The 1976 Beater Build - by Wixthedog

[wixthedog]

Decided to fit up the headers and make the spark plug wires. I knew I was going to have to clearance #3 plug so I did that and I also beat on #7 a little bit so I could get a socket on it. It was so close!

I added a ground cable that ties the heads together and then comes down on a single cable run to the passenger side frame, it's pretty clean.

I threw a new pilot bearing in since the crank was used with a Turbo 350 last. My neighbor taught me a trick installing one, he uses a slightly modified steering wheel puller with some longer 7/16x20 bolts, man that worked like a champ!

Bolted up the flywheel and clutch kit and away we go!

[wixthedog]

She is all buttoned up and ready to rock! I stopped in observance of Americas birthday, and the wife gave me the look...

I originally wanted to tuck the wires behind the headers for a cleaner look but I realized that future service would be a real bear so I ran them in a more traditional manner.

The cleanest looking SM465 is now bolted up to the engine and will be landed back in the truck soon. Hopefully tomorrow but we have some sort of engagement to go to that does not involve me being in the shop.

[ShortHaul]

That is a fine looking powerplant ya got there!

[wixthedog]

Well, two steps forward and three steps back...

I stabbed the engine in and all was going well. The final step was to hook up the clutch z-bar and adjust so I was only about ten minutes from first crank. I jumped in the truck and worked the clutch pedal and it felt nice, third pump I heard a loud pop and the pedal went to floor and stayed there. Oh my.

Turns out it was all my fault, I did not fully seat the clutch fork! This popped off and crushed the outer sleeve of the throw out bearing at the same time.

I mulled it all over and decided it best to just pull it all back out and get it sorted, probably faster than pulling just the transmission and I already had everything out.

Just frustrating. I've got a new fork and bearing on order so maybe tomorrow is the big day!

[wixthedog]

Progress! Picked up a new clutch kit along with a new fork and the world is right again. I triple checked that I fully seated the fork this time too. Mated the engine and transmission again and stabbed it all back in. I went ahead and did the clutch linkage first and it’s all good! Started on all of the other little things while I wait for the Lokar accelerator cable and bracket that I forgot to order... Fortunately it’ll be here on Thursday so not too much downtime.

[LT7A]

Such clean work. I don't think that truck has had this kind of attention in a long time. So just to prepare myself, haha, will the firewall green be making its way out of the engine compartment?

[wixthedog]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Such clean work. I don't think that truck has had this kind of attention in a long time. So just to prepare myself, haha, will the firewall green be making its way out of the engine compartment?

Thanks for the kind words! It’s amazing how much crust, dirt, and caked on grease can be on one truck. This stuff takes so long because I constantly run into “well I can’t reinstall it looking like that” moments.

The Bold Avocado? I like it too! I wanted something to pop when the hood was open and also a color that looked clean and fresh. I doubt it’ll make it to the outside color but I’m thinking inner cab with a tan interior.

If the outside doesn’t stay as-is I’ll go with a similar darker/moss green or maybe a white. Sky is the limit!

[wixthedog]

Yesterday was a big day, the engine is broke in and happy!

The final part of the puzzle, a Lokar throttle cable kit, came in and I love it. Much cleaner than bolting to the manifold, looks great, and functions perfectly. Instructions say to trim the sleeve with some diagonal pliers but that’s a horrible suggestion, a cutting wheel is the way to go.

In the future I plan on relating the battery to the bed (once I find a suitable tool box/chest) and fabing up some inner tubs and hiding cables better.

She started up with just a slight tweak of the distributor and ran strong for 20 minutes at 2000-2500 rpm. No leaks, no issues, just crazy loud. The Edelbrock AVS required zero adjustment to boot, she will need to fine tuning soon but that speaks a lot to their ease of use and quality.

[wixthedog]

More progress! Finished all of the wiring (for now) with the only exception being the connector for the backup light switch and the battery cables/grounds. Interior and dash put back together and happy.

I enlisted the help of my neighbors and got the front clip and hood in place, I still need to bolt it in with the new core support bushings and then gap it all as best I can. I am definitely not a body man!

