Hackster's 1968 f100 CV Swap

[hackster]

Thanks for the compliments guys, I really appreciate the kind words.

As far as battery location, it was the only place that made any sense to me. I really did not want it in the bed and there was lots of room under here for it. I am so glad to have gotten rid of all the factory starter solenoid and wiring. Really the only think that I am using the factory wiring for is the lights, gauges and blower motor at this point Everything else was wired by me and everything is fused and off a relay. Much cleaner and more modern. Now the big question is will it run?

Ordered up an electric fan and shifter, shifter gate and transmission arm for it this afternoon. If I can get a good night or two on it this week, I might be able to try and fire it up this weekend.

Tossing the idea around about painting it this year after all, Going to reach out to the painter tonight and see if he is interested and has time.

I will keep the updates coming.

Sean

[70shortwide]

same spot I have my battery... I built my own tray and had it running before I built a hold down for it, it took a while (maybe 1500 mi.) but it did fall out one day. I was waiting to get an optima before I built a hold down... that sped up progress!


the ground wire was the only thing that kept me from running it over. Got a real nice beefy hold down on there now... You have a nice battery tray, but for anybody else thinking about building one, think about what happens if it falls out! Most people are smart enough to make a hold down right away, but I got anxious...


BTW this thread has been a lie from day one! I wouldn't use your combo, but I wouldn't consider you a hackster... You are doing nice work here.

[hackster]

same spot I have my battery... I built my own tray and had it running before I built a hold down for it, it took a while (maybe 1500 mi.) but it did fall out one day. I was waiting to get an optima before I built a hold down... that sped up progress!


the ground wire was the only thing that kept me from running it over. Got a real nice beefy hold down on there now... You have a nice battery tray, but for anybody else thinking about building one, think about what happens if it falls out! Most people are smart enough to make a hold down right away, but I got anxious...


BTW this thread has been a lie from day one! I wouldn't use your combo, but I wouldn't consider you a hackster... You are doing nice work here.

I over engineered the battery mount in my opinion in fear of it falling off the frame. I went by the NHRA Rule book and used that as my minimum. Their rules require that the battery mount be fastened with at least two 3/8" bolts. I used three 3/8" bolts with fender washers through the frame with washers on the other side of the frame as backup.

If you are interested, just buy one of these battery tray's, they are a nice piece and only $35.00

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/tgi-1 ... fgodEhsACQ

The name "Hackster" came from a long long time ago when I was much younger. I was not afraid to cut up anything and try something outside of the box, a few friends gave me the nickname and I signed up for a forum with it and it has stuck ever since. Its my screen name everywhere.

Got the rest of the fuel system fittings after work and picked up hardware for the fuel pumps. Finished running all the fuel lines last night and buttoned up the last few connections under the truck I think. Even went through and did some final tightening on some fittings at the rear of the fuel system, still need to snug up everything up top on the fuel side.

Hope to get some wiring inside the cab done tonight and hope my fittings show up for coolant and oil pressure so I can get them installed and wired up.

Only things left to wire are:

Starter 12v from ignition key. I do not think I need a relay or anything in here with the GM Starter solenoid built into the starter
12v power tie in from main shut off switch up to the ecu, its already in the cab just need to run it up the console and hook it up.
switched 12v to the computer
brake switch to computer
12v signal for volt guage
ground for engine block
headlights, turn signals and taillights need to be run under the fenders and probably extended to reach now.
Extend fuel level sender wires back to the new tank in the rear.

Its a pretty small list compared to the last 8 or so days of wiring in my opinion.

Getting closer to the first start...

Sean

[hackster]

Had a good friend of mine turn down the factory coolant temp sensor to fit the 12mm hole in the head. Turned out great, Scott always does great work.



Got the adapter for the oil pressure sender and the sender does not clear the intake manifold, picked up a 45 to get it to clear the manifold and got it all bolted up tonight and it all clears and even looks pretty stealthy for a big old factory sender.

