alwaysFlOoReD's race truck

nice work

Thanks for all the positive comments, they keep me going

I have an electric t-case that wasn't working so I ordered the Shiftster1 and installed it.http://theshiftster.com/how-use-shiftster-users-guide Great quality and as simple to install as they say. I know cause I forgot the installation sheet at home when I went to install it, and it only took a couple of tries to get it correct. The only quibble I have is they don't have a neutral detente for flat towing so I added one, the silver dot is drilled so it just catches;

A pic of the top of the shock mounts showing the ribbing, it seems to work as there was no deformation;

A pic of the brake line rerouting I had to do. These flex lines don't have a place for the line that goes to the passenger side so you have to add a three hole fitting and a 8" line. Also I added a spring from the flex line to the top of the coil bucket to avoid rubbing through it with the tire;

I added some anti fatigue padding from Costco to the seat as my bones are feeling my age.

I put two layers on the bottom and one for the back

Tidied up the wiring;

It seemed to work as nothing hit me in the face;

The Highriders club were having their meet, up for grabs was a spot at the King of the Hammers. This is the only pic I got as I was to busy working on my truck;

I'll post some more when I get some from others that weren't as busy.
I'll be installing the hood and fenders and box sides right away, i just didn't have time. A pic of the gunge that was on the hood, the rest of the truck was the same;

I ended up working on the truck out at the track pretty much the whole time I wasn't racing. I welded in seat belt mounts, a new passenger brake line, swapped out the rear shocks for some 'new' ones, added rear bump stops from an '89 cavalier[?]. The bump stops didn't work so well, I'll have to do some trimming.

Richard

time and money spent

I thought I would list a running total of my time and money spent, I also posted this info in my first post for those who don't read the whole thread;
Time ~ 204 hrs
Parts;
'90 stx ranger ~ C$200
'87 stx highrider ranger [flat of beer] ~ C$45 C$245

safety related
cage - pro built C$2000 C$2,245
driving suit - new C$345 C$2,590
helmet - new C$145 C$2,735
alum. seats-used (2) C$300 C$3,035
window net - new C$50 C$3,085
fuel cell - new C$200 C$3,285
fuel cell - a/n fittings C$105 C$3,390
fuel cell - low pressure pump C$105 C$3,495
5 point harness - used C$25 C$3,520
master kill switch + elec. misc. C$75 C$3,595
50' 2/0 wire (used jumper cables-homemade) C$25 C$3,620
__________________________________________________ ____

truck related

rebuilt calipers and pads C$90 C$3,710
shocks - 6 pr used - traded for one aluminum seat (C$150) C$3,710
mig wire C$70 C$3,780
shock mounting C$50 C$3,830
grade 8 bolts, etc. C$50 C$3,880
wd-40, zip discs C$35 C$3,915
fan belt C$30 C$3,945
rad flush + fluid C$30 C$3,975
sandblasting frame C$75 C$4,050
tube 1"x1"x10' C$10 C$4,060
brake flex line C$80 C$4,170
brake hose flex line - f-150 C$20 C$4,190
brake fluid, fuel inj. cleaner, misc. C$20 C$4,210
brake hose 60" hard line, hose locks C$15 C$4,225
sway bar bushing kit C$25 C$4,250
oil pressure switch, oil filter, vacuum caps C$20 C$4,270
elec. solder,fuses, misc. elec. C$40 C$4,310
misc. hose and wire clamps C$25 C$4,335
self-etching primer C$90 C$4,425
fuel; line, filters and menders C$45 C$4,470
fire ext., air filter, bulbs C$35 C$4,505
spark plugs, wires, and MORE filters C$105 C$4,610
anti fatigue mat for seat C$15 C$4,625
wire C$5 C$4,630
It looked a whole lot neater [in columns] when I wrote it out before posting.
I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out for under C$5,000
Richard
edit; I forgot tires; 29 8.50/15 tsl super swampers - mounted and balanced-C$500 C$5130
almost under C$5000

I love this truck, Whats next?