Forgot to install the Scottsdale fender badges!!!!

Two kids have baseball tournaments this weekend so that will hopefully take away my free time until Monday unless they lose and go home early.

[naphtali5725]

is that an AVS, or AVS2 carb? what cfm is it?

[wixthedog]

Originally Posted by naphtali5725

is that an AVS, or AVS2 carb? what cfm is it?

It’s the AVS2, 650cfm with electric choke. PN 19064 because it’s the Endurashine model.

[wixthedog]

Finally took her out for her first drive, open headers of course, around the neighborhood and she did great. Tons of power and no anomalies to speak of!

Exhaust shop tomorrow hopefully.

[naphtali5725]

glad you got it out!!

you have a pn# for the lokar cable kit?

[wixthedog]

Originally Posted by naphtali5725

glad you got it out!!

you have a pn# for the lokar cable kit?

Can’t recommend the Lokar kit highly enough. The bracket is the best parts, stays off the manifold bolts and works with or without a trans cable (which I don’t need). You’ll likely need a longer stud in the LR corner but that’s easy enough.

The only issue is it didn’t come with any angle shins/washers to help align with the firewall position. Not a big deal. I used the original location and put an S-curve in and there’s no binding. When I run across some shins I’ll throw them in and lessen the curve a bit.

[wixthedog]

Exhaust is on and she's running great! Open headers on the way to the shop yielded a mix of thumbs up or mean mugs. I was driving very nicely too!

I ended up running 2.5" duals to Flowmaster 40's with turndowns before the rear axle. I turned the ends slightly to the tires to minimize dust kick up and drone. Truck sounds great and the drone isn't too bad so another reason LWB trucks rule. No pics, but I'll post some next time I have her up on jackstands.

I put about 200 miles on her yesterday without any issues but I do need an alignment.

[wixthedog]

Some “complete” pics before I put her away for a couple weeks. Time to go make the doughnuts again...

I’m really glad that I swapped out the 2” drop springs for the 1” drop springs, not much of a visual change in the outside but the drivability change was dramatic. I haven’t scraped on anything the past two days.

Next steps will be to renovate the battery to the bed inside of a tool chest of some sort and build some cool looking tubs.

Oh, and don’t mess with Texas.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by wixthedog

I’m really glad that I swapped out the 2” drop springs for the 1” drop springs, not much of a visual change in the outside but the drivability change was dramatic. I haven’t scraped on anything the past two days.

I was wondering about that. I'm glad it worked out for you.

[wixthedog]

Ordered and received the new pigtail for the backup light switch on the transmission, hopefully it fits and I can cross this little detail off the list.

Picked up a white toolbox/chest for the upcoming battery and kill switch relocation. Not sure how I’m going to run the cables from the box and through the bed floor yet but I’ll think of something! The box should fit well and look a little more era like than a clunky box over the rails.

[wixthedog]

Talked my wife into opening the box up and having our boys load it in the bed. I think it looks pretty good back there.

I’ll get the cables and everything else I’ll need in order so I can get the battery in there when I get home. I’m going to run 1/O cable from the batteries to a disconnect switch and then to a Ford solenoid on the firewall. Ground of course will fo to frame. Still not sure how I’m going to exit the box and the bed but I’ll figure that out on the fly, and probably a trip to Home Depot.

Enjoy!

[wixthedog]

Finally put some stuff on order so it will be ready for when I get back to the house.

Battery cables and all associated lugs, external starter solenoid, aluminum overflow tank, and some other stuff.

I still plan on enjoying more than wrenching this time home but you know how that goes...

[Palf70Step]

Looking good. I know I am about a month late, but if you still feel your plugs are close to the header, you can get shorty plugs. I used Accel on my old 350. The little extra helped a lot.

[wixthedog]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Looking good. I know I am about a month late, but if you still feel your plugs are close to the header, you can get shorty plugs. I used Accel on my old 350. The little extra helped a lot.

Thanks Bill. So far so good with the hammer and torch work, we will see what more miles do, I'll definitely give those a shot if I need to.