Ideas

Ok, again, I know my wife is pretty much the only person that is going to read this, but hey at least this way maybe I can get these thoughts out of my head. I have been banging my head against the wall trying to finish this project at work then coming home and thinking about future truck modifications, and its making my head hurt.

Ok, anyway, to get on with it.

I have been thinking what I could do to the truck, and of course the first thing is it needs new wheels since the ones that are on there are the split rim everyone calls "widow makers."

Now I have to decide if I am just going to swap wheels, which are almost impossible to find since no one makes a replacement. So I either have to find a set of 6 used which everyone I have spoken to says is a very difficult task, or cough up the $300 per wheel for brand new custom made wheels. Then the issue is still that I would have to stick with the same monster size wheels. Right now they are 20" wheels, and I have to have a minimum of 19.5".

What I am thinking, first off is that I don't like the two speed rear axle that is currently in the truck, at least not for what I want the truck for. It will not be hauling 16K pounds of grain anymore. I think swapping in a newer, i.e maybe 70s or 80s Dana70 out of a 1 ton truck would be a great choice, they are dirt cheep and parts are easy to come by, but that will limit the truck to about 3K pounds over the rear axle. If however I were to get a larger axle like a Rockwell 2.5 ton, parts are still pretty easy to come by, but they are almost indestructible.

The next issue is the front. Right now there is no good way to upgrade it, as I can not find any spindles that will swap in place of the originals. The next problem, is that this is a two wheel drive truck, and I have seen many many times two wheel drive trucks with dual rear wheels getting stuck in wet grass, I would like to change it over to a 4 wheel drive. I know that this would actually be pretty easy because of all the room under it. On top of that it already has leaf springs holding up the front suspension. I think I could basically weld new spring perches onto whatever axle I put under the front and bolt it on. Then if I went with a divorced transfer case, like a Ford NP205 found in 70s and 80s 1 ton trucks, all I would have to do is fabricate a custom cross member for the transfer case and then have 3 drive shafts made. Going this route would cost a little more money, because I would have to not only buy the wheels and tires, but I would be buying the axles, and the drive shafts. This however is the way I really want to go.

I would much rather use the Rockwell 2.5 ton axles, but they are very big, very heavy, and I don't think there is much of a gear choice for them, so top speed would be very very limited. But really, in a very big old truck who wants to go fast?

I want to keep the stock engine for as long as I can, I love the sound of the flat head V8, but I really need to find some speed parts for it. I know there were loads of hot rods running this flat head v8 so the parts are out there, its just a mater of getting them. I did see on Horse Power TV recently they built their "Rat Rod" with a super charged flat head 6. I tried to contact them for more information but so far nothing.

Ok, well for now I think that's it, feels good to get that all out of my head.

Ok anyone with any ideas please let me hear them!

Time? Money?

Ok, I am not sure which reason really is keeping us from making much progress on this truck, but it isn't stopping the ideas and planning. The first issue is that we moved 3 months after buying the truck, and have no where to put it, so it has had to stay at my in-laws. So since the truck is four hours away I can't really go work on it when I get off of work.

What I have done so far is getting the clutch unstuck, gas tank cleaned and reinstalled, inside cleaned very well.

What I have not done that I need is replace the "Widow Maker" split rim wheels that are on it. Also need to check the brakes. It will probably be best to go ahead and replace the wheel cylinders, as well as all of the steel brake lines. Then I need to find seats. I am not a fan of bench seats, so I am kind of half way looking for a set of cloth bucket seats to install. Then I need to get a new title issued so I can license it. Then slap a bed of some sort, maybe wood for now, and take it in parades.


I am sure I have missed something, and I have a lot more ideas/plans so I will try to post more of them soon!