72 GMC LWB 4x4 Project "How Much?"

[msgross]

diy4x.com has all of that stuff as well......

you should just find a military cucv or buy one at the govliquidation.com auction and pull the running gear... or do a body and engine swap and be done...

[Eturnit3]

Ive been looking for something in my area on the cheap.. Of course Ive found a bunch of neat little project trucks for cheap but not what I need. I brought the cherry picker and engine stand home today so project "How Much?" should go under the knife by monday.. Ive got to tear the block down completely and have it re-decked and Im probably gonna go about .30 over... Ive got the dreaded light grey oil syndrome, so its either pick up a cheap block (which is risky) or rebuild this one.. I'm no expert but I have helped put a block together once, so Im fairly confident that with a little help from you guys, I can accomplish this. To have the block dual planed and the heads resurfaced its going to run about $270, I figure a rebuild kit is about $500 (maybe less) so for about $800 or less I can have a brand new engine. The head gasket blowing is the motivation Ive needed to tear this thing down like I should have done the 1st and second time. Pictures to follow soon..

[70 beast]

so have you decided what your going to do to the trucks? is the four link and rear steer still a possibility?

[Eturnit3]

4 link is definite, the rear steer is a pipe dream... But I still want it someday. How deep I go into this thing is dependent on what I can find for a DD... My options are pretty shotty thus far. Option 1- 87 Izuzu P'up 288k, has electrical grimlens... Option 2- 92 diahatsu rocky SE with 200k and has cooling grimlens, parts are hard to find... I cant bite the bullet and get a new truck in this economy as a independent contractor..

[70 beast]

you going otstay 6 lug> on the 14 bolt also?

[Eturnit3]

As funds have allowed Ive been collecting parts little by little and was finally able to make some decent headway. Found a set of half ton axles (44/12bolt) with 4.56's in it already so I decided to swap em in for the time being. Im unable to do everything I want all at once with the 14/60 and I want to wheel this summer. So I decided while Im in there might as well throw the lift on and make sure everything is good to go.

[Eturnit3]

More pics of the front

[Eturnit3]

Now I just have to wait for my brake lines to get here and get some new shocks for the rear. In the mean time I'll be grinding off rivets to install the shackle flip i picked up from DIY4X. Should be fun. Oh I decided to cut the fenders a lil bit as well.

[70 beast]

its look good. how much lift are you gunna run?

[Eturnit3]

Im running new 4" springs up front and since Im shackle flipping the rear with 5" shackles due to the sag it currently has with the old stock springs. Should leave it sitting fairly level with room for 35's with a little fender trimming. I was really wanting to go 6". and even ordered the parts for it originally. I figure on half ton running gear Im only gonna be able to push 35's (hopefully) without to much trouble. My approach angles are pretty good with 4" lift and the way the bumper rides so hi. This truck sits heavy and wide so I decided not to go any higher than I absolutely need to keep my COG as low as possible so I can at least run the bypass trails by the big obstacles

Also picked up what I believe to be a np203 paired to a th350 (with linkage). So I'm looking into setting up a doubler. Brake lines came in today and look sweet. I went with the brake lines from skyjacker for the 6"-8" lift to allow a little extra length for articulation. Forgot I picked up a Detroit ez locker for the 12 bolt, not that I have much faith in it, but I'm gonna run it since this setup is temporary anyhow. Im pulling the old 12 bolt Saturday and swapping in the new. I still need to pick up the rear shocks, but they stock Ranchos here for lifted trucks at Orielly. I have rs5000's for the front. I was kinda wondering what the noticeable difference is between the rs5000's and the rs9000's, aside from 50 bucks lol.
I will run this setup for the summer, with some minor tweeks I'm sure. The next (planned) major mods will be interior. The plan is to set up for some suspension seats and 5 pt harness, a custom center counsel. Also will be adding a second battery for the winch/emergency jumps, etc... Custom switch panel (for winch, dual battery, lighting etc) from 12voltguy.com.... If only I was made of money...

[70 beast]

sounds like you know what you wanna do hahaha. you know of anymore d44 that have 4.56???

[silver7]

Great score and progress in short time. I'm also running 4.56 gears for my Dana 44 and 12 bolt since I'll be running 35s too. I went with a Superlift 6in lift so hopefully I won't have any tire rubbing.

