My new 71 shorty bed

[skchevota]

It is a longbed truck that they moved the axle forward on and then choped the excess frame off the back. You can tell by the double front bed mounts as used on the long beds. Cool truck though

[Brad]

Originally Posted by 2bits

What in hades is a NP435! I probably only have $50 for the tranny budget so it will be a junkyard 350 unless I win the lottery!

It's a 4 speed truck trans that came mostly in Fords but GM used them in some trucks. Mines out of a 2wd 1970 3/4T

[Boog]

2bits. Can you feel the trans make the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts? Is it slipping? What does the fluid look and smell like? Full? If not slipping maybe it has a high stall converter? With a 2.73 gear that thing should be almost idleing down the road. Good cruiser gears. Using the Richmond gear calculator that 2.73 gear, t350 trans, and 26" tall tire should net you about 2400 rpm @ 70 mph. Not exactly screaming.
Might be able to save that tranny. Before you head off to buy another one maybe run it by a trans guy and get his opinion. You're getting there.

[2bits]

Wow, I never heard of that tranny, thanks though! I know I am shifting to third because I have to do it manually with the gas pedal to get it to shift. Like the modulator or governor is gone or something. I was thinking about the high stall too. It slipped out of gear twice last night when I took it for a cruise, and it will shift up and down from 2nd to 3rd and back again over and over if I hit just the right speed around 40 or so. The fluid is full and smells ok though. I am glad to get those gears too, I love road trips and just cruizin around, I've never had a problem with power with my old highway gears in other cars, never tried to race anyone either lol... I think this tranny is pretty well hosed but taking it to a shop to be looked at might be a good idea, but I am thinking they are going to charge me $100 no matter what, my labor is free and I would like a 350 tranny better anyway. I guess it will be which ever comes first, if I find a tranny at the yard today, otherwise, I'll take it into the shop next week.
Thanks for the info guys!
Thomas

[Gray Ghost]

I am fan of the THT350's as well. My 400 in the Buffalo shifted funny [read too quickly] from 1st to 2nd, but it never slipped like yours is. Did you find a tranny at the yard?

[2bits]

Well it has been an interesting day! I got a late start and went down to the yard to get the seat and dash I have been lusting over and I got the seat and decided that my dash will be recovered. The guy also had a 400 tranny still connected to the tranny that he guranteed at $125 so I got the seat for $25 (hell yeah) and I left I came back after making sure Johnny didn't have one for cheaper, and got a hundred and came back and he said no problem, just take it off the engine yourself. Well I came home full! I also found some factory metal pedals!

http://www.grossepointegothic.com/71stepside/week3/

Tomorrow we are supposed to install the tranny!

Thomas

[Brad]

Nice seat...looks like you scored on everything, but I see the price you paid, lol.

[Gray Ghost]

The seat looks good! I like the wheel too...didja get the horn to work on yours? Maybe we can get the tranny in before I have to leave for Lewisville.

[2bits]

Well, I spent the day swapping the tranny and it would have been a great story if the tranny was good. Now I get to do it all over again... Thanks for your help Kelly, and thanks for letting me keep it at your house for a bit until I can get a good one!

Pics: http://www.grossepointegothic.com/71stepside/week3/

[Gray Ghost]

Bummer that tranny wasn't good, hope you get your cash back on that one. Glad I never had to leave, though. Had a great time and got some really cool pics. I'll post them tomorrow to the web and set up a link. Bill's new shop rocks, that fork lift really came in handy!

[2bits]

Got a rebuilt 400 tranny installed Saturday, it runs great now. Sunday I got the truck home, and that night I installed a new heater core and rewired alot of the engine compartment. The starter soleniod is hanging and sometimes won't work at all, if I tap on it, it starts working again, so yet something else that is preventing me from driving it, but I am getting all the kinks worked out anyway.

I've got to halt work on it for a while so I can work on my Cutlass to get it sold because I am going to be pissed if I have to seel this truck after all this work. I am getting sick of fixing up cars just to end up selling them!

Thomas

[53lowdown]

Looks a lot like this project over on 60-66 board.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...hlight=project

[Gray Ghost]

I forgot to tell you last night you can just buy the solenoid....that's what Bill did when his was acting up.

Glad the new tranny is in and good! Yeah, you need to keep this one.

[Dano69c10]

This project is coming along nicely.
Dano

[Gray Ghost]

You should see it now.....we transplanted in a new motor. Maybe I can get him to update the thread....Thomas, you out there?

[Boog]

Didn't his mouse crap out and he put in a 6 cyl in front of that T400?

[Dano69c10]

Yeah I was checking out his site, I don't know why, but his truck is cool!

[2bits]

hehe I am still out here! I have just posting to my local East Texas board lately, not enough time to update this board, and the Inliners board. I haven't even updated my own website in a while, but rest assured I have been busy! Here's an update:

Yes, I found a sweet deal on a new 250 inline 6 from a junk yard for $350, and it turned out to be new for real! check out how clean that head looks!


I put a new carb on it and this engine runs great with the 400 tranny behind it, I can spin the tires all day long if I make it. It has plenty of of pick up and plenty of power and thanks to the highway gears I cruise nicely at 70 on the freeway with plenty of passing power. Gas just hit $2.90/gallon here and I can still drive my "hot rod" every day


Got new crank and water pump pulleys to get the power steering working, gotta love that...


Ordered a Hot Rod Air under dash A/C unit which should be in this week or early next week.


I found a set of used front and rear springs, and have installed the rear so far. (Thanks for the help Kelly!)



Got Haggarty classic insurance, and the title and tags finally, and got it inspected yesterday, and my court date was set for the small claims suit against the guy who I bought it from for damaging the front roll pan.

Today, I got a new windshield put in as well as getting a temporary exhaust flex pipe removed and had a real pipe welded in! Here's what it looks like today!



Next on the list is: Installing the Front springs, getting 275/60 tires all the way around, installing the new A/C, and relocating the gas tank to the bed. I am looking forward to driving it on a "three hour tour" for a camping trip with Kelly and Smokey (from this board) this weekend!

[Gray Ghost]

You bet my friend....glad to help out. It's looking good and running good!!

The six is a torque monster [as some of you already know] and can burn the tires at will. It purrs like a kitten!

[2bits]

Since we are going up to OK, I'm gonna fill up the tank and see what kind of milage I can get out of it this weekend Kelly!

[Gray Ghost]

Glad you drove the Jimmy....best to save a long run for when you have the gas tank relocated and the radiator/water pump fixed.

We had a great time this year Thomas...thanks for joining us....we'll be going again in Oct-Nov. I'll post the dates as soon as I know...

[2bits]

Yeah just having the A/C was a motivator enough with all the humidity lately, I'm glad it was really nice once we got up in the hills! My A/C will be in the stepside this week tho! I had a great time too!

[2bits]

Some new shots of the truck. I painted the rear end, frame and leaf springs, just rattle canned it... Also painted the front grille and headlight shadows, finished more of the A/C work.

[Brad]

Lookin' good!

[heavy71chevy]

it had a v8 when you got it ?