Project: Mutt

4x4fun · October 22, 2011, 12:11:40 AM

I really wish i woud of done this a long time ago, but as they say better late then never... This has been my on going project for just over 3 years now... It started life as a 78 Chevy suburban half ton that had been previously wheel had in the Rocky Mountains, not a straight body panel on it but solid frame.. I had a buddy make a deal with me to scrap the body ( cuz he didnt like it ) and he would hook me up with a cab ( 2 door ) and a set of 3/4 ton axles.. Seemed to be a good deal..

This is what we ended up with.. Over the course of the next couple months it got 4in springs in the from and a custum junkyard pack for the rear...

After a couple times out like this, with 4 people packed in things got tight leaving the idea of a 4 door cab behind... A little digging and searching resaulted in finding an 84 chevy 1 ton factory 4 door truck fresh from texas that was bought for the motor.. So i purchesed the cab from it..

after a little modifaction it sat nicly on the burban frame..

Next was the void on the back, needed a bed of some sort so i tought about it and came up with a drawing of what i wanted.. Had a freind of a friend hook us up with enough to build it outa old diamond plating.. come out just as i wanted.. thanks big frank..

More to come...

BigFrank · October 22, 2011, 02:24:14 AM

its been alot of work but well worth it and to think ya started building a "trail rig" i still think we shoulda put a nother 2 door cab on it backwards to the red one but it stillcame all together pretty good i still remember the looks on peoples faces the first time out at waterman rd bog

oh and no pics of the giant saw horse hahahahahahahahahaah

Jjay78 · October 22, 2011, 02:26:57 AM

nice rig

4x4fun · October 22, 2011, 06:49:18 PM

Heres a continuation...

As Big Frank said, at this point in the build i had just thought about mud bogs.. Opened up a hole new world of fun.. This is also about the time i had my frist mounds.. which lead me to find my weak link, the dana 44 front axle...

After several broken Ujoints in the axle shafts, 1 set of spider gears, it was time to upgrade to a Dana 60 front...

Took a duelly and coverted it to single wheel..

Now that the axels seem to be holding up its time to retire my ol'wore out stock 400 for a little more HP.. Ive been slowly building a sbc, finally have all the parts to put it togather just need to find the time and have a trans build..

Ive left out lots of little things but this is the basics so far.. I can say ive had alot of fun with this project and look foward to making it bigger and badder !

ProGrade · October 23, 2011, 06:37:40 AM

i've always liked your truck...keep it up!

wayne w · October 23, 2011, 09:55:47 AM

looking good

Blazin40s · October 23, 2011, 12:25:46 PM

Its a fun little truck!

4x4fun · October 24, 2011, 12:19:22 AM

Thanks all.. hopfully my motor should be goin togather this week end, but have yet to make up my mind on whos building a trans...

Blazin40s · October 24, 2011, 02:36:37 PM

Hurry up and decide, so u can skip work and go to turkey day

4x4fun · October 30, 2011, 02:32:07 AM

My motors togather, long day of twisten wrenches.. pics to come..

4x4fun · November 10, 2011, 10:53:24 PM

Ive made a bit of progress as of late... Finally got my SBC pretty much all togather, just needs a little paint and a couple more things..

Got my trans thats going behind it sent off to a builder, should have an idea of what its goin to take here very soon i hope..
Also got the headers on and ready to be piped into my stacks, thats happening tomarrow.. Going to look into new suspension bushings for the front end, mine are looken pretty rough for only being 3 years old...

Blazin40s · November 11, 2011, 12:44:25 AM

It was loud as u pulled away last night

4x4fun · November 11, 2011, 01:08:25 AM

It is way loud, but that should be over after tomarrow... and thanks again for the help Rob..

Blazin40s · November 11, 2011, 05:19:52 PM

Anytime Sam.

poorboyzmuddin · November 11, 2011, 05:59:58 PM

great job bud looking good

4x4fun · November 12, 2011, 01:26:13 PM

Got to see my trans all ripped apart, thats gonna require a bit of parts to make it hold up but i feel confadent ive got the right guy on it... Headers are install and piped to muffers, sounds pretty good but not very loud at all.. that should bee the law off my ass.. Hopfully take her out to Mounds tomarrow, make sure the drive shaft clears the headders under full flex... More to came as she comes togather..

Blazin40s · November 12, 2011, 02:45:21 PM

Crazy how many parts are in a trans huh?

4x4fun · November 12, 2011, 06:20:40 PM

Got looken at the headder/exhaust job, for the drivers side headder right tight up against the oil filter... That cant be good.. Going to try the smaller filter to see if that gives me room, if not im goin to have to remove the oil cooling ( i wanna call it a sending uint ) thing thats inbetween the oil filter and block.. Almost looking like im not goin to be able to run the GM oil cooling package i found...

Quote from: Blazin40s on November 12, 2011, 02:45:21 PM
Crazy how many parts are in a trans huh?

yes and many are small... will be interesting to see how it all comes togather...

BigFrank · November 12, 2011, 08:33:32 PM

i was wonderin how they would fit in there lookin at the oil cooler kit looks like a short filter and the adapter is bout as tall as the long filter by itself pa said he thought there was another version that mounts the filter up under the hood on the inner fender or where ever it mounts

4x4fun · November 12, 2011, 11:38:13 PM

Quote from: BigFrank on November 12, 2011, 08:33:32 PM
i was wonderin how they would fit in there lookin at the oil cooler kit looks like a short filter and the adapter is bout as tall as the long filter by itself pa said he thought there was another version that mounts the filter up under the hood on the inner fender or where ever it mounts

the remote oil filter might almost be a good idea, so its not baken right next the headder..

A small filter fit with about 1/4 in of clearance..