Project "lighten it up" including Scott's IFS install

[71Dragtruck]

Well decided to do some major changes to the drag truck this year including a IFS with coil overs, someone had asked about a WIP in another thread when I finally got around to doing it.

I've never done a WIP thread before and not sure how much detail I'll be going into, or how many pic I'll take along the way as I usually don't stop working to clean my hands and take pics as I work alone and when I'm in the zone I don't stop LOL.

That being said I have limited time so not sure how fast I'll get it all done, I'm already way behind on what I wanted to have done thus far, but problems with my IFS order have delayed getting all of it, and I did not want to start the front end until I had ALL the pieces in hand. Well I still don't have all the parts for it but could not wait any longer as our race season starts May 9th.

I'll start with the list of changes I'm making.

Scott's bolt in IFS with Mustang II spindles, Afco coil overs, manual rack, Wilwood brakes.

Ididit Universal tilt steering column

Changing from 5on5 to 5on4.75 with a new set of Billet Specialties rims.

Going to a Hoosier drag tire up front from a M/T Sportsman, and going to a larger full Hoosier 32x14 slick in the back from M/T ET Streets 31x16.5's (tread measures 12.2" Vs new ones at 14" wide)

Changing out the Wilwood rear brakes with park brake to a Wilwood drag brake with no park brake. (old brakes had a bit larger rotor and would not fit new rims)

Going from a Edelbrock aluminum water pump with Moroso electric drive and march pulley setup with full size alt to a Moroso electric pump, and mini Denso.

Adding a Moroso 4 vane vacuum pump, and going from cast to aluminum sheet metal valve covers.

New setup with vac pump won't clear my aluminum shroud with dual puller fans, so loosing the shroud and going to dual BeCool pusher fans with BeCool mounts.

Adding a couple gauges to the setup, and that about covers it.

Here are some before pictures of how it looked prior to starting.

[71Dragtruck]

[71Dragtruck]

And no pics of unbolting the front end as that's pretty straight forward, remove headers, support motor (I'm doing it without pulling it) unbolt front end, disconnect brake lines and lower it down onto blocks and pull it out. Was able to do it all on my own without help.

[71Dragtruck]

Today I removed the park brake assembly and all the cables, plus removed my old steering column.



Picture of the new rear brakes and rims, install was real simple as I was already set up with Wilwood brakes to the lines fit right up to the new kit, and my axels were ordered dual drilled when I got them, so just had to pull the axels and move the studs, I run 5/8" drag studs so had to have the holes in my hats opened up to 11/16" to fit.





Set one of the front rims in place to see how they look

[71Dragtruck]

New IFS, no shocks yet and arms are the wrong ones and no motor mounts, but Justin at Scott's is working on making it right.




New water pump setup




Front rims




That's about where I am right now, have to get a tooth pulled tomorrow so not sure if I'll get any work done on it or not, but plan was to clean up and paint the front frame rails, and change my oil pan gasket as it has a small leak, engine has to be sealed good for the vac pump. After that is done next step is start bolting the front end in.

[hotrod 80]

Very nice . Looking forward to the outcome

[69trk]

Those wheels look perfect for that truck.... looks like alot of weight being shed off the front also.... wish i had the funds to get back on mine..

[71Dragtruck]

Thanks Hotrod, I've been watching your new build thread also, guess I should take some time to post as well as lurk.

Yes I like how the rims look, they go good with the trim, I debated going with the full polished but glad I went with the black. These are the other front runners I was looking at but only came in 3.5" wide and I wanted 4".




Well all I got done today was oil pan off, cleaned, and decided to give it a fresh coat of paint. And installed a set of ARP studs I bought for the pan to make the install easier, got some major sticker shock on that purchase.

[71Dragtruck]

Oil pan back in, I really should pull those inner fenders and get the old undercoat removed, maybe a project for next year I guess.

[71Dragtruck]

Well got the crossmember installed, had to cut my inner fenders for the shock towers and will have to modify the motor mounts to clear my headers, if I can even use these headers. Not sure if I'm going to be able to route my steering shaft to the rack with them, have zero room, will have to see if I can go through the frame some how.

[low69chevy]

Very nice setup if you're willing to sell those cpp upper control arms I might be interested in them for my project.

[71Dragtruck]

I'll selling the whole front cross member as one, it will have to be a local pick it up type deal. Even just the arms shipped to you from me wouldn't be worth the cost of shipping.

[drag80]

nice looking truck

[Tom Vogel]

Ive disliked black wheels in the past, but I Love those on your truck!

