Project ugly duckling

[collegekid]

truck looks freakin awesome

[dazedandconfused]

Well gave myself a birthday gift today and put tags on her. We went on a 50 mile run and she did good. I have a few bugs to work out but all in all I'm happy. My multi function switch took a crap when I went to hit high beams. Something poped in it and had to fiddle with it to make lights work on the way home. Also found out my fuel gauge doesn't work. It said it had half a tank and took 19.5 gallons in it. I wired the od up to a floor dimmer since my tps delete isn't here yet. I'm also still waiting on upper and lower balljoints, lower control arm bushings and upper control arm bushings/cam bolts from Rock auto. I got allot of looks and a few double takes though so she is doing her job and leaving people a little "dazed and confused."

[dazedandconfused]

Well my parts showed up today from DNR and Rock Auto. I guess I'll spend this weekend rebuilding my front end. I've been driving it since Monday and been happy with it.

Thats almost $450 for those few items.

[ellis93]

Ya that Moog stuff well put a dent in the old wallet but you sure won't have to worry about it being worn out in six months

[dazedandconfused]

It wasn't bad from Rock. I got the balljoints for under $70 each and my local KOI wanted $127 for the same part and Advance was like $113 or something. The cheap one were in the $40's threw the 2 above. I've never really dealt with MOOG because of the price but they seem really well made. I don't want to pull it apart again for a long time. It rides really nice now though even with wore out balljoints. It's got a nicer ride then my Tahoe.

[ellis93]

Ya mushy mushy ball joints shouldn't really stiffen the ride much.

[dazedandconfused]

I fixed my above post to read right. I know the balljoints won't really stiffen the ride but should help with the little bit of wondering and slop in the front end. It has all new tie rods and such that are MOOG as well that were on one of the other trucks I parted.

[ellis93]

Hey, now that you've driven it some, have you an idea on the mileage it might get?

[dazedandconfused]

Not yet and I'm almost posotive my fuel gauge isn't accurate. It read 1/4 a tank monday and I put 19.5 gallons in it. I don't know how big the factory tank is. I've also gotta calculate for the tire difference just not sure how. I went from the factory 235/85/16 to a 265/70/16.

[PToombs]

Andy, try this, I use it all the time for comparing tire sizes.
http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalcul ... ion=submit

I ran your sizes, the wider tire is 1.1 inches shorter and throws the speedo off 2 mph, reads faster.

[dazedandconfused]

I know at 70 on the speedo she is cruising 65 according to the radar signs coming out of Cincy. I ballanced the tires yesterday at work and drove her the 90 miles to Louisville today for a trade show. Work put us in a fancy hotel and I come pulling in with my little mut truck. Felt like that movie the cowboy way when they rolled into New York in that old chevy.

[dazedandconfused]

So I ran the first tank of fuel threw the old girl this week. She averaged right at 20mpg and that is with a fuel filter I know needs changed since I have no idea how long it's been on there. I also need a new air filter but no one around here carries them. This tank consisted of mostly interstate driving at 80+. I drove it to Louisville for work this week and other then the junk radio it wasn't a bad trip.

[oldestof11]

You should get more then! I can't wait for the results!

Is this going to be a weekend warrior or just for tooling around in? If just driving, I would get one of those new Hamilton MPG cams...

[dazedandconfused]

I want it to break 600Hp one of these days. My afc line it still broke and needs to be addressed too.

[dazedandconfused]

Well since I have a few extra dash boards laying around I decided to start making a gauge pod tonight. Well I cut the top of one dash out and I'll start molding it to fit the other dash. I figure it will fit 12 gauges and flow nicely. I took a few pics of the piece I cut. I'll probably fiberglass it all to make a mold.