just chucked a set of them in the trash.

Rene

Well then it depends what years.
I have a set right next to me that I pulled from a 87 ford F150
This weapon is best used by a pro, don't abuse it.

 

[thedrip]

Either way, I only have one set of 57's, and a half dozen sets of 56's now, so I'll run 56's just so I can swap 'em easily if I break a leaf. Guess I'll order 0 rates to move the axle that extra little bit forward.

 

[thedrip]

Little more work tonight. Dropped the gas tank, will relocate (or use a fuel cell) right behind the cab, probably under the flatbed floor. Exhaust came out, didn't have to cut it at all, amazing how much swinging room there is with no body. Bumpers are off, and in the trash. Looking at the back end, I think I'm going to cut the frame right behind the spring hangers. Something like 12-14" of frame that just doesn't need to be there.