Project Grasshopper

[doug70]

Well, no progress for a few days. The weather is moving in. Had to rearrange the welding shop yesterday. I had moved the 68 CST and 72 step outside and had to clear new space for them, couldn't leave them out in the rain and snow. Got that done and had to move the dually project outside to put a fire truck in the shop.

Won't come back in to be worked on until the weather clears.

I just need one more thing to do.

Doug

[doug70]

to cold to work on the truck today so I drug the engine out of storage and have been cleaning the trans.

Here they are.

Doug

[doug70]

Here is the color and trim planned for grasshopper. I found this picture here, it belongs to dean. Great looking truck dean.

[special-K]

I`m liking it.I`m liking it.You`re just going ahead and puttin`this thing right together,aren`t you?

[doug70]

Some progress yesterday. Got the cab off and the dana 44 removed. Started the dis assembly of the 44 for rebuild. Ordered some 4" lift front springs so I don't have to move the hangers.

Possible color change. I have some of this garnet red left from a 69 camaro project. Sold the Camaro and still have the paint.

Doug

[silver7]

Good progress and keep the pics coming.

[doug70]

Should have more to post by the end of the week. Have been blasting small parts and painting them. Cleaned up the hubs and have them ready to go back on. Got all the tie rod ends installed. To wet to blast the dana 44 outside today, so cleaning it as best I can in the shop. I plan to re-install it before I put the axles back in reassemble it on the frame. Much easier to handle lighter.
I am hoping my springs get here today.

Doug

[special-K]

Take pictures of these steps,you won`t regret it.Look at all we`ve done that we can only tell about.So Doug,what`ll the name be now?Project "Red Hopper","Red Snapper","Red Ox",or?:

[doug70]

I was thinking "red @$$". Ha

Here is one with some of the small parts.

Doug

[Chevy1TonFun]

Nice progress. Looking forward to the end result. I wish my wife would let me have another truck...

[doug70]

Thanks, the progress will slow for a week or so. Cold weather is coming back in and the fire truck needs to come inside. Back to cleaning and preping small parts.

Doug

[doug70]

A few more pics. Nothing to removing a cab or moving a frame around. Got the dana 44 blasted and letting it drain over night to remove the carrier. The front has 409 gears. No tag on the dually rear so I will wait until I get it back inside to remove the cover and check.

Doug

[doug70]

4 wheelin in the snow. Can't wait for the front 2 so I can go 6 wheelin in the snow. Ha

Doug

[doug70]

Stay tuned for the next update. I got a 95 ford dana 60 drivers drop and started the install and fabrication of the spring perches. Didn't like the way it was turning out, so found some ford frames. Initially it looks easier to mount the 71 chevy body on the ford frame than to modify the 71 k20 frame. I am going to look at them saturday. I figure as long as it is powered by Chevy and looks like a chevy, a few ford parts can't hurt can they?

Here is one possibility


Doug

[doug70]

ok, got the 97 Ford f350 SRW 4x4 frame dropped of today. I have to take the cab off and return the dana 60. I will bolt my 95 F350 Dana 60 into the front of it, the 14 bolt corporate in the back and start the plans for the cab mounts. They fall in the center of the frame front and rear. I will notch the frame in front and flush mount the rear. Since the frame is flat from the cab back the bed shouldn't be a problem. my flat bed has rails for this model ford and another set for 2000 model Chevy.

Pics will come in a few days, work is finally picking up.

Doug

[doug70]

small progress and no pics yet. I moved from windows 7 to Linux Mint and haven't gotten my samsung pcsuite working yet.

Got a Dana 60 rear for the 97 Frame, the original was missing. Got lucky and found a 410 to match the front. The 97 Ford had been worked hard. Fixed a crack in the frame at the left front bed bolt hole. Made a diamond shaped gusset for added support.

Took the front 60 apart and found lots of problems there so a rebuild was in order, doing that now. The frame is much beefier than the 71 K20 so that should be good.

I am now splitting this into 2 projects. I am using my longhorn body on the ford frame. Going back to stock on the 71 k20 frame. Should be able to paint the 71 frame next week and start the build up again on that one. I have one of my guys working on the ford frame project. This is starting to look like a mini monster truck build.

Pics coming when I get Linux to work with PCsuite. I am still taking pictures just can't get them to the PC.

Doug

[jason65]

Cool, dude. Can't wait to see it come together.

[Dieselwrencher]

Any updates on this? Just a FYI, but the 79 ford Dana 60 fronts will bolt right up under a chevy if you ever want to do this again. I installed one in my 76 project truck, and then removed it and had it under my Longhorn project.