[Wasted Income]

Maybe I missed it, but what was the "before" weight?

[71Dragtruck]

Originally Posted by Wasted Income

Maybe I missed it, but what was the "before" weight?

Start weight, front 2235, rear 1720, total 3955.

[Wasted Income]

Not *too* bad for a BBC LWB. My LWB with the LS, turbo setup, 80E, and air ride was right around the same...3950.

I figured building the blazer with coilovers and tubular suspension all the way around (no limit IFS and porterbuilt rear) that i'd lose a few lbs, since a blazer is a ton shorter than a LWB. Much to my surprise, it tipped the scales at 4200. lol.

I added a ton of inner frame bracing, and boxed the frame to stiffen it up so it could turn corners also. Oh well. Just gotta turn up the boost

[71Dragtruck]

Roll bar does nothing to help weight want so ever LOL.

I had hoped to get it down to 3800 with these changes, but don't think it will happen, maybe 3850.

[Wasted Income]

I know it...I still am planning to cage mine sooner than later, and put a full interior and stereo in. Ugh. #landbargeracing. lol

[Hart_Rod]

Looks great!

[djracer]

Looks good. Why not lose the inner fender wells all together?

[71Dragtruck]

Originally Posted by djracer

Looks good. Why not lose the inner fender wells all together?

I went back and forth a few times thinking of taking them out, right now my fuel regs are mounted on the passenger side inner, the biggest reason I've left them in is just to keep rocks and dirt out from under the hood.

Likely going to get my roll bar finished into a cage this fall and will tie it into the front end, once my regs are mounted on the bars I will likely try no inner fenders then.

[71Dragtruck]

Anyway haven't got too much done on the truck, spent time waiting for my shocks, motor mounts and the correct A-arms, only find out the mounts won't work (would raise the engine about 2" the way they came), one of my upper a-arms was sent to someone else and I got his, and steering knuckle was wrong.

Waited another 2 weeks to get my a-arm and send wrong one back, also was to be sent a set of motor mount tabs so I could relocate them, got the arm (had to pay import fees on a part that I already bought and paid for) got the steering knuckle and no motor mount tabs!!!!!!

So couldn't wait any longer for a set to be sent, so bought some steel and made a set, some nice water jet cut pieces would have been nicer but this week and a half shipping at a time is driving me nuts especially when it's someone else's error, plus good chance my future mill I'm planning will will use motor plates anyway, going at least 1100hp on motor.

END RANT/


Some observations.

If you are running a BBC and hooker super comps for that truck, steering shaft is a NIGHTMARE, I had to order a double joint for off the rack and still not sure if that will work or not, had to cut a hole in one of the inner frame supports to clear a header tube and try to ruin the shaft through, took a corner off the other for the header. I'm having a set of custom headers and exhaust built, but can't get in in until the fall so need to somehow get my steering shaft to work for this race season, through the upper frame rail will be a must for sure.

Next, my future mill was going to be a 632, but don't think I can get a pan that will clear the rack and work with that stroke, most of the real deep pans are 5" at the front, so would have to raise the engine but no room in the tunnel for the trans, and then would have valve cover issues, unless I modded the firewall and have no intensions of hacking into that. So will be going with a 582 (thought about a 498 but don't care for how far the piston skirt comes out the bore), will run a SR-20 head package so 1100hp will be a breeze anyway with a 482.

Here are the modded inner frame supports and motor mount tabs



Here is the relocated tabs to show how much I dropped them.




Did get my brake lines bent.




New Ididit column installed



Did a quick mock up of the front end parts and shocks.




The maze of header tubes I have to get a steering shaft through.




And that's about it for now, did some rewiring on my starter and a few other time consuming things that aren't really picture worthy. Will get the mounts in tomorrow and the headers on, also will start finish mounting the arms, shocks, hubs and front brakes. I'm running out of time before opening day at the track, first race was pushed from the 9th to the 23rd this month but even with the extra time doubt I'll have it ready by then, my time to spend on the truck is limited and have lots of stuff that needs to be done once the motor is bolted back down (right now being held up by my engine lift) and its off the jack stands.

[71Dragtruck]

Wow I need to proof read before I hit post, I meant a 598 BBC and likely go with a 582 to prevent piston skirt problems with a short deck.

[djracer]

Look through pics of my steering and see if the headers I was running might work for you. They are super comps for a g body. I am not going to run them anymore. I am gonna build a custom set when my junk gets out of prison. Come to think of it my motor is back a little so it may or may not help.