maroon into black. used some purple degreaser full strength, and scrubbed parts thoroughly. gave a good rinse, and let them dry. next took some xylene and tack rags, and wiped them all down, and let them dry again.

next i gave everything a couple of light coats of SEM flexible surface primer, and let them dry. next i went with a couple of light coats of SEM trim black. i finished off the parts with a light topcoat of seymour semigloss trim black. the semigloss gives a finish closest to the look of the original panels.

i prefer the SEM paints over dye. dye seems to create multiple shades of the color, and sometimes "blooms", making it hard to create a realistic looking finish. the other reason is, i can always touch up, or even repaint, or add a new piece of trim, and get a match. all i need is some SEM trim black, and Seymour semi gloss trim black.

the cost for changing colors was less than 100 bucks, for paint and materials. this doesnt include the fabrics, such as carpet, headliner and recovering the seat.

sill plates in black.

Lookin good! You could have flown me out there to paint it for ya!

ya sure, now ya tell me.

done. back of cab, nice and shiny.

installing the bed. more hands are sometimes better, than none.

bolting the bed down. getting ready to roll it outside, and check out the paint.

shelby dakota #439 in PXR Black Pearl Metallic. not too shabby, i guess.

Looks good! Cant believe how far its come! I have friends and family in Jacksonville. How far are you from there?

hey dave, jax is about 3 hours north of here. (way up north, where it snows, and stuff)

like the work but why do a shelby like that? isnt a regular dakota cheaper and easier to come by?

not if i already have the shelby, and would have to go and buy a dakota. look at the very first pic on page one. not like i was starting with a survivor or anything.

you see any shelbys on the road? i drive mine daily, and have been back and forth across the country with it, 4 times this year alone. those guys with the pretty red or white ones, letting them sit in the garage arent me. i drive my stuff, and i build them to suit me.

thanks for liking the work. wait and see whats next.....

* i did send you a pm, with a link to that shelby cupholder you were looking for.

too funny. when i was in new mexico, i came out one morning to head to work, and had 2 flats on the passenger side. i got some mesquite thorns, running on the shoulder of the road, to let some trucks pass. aired up with my portable comp i keep in the cab, and went to a tire guy, and had them patched.

putting it back together now, and will have it cut and buffed after the new year. i need some time for the paint to finish curing, as it's still a bit soft. i'm kind of torn between getting another shelby, getting a stepside (thinking of a limelight express truck) or maybe just getting another ramcharger. i guess when the right deal comes around, thats what i'll get.

recently, i went to crank it up, and there was a loud "bang" from under the hood, then nothing. tried the key a few times, and could hear a faint clicking, and nothing else. jumped the relay, and still got a click, but nothing else. tapped on the starter, but nothing happened. pulled it, and found this:

hit the key, and starter wound right up. hrmmmm. wondering where the missing piece was, i reached inside the starter hole, and felt a piece behind the flywheel, as it slipped out of my grasp. after several tries, and a few "not moparts family friendly" words, i broke out the breaker bar and socket, and wound the crank counter clockwise. this brought the piece up again, and after a couple of tries, it finally came out.

called around and finally found a replacement. an exact visual replacement, i kind of wanted to just take the nose piece off the new one, and rebuild mine, but i just traded. the new one fired the truck right off, but man, the cranking is so slooooooooow. the original spun it over like a boss. the new one, like an old lady. oh well. interior is getting closer to being done, but once again it will have to wait until i get back to the shop.

well, i have gone back again, and rethought the engine. i had a 340 for the truck, but another moparts member really needed it for his car. in fact, he had bought parts from the motor, before i bought it without either one of us knowing the other was doing it. when i found out he had the parts for the motor, and needed it, i sold it to him, for what it cost me. he was going to buy it, but shipping from minnie-soda was cost prohibitive, i imagine. he got it for his project, and i was back to doing the 390.

fast forward to this months engines for sale section. i saw a sweet 340 complete, minus carb for sale. even had an a/c compressor, and is a fresh motor. pm's were sent, phone call made, and i am back to going with a 340 again. finalizing the payment and shipping methods, and it will be crated and delivered. thanks dave, for the awesome service and sweet deal.

so now the plans are back to the original. yank and toss the 318, paint engine bay black and remove all of the voodoo wiring, and run a 340 with a carb or three. will do the manual rack with the motor out, and the front end will get all urethane bushings, new shocks and springs, etc.


* Mopar Small Block P0rn!!

got the 340 on a stand now, and am going through it. plasti-gauge checking the mains and rods, for clearances. will use the pan from the shelby, with a new oil pump and pickup. thinking i'm going to remove the fuel pump and block it off, and just run the electric with a regulator and bypass back into the tank. going to run rollers and new springs and cam. going to get it all sorted with a quick fuel 600 slayer, and a six pack setup once everything is all done.

replacing the alternator with an internal regulated, 1 wire deal. not really finalized on the ignition, but closing in on what i want. i'll probably sell off the 340 parts i pull and the rest of the unwanted shelby junk. the only real issue left is to take apart the wiring harnesses under the hood, and snake out all the stuff i don't need, keeping the gauges and keyed ignition stuff. would be a lot easier with a wiring diagram, but it doesn't look like that's gonna happen.


slowly, but slowly.......

Just chiming in with number 612 driven daily. Your build is almost exactly what I am planning. Debating on stroking the 340 I have or not is about the only difference. I love the way the hood turned out also.