Update for this week. Well I've done a lot but not enough in the past couple weeks. First I shortened the steering column, welded in the floor brace for the column and hooked up the steering shaft to make sure everything turns correctly. Surprisingly it did. I also painted the steering column Satin Black, and removed all the trim from it. After getting the column holder off my dad I installed it and it looks great.

I got all kinds of stuff in the mail also. So far I have the wheels, wiring harness, Summit HEI distributor, Many books, and a few other things. We installed the Lokar shifter, and I cut the hole in the trans cover to fit.

Bed work was done as well. All kinds of crazy stuff was going on.

Well anyway look at the pics and see the sweet pinup I found in my truck.

Here are some pics of the steering situation that had me slightly depressed. I couldn't clear the headers and I could bare another universal joint on the setup so I opted to move the column over one inch. So instead of cutting a another hole I cut a huge piece out and then ended up welding a replacement in and cutting a new hole. Yeah I took the long way around. After that I popped the pin off the column shifter, drilled new mounting holes and hooked up my semi non permanent bracket so it is where it is. So hopefully I can get the column holder this weekend off my dad, then I'll be able to set the steering shaft where I want it and cut the new shaft to correct sizing. Yeah I was smart enough to wait on that. So other than that just look at the pics and see the beauty of what is making three cars work like one. Oh and ryan gave it the Weston's thumbs up. Also sweet pic of the new or sligtly used soda machine from the last auction we went to. Melissa was a high bidder and she is the proud owner of this sweet machine.









Here are some pics of the parts I've picked up within the last couple days. Nothing big. Just some rims and a lokar shifter. Cannot wait to see them put in, everything this weekend hopefully except the rims, I had to send two back due to a mistake with the rear axl. It's a dodge rear axle and not the caprice one as originally stated. So Now I sent back the 15X8 on the rear to be replaced with the 15X7 rims with the correct bolt pattern. Good times, good times.





This is Sam one of the garage cats. He is usually walking over boxes and selling his bullshit on the side of the street. But We took him and his friend in to take care of them and nurse them back to health. They were downstairs until today and now they have moved into my kitchen. Since old man winter is boning us with the frosty bit, They'll stay there until they go back to frackville.

So here's the upadate. I'm still working ont he bed, aslo working ont he steering, and shift linkage. Found out through some research that the tranny is a 200 R4. Made the same time as the 700 R4 but was phased out after the 700 was upgraded. Both were good trans, but the 700 can take more abusive or so I've read. Seems like everyone has an opinion to one thing or another. I've read so much crap ont he internet just trying to figure out what type of trans it was and how my shft linkage can work and a bunch of other nonsense. It's all correlated to what I'm doing, but when you start seeing conflicting arguments in forums on how to hook up the rear drive shaft and pinion angles, it can be like watching two drunk dudes fight it out while smoking cigarettes behind the propane tanks. yeah pointless.

So anyway, I reserved tomorrow to get a bunch of shit done, but of course I need stuff to get shit done. So Until I have I have the steering, shift linkage, and rear axl hoked up, there's no real point to working on the body. Feeling really down about it right now, haven't a clue what to do.

Good part of the past couple weeks, is that Melissa bought me some really f'in sweet rims for it, and I went to an auction to get some parts and came home with a sander and a bunch of moon hubcaps. They are cool. I also have all my steering parts except the column holder which is being made by my dad. So that should be done soon. I've not been liking the shift linkage I have adapted to the truck so i bought a sweet old skool LOKAR floor shift. Comes with everything that will hopefully fix my problems. It's a little bit of money, but I've wanted one super bad. I figure why not.

Well we'll see what is happening tomorrow. I hope to work on it most of the day but who knows...

Soup to Nuts! No not those nuts. Here are some pics of the bed being turned back into a bed. Not much else to say about that. Ryan did some welding on it, and everything turned out just fine. Also got the U-joints for the drive shaft and cleaned that up. No problem, wire wheel, a little sanding action did this thing just fine. Anyway enjoy the pics more to come hopefully. Alright.

Ok, Ok so I'm lazy. Here is the long awaited update from the past couple weeks. I'm trying to pack a lot of info into all my two fingertips can type out. Alright here we go. These first pics are of my floor. I've covered it in rubberized coating, yeah that's it.



Here are some pics of the full truck. I had to stick the door back on to get a good line to position the bed on. It's all about the lines. hahaha yeah anyway here are some other pics of the truck. These were taken while a lady with two giant dogs looked in at me. Think about it, a bearded bald dude, in bibs taking random pictures. yeah that's what i thought...





Finally I cut the bed down about a foot and am in the process of welding the posts back onto the bed. time consuming. I used the cross braces from the Dakota bed that I got with the truck parts, and welded them onto the bed. I lost some depth, but the damn truck is channeled and I really could care less. I don't see this hauling much except parts for itself. And maybe some people around during a cruise or two. Well here is is in all it's glory.





So all in all a pretty productive time since the last update. Other things that have been in the works. I ordered and received all steering materials needed to make this thing steer. I need to fabricate a steering column holder so that I can go about fitting the steering shafts and u-joints. It should be another project that takes a little to finalize, but it should turn out ok. Next big expense is going to be the wiring harness, but well worth the cost. Till next time, fingers and toes, (thanks melissa)

Here are some pics of the seat fitted as well as the dash in. We were looking at the steering setup and it needs to be tweaked, so pics too come. enjoy.

Here are some pics of the Finished floor. It was done last week, but I was too forgetful to take the camera over and get some pics. The only thing that needs done is the boxes on either side. Little boxes for tools or what not.

This week has been -4˚ so now work as of yet. I do need to head over tonight and fix some things on the floor. But all in do time.

Ryan and I started the Tunnel, and Kyle and I got a lot more done last night. All I have to do tonight is fabricate where it meets the firewall and we should be good to go. I hope to have this done and get the floor buttoned up tonight. I made a goal of getting it done by feb. 1st, and I hope I can do it. But overall it looks really good. and I'm proud of all the help I got and the work everyone has put into it. Thanks you guys.

Fun with fitting the seat.
Ryan and I had a few laughs. hahahahahaha stop it.

Ryan started stripping the bed.

Here are pics of the floor as of 1/25/07. I cannot seem to grasp the progession of the floor, but hopefully the viewers can.

Engine, 305

Looking away from the welder, cause again it hates me.

Kyle welding cause The welder hates me.

Melissa assembling the tool cart. Her fine craftsman gloves, and ratchets in hand. Soon she'll be grinding working and welding ont he truck. wooooohhahahahahhahahahahah.

Melissa's pic of Kyle and I working ont he floor. Such a great pic and a great photographer.

The Heater that makes me sweat, and keeps the garage warm. 55k BTU. Like a little rocket.

Here's Kyle's completely B.A. Scout. He too has a bunch of work ahead of him. Yes We'll be in the garage for a long time.

Here's some pics of the finished structure for the inside. Finished welding in the foot braces last night, so now I can focus on fitting the seat and skinning the floor.