Coop's beast
 

Ok Im pretty new here and this is my first 4X4 project its actually pretty simple compaired to what i've seen on here
1971 chevy K20 bought it from a guy in northern Kansas it has a 350 (told me its a roller motor) it runs great, granny 4sp, np205 the old truck runs and drives GREAT the body !! well thats another story putting it plain and simple its ROTTEN cancer EVERYWHERE !!!!!

My plan is 454, 700R4,my NP205, rebuild the front and rear axles and then just redo the body well not this body its TOO far gone

Re: Coop's beast
 

Right now I'm gathering parts and info not gonna do anything wild or radical I plan on making a daily driver out of it and I've been the HOT ROD route! just want a DEPENDABLE,TOUGH truck that I dont have to hook up to a computer to diagnose a problem (sick of that crap)

Re: Coop's beast
 

Looks like a good starting point! Why 700? Don't like manuals?

Re: Coop's beast
 

LUV the manuals little hard for me to drive tho Im dissabled (spine injury)

Re: Coop's beast
 

Oh, that's understandable. Sorry to hear about that. Well, there is always a manual valve body for the 700! I got a 4L80E I'm saving for just that conversion. Done 400's before for my Father's race car, but never tried a OD transmission.

Have you found a replacement cab yet? I imagine that is going to be the worst part of the whole build.

Re: Coop's beast
 

I've done the 700R4 in 2wd before LOVE em they have a 20% lower 1st gear so it will launch better and with the OD it will get about 40% better gas mileage on the highway
I use a (monster trans) kit to rebuild them and then there almost bullet proof
I am buying there SS trans conversion this time they guarantee it up to 700 hp dont think Ill be putting no where near that to it I figure about 475 hp and thats PLENTY for me heck with the small block in it now I can get 75 mph in a little over a block (LOW GEARS) AND THATS THE WAY WE LIKE IT that reminds me I need to research my junk and find out what I got! I know there LOW prob 4.56 or lower

I got a cab, front clip, the BIG BLOCK and most of my brackets! Got a SMOKIN deal on a 780 HOLLEY from a board member

Re: Coop's beast
 

OK now the cats out of the bag! so Ill let everyone know YES im dissabled I was hurt in a oilfield accident 2 years ago and got my spine messed up NO Im NOT HANDYCAPED I do have alot of problems (tho most are not related to my back HENCE the "DAIN BRAMAGED" ) the nerves to my left leg are affected I have alot of pain, limited use of my leg and sometimes i fall down go BOOM LOL but I keep on trying

This build means ALOT to me FIRST my son is helping me this will be the first build he and I have done together, he has a family and a full time job so his help is limited,
SECOND Im hoping this will help me regain a sence of SELF WORTH and DIGNITY ( Its rough when the GOVERNMENT tells you "your too old to retrain and you STILL wouldnt have much use to society) Im tired of sitting on my butt so this is my way of telling them to KISS THIS anyway this WILL be a BIG challenge to me but its time to GET BUSY LIVING

Re: Coop's beast
 

Well through all the hardship, GOOD FOR YOU! Have fun with your build and take your time. Sounds like it's gonna turn out a pretty nice truck ;)

Re: Coop's beast
 

What's that saying? "Don't let the bastards keep you down!"

I'm sure you'll love working on the old truck with your Son! Some of my best memories with my Dad are working on his '81.

Oh, you probably know this already, but mating the 205 to the 700 is going to need some work. Not sure what is needed, but some searching came up with this thread. Seems pretty straight forward.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362566

Re: Coop's beast
 

Thanks its been tough and the Neurologist says it will get worse BUT Im not gonna set on my BUTT and rot away!! so I just GRIT my teeth and move ahead as far as fun its been a BLAST so far, my son is even fired up about it and hes a mini truck guy he has a 85? i think S-10 thats bagged with a CUSTOM built triangulated 4 link did have a 383 stroker in it and he decided that was to much so he is putting a 4.3 V6 vortec in in now I think hes has most of it done and is working on the wiring now stay tuned I have a few tricks for the BEAST that Ill disclose at a later time

Re: Coop's beast
 

[QUOTE=Altec;4606555]What's that saying? "Don't let the bastards keep you down!"

