34 Pickup Build

[solokustomz]

Im new here so ill tell you a little about what im doing. This build started about 6 weeks ago because i have been in a wheelchair for almost 5 months and couldnt take sitting around anymore! So i had this 34 cab just sitting around that needed alot of work but hey i have the time now. so i had a friend of mine and my dad help me to the garage where we set the cab, engine, rear end and front axle on the shop floor. I had no idea what i was doing so i laid on a creeper and drew the frame out on the floor with soap stone. Did some math and started cutting and welding. If you want to test your skills try building in a wheel chair! I set that chair on fire so many time with the welder. lol I have been racing for years and had to give it up so i figured the next best thing would be to build my own version of a race car! This is my very first build and i really have no idea what im doing. To top it off im cheap and build everything so i dont have to buy it or go to a show and see it on some elses car. I came along way in 6 weeks i think so here is what i did. The frame starts off 2x4 and is z'ed to 2x3 under the cab so i could keep as much room as possible then it kicks back to 2x4. the front is a 4" drop axle i built with ends from my dirt modifed, The cab is a 34 that was an old hot rod that a guy cut 6" off the bottom all the way around and screwed it to a sheet of plywood! lol i guess thats all he had to work with, 9 years later i dragged it out of the woods behind his house and put 6" back into it. The rear is 4 linked with a winters quick change. wide five hubs and wilwood breaks. I know its not Traditional but its all i have. I have a 358ci out of my dirt car but i think its to much to be on the street so im going to use a 327 for now. Im hoping to get this done for summer but i have a few surgerys in the next month so things are going to come to a stop here soon. with any luck i'll be back at it soon after:confused Any input would be great guys. If im doing somthing that not going to work you can tell not to be stupid and do it some other way! Thanks

 

[solokustomz]

Here is a few more pic's. i think this is the way to add them? Got the rear set in, the front end is in and i made my own radius rod setup.

 

[solokustomz]

I used a motor plate out of a old sprint car. the tranny is a turbo 350 that i swaped a guy some old parts for. 2800 stall and a shift. I think im going to put longer tubes in the rear end so i dont have to run tires so wide.

 

[Gregster]

I think your build looks great so far , as for the quickchange , don't feel like you had to settle , most people would love to have one !

 

[whytesmoke]

Looks good keep up the work .

 

[flatt ratt]

looks good

Very impressive build so far. That's quite a bit done in six weeks. Keep it going. I want to see it more. Good luck and happy ratting!

 

[solokustomz]

Well we are snowed in! god i love NY so i'll take a few minutes to put up a few pics before headed out to the shop. I started putting the floor in. The trans tunnel will have hard wood on top.

 

[solokustomz]

I got bored one night and built my brake pedal. i used a brake pad on top. i had a profile steering box left over and i wanted right hand drive so i chopped 18" out of the box and it works great. Im a little worried about how its going to steer on the street. Anyone use this setup before? I should have the brake lines ran tonight.

 

[Gregster]

you are going to have to school me on this steering box , What type is it ? what did it come from ?

 

[solokustomz]

you are going to have to school me on this steering box , What type is it ? what did it come from ?

The box is made by PROFILE but KSE makes some really nice stuff. they run about 500-1500 the one i have is a steel box that i had layin around from one of the old race cars. I wouldnt be doing it if i had to dump $1000 on a new one! I played around with it and turned it over to see if it would work right hand and it worked great. Then it was to long for the car, the wheel was in the center so it made me want to do a singal seater with the wheel rite there! I called the guy that rebuilds the boxs and it would be $350 to have it shortened. Me being cheap took it all apart to see how it works and if i could do it myself.... And i had it back in the truck within 45 minutes. It turns so quick, less than half turn of the wheel your at the locks. I can take more pics if you want.

 

[Gastrick]

A lot of progress in a short amount of time in my opinion. I like all the race parts. I think I'm going with cowl steering using a Schroeder box on my next project.

 

[solokustomz]

A lot of progress in a short amount of time in my opinion. I like all the race parts. I think I'm going with cowl steering using a Schroeder box on my next project.

The race parts are easy for me to get my hands on, Its the old parts i'm trying to find but every thing in NY is rusted out bad. And the progress is great but when you have nothing but time and spend 8-10 hours a day in the garage things get done. I got hit by a car on my motorcycle in september and broke my left foot, right talus "ankle" in 32 places, left shoulder got pulled out and have some good road rash all because someone didnt want to stop for a red light. So now i have lots of time. Prob going to lose my right foot so i think im going to build some had controls.

 

[39chev]

Man that sucks about the crash and all I hope for a full recovery. The truck is lookin good though love the righthand drive and the steering.

 

[FlatBroke]

I hate to hear about your crash too.
The build looks awsome, and I love the right hand drive. I would love to do that on my 81 stepside just to make people scratch their heads.[S

 

[falconvan]

The RHD is really cool; that'll definately set it apart from the crowd. Looking great!

 

[solokustomz]

Well this last week i feel like im putting more hours in and not seeing anything get done! For me this is one of the most discouraging things being im trying to get as much done before friday as i can due to more surgerys. If all works out i should be out the next day and back in the shop within a few weeks.

 

[earthman]

Originality!

Hope the operations go well for you.

 

[Gregster]

I hope all goes well for you , we ALL will be thinking of you .

 

[pushrod249]

ó

good luck with everything. hurry up and heal so you can finish this truck and cruise

 

[solokustomz]

Well im still alive!!! Surgery went well and im hoping to be back in the garage soon. Im starting to think the pain is getting scared me. lol But then again i have had 7 surgerys in seven months with one more for april 13th so my body is getting use to it. Thanks for the support everyone!