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The Eliminator

9K views 44 replies 9 participants last post by  Lousypirate 
#1 ·
Bought this truck December 09, been slowly doing stuff for over a year now.... finally getting around to posting a build thread.

Here was the base.


400 sbc
th350
np205
10 bolt front
14 bolt rear
1977 single cab shortbox, everything was real solid except for the box.

found a new box that was solid in Saranac, and made some bumpers for the front and rear


Front bumper doubles as a 6 gal air tank(approx)

Had issues with the transmission, pulled it and found parts of the slip yoke broken. Swapped it out to a ford output (cheaper SYE kit). Got the hookup from a buddy who has a few 205s laying around.


Blew the tranny after overheating it at twisted trails in copemish... took that time to install an extra tranny cooler, and tranny and water temp sensors


made the new dash to hold the gauges and some switches out of 1/8" diamondplate i found laying around the welding shop

found some trees at the mounds


Currently Slated (December 21, 2010):
New Gas Tank between frame rails over rear axle (approx 30 gal)
Weld front Diff(silly 10 bolt)
Rebuild gov lock? (unknown traction aid in rear)
heavy duty diff covers
Rocker guards/side steps
Snorkel
New Fender
Hitch in rear
Mount toolbox in back
Relocate battery (possible dual battery setup)
roll cage inside cab(for four point harness and place to high mount CB and stereo)
install stereo (high mount to resist water damage)
remove leaves out of 3/4 ton leaf pack
shackle flip if needed
new exhaust (3" probably, with chambered mufflers)
removeable spare tire mount/flagpole mount
extra crossmembers (frame stiffening)
Paint as I go along to hopefully get it one color before too long
Truck will be white with same style ZZ top logos except Red-Orange base with black trim (to match '77 ranger bass boat)
 
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#5 ·
so for a summation to get me up to where I am now.

Tank installed:


Shackle Flip: (Thanks to my Dad for spending some time helping me line everything up and burning it in)


Playing at the Mounds:


Poly cab mounts:


Replaced Fender and painted hood as a start to the paint job:


Dana 60 for a swap this winter:


Viair air compressor(100% duty cycle):


Got sidetracked after pulling this out of the back warehouse:


The Ranger boat is the basis for the paint scheme of the truck.

Dream List to finish this winter:
- dana 60 swap
- "boatside" the rockers and make rock sliders/steps
- electric fan setup
- relocation of battery and some electronics to the box
- onboard air installation
- single flowmaster exhaust (3")
- tire upgrade (H1 beadlocks? 38-42s)
 
#7 ·
looking to tear down the 60 I have this weekend and do some searching around the shop to piece together my step bars/rocker protection.

Planning on using 4"+ pipe coming out from the frame with two 90s. then trimming the pipe where I want steps and welding in some steel diamondplate so there is a nice flat spot that has some extra grip to step up into. then bedlining.

Also researching and planning for a snorkel setup.
 
#8 · (Edited)


tore apart the 60, most of the parts are good, almost like brand new. repacking bearing and replacing seals/wipers.

Having my dad weld the tubes to the housing, then i'm painting it and putting 'er all back together. looking into crossover steering as well.



picked these up this weekend. sourcing rock rings, and having a friend of the shop powdercoat these for me. looking for some larger tires to replace the junk 36.
 
#9 ·
Picked up 37s, rock rings welded in, dana 60 ready to go, picked up new u bolts from AB spring, waiting to get h1s painted then ready to do the swap. Picking up 14b ff in another week to do disc brake setup. Drawing up rocker protection, getting ready to start fabbing.

Going to take two 60" lengths of 3" 1/4 wall, and use channel to brace in to the frame. then cutting pockets into the tube and welding in steel diamondplate for steps. Then capping off the ends so no mud gets in

Need to find two inch wheel spacers and electric fan to finish off this phase of the build

Post pictures after phase is complete
 
#10 ·
Progress from this weekend

Old ten bolt coming out


The amount of washers previous owner used to make too long of u bolts work.


Dana 60 in, couple finishing touches on the axle then good to go

Have my outer rings for the h1s coming back from powdercoat this week. Then mounting my 37s
had a few problems getting one of the rims apart because somebody impacted the rims on :mad: thanks to the old man for helping

the rock rings welded in

the 37s

Popping open my rear this week to figure out what gears I actually have :rolleyes:
Hoping to do my rocker protection/side step project this weekend.

