Pearl, the inexpensive squarebody truck swap
11-04-2018, 02:19 PM
#21
dont get me wrong, I love HF. if anything its a good proof of concept store. If I buy it and use it and it seems useful I'll go buy a good version. lots of times though the HF version is perfectly adequate.
it wouldn't be a good build thread if I didn't fix some stripped threads! note to those playing the home game, the m18 3/8 impact WILL strip your rocker arm bolts DOH!
$30 from amazon "stanley" branded heli coils from china
not a bad tool actually. the inserts themselves are almost legit. even have the parting mark on the gripper thread so you can knock the end off clean
a lil green locktite as it was closest to my hand at that moment
it wouldn't be a good build thread if I didn't fix some stripped threads! note to those playing the home game, the m18 3/8 impact WILL strip your rocker arm bolts DOH!
$30 from amazon "stanley" branded heli coils from china
not a bad tool actually. the inserts themselves are almost legit. even have the parting mark on the gripper thread so you can knock the end off clean
a lil green locktite as it was closest to my hand at that moment
11-04-2018, 03:01 PM
#22
That is exactly it - good proof of concept. I would love to own some Mitler Brothers but... I can finish an entire project for the cost of equipping my shop with some of their stuff. I won't even mention Baliegh. :banng:
Good to know on the 3/8" impact driver. I rarely use one to tighten anything.
Nice save on the budget heli-coils.
Good to know on the 3/8" impact driver. I rarely use one to tighten anything.
Nice save on the budget heli-coils.
11-04-2018, 06:33 PM
#25
put on this cut down truck pan for ground clearance if I decide to slam it
can forget the turbo drain, just in case reasons
which brings me to a question I have for you guys. This is a quickie project. Just a proof of concept for a things I wanna try 8.8 swap, r290 based refrigerant in the r12 sized system with a stock LS truck compressor. Mayyyybe use it as a test bed for a squarebody turbo kit ive been thinking of marketing.
anyways the question is what will sell better, a static dropped truck on factory steelies & dig dishes and maybe 275/60r15 rear 225/60r15 front tires
OR
Keep the unilug cragar SS's , blast and hammerite coat them and then put 31x10.50x15s and leave it at stock TRUCK type height?
personally I like em slammed. a 2wd swb truck is basically a car IMHO. a couple friends say otherwise.
what do YOU think?
can forget the turbo drain, just in case reasons
which brings me to a question I have for you guys. This is a quickie project. Just a proof of concept for a things I wanna try 8.8 swap, r290 based refrigerant in the r12 sized system with a stock LS truck compressor. Mayyyybe use it as a test bed for a squarebody turbo kit ive been thinking of marketing.
anyways the question is what will sell better, a static dropped truck on factory steelies & dig dishes and maybe 275/60r15 rear 225/60r15 front tires
OR
Keep the unilug cragar SS's , blast and hammerite coat them and then put 31x10.50x15s and leave it at stock TRUCK type height?
personally I like em slammed. a 2wd swb truck is basically a car IMHO. a couple friends say otherwise.
what do YOU think?
11-04-2018, 07:42 PM
#27
Can't forget the turbo drain... haha! Now IS the best time to do it.
You have an interesting dilemma...
Option A is a good look in my opinion, but not for everyone.
Option B is more stock looking and a completely different market.
If you are trying to eventually flip the trick I would keep the budget tight while trying to make the appeal for the largest audience possible in your area.
When we were living in Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville, Bentonville, Springdale, etc.) it almost felt like you couldn't give away a lowered 2WD truck. Heck you might have a difficult time selling a gas 4x4 truck if it wasn't 100% stock. New lifted diesels were the name of the game and pretty much (at least how it seemed) the only game in the area. Every now and then you would see a classic truck that was stock height or a little low in that area. Here in Kansas City there are a fair amount of lowered 2WD shorties in a variety of years with a variety of wheel options and sizes at every cruise night or show. Stock height and lifted trucks are here but it's not as big as they were in northwestern Arkansas.
Having said that, (market withstanding) I would be tempted to work with the wheels you have vs. buying (or trading for) wheels you don't especially since you need tires either way. Having never been to your portion of this wonderful country I can't say how the market is, but my experience is closer to stock stuff sells better than heavily customized stuff.
My advice: do the engine swap, give it enough bark that it's cool and fun (mild cam, stock replacement springs), make it safe, solid and reliable then ship it. Don't go crazy with exhaust, interior, wheels, lowering, etc.or you will kill your potential profits on bits that make the truck more difficult to sell.
You have an interesting dilemma...
Option A is a good look in my opinion, but not for everyone.
Option B is more stock looking and a completely different market.
