I have been asked by a few members to start a build thread on this truck. My pictures are on my home computer (I am at work right now) but, I thought some may enjoy how this project came to me.
My brother in law is heavily involved with Top Truck Challenge and has been for a number of years. In 2008 I went and worked as part of the recovery crew and I was again asked to come back for 2012. I told them that I would but, I needed to find a new truck to build. I don't think my Ramcharger (aka the Beater) would really be up for the challenge. I wanted to find something that was classic, would look killer, and function well for the upcoming challenge.
I found a 1977 Dodge Power Wagon with a step side bed that has been in need of a new engine for a long time. I bought it from the original owners son and he had locked up the motor in February of 2002. The truck had sat in the same spot since that awful day. I went down to look at it in July of 2011. I bought the truck for $800.00 and took it home that same day. This truck had the right drive train I was looking for. 400 big block, 4 speed manual tranny, and a NP-203 T-case. I am a huge fan of doublers and this was going to work out perfect. The truck had a really solid body (It has lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico its entire life) except for the floor boards. Can we say Fred Flintstone mobile? Both sides are way past gone. I may even need to replace the tranny hump.
Fast forward a month to August and I had ordered a Dana 60 (from Boyce Military Equipment) front axle for a Dodge loaded with 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker, 9/16th studs, and Warn hubs. I knew what I wanted for tires and this would work well. I also installed a Chevy Corp. 14 bolt full floater in the rear at the same time. In September I bought a set of 2001 Dodge wheels and 285x75x16 tires to use as rollers. The axles went in at that time. I also bought a Warn 16.5 ti winch and I intend on having it mounted in a custom front bumper. In October I found a set of 5 40X13.50X17's Goodyear Wrangler MT/R's that were near new in Utah. I made the trip and brought them home. A few weeks ago I ordered my new wheels for the Goodyears. I bought a set of 5 Black Rock daytona styled wheels in 17X9 with the correct eight lug bolt pattern and with 4 1/2" back space. I bought these wheels mostly because they are made here in the USA. They came in yesterday and I headed up to the shop and mounted my tires and balanced them as well. Well, all but one. One tire and wheel was going to take 7 1/2 ounces on one side and 6 1/2 ounces on the other. I will break the tire back down and rotate the tire in an effort to get it to balance with less weight.
So, what is next? I want to get all my brackets from Jungle here on this site. I want to have the front brackets lowered 2" in an effort to get away with less spring arch. I also am going to move the axle forward 1 1/2" via an ez inch from DIY4X. I also want all the brackets for the rear springs. I will be using 56" long Chevy rear springs. Both front and rear springs are coming from Tuff Country and will be 6" lift. This should give me 8" of lift total and I have four EZ inches from DIY4X. I may want to move the rear axle towards the back as well.
After the suspension is all dialed in I will pull the motor. Right now I am looking at a couple of stroker kits from 440 Source. I don't need monster horse power but, the added torque would be welcome. I am looking at the 400 to 451 and the 400 to 470 kits now. I know that I am doing this a little backwards but, I am not too sure about what to do with the motor and I wanted to keep the build moving forward. I could not pull the motor and have the suspension dialed. The motor will only be around 400 to 500 horse and the torque should be around 500 to 600 foot lbs.
I also have the Chevy NP-205 and it is already rebuilt. I just need the doubler plate and the shifters and I will have the T-cases all done.
So, after the engine, suspension, new mounts, doubler then will come all the nickle and dime parts that seem to take way too long and drain the savings account. Brake lines, drive lines, steering, wiring, floor boards, and bed floor. So far the project is coming along well. Not as fast as I would like but, I think it will be done in time. If I can continue making major purchases every month it should be ready to pull folks out at Top Truck Challenge 2012.
I guess I should also add that this truck is going to see a lot of hunting. This is why I wanted to keep it on regular street wheels and not bead locks. It will still be streetable and I want to be able to drive it some distance to get to the hunting grounds. This truck will stay on the leaf springs to keep it ultra simple, and durable. Capable of hauling loads out of the woods and still drive down the highway at some reasonable speeds. All comments are welcome and if you can't wait to see pictures here is another build thread on it. This is also a short history of how others thought it should be. http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?84206-Recovery-rig-thoughts
LT.
