progress on the race truck project

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/20/06 06:03 AM

Wow Ron, the 41 looks truly awesome with the Willys front end. Great stuff!!!!!!!

My heart is STILL with your COE too. I absolutely LOVE!!!!!!!! the COE.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/21/06 12:41 AM

lookin good

you dont mess around do ya

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/21/06 01:38 AM

thanks Pat but when I get the 65 coronet back from my son I will have to stop on this one to get that car back together, that Is why I am trying to get as much done as I can on this racetruck project, I will have to split my time up on
the 65 coronet
40 dodge PU (squattie)
the race truck
and the 34 dodge roadster PU

Ron...

Posted By: sixpack4spd

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/21/06 02:40 AM

Quote:

...I will have to split my time up on
the 65 coronet
40 dodge PU (squattie)
the race truck
and the 34 dodge roadster PU

Life's a biatch ain't it?

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/21/06 02:49 AM

Quote:

Quote:

...I will have to split my time up on
the 65 coronet
40 dodge PU (squattie)
the race truck
and the 34 dodge roadster PU

Life's a biatch ain't it?

well thats the first 4 that I need to get done

then I need to finish my 35 dodge COE car hauler
then the 42 radical COE
then the 33 ply coupe(blown Hemi)
then I want a blown 440 41 willys coupe

that should keep me busy for the rest of my life

Ron....

Posted By: sixpack4spd

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/21/06 02:52 AM

One of my fears is if I ever get all my projects done I won't know what to do with them all...

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/21/06 11:22 AM

ron, you make me tired with all the work you get done !

will the cab be welded permanantly to the chassis ? i have been thinking of doing that to my humpback, but i'm not sure......pros & cons ?????

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/21/06 03:58 PM

yes the cab is welded to the frame, because I need to run the rollbar through the back of the cab to the rear frame rails so the cab will never come off so I figured might as well make it solid

.
personally, I would make body mounts with some rubber mounts and make it possiable to remove the body to make it easier to paint the bottom and the chassis. now that being said, how often does a body really get takin off a frame

Ron...

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/21/06 08:14 PM

you are probably correct. if you need to take it off, it's probably mashed...........better not think........

Posted By: KatFysh

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/27/06 02:30 AM

AWESOME work Ron. I like how you have been keeping the one post updated. It's easier to follow instead of jumping around tryin to find out what ya did last.

You are coming along on it pretty quick.

Quote:

ron, you make me tired with all the work you get done ! will the cab be welded permanantly to the chassis ? i have been thinking of doing that to my humpback, but i'm not sure......pros & cons ?????

I kept the body of my Dak on the stock rubber mounts. I figured I'd have a little more "cush" riding around town, if itll be allowed to do that. The only mounts I cut out were the front cab corner mounts. I did that to clear the fenderwell header collectors.

Posted By: Hemi Allstate

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/27/06 02:15 PM

Quote:

yes the cab is welded to the frame, because I need to run the rollbar through the back of the cab to the rear frame rails so the cab will never come off so I figured might as well make it solid .
personally, I would make body mounts with some rubber mounts and make it possiable to remove the body to make it easier to paint the bottom and the chassis. now that being said, how often does a body really get takin off a frame Ron...

Wow Ron!!! You are making some serious progress on this truck.

It seems you know exactly what you want and how to get it there!

I left the body on my Allstate removeable for easier painting, but that does complicate things and slow the progress.

Great Job!

Mark

Attached picture 3165504-HPIM1385.JPG

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/30/06 02:16 AM

well here is what we got done today, a 3 1/2" top chop.
that is 3 1/2 removed from the side,that makes 4" out of the windsheild, first we layed out the tape at 3 1/2" all the way around the body and then measuered and marked the 4" on the front posts then we welded a bar across the door area so that the cab wont change shape.
then with a cutoff wheel in the grinder I started making cuts to fit the sawblade in.
we cut out the back of the cab but I left 1" of metal on the top section so that I can overlap it to the bottom section.
then after the top was off we finished cutting off the windsheild posts and the "B" pillers, then we set the top back on and did the finish grinding to make sure everything lined up perfectly

then when we were happy with the fit at the "B" piller we removed the top again and cut it from door to door and then set the back section back on and started fitting the windsheild post till we had then right and then clamped them in place

I like the new look of the cab with the chop

Ron...

here are some chop top pics:

here you can see how much the front is off after the chop 1 3/4" needs to be added across the roof

cutting across the roof

this is with everything clamped in place, now I need to get the roll cage started and welded befor I can weld the top back on

Posted By: sixpack4spd

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/30/06 03:18 AM

Where's the smiley of the guy with his jaw dropping? You did that in 1 day? That would have taken me a month to do! Looks SWEET! So you didn't have to move the windshield posts at all to line everything up?

