Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Yes, gussets will be added. Just haven't gotten to it yet.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Got my inner fenders and core support back from the powdercoater. They look amazing. Hard to believe they turned out this great when they were terrible before. A big shout out to Valley Powdercoating in San Diego. I'd highly recommend them.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Roughly how much did it cost to powder coat the inner fenders and core support ?
TIA

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Well... I know the owner so my cost was much lower. I could ask him what he would normally charge.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

No biggie , glad you got a deal on it . I have new inner fenders and core support , I’m on the fence about painting or powder coating .

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Finished making the lower ac support bracket. Turned out perfect. I used the original lower bolts but had to trim about 5/8" off of them.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Yep.... That's the bracket I was thinkin'. Simplish, clean, & supportive.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Love it.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Finished up with clearancing the frame for the power steering pump. I welded in a pretty solid brace so should be more than strong enough. Plus this is forward of any suspension mounts so not much stress there. I also added gussets to the motor mount tabs for added strength. Didn't bother to get pics of that.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Trimmed all the excess off of the factory ecu mounting bracket. Then bolted it to the driver's inner fender. Once the core support is on it should be semi hidden. Planning to mount the under hood fuse box from the SSR next to the ECU. Going to have to make some custom brackets to pull that off.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Installed the bulkhead for the heat and ac lines. Cut the factory fittings off the SSR lines and mocked up the new fittings. Also figured out where to mount the radiator overflow tank.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Firewall bulkhead looks like it was made for that firewall pad.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Looks like it was meant to be there.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Wow, it's been a long time since I updated this thread. Work on this truck didn't stop, I just stopped posting. Big update coming... truck is running and diving now. Starting paint and body soon

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Taps fingers on the table..... ;)

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Here's a teaser photo...

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

And another teaser... Yes, I used the gauges, steering column, fuse boxes, and wiring system from the SSR donor. It was a lot of work and modification/fabrication but totally worth it now!

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Nice work man! Glad you got it together to place where its a runner. 1 nice piece of trim around that cluster and it will look great in there.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

So I don't feel like going back and posting about the stuff I did over the winter so here's what I've been up to the last few weeks. Pretty much finished up the rear suspension, custom built exhaust, rollpan, and tailgate latches. For the rear suspension I put in an adjustable panhard bar, 5" drop springs, swaybar, and shock relocation brackets with new shocks. The main thing left to do is put in the new crossmember for the trailing arms. I used the stock SSR driveshaft which is a whopping 4.5" Diameter so it barely fits through the stock openning. I clearanced the stocker with a big cutoff wheel to get by for now. I ordered an afermarket crossmember but it turned out not to be big enough for the driveshaft either so I modified it. I'll have another post with those details. The exhaust was completely custom handbuilt by myself. It has a high flow cat and 2 small resonators per side. The sound is amazing. Nice mellow idle and cruise but she barks big time if you hammer it. For the tailgate latches, I went with the hidden spring loaded latches like many people but I did it much more differently. I'll post details below. You can also see the mustang fuel tank that I modified to use the stock SSR fuel pump assembly. Best thing about this is it plugged right into the modified SSR wiring harness. Fuel gauge works and everything. Oh and did I mention the cruise control works too!!

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Here's how I did the tailgate latches. I put them much lower than most people so they would line up with the indentations that are already in the bedsides. I did this becasue the thought of someone closing the tailgate with the latches extended and slamming them into the new paint in the future made me shudder. I then made some Delrin plastic inserts to fill that location in the bedside (white becasue the truck will eventually be white). It has lead-ins so the tailgate will close even with the latches extended. Time to weld up all the unused holes!!

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

And here's how I handled the crossmember. I bought it off eBay for $100. Chopped the center out. Bent up some new 1/4" thick plates,welded them in, and painted it back up. It's only tack welded in the one picture. Rest assured, I welded the hell out of it. Probably more than was necessary. Still need to install it into the truck.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Oh and I built a custom intake last week too. I may have gone a little over board but it's a statement piece for sure!!

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Made a filler plate to clean up the area where the old tailgate chain brackets were. This should also add quite a bit of strength to the new latches.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

So I really need to get the windshield in so the truck is street legal. I've driven around some but I'm sure eventually an officer will notice there's no windshield, haha. Before I put it in though I want to paint the dash and the area around the windshield. I wet sanded and painted the dash today. I also have the exterior area around the windshield nearly ready for paint.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Finally got the areas around the windshield painted! Can put the windshield in next week and finally be street legal.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Took me 3 hours to get it in by myself but it's in! This is the 3rd classic car windshield I've installed and it never seems to get easier. My hands are gonna be sore tomorrow.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Just went through you whole thread. I really like how the SSR AC compressor and lines work for the install on this swap. Way better than what I had to do with the swap in my son's '84 using the 2002 Truck parts. Might have to look into this with my truck.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

It's not working out as well as I hoped. Going to take some heavy modification to get the lines connected to the condenser. AC is pretty low on my priority list right now.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Sneak peek of what I've been up to....

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Hhmm.....

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Wow, you have some pretty neat stuff your doing on your truck. Very interesting.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Love the updates!!! I have been wondering how things were going with you and the build. It appears just fine!! Looks aweseome!! Keep up the great work!

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Sweet update for this old truck, Nice clean photo's, Thanks.. I like the gauges, very nice. I Looked at an SSR engine swap, not sure I can cut the frame for the power steering.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Finally got around to finishing the paint on the cab, box, and tailgate. Feels good to have it back assembled and taking up much less space in the garage!

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

You could switch to a different power steering pump as well. I reinforced the frame where I notched it. Probably stronger than original now. Plus that notch is forward of all suspension mounts so not a stress point. Just the bumper and core support forward of that.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

So Jealous! I so want more room back in shop. With the frame in one end and cab in other... things are tighter than i like. lol soon very soon i too will be there. LOL

Looking great!

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Stormtrooper look achieved...

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Clean.

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

Now you need to build a Vader version...

Looks very nice, body lines are sharp - looks like a lot of work went into that.

P. :D

Re: Loosenutz's 66 SWB BBW LM4 Build
 

I've owned enough black vehicles to know I don't want another...

Nothing looks as good as a clean black car, the problem is they are never clean