If you are trying to eventually flip the trick I would keep the budget tight while trying to make the appeal for the largest audience possible in your area.
When we were living in Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville, Bentonville, Springdale, etc.) it almost felt like you couldn't give away a lowered 2WD truck. Heck you might have a difficult time selling a gas 4x4 truck if it wasn't 100% stock. New lifted diesels were the name of the game and pretty much (at least how it seemed) the only game in the area. Every now and then you would see a classic truck that was stock height or a little low in that area. Here in Kansas City there are a fair amount of lowered 2WD shorties in a variety of years with a variety of wheel options and sizes at every cruise night or show. Stock height and lifted trucks are here but it's not as big as they were in northwestern Arkansas.
Having said that, (market withstanding) I would be tempted to work with the wheels you have vs. buying (or trading for) wheels you don't especially since you need tires either way. Having never been to your portion of this wonderful country I can't say how the market is, but my experience is closer to stock stuff sells better than heavily customized stuff.
My advice: do the engine swap, give it enough bark that it's cool and fun (mild cam, stock replacement springs), make it safe, solid and reliable then ship it. Don't go crazy with exhaust, interior, wheels, lowering, etc.or you will kill your potential profits on bits that make the truck more difficult to sell.
11-04-2018, 08:18 PM
#29
Staging Lane
Join Date: May 2012
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A 2/4 drop with truck rallys is a simple inexpensive look. Also you can still use it as a truck if you need to. I have a 4/6 on mine and i cant haul much. I haul my golf cart to the track and thats about it.
11-04-2018, 09:20 PM
#30
right my '66 LWB is 3/5 and it's still useful as a truck. half yard of gravel here and there.
the cragars have a cool look when they're all shiny and nice, old school west coast lowrider style with some whitewalls maybe
but these are trashed, chrome flaking off etc. the only good thing about them is they are unilug pattern which means they can do 5x4.5, 5x4.75, and 5x5 bolt patterns so that makes it easy to swap in the 8.8 rear
15x8 style 62 steelies in the 5x4.5 pattern are ~$180 pair? Stock 15x6's for the front 5x5 pattern are everywhere, and cheap.
I think my area is a good mix of rural & urban so either way I could sell it. A dropped truck would probably bring more money, but how much more is a question I dont have an answer to. spindles and an axle flip kit are like $350 it looks like?
def leaning towards lowered & steelies since thats what I prefer personally
@slocaddy, sorry man I think this thread will be stripper free unless I have to take the paint off this thing
the cragars have a cool look when they're all shiny and nice, old school west coast lowrider style with some whitewalls maybe
but these are trashed, chrome flaking off etc. the only good thing about them is they are unilug pattern which means they can do 5x4.5, 5x4.75, and 5x5 bolt patterns so that makes it easy to swap in the 8.8 rear
15x8 style 62 steelies in the 5x4.5 pattern are ~$180 pair? Stock 15x6's for the front 5x5 pattern are everywhere, and cheap.
I think my area is a good mix of rural & urban so either way I could sell it. A dropped truck would probably bring more money, but how much more is a question I dont have an answer to. spindles and an axle flip kit are like $350 it looks like?
def leaning towards lowered & steelies since thats what I prefer personally
@slocaddy, sorry man I think this thread will be stripper free unless I have to take the paint off this thing
11-05-2018, 07:56 AM
#31
TECH Fanatic
dang.
what about some airbags between leafs and frame?
could be lowered and have more capacity than it ever had,
you could whip up some brackets just do some air lines and shrader valves, kinda like the old air shocks that are on every 2nd gen camaro/firebird(driver would also most likley hava a mullet)...... just air them up when your about to need someone to hold your beer...... or just when hauling.
what about some airbags between leafs and frame?
could be lowered and have more capacity than it ever had,
you could whip up some brackets just do some air lines and shrader valves, kinda like the old air shocks that are on every 2nd gen camaro/firebird(driver would also most likley hava a mullet)...... just air them up when your about to need someone to hold your beer...... or just when hauling.
11-05-2018, 11:23 AM
#32
Dude,
Where the heck do you score these sweet azz trucks? Subscribing
Where the heck do you score these sweet azz trucks? Subscribing
11-05-2018, 12:42 PM
#35
TECH Senior Member
OK admit it, you're just a squarebody magnet....
11-05-2018, 02:09 PM
#37
TECH Senior Member
I've always thought a '73-'74 2WD Blazer or Jimmy would be a cool running-around rig. Perfect for hauling our kids or the occasional monumental Costco haul. It would, of course necessitate an LS3/4L80E combo; gotta keep up with traffic, or at least stay ahead of it....