HELL NO!!!! Im still gonna do as MUCH as I can, and try to enjoy my life
I love working on ANYTHING with my son. Ive got pics of him since he was about 4 workin on stuff with me CARS TRUCKS and HARLEY'S heck at age 10 he could take off and tear down a BENDIX carb (OLD HARLEY) and was my PIT CREW with my old nova hot rod. and had is own hot rod pickup at 14 and it hasn't stopped yet
as far as the 700R4 conversion. Im getting the SS kit from monster transmissions and the adapter from advanced adapters Im going to fab my own 4wd shifter brackets and linkage so it will still be in same location in the truck Ill have to shorten the rear and lengthen the front driveshafts and im going to make my automatic linkage so i can use the column shifter
TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR SOME PICS AND UPDATES ON PARTS AQUIRED

Re: Coop's beast
 

here is my motor BIG BLOCK:metal::chevy: 454 out of a 1980 1 ton got a smokin deal on it from a MOPAR fan :waah: Ill tear it down and send it to my machinist, he'll vat it then mic it out. I plan on boring it (wonder if I can get 468 fender emblems) other than that just whatever it takes to clean it up, hope I can leave the bottom end stock

Re: Coop's beast
 

Here is the cab I got from a new friend in OKC he is the one who turned me on to this forum (THINK I OWE HIM BIG) got the front clip,door,fender,inner fender and cowl from him also ANOTHER SMOKIN DEAL
the cab has some rust! the usual cab corners and rockers and the drivers rear cab brace and a little at the edge of rockers on floor pan (NO BIGGIE) Ive got a REAL GOOD body man (MY SON JAMES)
I think we might even start on some of the body work this weekend :bann::new::fb: dang this is as much fun as the build

Re: Coop's beast
 

looks like you got a pretty good start :metal:

Re: Coop's beast
 

That motor will be sweet in that K20!

Re: Coop's beast
 

yeah I think I do but yaknow its kinda like rasslin a grizzly bear just when ya think its going your way ya get bit in the A#@ BUT I got bandaids

thanks Nomad74 Im a fan of HOSS POWER! I think it will do just fine

Re: Coop's beast
 

:new: Ok I need some advise were gonna start working on the cab and since its off the truck I figure it would be easier to change out any A/C parts !! the question is WHAT DO I DEFINATELY NEED TO CHANGE ?? and Im talking about stuff that since the cab is off it would be easier to do it now YAKNOWWHUTIMEEN :fb:

Re: Coop's beast
 

I believe the more politically correct phrase is "Illegitimi non carborundum". I'm glad to see someone not letting a disability hold them back. My grandpa did a brake job on my brother's 77 ford with a busted back, when he was 75.

Re: Coop's beast
 

thanks man I appreciate it! it sucks that I have to live the rest of my life with the pain and limitations BUT to have someone who dosent even know me say that I wont be a productive member of society so we are not going to do anything for you THAT BURNS MY A#@
:flagw: I LOVE MY COUNTRY :flagw: BUT I FEAR MY GOVERNMENT

Re: Coop's beast
 

I can't believe NO ONE has any advise on the air conditioning ??? man did i scare everyone away!!!!

Re: Coop's beast
 

I think it has to do with our little 4x4 corner of the forum doesn't get as much attention as the rest of the site... Make it a SWB 2WD. They'll eat it up... :lol:

I'd pose the question in the 67-72 area. I'm sure there it will get answered in no time! :metal:

Re: Coop's beast
 

Posted via Mobile Device

Wish I had advice for ya! And I wish mine was four wheel drive LOL but 2wd is what I gots. Someday I'm gonna find a 60's or 70's 4wd and then I can hang out in this quiet side of the forum;)

I hope yours comes together tho! Hey since you have some problems with that left leg did ya put a suicide shifter on yer bike?! I always thought those were cool:metal:
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Coop's beast
 

Wait...wrong side isn't it? Never mind :uhmk:
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Coop's beast
 

Sam my bike is pretty stock the only thing that my leg makes hard is getting it off the kickstand and holding it up I manage tho thought about putting a trike kit on it but I havent dropped it yet so until I do Ill keep her on 2 wheels

Re: Coop's beast
 

looks like a fun project... subscribed!

Re: Coop's beast
 

Looks like a good project, especially with your son involved. I built my 454 to 525hp with a 4spd and it is a bit on the finicky side, lights up the 35" swampers in 3rd gear, kind of would like it better as a 4spd auto, but is pretty original except the 454, so just enjoy the 4spd. Good luck on your build, I will be keeping an eye on it.:gmc2:

Re: Coop's beast
 

I guess I really should update this a little... well I haven't done much to the truck, been gathering parts, and I am getting close to having just about every thing (major) I need.
I am taking a little different direction, instead of the big block I am leaving it a small block and I am doing a NV4500 conversion. things haven't been easy, Ive had 3 surgery's and still need 1 more on my left eye, the Doctors are putting me in a $7k brace on my left leg, they say it well help keep me from falling so much, heck for that kind of money it better make me dance or run the 3 min. mile.
I've gotten "ALOT" of good info, learned quite a bit about these trucks from this forum.
got some GREAT deals on parts too (thanks Randy) and to all the others who I have bought from, and I have even made some friends along the way.
I'll try to update this a little more often, hope to get to do some serious work on it soon. Oh I'll be starting another build thread soon, got a 72 C30 and this can ya guess what I'm gonna do ???