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/30/06 04:04 AM

I cut across the cab from door to door and then lined up the front posts and I will have to make a filler piece about4" wide to fit under the 1 3/4 wide gap in the roof. Ron...

Posted By: _G_

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/30/06 04:11 AM

I kept this race truck thread in the back of my mind when I was cutting the floor of the Charger for the frame connectors. Kept me motivated hehe I don't work nearly as fast as you though! Looks good.

Posted By: Fluffy

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/30/06 09:20 AM

That's too cool.

Wanna do mine next?

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/30/06 01:08 PM

super job ron !!!!

Posted By: Hemi Allstate

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/30/06 03:04 PM

Great job!

Will you be using a steel or fiberglass hood?
An inspiring amount of work done.

Mark

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/30/06 04:08 PM

Quote:

Great job!
Will you be using a steel or fiberglass hood?
An inspiring amount of work done.

Mark

Thanks guys

Mark, I have to make the hood from the dodge hood and nose cone fit the willys center section, because the body lines are oppisite from the dodge to the willys, the body goes in after the body line on the willys and it comes outward after the body line on the dodge.
so mating the dodge stuff to the willys is the best way to go

Ron...

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/30/06 04:25 PM

i think this truck build would be a great article in any rod magazine. have you seen the PHR post?

Posted By: smokinwoody

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/30/06 05:40 PM

awesome work Ron...I take it you are retired...

Posted By: JonsGottaDusta

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/30/06 06:21 PM

Quote:

awesome work Ron...I take it you are retired...

nope

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/31/06 08:10 AM

I probably could have made it so the body and roll cage could come off the frame but I decided that I would never have to separate the two, I can remove the bed and the front clip to get at everything that I need to and I will just paint the underside black for easy touch up, plus I feel that the rollcage welded to the frame will be the safer way to go

Ron....

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/31/06 04:32 PM

Quote:

awesome work Ron...I take it you are retired...

No just lucky to be able to stay home and work on/play with the cars

, I have been doing the car thing for about 25 years now, the only drawback is I can't keep all the cars that I get together, I have to sell them to make $$$$$, like right now I am putting 2 together to keep and 2 that I will have to send down the road

Squattie = for sale car
65 coronet = for sale car

34 roadster PU = keeper car
41 PU racetruck = keeper car

I wish I could keep them all but doing this for a living means some of them have to go

Posted By: dodgedartgt

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/03/07 06:11 AM

Ron,
All I have to say is WOW!
Obviously you have to split the roof across the middle to move the A-pillars forward after the chop, but how do you acount for the side to side misalingment in them now?
And lastly, I see you shop in the same high circles as I do, what with the HF grinder and HF sales flyer visible in the photos :-)
Mike Bynum

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/03/07 07:00 AM

there is little to none side to side misalignment issues,
the top comes down and lines up perfect

the gap front to back turned out to be 1 1/2"
by clamping a piece of angle iron to the inside it brings everthing to where it needs to be

Ron,,

and yes I had just came back from harbor freight with a mini saw and a cutoff grinder right befor we cut the top off

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/12/07 01:48 AM

well I finally got the tube bender back to my house and picked up the rollbar tubing and started the rollcage

here are a few progress pics of what I got done this week. Ron...

here is the first fitting of the main bar:

this picture is what the front bars will look like:

here is the main bar and the back bar in place:

fitted back into the cab:

here is where I cut the cab to move it back 3":

from the pass side with the bar tacked in place:

I decieded to put in a rear brace bar:

back bars setting in place:

lower rear bars mount area, right to the shock mounts:

upper area, I have to wait to weld these bars in till I get the back of the cab done and make the front bars, then finish all the welds and finish the chop top:

and here is a pic of the filler piece for the added 3" to the cab:

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/12/07 01:58 AM

looks good !

how much clearance to the roof are you going with ?

