The Shop Truck

[r3dd0g]

r3dd0g submitted a new Build:

The Shop Truck

I've turned all my trucks into trail rigs, so we didn't really have a truck to do truck things with (no bed space). We looked at trailers a bit, some 5.3 Silverados and finally decided on this (complete with it's first load):

It's a 1971 C20 with a 69/70 grill that someone used as a welding truck for their gate/fence business. All of the fab work is good, it has a newer GM Goodwrench crate 350 and a 700R4 tranny with a Dana 60 rear.

The bedsides flip down (with the exception of the rear corners).

It's got a rear mounted gas tank (not sure what the original application was) and drives pretty good for a 46 year old truck. The only major issues it had were all electrical related. I've already gone through the wiring, cleaned up the biggest wiring hacks, replaced the rear tail lights, added the rear side markers (going to put a couple more on each side too) replaced the alternator and rerouted the fuel lines. I also cleaned up the rear of the bed where they cut off the rack that was on it.

Immediate plans are to mount a crane in the bed, add some lights for the bed, install a couple toolboxes under the front of the bed and then use it until I get my shop built (I needed a truck to get my back yard cleaned up to make room for the shop).

Once I have the shop built, I'll get a bit more creative with the truck, but for now it's going to stay this way with the exception of maybe going with fuel injection (Holley Sniper).

Read more about this build here...

 

[obijuank5]

So when does it get 4x4 swapped?

 

[Chevy305]

Subscribed

 

[GWeakland620]

I like it.

 

[r3dd0g]

So when does it get 4x4 swapped?

NEVER! This is going to be my sleeper hot rod

 

[Babaganoosh]

NEVER! This is going to be my sleeper hot rod

That's what Shawn said also. I really like the thought of this truck and the plan you have.

 

[KirsL]

Looks perfect for the job at hand.

I'll add that for the crane, get it with an air over hydraulic cylinder.

 

[r3dd0g]

Looks perfect for the job at hand.

I'll add that for the crane, get it with an air over hydraulic cylinder.

I can add that later if I decide I need it. It's already been ordered and I really didn't see any with the option for an air over hydraulic cylinder, not to mention the truck doesn't have onboard air yet.

 

[Truckman4life]

I love the flatbed. Cool truck. My dad had a '69 2 wd half ton and it fit 33/12.50s with zero lift on a 15x8 rim. Looked good with that much tire. Get you a gallon of black tractor paint and a roller and that bed will look way better.

 

[r3dd0g]

I'm going to put bedliner on it later, but the whole bed needs to come off first, there's absolutely no paint on the bottom of the bed anywhere. Not a huge deal for AZ, but I want to clean it up.

I'm hoping to stuff a C&C 14 bolt under the rear if the tires will tuck under the bed. But all of this stuff is going to wait until I have my shop built, the truck is just a necessity to get my yard cleaned out.

 

[Truckman4life]

Why are you going with C&C rear end and not a standard 14 bolt? Are you adding dual rear wheels?

 

[r3dd0g]

Yes, I want dual rear wheels tucked under the bed.

 

[Truckman4life]

Sweet! I always liked the look of the narrow dually trucks especially the 4x4 ones. The springs on yours should be the same width as the C&C trucks right?

 

[r3dd0g]

I plan on 4 linking and bagging it later so as long as the tires clear the frame I'll be fine.

 

[r3dd0g]

Amber and I spent the whole weekend working on the truck. First on the list was to get rid of the dual exhaust (not a fan, plus it was in the way of where I'm going to mount the toolboxes and the exhaust fumes came in through the window when it was open).

Using mostly stuff I had laying around, some new V-Band clamps and a Magnaflow Muffler I fabbed up a new exhaust complete with a bung for the wideband 02 sensor.

The back section of the exhaust is trapped under the bed, so you just get a picture of the 3" pipe coming out behind the drivers side rear wheel.

It sounds much better now, and the O2 sensor was installed for the Holley Sniper EFI setup. After troubleshooting a few minor issues (like a hollowed out PCV that wouldn't let it idle below 1300RPM) and plumbing up a return fuel line along with the new fuel pump, it was up and running smoother than ever.

Then we went to work on the bed installing the crane and 6 recessed tie downs. You can also see that we replaced all the turn signal lenses and put new mirrors on (I love Manes Truck Parts).

I think there's something funky going on with the HEI distributor still, tempted to get the Holley one so the computer will run it, but I haven't decided yet. Also, the trans isn't shifting right, I think the kickdown cable needs adjusting so I ordered a new adjustable one that will be here Wednesday.

 

[r3dd0g]

I worked from home all week (online training class) which meant I was in the garage by 2 or 3 every day working on the truck.
Even with the fuel injection installed, the engine still ran weird and occasionally had starting issues. When I put a timing light on it I realised that the distributor was not advancing properly so I decided to go ahead and do the Holley Dual Sync distributor. The intake manifold also was leaking so I pulled it only to discover that someone had cleaned the sealing surfaces with an angle grinder...
So now the truck has a new intake manifold, new plugs and wires, new distributor, coil and air cleaner (this was purchased earlier but didn't work with the HEI ignition.

I also picked up some new headlights to compliment the rest of the LED lights I'd already installed. These are Rigid (AKA TruckLite) DOT legal replacements. They work excellent! Way brighter than the old ones and not blinding at all.
Low beam (only the top element):

High beam (both elements):

We went on a couple test drives and were trying to track down why the truck sometimes didn't want to start, it was usually accompanied by a badly squealing belt. I replaced the belts and it made the problem worse, we finally tracked it down to a power steering pump that would intermittently cause a HUGE load on a restart after it was warmed up. I went ahead and got rid of the old school bolt on pulley style pump and put one with the press on one on, new hoses and a new box (the old one was leaking) were also installed. Now I don't have the starting issues anymore (although the belt is still squealing occasionally because it got glazed again...

Once we got that worked out I finally got a chance to get the toolboxes mounted. We also threw on another set of side markers on the bed for good measure.

Now I'm going to finish up this post with a question, clearance lights yes or no? (I like the look, although I may look for a set that looks more period correct).

 

[ktmoutfront]

Period correct lights and they will fit in better when it is a dually.

 

[r3dd0g]

I still need to find a C&C axle.

 

[obijuank5]

Yes to clearance lights. Damn this truck is like new now.

 

[sreidmx]

This is bad ass.. how’s the sniper?? Curious on how the ease of setup and tuning is?