41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

Not another build thread!
Made a little progress today. A practice run, ready for when my 'new' cab arrives. Just had to share, knew it would make you laugh!! Well, I thought it was pretty funny anyway. Sorting gear linkage next, then moving the right side wiper over then, well plenty to do!
Bill.

Re: 41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

Converting to right hand drive...now that looks like its going to take some work

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thats awesome looks like you got some work ahead of ya

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Are you going to swap the firewall you have to the new cab?It looks like that would be easier to do than getting the panels located correctly.Either way looks like tons of fun.

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I think your pix got reversed when you posted them................some nice work!

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Nope! he is doing a right hand conversion. i plan on doing the same thing to my 1971 VW super beetle.

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GL with the project! I was getting dizzy looking at your pics, my brain kept trying to switch everything to the other side!

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I know your not doing it because it's cool, but that's cool. Wouldn't it be beeter to leave it stock so it would stand out in New Zealand ?

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What're your plans for carb linkage (cable I assume) and shift linkage?

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In the "FACTORY ASSEMBLY MANUAL" right hand drive is covered in quite a bit of detail. My brother is into vintage auto racing(British open wheel cars) and would love to have a right hand drive car transporter(67-72 vintage).

Personally I would like just the right hand drive wiper set-up but it requires a right hand drive cowl piece along with the longer linkage.

Re: 41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

Thanks for the comments guys.
I get dizzy looking at the truck!! The cab is basically a write off because it had a vinyl roof from new (read LOTS of rust) so I am doing the swap on this cab as a dry run, iron out any bugs in my plan, set up gear linkages etc. So when the 'new' cab turns up I'll be a little (really little) bit more organised..... maybe! Will then chop new cab with patterns refined on this one. So yes, the gear linkage will be cable, just sorting out the linkage part before the cable......Haven't sorted carb yet, but assume cable will work.
N2TRUX, yeah I could legally leave it LHD, but I want a user friendly daily driver, and personally think RHD will be easier on my head!! A large truck on our narrow country roads will be enough of a handful. Negotiating narrow windy roads, while sitting on the 'wrong' side...... potentially a recipe for disaster. Believe me, this truck will more than stand out..... still very few full size trucks down here. Even less of this era, even less 3/4 ton 4X4's!
New cab is bobbing it's way south as we speak..... fingers crossed it'll be here by Christmas.

Re: 41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

Bill, it's simple. If you guys down there would just learn how to drive on the right side of the road you wouldn't be having to go through all this. :lol:
Only kidding there pard. I commend you as I sure wouldn't want to tackle this swap. Keep the pics coming.

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All hail the Queen

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Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet :c2:

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Where would you get a steering box for that set-up ?

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Frenchblue, The steering boxes on our trucks are on the outside of the rail and on a car the box is on the inside so if you get a car one and move it over to the other side it goes to the outside on the truck, only catch is when you turn the drag link around it must be cut and lengthened because the sector shaft on the steering box is on the outer side of the box, Hope this makes sense.
Over here in Aus i have seen a zl Ford Fairlane steering box used, the sector shaft is on the corect side therefore you don't have to cut your drag link and the pitman arm fits straight on !!!

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Ok, so I better show you's what I've been doing on my truck since November. The first shot is of what turned up here a couple of days before Christmas.....and yes, all my Christmas's did come at once! Thank you's to Mr Hepp, and all involved with the contents of my 'parcel'.
The next two photos are self explanatory. Went well after I had rebuilt the ram on the (borrowed) engine lifter :crazy:

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Stripped down!:D

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And as of Friday it now looks like this. The PO was obviously an 'interesting' fellow!!! But he did underseal the chassis and now I have it mostly scraped off I have a very sound chassis so that is great. One question, I paid my $25 and you taught me how to remove ignition bezels, head light switchs, steering arms, etc etc and my truck now looks like this. So how much do I have to pay for you all to come down and put this thing back together!!!!! Man I've got bits of Chev (GMC) everywhere! And I still need to strip my transfer case down, and replace the axle seals in the front diff. I now appreciate how much work has gone into all those other pictures of your's that showed bare chassis's. Thanks for your help so far. I literally wouldn't have got this far without the information on this site, and from it's members!
I'll be back with all my crazy questions as this thing starts to go back together.

Re: 41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

Why convert a Fat Chick ???

Get a old bug instead :metal:

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I'd say your done with disassembly now. :lol:

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looking good.going back together is the easy part everything is clean or new.just remember to take your time and do everything exactly how you want it. you will kick yourself in the a$$ later if you rush along and skip things that you wanted to do and were very easy to while it was all apart

Re: 41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

Quite an undertaking you have going there! So, how are you going to make the heat/AC work out? Are you going to use something like one of the custom setups that Vintage Air sells? I noticed you had swapped the panel that the factory heater box bolts to from one side to the other but I didn't know what your intentions were. It would seem that even if the outer box managed to clear the engine you would still be high and dry on the inside. I'm not second guessing your project, I just didn't see this mentioned and was curious what your plans were. Great Job!