Chopped up the dipstick that was supposed to be for a 4L80E, that the mount doesn't get even close to any hole....

Got it fit up tonight, will weld in the morning before I take it out to the powder coater tomorrow.

Sean

[jthulan]

I'm enjoying your thread here, nice work!

[trick]

Ok. I have been watching this build for a while now, and its funny that a lot of people are dissing the Chevy in a Ford idea. When the hottest thing the rodding world right now is rat rodding. Where one mixes parts from all deferent makes to make one hot rod work. This guy has a brilliant mind, and he is vary creative in his work. This truck is not only going to haul a Chevy in a Ford, but it will haul ass. I drive a Chevy to work, and also doing the cv swap swap in my 69 F100. Keep up the great work buddy. ROD ON!!!!

[hackster]

Thanks guys!! I appreciate the comments and for me its all about the build, I am not too particular what it originally came in, but what my finished product is when its all done.

Truck seems to be kind of turning out like an early model lightning, and I like it. Still need to order up proper wheels but I did go ahead and lay down some cash at LMC for lots of new parts, gaskets, seals, stuff to get the sheetmetal all put back together and a bunch of interior bits as well.

Not too much to report in the last few weeks prior to this but I did manage to get a tranny dip stick that did not work. Cut the mount off it and re welded it and sent it out for powdercoat. Got it back on Sunday and got it bolted on. Looks great all stealthy in the back corner.

Picked up the driveline from Driveline services on Friday and got it installed last night.

Met with a painter on Saturday as well to discuss the truck. We hatched a game plan and a date so it was go time.

Pulled the front clip all back off last night for a few final fitment issues and for some clean up painting. Painted the underside of the fenders to match the bottom of the cab. Painted the lower part of the firewall and the cab where the inner fender covers to give it a finished appearance.

Got the turbo gasket installed, bolted down the turbo for good. Installed the Wastegate and the downpipe as well.

Here are a couple of shots of what I have got so far. He wants the front inner fenders and core support on the truck and bolted down so he can hang the fenders and install the hood, hood hinges and all that jazz, so I have some work to do still.









I would like to have a couple good shots of it like this before I get the front sheetmetal back on but our three days of good spring weather looks to be gone until July now.....its rain everyday for the next 10 days.

Sean

[Maximus]

Beautiful work, I still cant get over how massive that turbo is!
I bet its probably nice to start seeing some sort of end in sight on fab work under the engine bay

[hackster]

Thanks for the kind words, I am very happy to be about done building stuff.

Well the last week has been a total whirlwind of work. Had to change a clutch and fix some stuff on the daily driver so that got done Thursday night. Much better.

I managed last week to get the bed all pulled off, welded up all the extra holes in the bed floor, finish up the gas filler door in the bed, get the bottom of the bed all cleaned up and painted as well. Cleaned up the bottom side of the front fenders and got them painted as well. Also pulled all the wheels off and installed new brake pads all around.

Yesterday was a great day. Had some friends come over and give me a hand with a ton of stuff.

Built a little aluminum shield to keep the spark plug wires away from the steering column,
Hooked up all the grounds, both from the harness to the motor and the motor to the chassis
extended and terminated fuel level sender wiring from cab to rear mounted tank
rebuilt entire rear chassis harness and sleeved in loom, installed in truck
re routed rear most fuel lines through rear crossmemeber to clean up fuel lines
removed parking brake assembly from cab of truck
completely gutted doors of truck for paint work
installed and routed transmission wiring harness
removed front core support bushings
installed new core support bushings
installed inner fenders with all new stainless button head hardware
installed core support, radiator and upper radiator hose
installed brake fluid, fixed all leaks and bled the brakes

got a ton of stuff done, got the bed back on for transport and hauled it off to the painter late last night.

Did not have much time to shoot pics yesterday but here is what we got done....and don't worry that hot side housing will be getting taken care of, that was like two minutes of rain that did that.









