Today, I am saying goodbye to my little leaning friend.

In about an hour, the little 225 /833od is coming out of my 84swb. It has carried the load for over 200, 000 miles, and none of them easy ones. I have driven it like I was mad at it. It has been overheated more times than I care to admit, and even ran out of oil. It carrys less than 10psi oil pressure now, but is still limping along.
Within the next week the old truck will be getting a much ruder attitude with a mildly hopped up 440/727 combo.
I can't wait!!

The new powerplant.

That should wake it up!

got new springs and parts for the front end?

Leaning tower of Power. lol. I've always wanted to turbo charge one of those for a spirited, quiet sleeper....That 440 should be a nice upgrade in every way except maybe fuel economy. lol

Michael

Why would he need new springs and parts? Slants Arent light

slanty without accessories weighs about 475 pounds, the 440 comes in around 670. there's a reason cars have different t-bars for big blocks, than they do for slanty's. the suggestion is to do it all, since the bay will be empty, and there will be room to work it all over.

First off, I am keeping the 225 for a future roadster project, and do plan on going efi turbo with it controlled by megasquirt.
Yes, I have springs and chisolm lower arms for now, but fully intend to swap in crown vic front suspension, and independant rear suspension in the future.
My 83 swb had a big block with the slant 6 springs with no issues. The truck sat about 1 in lower than with the six.

Another pic...just before I pulled it.

Looking good.....That will change the gas mileage a bit

Thanks webster!
As far as fuel goes, I work for a fuel hauling company.....

The nice part is the wiring is long enough to reach the dist

I am going to watching this build closely, since am doing the same thing and pulling the leaning TOP and installing a 440. I am intrigued with the thought of the Ford Crown vic front suspension...has anyone done it? Good luck on the build and love seeing pictures of progress.

I've seen the vice suspension used in ford trucks and its supposedly dam never a bolt in. Just a few mounting spots. Never heard of it done to a Dodge yet.

Here is a pic of one in a ferd. They have an aluminum structure, power rack, and yes they bolt to the frame. The late 70s/to early 90s dodges have 2 inch narrower frames than the ferds, but to me that is no big deal. Its just metal.
That is my fabricators mindset.

Oops!
Pic
This is a screenshot from the ford truck forum

Is the track width going to be too wide? I hate when guys stub old cars and the stub is to wide and the wheels stick out bit Im talking 50s. Looks wide on the ford. They put one under a ford truck on Fast n Loud and their old shop truck was the same.

Late crown vic is 2 in wider than my 84 half ton 2wd.
Earlier than 03 is about the same as dodge truck.

What I did tonight.

Had to trim frame on driver's side for header clearance.

Front sheetmetal back on!,

Are those passenger car headers? Tube size?

79220 Hedmans from Summit.
Ordered them for a 78 half ton with a 440.
They are 1 3/4" tubes

When I saw that you had to notch the rails I just figured maybe they were some kind of big tube passenger car header.

Progress report:
I have gathered up 99% of the odds and ends parts to make the truck a runner.
Going to put in time on it tomorrow after work, Saturday, and Sunday...should be driving it by Sunday afternoon!

I got the accessories bolted on, driveshaft in, carb and kick down cables on, fuel lines, plug wires, gauges hooked up.
Also removed remainder of 6 cyl exhaust system. Oh, also the booster and master cyl, bled brakes
Tomorrow it's wiring, belts, hoses, and the rest of the odds and ends to make it go, then to the exhaust shop on Monday.
I want to be able to hear whats going on doing the cam break in.
Pics tomorrow night!

Sweet.........it looks like it's coming along.

Nice!

Thanks guys!
I am doing this swap at the shop where I work.
Got out there at about 9:00 this morning, moved the truck in, just as I opened the hood a truck driver came in with a water pump out on his truck.
I am on call this weekend, so guess how I spent my day?
Putting a water pump on a c 15 caterpillar engine. Then I did repairs on a trailer light box damaged from a tire blow out.
Oh well, I will keep plugging along on it this week before and after work.

Quick update:
Scored a complete 2 1/2" exhaust at a local salvage from a 82 that obviously not been in truck long. Has flowmasters. Still have to hang the tailpipes. Couldnt pass it up for 75 bucks.
Also made air shrouding up from truck mudflap cutoffs.
Very little left to be able to fire it up tomorrow.
More pics to follow..
O.G.