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/12/07 02:02 AM

Quote:

looks good ! how much clearance to the roof are you going with ?

there is about 1/2" at the back bar to the back of the cab and at the top there is around 1 full inch from the top of the bar to cab and the bar should end up about 6" over my head.

Ron...

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/12/07 02:17 AM

thanks ron. hopefully, in the next few weeks, i will be able to start the cage for the humpback. i was thinking about roughly the same distance from the roof[ 1" or so].

by the way, did i ever mention you do good work ?[and FAST too !]

Posted By: dodgedartgt

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/12/07 04:24 AM

Thanks for the continued updates Ron.
How do you notch your tubing? What tooling are you using?
Mike Bynum

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/12/07 04:42 AM

Quote:

Thanks for the continued updates Ron.
How do you notch your tubing? What tooling are you using?
Mike Bynum

I don't have a notcher

I'm doing it the old fashoned way "grind and fit,grind and fit"
it takes a little while but it's not to bad

Ron...

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/12/07 04:49 PM

i noticed your adding a lot of braces. this, i think, is a good thing. how much is it gonna weigh when your done? do you think its possible the get as much strength as your getting useing a lighter material? im not trying to say anything bad, on the contrary it looks great, im just wondering if it could be as strong with less weight.

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/12/07 06:30 PM

Quote:

i noticed your adding a lot of braces. this, i think, is a good thing. how much is it gonna weigh when your done? do you think its possible the get as much strength as your getting useing a lighter material? im not trying to say anything bad, on the contrary it looks great, im just wondering if it could be as strong with less weight.

I am not sure what it will weigh my guess is around 2600#-2700#, the front fenders are fiberglass and the bed will be light and have fiberglass fenders also.
I only want to run between 10.0-10.60 range and I am putting in a 493 stroker with eddy heads and I figure I will only need around 550hp to run those times. and I feel that the 493 is going to make more than that so I may have to slow it down some to run where I want to be.
I dont want to go faster than 9.99 because of all the extra stuff that goes with it

I went with 1 3/4 dom instead of 1 5/8 because we had the 1 3/4 dies for the bender and new dies were going to cost $285. chrome moly cost much more and I dont have a tig setup to weld it. so I went the least expencive way.
I just want a 10.0/135mph fun truck

Ron...

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/12/07 08:59 PM

so the big issue was dollars. that i understand completly.

awsome truck BTW.

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/13/07 04:05 AM

I fitted the cab back together and checked for rollcage clearence

it is great, I can just get my fingers between the bar and the top of the cab.
I added the pieces of metal to the area where I am making the cab 3" longer.
I made the front bars and removed the dash to fit them.
man is it hard to make 2 bars alike

but I got it done and welded in. I also made the bar for across the front but didn't get a picture of it.
so here are the latest pics of the cage

Ron...

here is with some tape over the cutout area

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/14/07 12:07 AM

here is what i finished up today, I got the upper bar and the bar under the dash welded in and got the door bar in too. Ron..

just ignore the orange bar, it is holding the body together till I finish the chop

Posted By: Fluffy

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/14/07 12:08 AM

Man that stuff gets done quick.

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/15/07 11:36 PM

Quote:

Man that stuff gets done quick.

thanks, I'm tring

here are the latest pics of the cage.
I have 1 more bar to weld in the lower area
and then paint the cage and put the back of the cab back on.
then the front of the cab, then the rear bars,
then paint the rest of the cage and fit and weld the back of the cab on.
and finish the chop top.

Ron...

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/16/07 01:41 AM

ron, i think YOU invented the saying : "git-er-done !"

GOOD WORK !!!!!!!!!

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/16/07 02:12 AM

Quote:

ron, i think YOU invented the saying : "git-er-done !"
GOOD WORK !!!!!!!!!

Thanks but some projects go faster than others.

I started Squattie over 12 years ago and it is still not on the road yet

and I started mt 35 COE car hauler 3 years ago and now it is on the back burner. till after the race truck.

and my radical COE was started like 5 years ago and I dont know when I will be able to get back to it

hopefully later this year

I need to get the 65 coronet back here and get it done as it is a for sale car for the $$$$ to finish the other toys.

