Author Topic: 85 Xtra-Cab highschool build (first truck) (Read 18109 times)

TrikeKid · « **on:** Mar 18, 2006, 04:48:41 PM »

I just got home from picking this up. 85' carb model, 70K on rebuilt engine, 250K on the truck. The lift is a 6 inch skyjacker, yes it is more than likely going to get gone, in it's place will be some rears in front (contemplating using some of the lift leaves for that) and F150's in the rear eventually. Engine is like I said, rebuilt, and stock other than a weber (it actually runs decent, just a little hicup at around 3500 when I drove it). 33" bfg's on some 10 hole aluminums. Got what I think is a prelude seat for the driver, passenger is a torn up stock seat. Someone attacked the poor thing with a bunch of rattle cans, at least I got some free C-clamps, they were holding the canopie on. First thing i'm going to do is get a shifter bushing from marlin, this truck has the worst mystery shifter ever, my dad drives a big rig and has been driving manual tranny's since he was a kid, and it took him a couple minutes to get it into reverse so we could load the thing on the trailer.

DTB · « **Reply #1 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 04:55:51 PM »

it's beautiful man. Takes me back to when I first got my truck. Treat her good and she'll return the flavor.

I also like the camper shell. I always wanted one but then I cut the back of my truck off.

Happy trails! $Beer Chug\'n$

unclejpl4x4 · « **Reply #2 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 04:57:17 PM »

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #3 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 05:02:50 PM »

lookin sweet

and the 79 KW looks good too

TrikeKid · « **Reply #4 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 05:04:03 PM »

As much as I like the canopie, it's going too, the whole bed is. It's got holes through the sides all down the outside. I'm going to build a flat bed that's going to have a canvas cover (like an old troop carrier truck) to go in it's place. Actually, that ones a 69 narrow nose KW Glen, one 79 is parked on the other drive way behind the shop the parts 79 is next to it, and the 56 is parked out front, with an 89 cab over parts truck on the side of the shop. There's a Volvo and a White Road Commander 2 parked amongst them.

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #5 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 05:09:28 PM »

hey all i got was one fender

TrikeKid · « **Reply #6 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 05:18:46 PM »

You were close, late model sleeper wasn't much clue either. At least you didn't say Freightliner. This is the nice 79, all shined up. It gets worked everyday.

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #7 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 05:23:46 PM »

Quote from: TrikeKid on Mar 18, 2006, 05:18:46 PM

You were close, late model sleeper wasn't much clue either. At least you didn't say Freightliner

i'd have killed myself first

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #8 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 05:25:08 PM »

TrikeKid · « **Reply #9 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 06:32:13 PM »

Ok, I have an uber newbie question for you, where the hell is the dimmer switch in these things? I just ripped the rear flares and flaps off (I need to put the flaps back on to be legal, but the flares were hanging by a thread, or drywall screws to be precise). I've figured out the majority of the controls (lights, wipers, heat/ac, the ghetto CD player) but can't seem to find any switch to flip on the high beams. Found out the bed's been swapped too, or at least painted, the truck was white originaly, and it was blue under one flare).

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #10 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 06:44:54 PM »

turn signal push forward for hibeam
or pull back for quik flash

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #11 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 06:45:33 PM »

i have a 86 bed i'd sell ya for $50

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #12 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 06:46:20 PM »

i dont think it has anyrust, but you wanted a can-back type bed

TrikeKid · « **Reply #13 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 06:49:38 PM »

You know, that's how my dad's car is, I didn't even think about trying that though. Hopefully I can round up some bolts around here and get my flaps on, I'd like to start driving it to and from driving school (drivers ed, just a separate school) so I have as much time in it as possible.

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #14 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 06:57:58 PM »

Quote from: TrikeKid on Mar 18, 2006, 06:49:38 PM

You know, that's how my dad's car is, I didn't even think about trying that though. Hopefully I can round up some bolts around here and get my flaps on, I'd like to start driving it to and from driving school (drivers ed, just a separate school) so I have as much time in it as possible.

just take it easy in the corners till you really get a feel for how it leans, they dont drift well at all

wa4x4 · « **Reply #15 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 10:10:33 PM »

Dont let him tell you that, I have seen some trucks with crazy body roll drift nicely...

Scary as

lemme tell you!

My dad has a couple Volvo flatbeds, pretty nice trucks.