Re: Coop's beast
 

sorry to hear about your health problems i think u have the rite attitude though lets see some pics of your progress looks like a nice cab u guys still have some good sheet metal out there in ok

Re: Coop's beast
 

Dude! I love your " I will do whatever I please" attitude. How about updates on your build? And what is the chance you have a pic of where your tack harness penetrates the firewall? I'm adding a tach to the kids truck and want to try to make it as close to stock as possible. Good luck with your health ' pain in the a&$' issues!:metal:
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Coop's beast
 

Well the K20 has been put on hold while I get the new shop organized and get the C30 wrecker together, still gathering parts tho. If I remember Ill get you a pic, but the PO just ran the tach wire out of the cab where the oil line is, I'm not sure if that is correct or not. thanks for the pat on the back, It's hard and very painful to "keep going" but I'm NOT gonna just lay down and wither away. the hardest thing is dealing with the frustrations of not being able to do the things I want to and having to get "help" working on my trucks.
By the way I love your build, your son should be "tickled pink" to have such a COOL truck. Coop

Re: Coop's beast
 

Found your thread from the other wrecker thread. Any updates? How's your nerves doing and does your brace hinder you from stooping or working in any way? I feel your pain a little, docs found a tumor on my spinal cord in July (got it removed a week after they found it) and my right leg and lower back are weak and in pain.

Re: Coop's beast
 

Thanks for asking, It's been heck to say the least, I can't bend, can't stand,set or anything very long, the pain meds help but I don't like them they make me goofier than I already am. as for the builds the K20 has been on hold for quite some time. My son has got the C/30 done and is currently working on the Holmes wrecker bed, he is almost ready to prime and paint. here is a pic of the C/30, I am the 2nd owner, 77 k miles, original 402 SM465, 4:10 gears. we replaced the fenders, grill, rockers, cab corners, James painted it with Eastwood Bright White. we put a new USA AM/FM stereo, redone a set of buckets and console, my son did a pretty good job on it, Ill be glad when we have it completed

Re: Coop's beast
 

Ask your doc about a TENS unit. I've been using one for a month and it deadens the pain a bit. It's weird how it works. I crank it up where I can't feel anything and I can get my muscles to pulse! I'm also using lidocaine patch, as well as a couple pills.

Re: Coop's beast
 

I have a TENS unit, the one I have is the most powerful one you can get, I start out at 4.5 and work my way up to 7 or 8. My neurologist says most people couldn't stand it at 5. The bad thing is if I use it on batteries (9 volt) it gets real expensive, about 1 hr / battery, and the rechargeable ones don't last but about 40 min.
At my last Dr. visit i was told that in 3-5 years i won't be able to use my leg. He want's me to do a 360 fusion at L5-S1, but there is only a 30% chance it will help,and a 50% chance I could be paralized, so until I get where I can't walk or the pain is just too much to deal with I'll just take it day by day and do the best I can. Coop

Re: Coop's beast
 

I have an Empi Select http://www.empi.com/empi_products/detail.aspx?id=146 0-60 milliamps with 2 AA batteries and haven't replaced the batteries yet. Because of the numbness, I've cranked it up to 50 for a couple hours at a time. I started to get a rash and thought the strength was too much so I only put it to 10. On my back I can stand 4.

Re: Coop's beast
 

my tens unit is a Interspec-if II with 60 mA @ 500 Ohms, freq range 1- 4400 Hz variable
I set it on 8 once and zapped my son, he said it was like a tazer LOL

Re: Coop's beast
 

Coop, I know you and your son have been tied up on the wrecker, but i was just wandering how the BEAST was coming along?

Don.

Re: Coop's beast
 

This is a very cool looking project. Day by day is the best anyone can hope for, hang in there. Anytime you get another update, we'll be watching.

Re: Coop's beast
 

Don, just a few more loose ends to tie up on the wrecker. I am still gathering parts, but I hope to get started tearing it down late Feb. sooner if things work out. I figure it will take me 14 to 16 months to get the job done, it just takes a while on a frame up restore. LOL money and time, isn't that what we could all use more of.
quadzero, thanks I hope it turns out as cool as it is in my head.
Ok guys I showed a before pic of the bed and a after pic of the C/30 here they are together. this is what has taken me away from the "BEAST" . still got a few little things then striping and lettering. Coop