Ron

Posted By: Flipper1938

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/16/07 05:28 PM

Man, that is looking good. I like how tight the cage fits the body.

Out of curiosity, what kind of bender do you have? ...and what radius die are you using?

Do you have any detailed pictures of Squattie?

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/16/07 06:05 PM

Quote:

Man, thsy is looking good. I like how tight the cage fits the body.

Out of curiosity, what kind of bender do you have? ...and what radius die are you using?

Do you have any detailed pictures of Squattie?

the bender is a JD squared it has a 5.5" radius you can check it out here:
http://www.jd2.com/

I don't have many pics of squattie, I didn't think of documenting that build

it is on a dodge D50 chassis and it took very little to mount it on there.it even still has the D50 rearend,
I have a 318/904 in it and it will look like a little firetruck when its done

Ron...

Posted By: JonsGottaDusta

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/16/07 06:33 PM

Quote:

I don't have many pics of squattie, I didn't think of documenting that build

We will be documenting the build of my squattie truck so you can have all the info you want then. If I can ever get back over there again!!?!?!?

Getting in trouble sucks

Posted By: dogdays

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/16/07 10:06 PM

WOWOWOW!!!
You have worked out the kinks in your head to be doing it that fast, fer sure!
I just ran the whole 4 pages backtobacktoback and my head is spinning.
Incredible! Ever use a SKIL saw for chopping the top? I saw it once in a mag, didn't know what to think.

Keep'er floored,
R.

Posted By: RodStRace

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/17/07 06:02 PM

Are you going to weld in the seat brace and belt mounts before you paint?
LOOKS GREAT!!!

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/17/07 06:26 PM

Quote:

Are you going to weld in the seat brace and belt mounts before you paint?
LOOKS GREAT!!!

I wish I could but I don't have the seats yet

so I want to paint the cage while its easy to get at.
then I will have to weld the window net,seats and belt mounts later and touch up the paint on those areas

also some of the cage will have padding,
so I am not sure how much of the cage will show anyways

Ron...

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/18/07 09:23 PM

here are some pics of the rollcage, I got the cage painted today, I went with silver.
so maybe later today I will be able to get the back of the cab back on for the final time

then the front top section of the cab, then I need to cut some of the back of the cab to fit and weld the rear bars, then finish putting on the back,top of the cab and finish the chop top

Ron....

Posted By: bohmer2

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/19/07 09:05 PM

Ron,
Since you had to add the extra 3" in the roof line to get the windshield lined back up, will you have to do any changes to the doors to get them to line back up?

Your work is incredible and is giving me a lot of motivation to get moving on my 48 Panel. I would love to do a chop on it, but I think it is way to ambitious for me at this point. But if you have a few days of spare time and want to come spend some time in the midwest let me know I will be happy to let you work your magic on the panel.

Thanks for the details, photos and discussion it is always good to see someone making progress.

Brian

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/19/07 09:37 PM

thanks Brian,

I thought about making the door 3" longer but decieded to add 3" to the cab just behind the door area from the botton to the top and move the back of the cab back the 3" there.
with the chop the cab needed to be split and a filler piece made to fill that area, after the top was set back on we found that we need to make a 1 3/4" filler piece, but when you add in the 3" that i moved the cab back the filler piece needs to be 4 3/4"
I will make the filler piece 2" wider than the opening and overlap it across the roof. that way I can weld it inside and outside

Ron...

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/19/07 10:44 PM

here are a few more pics from today, I am letting the paint dry on the rear bars, i have the back of the cab welded back on and the front top fitted, and the rear top section has been fitted and cut out for the rear bars, also the rear bars are finally welded in

Ron..

where I added to the cab:

rear bars welded in and painted:

Posted By: 33Plymouth

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/20/07 01:13 PM

Hi Ron,
Once again I am simply amazed at your craftsmanship and would like to thank you for allowing us to watch the progress.