Shrouding. Has been attached since photo was taken with christmas tree clips

Fyi golden arm, the truck sits 1/2" lower in the front with no suspension changes. 3rd /6 to B or RB swap I have done with about the same drop on all 3.
O.G.

it's looking good. never had a slanty before, always passed one them, when i had the chance. going to look at a truck sunday night, might have another project on the way....

It's alive!
Still have some tidying up to do, but sounds and runs great!
Second pic is to show air cleaner nut I made using a 2012 Dart Mopar fender emblem. I cut out a piece of 3/16 x 1 strap, angled the ends to match, tacked a 1/4 20 nut to it and adhered the emblem to it. Took about 15 minutes to do.
Tomorrow I am going to tie up all the loose ends, and give the whole truck a good cleaning.
I am verry happy!

Air cleaner nut.

old goat. can i see a pic of your throttle linkage kickdown linkage?

I am using a lokar cable. Will snap a pic tomorrow for ya if ya want me to.
Ahhh found one!

Hi, what rear axle and gears are you running? Will it handle that kind of power? Will you be able to keep the tires under it?

Dakotaman, the rear that is under it is geared 3.23, is the stock rear that came in a /6 truck.
I have a 8 3/4 with 3.91s and a sure grip going under it very soon. We will soon see if it lasts till I swap rearends, haha!

Thats awesome! Great job on the truck.

I don't have the funds right now for an aftermarket floor shifter for the truck. Soooo, I used the stock 833od shifter handle, some 16 gauge sheet metal,, and some 3/16x1" strap steel, along with a few swivel linkage pieces I had, and made my own automatic floor shifter. The linkage rod itself is 5/16 pencil rod.

Another view showing pc of strap welded to bottom of handle....

Here is what it looks like dummied up to the floor shifter hump and boot...

Worm's eye view all hooked up. It shifts smooth as glass. I do plan on making up a reverse lock out.
Total investment: $6.00! And 2 hours of my time.
To right is the end that is hooked to 727 linkage arm.

Thanks Dakotaman!
I have a lot of time and a fair amount of $ in it, and nowhere near done yet. In the near future it will get an aluminum radiator, an interior redo, and a lot of sheetmetal work with a fresh coat of black suede....amongst other things.

Great job; the frame cutout looks similar to mine.

Looking Good Bill

Thanks Webster!
I am still working out the bugs, like a slight coolant leak from around 2 of the header bolts. At first I thought it was coming from head bolts!
I am going to change radiators, because it was running warmer than I wanted it to. I found a 3 row aluminum replacement with tranny cooler for less than 200 bucks.
The problem was the one I had in there wasn't flowing near the coolant it should.
I will get there. Glad I am somewhat patient.
Other than a few very minor things, I am very happy!

Got all the leaks fixed. Just waiting on the radiator now.
I ordered a double pass from speedway motors...

Radiator installed with a fabbed by me top shroud made of stainless steel sheet. I am using 2 pusher electric fans with a 160 degree switch. Also have a manual override switch.

Another view....

I still can't believe you offed the slanty! I guess the tables have turned, now - I get approaching 30 MPG - you'll be getting maybe 10, with the 3.91s...

Looking good, Bill - very creative little doodads, but do you see a clean up in the truck's future??

looking good. i like seeing stuff actually get finished. collecting parts for mine, with the hopes it will be done before summer....

Well Wagonmaster, there is a clean up in the future. I know, it was dirty in the pic. Fresh coat of black suede and an interior redo soon. The fuel mileage issue, work provides me fuel.
As for the little leaner, it is a cast crank engine, but I do just happen to have a freshly bored .030 over steel crank block, and a good standard/standard crank. I bought the 7.5:1 pistons a few years back when the machine work was done. I am going to use the head with oversize stainless valves from the truck engine with a new 280 cam.
A turbo and efi is in its future...it will be backed with a 833od. Its new home will be a different twist on a roadster.

Thanks golden arm, I am nowhere near done with the truck.

Also golden arm, keep plugging along, you will get it done.
Good luck on your project!