Skinny_Pedal · « **Reply #16 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 10:18:07 PM »

yeah they have nuts body roll stock, well the ifs did. we had my 86 runner on 3 wheels back in the day

wa4x4 · « **Reply #17 on:** Mar 18, 2006, 10:59:57 PM »

My brother in law rolled his 87 runner senior year 3 times at lunch with like 8 people in it...

TrikeKid · « **Reply #18 on:** Mar 19, 2006, 07:19:50 PM »

I made a little progress today, made a new tach mount out of aluminum instead of the zip tie it came with. Ripped the console thing around the shifters off too, soo much nicer with just the rubber boots and plate. I think I can make a CB mount out of the rear console tabs, might have to just cut the front one out or use it to mount something.

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #19 on:** Mar 19, 2006, 07:24:04 PM »

between the seats on the back of the cab

TrikeKid · « **Reply #20 on:** Mar 19, 2006, 08:04:36 PM »

Thats a little far to reach in an extended cab, especially when my short ass has the seat as far forward as possible. Right there between the seats ought to be just right, and it's better than the mount on the drivers side of the shifter console deal, it was about under the drivers seat. Also found out today that both window regulators are completely gone, I hoped it was just screwed levers, but they just kind of lock or unlock the windows, which have to be moved up and down by hand. I don't know, maybe I'll just go with some race car style pull straps.

TrikeKid · « **Reply #21 on:** Mar 21, 2006, 08:28:32 PM »

Got my F150 springs today, (240 and change plus tax from the spring shop) and the Sky swap kit is getting ordered up tomorrow. Getting a winch from my cousin's Jeep nut husband, Warn 8k, lightly used for $300! He's even willing to take it in and have the messed up solenoid fixed before I get it.

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #22 on:** Mar 21, 2006, 08:32:49 PM »

Quote from: TrikeKid on Mar 21, 2006, 08:28:32 PM

Got my F150 springs today, (240 and change plus tax from the spring shop) and the Sky swap kit is getting ordered up tomorrow. Getting a winch from my cousin's Jeep nut husband, Warn 8k, lightly used for $300! He's even willing to take it in and have the messed up solenoid fixed before I get it.

OH MY GOD i know you didnt go and buy NEW F150 springs

dude, if you got money to throw away send me some

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #23 on:** Mar 21, 2006, 08:33:50 PM »

thats a good deal for the winch though

TrikeKid · « **Reply #24 on:** Mar 21, 2006, 08:49:57 PM »

I figure mine and my passenger's safety and knowing what I'm paying for is worth the extra coin.

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #25 on:** Mar 21, 2006, 08:56:43 PM »

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #26 on:** Mar 21, 2006, 08:58:16 PM »

for that you could have got marlin springs

the reason we run F150 or chevy springs is because you can pull a set off at a yard for $20-30

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #27 on:** Mar 21, 2006, 09:01:25 PM »

oh well, lesson learned, i hope

the marlin springs btw have the double military wrap

TrikeKid · « **Reply #28 on:** Mar 21, 2006, 09:14:37 PM »

Marlin springs are also, out of stock. I was surprised by the deal he was willing to cut me on the winch, but he's the second owner. The first owner used it all of 2/3 times before he broke it. He got himself stuck, and forgot his controller at home, but for some reason wanted to spool his winch out anyway, so he decided to just freewheel it, but being that it was drawn tight to the fairlead, the lever had too much pressure on it to move. So genius decided to put a crecent wrench to the lever, and broke it off. He took it to the shop and just gave it back and told them to sell it for what ever they wanted out of it. Total for all the parts he broke inside was 250, so he sold it for that. It had one solenoid done then, the other one died later and needs fixed now.

BLACKDOG · « **Reply #29 on:** Mar 21, 2006, 11:02:15 PM »

Quote from: TrikeKid on Mar 21, 2006, 08:49:57 PM

I figure mine and my passenger's safety and knowing what I'm paying for is worth the extra coin.

Make sure you think good and hard about this statement, Safety is paramount, but you can go overbaord when trying to get it. I'd say spending $250 or so on f150 springs is a tad excessive. Somethings really don't go "bad" and springs are one of them. I know, they'll rust eventually, and they can break, bend, etc. but its just something to think about

nice rig by the way,

looking forward to following the build

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