How will you finish the cab where the rear bars come out? Also in one of the pictures I see your brother's sedan, if I remember correctly you are going to paint that for him, what color?
Hughey

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/23/07 01:59 AM

Quote:

Hi Ron,
Once again I am simply amazed at your craftsmanship and would like to thank you for allowing us to watch the progress. How will you finish the cab where the rear bars come out? Also in one of the pictures I see your brother's sedan, if I remember correctly you are going to paint that for him, what color?
Hughey

sorry I didn't get back to this post sooner

I am thinking about making a little cover for where the Rear bars come through the cab(see pics below)
we plan to paint my brothers car candy brandywine with darker fenders, the body will be painted over burgandy base and the fenders will be painted over black base.

here are the latest pics of the finished rollcage and the chop top. got the back window area welded back in too,
I only chopped the back window 1 1/2" instead of 3 1/2" like the body.
you can see the pieces that I made to fill in the top area and the patches that needed to be made.
I still have a few more patches to do and a bunch more spotwelds. Ron..

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/26/07 12:59 AM

here are the latest pics of the race truck.
I finished the welds on the chop top and got the first layer of fiberglass on it, I used Tiger hair fiberglass,it has long strands of fibers to it.
I like to use that on all the welded areas first and then finish it up with regular bondo type filler. Ron...

here is the welded in back window

here is the front seam that I welded up so i can smooth it out

it wont take to much to leval it out

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/26/07 01:47 AM

lookin good ron !

are the rear down tubes of the cage welded to the rear cab tin ? what are your plans for the firewall ?

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/26/07 02:16 AM

Quote:

lookin good ron ! are the rear down tubes of the cage welded to the rear cab tin ? what are your plans for the firewall ?

Yes the cab is now welded to the cage, I started to make cab to cage mounts and everything started to get very solid so i went ahead and welded the rear bars too., I plan to make some nice covers to weld over that area.
Not sure yet how the firewall will be.
I'm thinking about a slight curved one. Ron...

Posted By: RodStRace

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/26/07 03:51 AM

One thing I've never seen done real nice is a fire wall that follows the shape of the engine and still allows service. If you got a 4" thick piece of foam, Installed the drivetrain, then shaped the foam to tuck around the back of the motor and trans with an inch clearance, then pull the valve covers, Dist. etc. to make sure service was good. Replicate the final shape in metal and it would be beautiful! Just a wild thought, but you have the skills to pull it off.

Posted By: dodgedartgt

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/26/07 04:16 AM

Ron, Yes, you've been doing this for years and years, have huge amounts of practical experience and it is still INCREDIBLY AMAZING the speed at which you work!
I was looking at the filler pieces for the top. It looks like they are lapped rather than being edge or butt welded. (No doubt, much easier than needing to worry about arrow straight cuts.) But have you joggled or offset the edge to bring them close back up to flush or just relying on filler?
Mike Bynum

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/26/07 04:39 AM

Yeah Mike I just overlapped the filler piece and hammer and dollied it so it was pretty close and then glass it up

. I thought about making a step on the filler piece but that tool is at my sons house and I didn't want to wait to get it back here.. Ron...

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/29/07 04:00 AM

here are some more pics of the progress.
I trimmed and fitted the dash in place and got it welded up and glassed in. Ron.....

Posted By: Fluffy

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/29/07 10:13 AM

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/30/07 02:12 AM

ron, i like the way you tucked the tubes close to the a pillar !

since the cage has been painted, will the interior tin be the same color ?

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/30/07 02:23 AM

right now I plan on doing the interior black tweed and thought that the cage would look good in silver so that it stands out

Ron...

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/03/07 05:09 AM

Quote:

Lookin' good there Mr.

Posted By: Flipper1938

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/03/07 07:32 PM

Roll that thing out in the driveway so we can get a good look.

I am curious to see how natural the stretch looks.

Posted By: BloFish

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/04/07 02:37 AM

me too

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/04/07 04:43 PM

me 3

Posted By: JonsGottaDusta

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/04/07 06:27 PM

It looks like a cartoon

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/04/07 09:20 PM

OK here you go guys I got it outside today and took some pics and I will clean the garage later

Ron...

Posted By: Fluffy

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/04/07 10:03 PM

Looks nice.

What's that bright stuff? Sun? I always wondered what that looked like in Winter.

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/04/07 10:51 PM

Quote:

Looks nice.

What's that bright stuff? Sun? I always wondered what that looked like in Winter.

yeah I worked up a sweat today, it got up to 81

This is exactly why I moved out here. no more winter cars

Ron....

