86 4x4 shortwide

[70stroker]

Hey guys thought i would start a build thread for my newest toy. its a 86 chevy short wide with a 454 and th350. It runs good but is kinda rough around the edges.

Plans:
14FF rear
dana front
both with 4:10s and powertrax
Clean and detail parts of the truck (paint lil things)


Heres some pics of when i went to look at it

[70stroker]

Heres some pics after 2 days with it and just cleaned it up a little.











mounted my tool box

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice! Is that the truck you traded the 1500 dodge for? I'd say you did good IMO.

[70stroker]

yes it was. It cleaned up very good.

[Dieselwrencher]

Yes it did. How does it run?

[70stroker]

Runs very good, does not smoke or leak. Has a minor exshaust leak at the head, right now it has emission style manifolds on it, so i am going to buy a set of facotry bbc manifolds and put them on.

4x4 works very good, its deff a project, but the dodge was never a daily driver it was a weekend toy. With about 300 bucks for shocks and stuff, this will be just as reliable and a way funner toy.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very cool, good deal!

[70stroker]

Started on removing the carpet and to m surpise there was absolutley no rust whats so ever. So i cleaned it and started to herculine the floors. Also started the new paint scheme.

[70stroker]

Its been awhile, Gave it a tune up, shocks, brakes, rebuilt the front end because i broke a axle shaft. Put ralleys on it and started to paint the interior black.







And heres a picture just for fun

[70stroker]

Well guys i have always been known for changing my mind alot, I liked the camo for a while but decided to do away with it.

I dont really have the time to do the body work and paint untill next year, so i am thinking flat olive drab green or flat black.

This way i can do the body work a little at a time and then just reprime that area, then next year ill do a couple block sands and paint.

Let me know which way you think i should go.

[70stroker]

Started painting it black.

[Dieselwrencher]

Cool! But I'm seeing you sanding a lot with all the paint you keep putting on it. I'd just do what you're going to do so you can whittle at it here and there.

[70stroker]

got my new tires today. 35x12.50x15 cooper stt

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice tires. Let me know how you like them. I'm trying to figure out what tire I want to put on my 95 F-350. I don't have a great selection due to my rim size. I want 33 12.50 16.5 and not many companies still make 16.5 tires.

[70stroker]

So far so good. I have had them for 3 days and about 250 miles. Out of all the mud tires i have rode on including many of my buddies truck with bf goodrich, kuhmo and procomp, these tires ride way better.

I had them at 70 a few times now and they dont hardly make any noise whats so ever. They do not wander going down the road either. I would for sure recommend these to anyone.

I also had them off road last night going thru some mud we usually go to and to my surprise they did just as well as the baja claws that i had.

Im still not happy about spending 900 on tires, but no matter what brand i went with 35s were gonna be around there.

Thanks for the compliments

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice tires. Let me know how you like them. I'm trying to figure out what tire I want to put on my 95 F-350. I don't have a great selection due to my rim size. I want 33 12.50 16.5 and not many companies still make 16.5 tires.

[Dieselwrencher]

How well do you think they will do in snow and on ice?

[70stroker]

They have siping which is way more then i can say for swampers or my mickeys. I did alot of research before buying these because like you i drive this truck in the snow in ice. ( I have a 2wd lowered 97 i drive during the nice weather months) The main reason i wanted a 4x4 was for the winter, yes I have fun offroad to but mainly for winter.

Like i said before i went on my rant i did alot of research and everyone seems to like these in the snow and ice. Its suppose to be snowing next week down here so i will for sure keep you updated as to my personal opinion of them in those conditions.

Thanks for following, you seem to be about the only one that is.

[Altec]

Originally Posted by 70stroker

They have siping which is way more then i can say for swampers or my mickeys. I did alot of research before buying these because like you i drive this truck in the snow in ice. ( I have a 2wd lowered 97 i drive during the nice weather months) The main reason i wanted a 4x4 was for the winter, yes I have fun offroad to but mainly for winter.

Like i said before i went on my rant i did alot of research and everyone seems to like these in the snow and ice. Its suppose to be snowing next week down here so i will for sure keep you updated as to my personal opinion of them in those conditions.

Thanks for following, you seem to be about the only one that is.

Let us know how they work! I pretty much am in the same state of affairs as you in tire needs.

Oh- You do have some followers around. I've been following simply because I'm building your trucks doppelganger. I too started with a red '86 Short Bread. But mine differs in the drive train. Diesel, and a handshaker instead. Shame we are not closer. It would be funny to park them next to each other when mines done.

[70stroker]

Guys the tires i am very happy with the tires, they perform in the snow and ice as well as the mud. i would recommend them to anyone.

Quick question, my gap between my bed and the cab is greater at the bottom then the top. I have looked and all mounts look to be in good shape. anyone have any ideas.

[Dieselwrencher]

Hey no problem. I love your truck. I mean who couldn't? A shorty 4x4 with a big block. That spells out trouble where I'm from. Many of my friends have had trucks similar to yours and we always ended up wheeling all of them, many great times in them. And when ever you have feed back is cool. I'm not in a huge hurry to dig up $900 either. But eventually I'll have to because it is just a mater of time before that white stuff will be here.

[Altec]

Cool! Glad to hear the tires work!

Whats the frame look like? Maybe the frame has sagged a tiny bit in the middle? Little bit will be quite dramatic over a large area.

Shove a couple washers in between the frame and bed in the front. That'll fix it! Hope the frame is ok though?

[Dieselwrencher]

I'd get the truck on a known level surface and measure from the ground to the bottom of the frame on each frame rail in about 8 different areas. Write them all down and look at them. I'm guessing this truck could have been rear ended by the way it looks. This would cause the frame to go down in the center. It could be sagging cab mounts but the front of the box looks to be at a consistent angle compared to the cab. That's good to hear on the tires! Thanks for the info!