My brother in law is heavily involved with Top Truck Challenge and has been for a number of years. In 2008 I went and worked as part of the recovery crew and I was again asked to come back for 2012. I told them that I would but, I needed to find a new truck to build. I don't think my Ramcharger (aka the Beater) would really be up for the challenge. I wanted to find something that was classic, would look killer, and function well for the upcoming challenge.
I found a 1977 Dodge Power Wagon with a step side bed that has been in need of a new engine for a long time. I bought it from the original owners son and he had locked up the motor in February of 2002. The truck had sat in the same spot since that awful day. I went down to look at it in July of 2011. I bought the truck for $800.00 and took it home that same day. This truck had the right drive train I was looking for. 400 big block, 4 speed manual tranny, and a NP-203 T-case. I am a huge fan of doublers and this was going to work out perfect. The truck had a really solid body (It has lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico its entire life) except for the floor boards. Can we say Fred Flintstone mobile? Both sides are way past gone. I may even need to replace the tranny hump.
Fast forward a month to August and I had ordered a Dana 60 (from Boyce Military Equipment) front axle for a Dodge loaded with 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker, 9/16th studs, and Warn hubs. I knew what I wanted for tires and this would work well. I also installed a Chevy Corp. 14 bolt full floater in the rear at the same time. In September I bought a set of 2001 Dodge wheels and 285x75x16 tires to use as rollers. The axles went in at that time. I also bought a Warn 16.5 ti winch and I intend on having it mounted in a custom front bumper. In October I found a set of 5 40X13.50X17's Goodyear Wrangler MT/R's that were near new in Utah. I made the trip and brought them home. A few weeks ago I ordered my new wheels for the Goodyears. I bought a set of 5 Black Rock daytona styled wheels in 17X9 with the correct eight lug bolt pattern and with 4 1/2" back space. I bought these wheels mostly because they are made here in the USA. They came in yesterday and I headed up to the shop and mounted my tires and balanced them as well. Well, all but one. One tire and wheel was going to take 7 1/2 ounces on one side and 6 1/2 ounces on the other. I will break the tire back down and rotate the tire in an effort to get it to balance with less weight.
So, what is next? I want to get all my brackets from Jungle here on this site. I want to have the front brackets lowered 2" in an effort to get away with less spring arch. I also am going to move the axle forward 1 1/2" via an ez inch from DIY4X. I also want all the brackets for the rear springs. I will be using 56" long Chevy rear springs. Both front and rear springs are coming from Tuff Country and will be 6" lift. This should give me 8" of lift total and I have four EZ inches from DIY4X. I may want to move the rear axle towards the back as well.
After the suspension is all dialed in I will pull the motor. Right now I am looking at a couple of stroker kits from 440 Source. I don't need monster horse power but, the added torque would be welcome. I am looking at the 400 to 451 and the 400 to 470 kits now. I know that I am doing this a little backwards but, I am not too sure about what to do with the motor and I wanted to keep the build moving forward. I could not pull the motor and have the suspension dialed. The motor will only be around 400 to 500 horse and the torque should be around 500 to 600 foot lbs.
I also have the Chevy NP-205 and it is already rebuilt. I just need the doubler plate and the shifters and I will have the T-cases all done.
So, after the engine, suspension, new mounts, doubler then will come all the nickle and dime parts that seem to take way too long and drain the savings account. Brake lines, drive lines, steering, wiring, floor boards, and bed floor. So far the project is coming along well. Not as fast as I would like but, I think it will be done in time. If I can continue making major purchases every month it should be ready to pull folks out at Top Truck Challenge 2012.
I guess I should also add that this truck is going to see a lot of hunting. This is why I wanted to keep it on regular street wheels and not bead locks. It will still be streetable and I want to be able to drive it some distance to get to the hunting grounds. This truck will stay on the leaf springs to keep it ultra simple, and durable. Capable of hauling loads out of the woods and still drive down the highway at some reasonable speeds. All comments are welcome and if you can't wait to see pictures here is another build thread on it. This is also a short history of how others thought it should be. http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?84206-Recovery-rig-thoughts
LT.