[Eturnit3]

Well, I changed my mind again lol... I got the shackle flip in and the springs hung. I threw the new 12bolt under and did the full on face palm when I realized I pulled the axle from a 78 ( about 4" difference in spring perch width ) So i said a few choice words and muddled around the idea of chopping the perches and remounting them to correct pinion angle and width. Then I thought, if Im gonna go threw that much trouble, I may as well just use the 14 bolt... The bills are paid for next month already and work has been steady so, many updates to come... I got a few more pics of the front and a couple of the shackle flip as it sits now. Also one of my new lady friend, who likes to help with the truck and can out-weld most of you fawkers I will upload asap...

**LEFT OVERS**
So I have a D44 with 3.73's and new ball joints freshly cleaned knuckles with rotors/calipers/hubs needs a stub shaft and a ujoint, a 12bolt from this truck with 3.73's (drum brake assembly is in pieces, but I have them all) and a 12bolt from a 78 with 4.56's and a weird skid plate thingy that Im not gonna spend the time to take off. Have a Detroit ezlocker (lunch box locker) for the 12bolt also.

[Eturnit3]

**Pics**

[onlyifihadachevy]

So your going to put 8 lug on the d44 or does it already have it?



And I think you will be happier swapping the 14bolt in now than later. Then later you won't have to switch everything over like I'm having to do it feels.

[Eturnit3]

Originally Posted by onlyifihadachevy

So your going to put 8 lug on the d44 or does it already have it?



And I think you will be happier swapping the 14bolt in now than later. Then later you won't have to switch everything over like I'm having to do it feels.

Not just yet. I am really trying to put as little money possible into the 44 and save my pennies for the coveted d60.
And I figure it was a blessing in disguise. Forces me to do what I should have been doing in the first place.

[Eturnit3]

Few little updates: After about an hours worth of grinder work, I got the rest of the brackets off the 14 bolt to make way for the new. Parts are trickling in (slowly), so far I have new spring perches, brake lines (installed, front and rear), upper spring plates, u bolts and some shock tabs and shocks (rs5000's mounted...well half way) and my conversion ujoint (pressed into shaft). The plan was to mock everything up yesterday and set my pinion angle but we were rained out. Decided to get as much done as possible, since the rain wasnt hitting that hard under my truck now I got a good little cold goin on... My to do list seems to get longer and longer everyday As of now to drive on its own power I need: Rims (this is another topic on its own)
1- left drum brake line,
diff cover gasket
4.56 gears n master install
repack or replace bearings
bleed brakes
cut shackle bolt that is hitting my header
alignment (maybe...)
Check drive shaft lengths
Weld on perches/ shock tabs
some other petty stuff Im sure Im forgetting

A pic for the minor progress and one for inspiration

[msgross]

she welds? that rocks...

[Chevymaniac]

You really scored with your lady friend, i wish my wife had those same skills.

Any specs for the inspirational pic?

[Eturnit3]

From what I remember it was a 72 k15 d60-14, 350tbi and couldnt tell what tranny/transfercase. Shackle flipped 63"s, b52's up front. Warn 9500, you can see all the clean tube work from front to back. Ran into this guy at this mud run/rockrace/freestyle motocross/ quad drags thing I went to in marysville CA. The guy was cool and had a smile ear to ear. Another pic for your viewing pleasure.

[70 beast]

thats a damn sweet truck. i like the tube work. very unique.

[Chevymaniac]

Thanks for the info, looks like a very capable rig. I like the fact it not jacked sky high, it's function is purposeful and not a pavement pounder.

Are you going to be running larger tires with the new axles? Your motor will scream pretty good down the highway with 31's and 4.56's.

[Eturnit3]

I moved 5' in about 30 seconds in 4 low with 31's and 4.56's lol.. Im going to be running 35's when I can afford em. I got the rear axle mocked up and ready to weld on wednsday. Thanks for lookin guys, appreciate the input and especially the compliments.

[Eturnit3]

Progress pic to pass the time.

[Eturnit3]

And she rolls, I got the rear perches and shock tabs burnt in and my conversion joint pressed, drive line mounted, and i had to replace the driver side rear brake line. I bled the brakes and mounted half a dually tire on each side lol. Its all i have untill I find the right rims. We drove about a mile and rear end sounds terrible. I am saving for the locker and new gears. Heres what it looks like on rollers.