Posted By: dodgedartgt

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/15/07 04:24 AM

Oh my gosh... Ron, its been ten days... and... NOTHING!!!
Hey, how ya doin'? Anything new? Only that I'm jonesing for a fix.
Mike Bynum

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/15/07 05:32 AM

Quote:

Oh my gosh... Ron, its been ten days... and... NOTHING!!!
Hey, how ya doin'? Anything new? Only that I'm jonesing for a fix.
Mike Bynum

well the thrashing on the racetruck has come to a crawl

or should I say a stop.
I brought home the 65 coronet so i could paint it to make some $$$$ and I worked on it last week, but now I have decided to sell the 65 the way it is and get squattie done first, squattie only needs a few things befor paint, so I want to finish it then back on to the race truck

Ron...

Posted By: CokeBottleKid

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/15/07 10:32 AM

I thought RJ was painting it

Posted By: 79powerwagon

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/23/07 09:24 PM

Well Ron, I've said it before, and I'll repeat it now- You do [Edited by Moparts - Keep it clean] good work!!!!

Do you mind if I "lift" some of the pics of your frame? I've been hitting walls with the hot rod community the last couple of years when talking about my "Race Truck" (a name I coined for it in 2003). I also want to channel the body to drop the nose without losing ground clearence. i want to lighten up the frame as much as possible, and am planning a similar rear end set up as yours (it currently has a ho-made version, made with water pipe and bumper jacks!!!).

I just discovered thisd thread, and am very pleased with your documentation! It'll help me out a LOT!

Thanks so much for sharing!

Eric

Attached picture 3317978-P6030001.JPG

Posted By: _G_

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/24/07 09:43 PM

Shame its come to a stop Ron.. However, even if you do nothing for a year you will still have more done than the rest of us.

It will give my silly dial up internet a chance to catch up anyway! I love looking at your pictures and have learnt many little tricks from them!

If I didn't have so many cars already i'd be buying your '65 I love those early B bodys!

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 02/25/07 05:58 AM

Eric, RJ has to move from the house that he is in next month, so so much for getting paint on it

G, I actually touched it today, but only to move it outside to the carport area next to the garage, the new plan is to work on the 65 for a few days and get it in another coat of primer and then its done and ready for sale.
then I am going to Finish squattie so I can have it ready to sell, then its back onto the racetruck and the roadster PU

Ron...

Posted By: BigJim

Re: progress on the race truck project - 03/10/07 05:34 AM

Ron,
You know I'm gonna love that truck when you get it finished!
Hence, when the day comes that you get ready to sell it and build a Willys Coupe...
I hope I have my Challenger sold by then with a fistful of dollars to buy the truck.
Besides I need a truck for a daily driver!!!

Posted By: dodgedartgt

Re: progress on the race truck project - 04/05/07 03:26 PM

We want race truck!
We want race truck!

Mike Bynum

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 04/05/07 06:44 PM

Quote:

We want race truck!
We want race truck!

Mike Bynum

I wish I could be working on it

I need to get squattie finished up first(for sale car)
then I will have the $$$$$ to finish the racetruck right

Ron.....

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: progress on the race truck project - 04/06/07 03:48 PM

Now is that any way to be

? Kinda like who shot JR, now we gotta wait

Jack

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 05/01/07 04:56 PM

nothing new to report on the racetruck, been busy remodeling the kitchen and working on the squattie truck, should have paint on it within the month

then after its on the road I can start getting some progress on the racetruck

thanks for following the buildup on this project

Ron....

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 05/02/07 12:55 AM

glad things are moving on your other projects ron. life sometimes gets in the way, if you know what i mean......we still want updates as they happen. any pics of "squattie" ???

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 05/03/07 04:25 PM

I don't have many pics of squattie but here are a few. Ron..

it looks better now than in this picture

this is a picture if My squattie frontend on my friends truck. see it was on the road for awhile(well at least part of it was

)

it will look something like this truck only a dodge...

Posted By: sixpack4spd

Re: progress on the race truck project - 05/04/07 02:50 AM

Looks pretty cool.

How much did you section out of the nose?

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 05/04/07 03:35 AM

Quote:

Looks pretty cool. How much did you section out of the nose?

it's around 5"
it sure does change the look of the frontend from stock

Ron....

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 06/02/07 01:38 AM

got some new parts today for the racetruck.
new 4.10 gears and a spool

I still haven't been able to get back to work on it yet but collecting parts is cool too.

