67 Shortbed project Begining 4-2011

[cookmatt67]

BTW laharve, it is not a kit but these old bumps lend themselves to this mod very well due to the design of the front end. If I can do it i'm certian most anyone can and it doesnt take alot of special tools or know-how. just some time and a little head scratching

[sargentrs]

Great job Matt! How about a close up shot of the hinge point on that front tilt clip? That's way cool! Instrument looks awesome too!

[cookmatt67]

[sargentrs]

Wow, that's simple! Thanks!

[basshound71]

What do you have to do to adapt the dent side hood. I really like the look.

[cookmatt67]

look up "dent hood" and the post will come up with that info

[cookmatt67]

this weeks work is posted in the dent hood msg but heres the pics again..







Next week off my DJM suspension drop should be here, and a viper 2 way alarm with door controls. also need to get the fuel cell in soon....

[cookmatt67]

Last week was a very busy week in the ole shop for me.... First thing going on? the little misses was getting a tad bit ansy about the junkyard growing buisness i got going on... well i was about finished with most of it anyways so off it all goes to the recycle place.....



Next thing to get done is that awsome djm drop kit thats been sitting in the shop.....



It really was not that hard of a job to do.. Looks like someone hit something with the old front i-beam


The front end went together in just a few short hours...


After reading about the flex-o-matic and the posts saying that the rear kit wont work i decided to have a go at it anyways and guess what?? it works.....



so now my truck is sitting where it is supposed too, i hope. kinda hard to tell with no motor,trans, frontend or bed...........motor and trans gets started tomorrow.....

[BobbyFord]

I think your leaf eyes will hit the bottom of the bed when the suspension flexes.
Flip-flops in the shop scares the crap out of me

[elgemcdlf]

How much of your original plan has changed? I notice the drip rails remain along with a totally different color scheme.

[cookmatt67]

Well if they dont hit as it sits now then they wont as the flex causes the eyes to go aft and down. wont know for certain until i get the bed on, called djm and the tech guy told me that there would be no problems, so we will see.... as for the flops.... just happened to be wearing them when i remembered i wanted the pic....

well it is true the original color has changed.. but this is a living breathing project and undergoes changes every time i work on it. the majority of my original ideas are intact just a few modifications here and there. funny thing about the color is that i was given a new seat cover for christmas and it showed up the wrong color. After several attempts to get the white cover that i wanted it became apparent that i could not, so we kept the one they sent and reworked the planned colors. i think i like it even more now....

[cookmatt67]

ok a few more pics, got the engine and trannie in today




I didnt realize that i would have to redrill the frame for the transmission crossmember or a few holes for the motor mount plates but not much else was needed to get it sitting in place


the c-6 really doesnt leave alot of room for exauset but i think i have it all worked out. just gonna loose my crossover pipe..... unless i put it after the mufflers...


The nice thing about the shorty headers.. well other than them working with the c-6 is i dont have to cut on frames at all.......

I hope to get the exaust run up to and including the mufflers and fire the motor next week. cant finish the exaust as i need the bed for the custom work im doing on how it exits the truck.

[elgemcdlf]

Why are you having such an issue putting the engine & trans in? Did you move it from the original location? There are factory mounts that can be used without drilling any new holes. I had long tube headers on my 302 with a C6 & no problem at all. Crossover should be 24" back from the collectors. About where the tailshaft on the trans is.

[cookmatt67]

Not really having a bunch of problems considering im using a 1985 5.0 with 1977 mounts,tranny and accessories. just had to drill 4 holes to make the 77 frame mounts work and i do believe they set the motor back about 2 inches, which is good for balance so i'm happy with it. The problem with a crossover is that i did not remove the middle crossmember and if i have a crossover it will need to be completly removable to get the tranny or exaust out as now each side has to be removed one at a time. it can be done but i plan on running an x-pipe behind the mufflers to equalize the sound for the side exaust, and lets face it, this is not a race truck so the 2 to 3 hp gain really doesnt warrent the extra work for me at this time.


The motor is in and running!! woohoo


took it around the block a few times working bugs out and boy it sure is touchy with no front end or bed and the bald 295/55/r15's on it. cam has a good lope and the flowmasters with 2 1/2" pipes really let it growl nicely, awsome cooling too it is about 97 out and she never got over 190 with only the big fan kicking on then right back down to 180


all that is left now is the one wire alt, air cleaner and a better PVC system, then i can put the front end back on and get back to finishing the interior and then the bedwork.

[sargentrs]

Looking good! You wouldn't by chance have a pic, from the back side, of your electric fan mounting would you? Thanks!