Hopped onto the capitalism train and nabbed the bender (Amazon) and a 1-3/4” die (Summit). The plan is to pick up a Vevor air ram, use some steel I have laying around to mount it onto the bender itself. Then find a used engine stand and mount the entire contraption onto that. More or less make a moveable bending setup.
Also, I picked a 1-3/4' die as I think this is the start of the project, and unsure its final direction. SCORE Rulebook says 2'' for anything over 4000lbs (cab cage). Lot to figure out, but I think that 1-3/4 will get me rolling, and I plan to make a similar engine cage setup to Retrorunner (ill post pics for reference later).
Started tracing wiring. When diassembling I noted some wires snipped. Knew they were for the headlights, but didnt know which wires went ot what. Basically downloaded a manual and started tracing and labeling. Ironically I have a headlight kit, with relays, from my '74 Fummins build....so plan is to use that on this truck as it wasnt needed on the other one.
From what I can tell the mongoloids before me had an ignition issue. Being the cave dwelling Neanderthals' that they were....they used red wire for EVERYTHING. So Id rip off tape, trace back to the original wiring, then snip and label. Most everything I discovered ****ed up...went to the ignition system/was bundled in with the ignition wiring.
Ill be using a Holly Terminator X...so kind of working to determine whats needed and what isnt. Not quite sure how to make it all work....but hoping I can leave the trucks lighting (in the industry I work id call it the "Building Controls System" in place, HVAC/Lts) and then have the engine be its own wiring entity. If anyone has any tips for installing a terminator and wiring onto an LS, feel free to shoot pointers my way.
Need to make an engine removable crossmember. Plan is a few bent tubes with thick plates and bolts. Id like removable, as itll be going directly under the oil pan, and removable would just be so handy if I needed to do work.
You can see the front of the engine is a little down. Reason being A) I emptied the bed of all steel, so the rear lifted up a couple inches. B) All the tacks holding my mock engine mounts in have bent a smidge over the last couple months of me banging on the thing and moving stuff. Going to need to start finalizing locations and committing to welding!
Last but not least STEERING. What a pain in the ass. Old column fell right the **** apart as soon as I messed with it. I didnt fit under the seat with the 17'' wheel on and Im not a thick dude. Not small but not big, we'll go average for the sake of the story
....so Flaming River and Ididit make columns THAT COST A ****ING THOUSAND DOLLARS. **** THAT. So...I have a chevy steering box thanks to Power Steering Solutions, and figured why not go Chevy column, as all the overall dimensions match "chevy" to "Ford". I made a guy an offer on Ebay for one, so $236 and shes mine. We'll see how long it holds up, but its got tilt and I can easily weld the previously welded mounting plate onto the Chevy unit (cut it from the green column, need to weld it on the black column).Awaiting a wheel, so I can position it all once and have it be right.
Thats about it.
Saved up almost all my PTO all year, so heading back to Tucson to help some of my friend with labor on a house they just bought. Free stay traded for house labor. Perfect.
Closing the work computer on the 13th and ****ing right off until the 3rd of January. Basically working on my tan, and enjoying some warmth before returning to the cold north.