Ron...

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 06/02/07 12:39 PM

neat deal ron !

what make is the spool ? is it for the 3.54/4.10 carrier or is the type you don't need a spacer for the ring gear ?[i think i said that right.......

]

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 06/02/07 01:19 PM

it is 4.10's I dont think it needs a spacer, I was told they work together

the spool is a solid piece that has splines inside for the axels and makes it so both axels turn at the same time where a sure grip lets one slip when you turn, a little harder to drive on the street but great for the track

Ron...

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 06/02/07 01:58 PM

sorry ron. i know what a spool is. i wondered what "brand name" [strange, moser, etc.] it's early in the morning [for me anyway......eyeballs not working,brain feeling crankity, etc..........]
the reason i asked, on my hump, the spool in the dana is a strange unit. i'm not sure, but i think i remember[?] something about a spool made that accepts a "factory" 3.54/4.10 gearset as well as a 4.56/488 aftermarket set. something about not "needing a spacer" or something. anyway, i was wondering if you could maybe measure the distance from the bearing seat to the ring gear mounting surface & the approximate thickness of your ring gear ?

oh, by the way, yesterday i finally had enough ambition to fiddle in the garage. i took a jack & spread the sides of the box out about 1 1/2" & lowered the truck down another 2". looks a ton better now ! i'll try to get a couple of new pics today or tomarrow.....

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 06/02/07 02:46 PM

Oh sorry

I thought you knew what a spool was

it's strange eng. stuff.
I was looking at a chrome moly spool at the spring fling swapmeet that I almost bought($125.00) but the guy was honest and told me that it was for 5.13-6.14 ratios and I would not be able to use it with 4.10's

and a friend of mine said he had a friend that could set me up with a new one and new 4.10's for a good price so I went for it

never thought to ask if I needed a spacer but I am sure he would have told me if I needed one. I'll find out

anyway it is 5 1/4" from the bearing seat to the ring gear surface area.
and the new ring gear looks like 1 1/16 from the surface area( where it mounts to the spool) to the tall side of the gear.
or the gear at its tallest point to the work bench is 1 1/2"
does that make sence, not sure I am discribing it right

Ron....

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 06/02/07 07:22 PM

that is what i was looking for !

my spool is a strange unit too. i'll have to pull the cover off again] & see if i got what you do. my unit has 4.88's.......

a wee bit much for what i have in mind. i bought a VERY nice set of 4.10's from [arrghhh .........brain freeze....."oldtimers"......he is a member.......deals in old hemis.......agghhh ......] oh, i could scream....anyway, i got this gearset from him at carlisle a couple years ago. i was hopeing to use it on my spool.....
thanks for your time measuring your stuff !

i'll have to measure what i got...
I REMEMBERED ! TRWATERS !........

Posted By: BigJim

Re: progress on the race truck project - 06/03/07 06:09 PM

I was in San Diego a couple of weeks ago... stopped by to see Ron and his projects. The new race truck is going to be one fine ride! Ron has quite a few other projects lined up that will be nice rides eventually.
Spent about 4 enjoyable hours with Ron including a quick trip to one of his favorite burger places for lunch.

Ron, I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule for me ... it was fun!!

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 06/04/07 03:56 AM

It was very cool meeting up with you Jim.
thanks for lunch

yes I do have way to many projects, thats a real problem that I have, I am building 5 or 6 cars down the line in my head

Ron...

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 06/05/07 12:08 AM

Quote:

yes I do have way to many projects, thats a real problem that I have, I am building 5 or 6 cars down the line in my head Ron...

i'm like you ron.....too much time to think

wish i could meet up with you some day too ! i'm sure we could come up with SOMETHING ELSE to build..........

Posted By: JonsGottaDusta

Re: progress on the race truck project - 06/06/07 01:22 AM

Quote:

It was very cool meeting up with you Jim.
thanks for lunch
yes I do have way to many projects, thats a real problem that I have, I am building 5 or 6 cars down the line in my head Ron...

No Joke!

And I can't figure out how I want to build mine

I see a Willy's in my future

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 07/07/07 06:00 PM

well Jon you need to come over and work on your truck

I had to make a post on this thread so it was not lost forever. in this section.

Ron...

Posted By: moparx

Re: progress on the race truck project - 07/07/07 10:25 PM

you couldn't be lost could you ron ??????