Aaron said that he is looking at about a month for the body and paint work. Should work good since I have some traveling to do this month and need to figure out what to do with this new dodge I bought....

Sean

[hackster]

Aaron is doing some kick ass work on the truck so far. Very happy with what he has done so far and its a long list.

Ended up shaving the stake pockets and pretty much all the other trim, bumper holes, side reflectors, antennae, emblems across the hood, the emblems on the side of the hood and any other crap that was there that was really unnecessary.

I am trying to keep it looking like just a really clean, cleaned up stock body and timeless. Keeping the door handles, locks and tailgate handle all in place and I am replacing all the seam sealer with new front to back.

Had an awesome day at the swap meet with my friends yesterday on my birthday.

Managed to snag a 3.50 31 spline posi third member for the truck there too. $300.00 Pretty good deal in my opinion.

I am hoping to get all of the wing windows rebuilt today with new seals and stuff today, drop off the rear bumper, door handles, locks, tailgate handle and a few other bits at the powder coater today.

Sorry no pics =)

Sean

[hackster]

Door Handles, tailgate handle, rear bumper, bumper bolts are all back from powdercoat and look great in the same silver. Rear bumper brackets also got the treatment in 20% gloss black powdercoat. John, the powdercoater I am using did a great job working with some old ***** parts, like the rear bezel and passenger door handle. They are not riddler car finish, but should look great on the truck.

I need to figure out a drivers mirror. I need to be able to pull the glass out of the mirror so that I can powdercoat it but have yet to figure out the best way to do it. Any suggestions?

So, I managed a trip out to Aarons to check on the truck, and maybe have a few cold beverages with him..

Truck looks good, its straight and I really like that. All body work is done, stake pockets welded up, antenna welded up, fuel filler door welded up all the holes in the bedside welded up, rear reflectors are gone. Truck got primer laid on it yesterday and it was drying when I stopped by.







Bed looks awesome compared to what it looked like when I dropped it off there. It had a lot of work done on it. Lots of blocking and sanding. Looks great without any trim, bumper holes, stake pockets or anything on it.







Jamb work will all get done on Monday and then Aaron is off to Rockabilly for a week. Looking forward to having it back.

Sean

[hackster]

Got another box of parts from LMC yesterday.

Has anyone on this board ever torn down a side mirror? I need to tear it all apart to get powdercoated, but have already destroyed one trying to get it apart and don't really want to break this brand new one.

Thanks,

Sean

[hackster]

Got an update from Chris and they are moving along. Jambs are painted. I think Aaron is back this week so progress should continue. Hope to have it back by the end of the month. Looks good so far.





Sean

[tylerb43]

Sean,

Holy crap man, that's an awesome project! Don't worry about the brand loyalty stuff. I'm definitely a Ford guy but hey - that's Hotrodding, and cool is cool. Just don't have Aaron splash a big bowtie down the side, and we're all good!

Your fab work is great. To have that much design freedom on a project has got to feel great, and to have that much help from your buddies?? Wow - how many of you are married? And thank you very much for sharing this with the bump crowd. Just because many of us don't comment as much as other boards, don't think we're not enjoying the hell out of your updates.

I've never torn down a mirror, but someone here may be able to help. Maybe post a pic of the mirror so everyone can see which type of mirror you're struggling with (there were a few on these trucks)

Keep it up, man - can't wait to see more!

Tyler

[hillcountryflt]

Read through this whole thread this afternoon. Fun watching what the more talented among us can do with parts and tools and skills (oh and forgot imagination). I would just be happy to make my 71 look somewhat like it did when it left the factory and run about the same. In my world imagination is going with two-tone vs. one color (:
Obviously the Corvette engine has changed a lot since the 1972 454 I had as a senior in high school.
Looking forward to see what the truck looks like when it is all together.
Did not recall much discussion about the interior. Anything special going on there?