Also having a battery or alternator problemnow... Having to jump start my truck to move it.

Sent from my evo
 
#11 ·
Put the beadlocks together, two are leaking so messing with those this week.
Side step/rocker protection just needs to be welded on, got my electric fan this weekend, waiting on wiring.

Hoping to wrap up the 60 install this week, need to bolt in steering stabilizer and replace tire rod and u joint on driveshaft.

Starter went out moving it around, getting replacement (damn autozone lifetime warranty part)

Turns out rear axle has 3.21 gear ratio, going to hunt down the 3.73 axle I need locally to do my disc brake conversion on and swap in.



Sent from my evo
 
#12 ·
Got a fan out of a mark viii, locker for the 14b, & everything to finish up the dana 60 & disc brake conversion on the 14b.

Just ned a few last parts for the gearing swap, some air in the tires, and a new battery (going to pick up the oreilly agm when I get the cash)

Excited to get back working on it. Ready for this school term to be over. Hopefully I can turn over some cash on the 3.21 14b gears...

Sent from my evo
 
#15 ·
Some update photos... will follow up with write up soon...



Sent from my htc evo
 

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#21 ·
In the photos above:

Rear end was bobbed, have an 80+ degree departure angle now. Cut the frame behind the DIY shackle flip mounts and welded a rectangular heavy wall tube in it's place. then welded some 3/4" plate for clevis tabs (overkill, but found them in the scrap bin, just needed some trimming).

Doubler kit is well under way, NP203 is mounted, new crossmember fabricated. waiting on np205 to come back from machine shop early this week. Then rebuild that, check to make sure my twin stick works, and install. Get my exact driveshaft lengths figured out and start mocking up the shifters.

Side step/rock sliders welded up, about the same width as the widest part of the cab sides.

electric fan wired up, sucks harder than a dyson. just running a switched relay. I didn't want to mess with the themostat on it quite yet.

5 point harnesses ******* welded in for temporary use... will get relocated when I decide to make a cage and get rid of the bench seat.

wheel spacers installed to get the track width right front and rear.

taillight brackets made and wired. looks goofy right now but thinking forward to when I do the flat bed/roll bar in the bed.

rear end got a solid diff cover, lubelocker, and a lock right locker.

Things to get done before Dec 11:
- fluids
- fix leak in holley carb... maybe it's the fuel line. I didn't check that hard.
- install np205
- triple stick
- driveshafts
- redo exhaust (ordered mufflers from jegs today)
 
#22 ·
Built up the np205 tonight... Finally got back from machine shop. Mufflers came in, installing np205 on friday hopefully and knocking more off of the odds and ends list saturday morning.

Gonna have my dad shorten the rear shaft, and order up the rest of the stuff I need from mcmaster tonight yet. Still looking for front shaft.

Sent from my htc evo
 

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#23 · (Edited)
Got the np205 installed.

Ended up welding the shift linkage rod to the adapter, and held the sleeves on with two welded sae nuts. Used 3/8 tips ends and made sleeves that go over the shift rails.

Material will be in on monday for the shift levers, with secret for the shift knobs.

Other than that just measured up driveshafts.


Sent from my htc evo
 

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#25 ·
On the slate for this holiday weekend:

- weld shifters on to bushings
- glue the .50 cal shells on to shift levers after painting the bare metal
- assemble front driveshaft
- install front/rear driveshaft
- install toolbox on framerails
- fix fuel leak somewhere between filter and carb somewhere...
- oil change/top off all other fluids
- chase some wiring
- test drive to gas station to fill up

Anybody have an idea what glue or silicone will work best for gluing the .50 cal shells on with? I'm thinking of using silicone in a caulk gun. Worried about the shift levers being/getting loose and not performing.
 
#28 ·
What he says. Use jb weld inside the shells then push the shells on. Maybe make the top of the shifter rough where the jb weld will adhere to.
You never know what will happen in copemish, lol
JB didn't cross my mind. I was planning on roughing up the surfaces for better adhesion prior anyways. Thanks!
 
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