Posted By: _G_

Re: progress on the race truck project - 07/07/07 10:44 PM

Ron I was wondering yesterday if this post was going to fall off the edge into cyberspace too because I saw it right at the bottom of the page.

But then I found out why!!

When you are on the Street Rodders Forum page look below the list of topics to the left it says something like "show topics active-1 month"

Click that drop down menu and change it to "all dates" you end up with like 15 pages of topics. Goes back like a year or so.

Hope that works for you.

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 07/09/07 09:11 PM

thanks Graham,

I thought if it went off the first page It would be lost forever, and mane that was a lot of typing and pictures

Ron....

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 08/25/07 03:00 PM

I haven't got back to the racetruck project yet but I should be able to soon, I have been working on the Squattie truck so I can sell it to have the $$$$ to finish the other projects, here are a few pics of squattie as of yesterday, with a little luck I should have paint on it in a few weeks and then it back to work on the racetruck

Ron.....

Posted By: sixpack4spd

Re: progress on the race truck project - 08/27/07 02:55 AM

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/08/07 06:37 PM

nothing new on the racetruck to show you but didn't want to loose this thread

Ron...

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/08/07 08:15 PM

Thanks for briging it back up. I was looking for it two days ago to show a friend and couldn't find it.

With your COE you just got. Why don't you get two more Buicks and put in a TV T Ivo drive train.

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 04/08/08 04:16 PM

well I am about 2-3 weeks away from going to town on the racetruck again, its even moved up next to the garage ready to come in as soon as squattie gets out

all thats left to do on squattie is a little body work on the rear fenders and bed and then paint them

then she comes out of the garage

Ron...

Posted By: thecarfarmer

Re: progress on the race truck project - 05/01/08 04:06 PM

Hey Ron,

I just found this thread; have had to add it to favorites list.

Looking forward to seeing more on this beast in the future!

-bill

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/07/08 05:16 PM

bringing this thread back up from the dead

sorry to say but I have not yet got to working on it

but the plans have changed a little. I now plan to make it look like a gasser style race truck

I have a line on a tube axel and springs and since ALL my other projects are going to be slamed on the ground I thought this one would be fun as a "GASSER" sort of like the one below
as soon as the 48 ply coupe and/or squattie are sold I can really get back to work on the race truck

Ron...

Attached picture 4863176-HRR_0584-a-600x450.jpg

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: progress on the race truck project - 12/20/08 03:00 AM

http://public.fotki.com/wackydave/car_sh...esxmasp-12.html

Nose up or nose down, either way the trucks still look BAD!

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 04/12/09 02:23 AM

Ok so I finally got back to work on the race truck

I was going to make it raised up gasser style but seeing that I already have all the must II stuff i am going to build it on the ground and I will build the 37 willys sedan as a nose up gasser....

so today I cut off the stock toyota frontend stuff and got the Mustang II frontend in place and made most of the plates to mount it( I still need to finish it lower ones and finish grinding the upper plates smooth.

I still need to cut some more of the toyota frame rails off to blend into the 2x2 that will mount the front of the nose. Ron...

I hope to get much more work done and keep this thread going again.....

here is the stock toyota stuff:

here is the Mustang II frontend mounted:

here is the area that still needs to be trimmed off:

here is a overall shot:

Posted By: 72blubird

Re: progress on the race truck project - 04/16/09 02:04 PM

Great work Ron Thank you for keeping the pics coming

Love seeing the progress and your thoughts on the project.

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/21/13 12:33 AM

I really need to get back to work on my truck.
I hope to get back on it this week and I will get some more pictures of the progress. Ron...

Posted By: Webster

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/22/13 02:05 PM

looking forward to seeing what your up too..

Posted By: Hemi Allstate

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/25/13 03:31 PM

Quote:

looking forward to seeing what your up too..

Posted By: RUMBLON

Re: progress on the race truck project - 01/27/13 04:58 PM

Thought I would bump it too.

Ron I have asked this a million times. But what years Dakotas are best again for the swap for the old cars/ trucks.

Im making a move to Boise/ and Cambridge soon and am keeping my eyes open up there to find a cheap dakota for a future build.

RUMBLON/ LAWFISH- UH Dave.

progress on the race truck project