Project: Fun Daily Driver (Plus New QA1 Coil-Over Suspension!!!)
 

Hi All. I've been on the forum for years, but mostly research and read with little posting. As I've been tearing into my '72 I've decided to do a build thread. Mostly to serve as a place to log my progress for me to look back on.

So let's get started. I've owned my '72 for a few years now and daily it as much as I can when there isn't snow on the ground. I live 9 miles from work and I average 5k miles a year. I try to drive it every day. It's a mostly stock LWB truck with a 350/350. Since I drive it a lot during the summer I'm always hesitant to take on big projects during the driving season. So this winter (now that I have a big enough garage) I've decided to tear into it.

The goal is to build a good foundation for years to come. I have plans to do significant suspension updates to it (more details to come) and eventually build a bigger SB for the truck. Ultimately I want a "pissed off" street truck that I can drive anywhere.

So this winter I'm cleaning up the frame and removing unnecessary parts such as overload leafs, bump stops, exhaust hangers and other odds and ends. The frame will be prepped and painted with POR15. I'm installing my EFI boyd tank to supply fuel to a FITECH unit. Wiring, plumbing and other reconditioning is also being done as I go. The cab has some soft spots in the floors and rockers so I'm diving head first into that as well. I don't have much bodywork experience, so the floor is the best place to start. Once the sheet metal work is done the new interior will be going back in. The seat and dash pad were in rough shape so I'm having those items re-done, but in a non-traditional styling - you'll see... it's different yet tasteful. Lots of other odds and ends are taking place but I'll update as I go.

To add one more detail to the mix - My wife and I are expecting our first baby in May. The pressure is on to knock this out before the little one comes.

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Progress

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Progress 2

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Progress 3

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Cleaning and re-painting misc parts

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Mock up of the boyd tank

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Good looking truck and parts. Nice progress too. I'm toying with the idea of tearing mine down (she leaks oil and trans fluid almost as fast as I put it in) but not sure I'm ready.

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Thanks! Mine leaks a bit here and there too. I'm debating pulling the engine and trans to have the trans gone through and take care of the leaks on the engine. I'd rather service various items on my terms rather the trucks terms on the side of the road.

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Good looking truck and nice pile of parts there! Nice garage too.
I have oil and tranny leaks too, im debating to hang an iv drip for both on the roof so the fluids constantly drip in as fast as they drip out! Haha....

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Watchin.

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Awesome, beautiful garage! great idea on the tiny paint booth!

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Nice truck sir. Eager to see how you like the EFI.

Boudy

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Nice truck and I'm also waiting to hear about the EFI.

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Thanks guys! I'll post my my impressions of the Fitech system once I get the truck back up and running. I know a lot of people running them and their reviews have been great.

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Good looking truck and well thought out plans. You have a great looking garage too. Congrats on the little one on the way! Tagging along for the rest.

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Hey David12460 ...

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Hey David12460 ...


:welcome2: to the forums and :hi: from Ohio...

That is a very solid truck and looks like you are doing some great work wit it.:metal:

Keep us updated.

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Thanks everyone. I spent the weekend cleaning the rear portion of the frame. The rubberized undercoating did a great job protecting the frame, but it's sure not fun removing it. It would have been way quicker taking the frame down to nothing and having it sandblasted.

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

I really hope you have better luck with FI TECH than my friend just did.

Long story short is that his wouldn't run right. Tech told him it was his fault. He proved it was theirs and needed one small part. They wouldn't send part out. Made him ship units back (at his cost both ways) they fixed problem and created two more. He ended up sending everything back and finally got his money back after 2 months of phonecalls and emails being ignored.

It wasn't even the bad product he was most upset about. It was the lack of support from them

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

That's disappointing to hear... I've seen a lot of good things from them. I'll update everyone soon once I get the truck back on the road.

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Update:

I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the frame cleaning tunnel. I prepped and cleaned the frame yesterday and got the first coat of POR15 on this afternoon. I might try for a second coat tonight depending on how fast it dries.

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

More progress.

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

More progress

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Not much for progress this week. I've been on the road for work, and will be leaving in the morning for another work trip. I did turn the truck around so the engine and trans will be easier to remove. I'm thinking of pulling the front clip as a whole allowing for the engine and trans to come out together easier. Plus I'll have more room to clean and paint things.

Also, I talked to my interior guy and I should hopefully have those items back next week. Fingers crossed!

Re: Project: Fun daily driver
 

Just got the seat back from my interior guy. I love how this turned out. It's different, but I think the color plays off of the green nicely. I'm still waiting on the dash pad and visors. Hopefully I'll have those this week.