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Great progress, keep us updated, you already figured out we Luv the pic's :hm:

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I want to see it go back together, which I am sure you do too :D

Re: 41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

Thanks for the comments guys.
Well see ten, that IS the two thousand dollar question.
My work truck was always going to have aircon - period. And nothing on the firewall. Then as things got put in that box in Washington, and more things got put in that box, the aircon budget disappeared before my eyes! The origonal cab was non air, new cab has air, but I don’t have any of the components on the motor side of the firewall. (Box too full!!).
At this stage the plan is to go with the non air cab fan and heater core, on the firewall (see photo), and later I may be able to add underdash aircon. I have been thinking I might swap over the ‘Plenum Air Valve’ for future aircon. A couple of advantages in this over a full underdash unit are the fan is not in the cab, and I will draw air from outside of the cab.
If you take the heater assembly and rotate it 180 degrees, it nearly fits. The matching piece on the inside of the firewall rotates and fits, it’s the next piece down the line that will require some ‘extra’ work. This is commercially sensitive information down here, so don’t tell anyone! (In the origonal picture I had mirrored the firewall panel, it would be flipped 180 degrees).
Do chip in if you got any other ideas.
I have one question for you see ten. On your K10 do you run wheels spacers on the rear? I've have like four inchs less track in the back, Kind of noticeable. I don't see it on all your trucks.

Bill.

Re: 41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

I don't run wheel spacers on the K10. I think all the 4x4s are narrower in the rear by an inch or two aren't they? I think I would give the guys at Vintage Air a call (or an email). I believe they even have a tech who is a member of this board. I would think that since they have systems that can be made to fit so many old coupes and street rods that they would have something that would work for you. Granted you may have to buy some of their universal compact parts and make them fit, but look at what you are already in to. Gotta have that A/C!

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I don't have a photo, but my rear wheels seemed way tucked in. I measured four and a quarter inchs less track in the rear. Anyway least of my worries!
I need to do some sums and see how far I'm going to go dollar wise. Panel and paint will be the killers now, but it would be way easier to do the air now for sure. Not dissin' Vintage air at all, but I've seen two of their systems go in hot rods down here (F100 and 40 Ferd) and because they arn't made for the RHD thing I think it would be better to build something from scratch. Then I'm back where I started, do I keep the firewall smooth!
I've been getting these headaches of late.........

Re: 41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

Wow, well thats kinda ugly. 04 2007 to 10 2008. I wonder what I can use an excuse! I have been busy, honest.
Tore the back off my house (the young bit, built 1897, and rebuilt a new kitchen, bathroom) but back to more important things, finally.
Chassis was cleaned back, welded up all the extra holes and cracks, fitted solid fuel boosters and wind up spare tyre. Gave the chassis a quick sand blast then a coat of rust sealer followed by a two pack epoxy prime. Then two top coats of a vinyl acrylic paint. (NO, not a water based paint!) This was all meant to be a reasonably priced deal that I could do, instead of POR15, Rustbullet etc.
Have painted the chassis, diffs, hubs, rims, springs etc. Next is rebuild the diff's (ball joints, u joints, seals etc) then put the transfer case back together. Then new brake lines, tidy the motor gearbox up and put in the chassis. Shouldn't take long! But I have started right.
Oh, final colour was meant to be a smokey charcoal deal. Just didn't want all black underneath. Ended up mixing a liter of straight black in with the charcoal I had. Jury is still out.

Re: 41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

Nice clean frame. I like the color.

They always seem to go slower than what we would want. For some reason we have to throw wife, work, kids and house stuff in with the mix. Life sure does get in the way of truck building sometimes. ;)

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Nice project... How is the cost of living down there?

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Thanks for the comments Palf70Step. Yeah, life keeps getting in the way of my truck building!
Well Skull, what ever it is, it costs more down here! Gas has dropped back under $2.00/liter, but world commodity prices have driven pretty much everything up in the last twelve months, probabley similar to your country. I lived in BC for three years around 1990, and was there again in 2005. Never did make it that far 'back east' (Ontario that is).

Re: 41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

Slowly, slowly. Kids were away for a month, and I was going to get it on it's wheels. Yeah right! Major delays included wrong front leaf springs (a whole nuther story) and worn rear diff housing (not resolved yet). Anywhoo, transfer case rebuilt, new filter and front seal in the tranny, new sump gasket and intake on the motor, a lick of paint, a cross of the fingers (as to how long the motor will last!) and a least I got them in the chassis. Have been working on the exhaust, and really enjoying that. Had an inverter arc, had bought a tig torch a year ago, so finally got a bottle of gas and have been tig welding (badly) the exhaust up. Just tacked so far. And as you can see a couple of changes up front. Last pic shows mock up of new front shocks, sway bars, and RHD set up. Wasn't going to show this until it was all done..... your eyesight might be fading by then.
Currently working on hanging the muffler boxs, and sway bar brackets. The mufflers (Flowmaster 44's) are going outside the chassis, between rear tyre and back of cab (propane tanks inboard). Was going to dump staight out of them (towards the ground) but am now going to try and get a pipe at least behind the rear wheels. I don't mind it loud, but have to be able to drive past horse's and riders on the road. Also have enough stock (cows) on the road that I've got to be able to drive through without spooking. I was concerned if I just dumped it out, neighbours wouldn't be happy!
Making progress, slowly! Let us know what you think.

Bill.

Mods, if you want to move this to 'Projects and Builds' that would be cool. Thanks.

Re: 41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

!taerg skooL

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This should be really cool when it's done. I like the right hand drive vehicles. Mostly cause they aren't many in the US.


Frank

Re: 41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

Thanks for the comments guys.
A little more done tonight. Got one of the mufflers mounted up, and exhaust connected. Welded brackets to the top of the Flowmasters so they would 'hang' vertical. Yeah it's low. But no lower than the propane tanks, which aren't any lower than the transfer case.....

Re: 41DegreesSouth Build Thread
 

Cool!! nice rig good luck with it

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Great job, it is looking great..keep the picts coming..

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Won't be long and fall wil be here for you - keep the pictures coming!