I haven't had time to look at it since the race. I've been catching up on things I ignored the previous 2 months. I'll be giving it a going over, see if my welds held . Want to add 2 shocks to the rear, and if I have time, do the 64" chevy spring swap and shackle flip. Also add 1 more shock to the front as well as the front sway bar. We'll see.
Richard

when is the next race?

Sat. July 31
Not a lot of time!!!
Richard

Started on putting the front end together/on;

The bolt holes don't line up in most cases going from '87 to '91. Oh well, less bolts=less weight

Cut the braces out;

Button it up tomorrow, then start on the box. I'm going to try to mount the stock '87 bumpers as well as the bush bumper[maybe, maybe not]. I'm going for the '80's 'look', if there is one. Any one have a visor they would like to donate to the cause? Cracks are O.K. as long as the mounts are reasonable.I'll pay shipping up to C$25.00.
Time 5 hrs, zip discs-5@$1.00=$5.00
Thanks,
Richard

Awesome build!

sweet, i like it, ive always wanted to race something like this, i was into circle track racing for a while... thats a blast, but someday ill def have to do this..

Still have to do the bumper but here's a pic as it sits now;
I salvaged some wire mesh and put it in the center and some light gauge white aluminum to fill the light pockets. If I have time I'll fill in the four holes along the bottom with mesh as well. Now to do the bumper then the box!I think I'll draw some eyes in where the lights go. Anyone want to draw some in to give me ideas?
Richard

I've been working on the front end the last few days and thought I'd post up my hours; about 20 hrs and $10.00 in zip discs. I took a 2nd gen bumper and cut the sides off so it looks more like a 1st gen bumper. This accomplishes two things; 1] goes with the 1st gen body, 2] the rules say the bumpers have to be built so they won't snag or interlock with another. I didn't get pics yet.
Also, today I spent 8 hrs on the back end of the truck; Removed stock frame shock mounts,




In order to get the shocks off, I had to move the fuel cell. I should have had it mounted over to the passenger side 2".
Built new mounts for axle and frame, welded on to axle plate;

As long as I had the plate off, I figured it was a good idea to remove the stock 3.5" lift block

Spent an hour figuring how to mount these;

They are bump stops from a '89 cavalier? buick? can't quite remember. The same car I took the rad and fans from. Anywho...
The shocks mounted on the bottom and mocked in place on top;



You might not have caught it but the drivers tire is a 29x8.50x15 Interco Super Swamper and the passenger tire is a 31x10.50x15 MT Baja Claw. I was checking clearances.
I hope to have the box sides done for the race next weekend, and the rear bumper as well.
Later,
Richard

I forgot to mention the two trips to the auto parts place because I forgot to buy u-bolts for both sides of the axle time one hour/cost C$30.00
Richard

It turns out that this past weekend was a test and tune. The big weekend is this next one. We'll be racing at Castrol Raceway;
http://www.castrolraceway.com/
This is a new venue and should be quite a thrill as we will be racing at half time during the MONSTER TRUCK MADNESS!!!
I also picked up another sponsor; Bulldog Scrap Metals, Red Deer, AB. Canada 1-403-347-5841

I got my front end and box finished enough to go to the test and tune. Only two trucks were able to make it, mine and Chuck's. Here's a pic of mine in front of the start line of the drag-strip;

Only pic of mine on the track;

Here's a few more pics of my truck during construction;



I had a few problems that I sorted out at the track, the biggest of which was the overheating. Chuck finally noticed that the fan clutch was spinning freely after going for a run. I grabbed some metal left over cutting from the wheel wells on the box [which I did while sitting at the track with nothing else to do]. I drilled two holes in a thin strip of the metal and joined the fan and clutch together, one bolt to the fan, and one bolt to fan clutch. Problem solved.
I had to buy another spark plug wire kit as I had two burn through from lying on the exhaust. C$55.00
Found a few other things to fix as well;
small leak on fuel line
reroute vent hose on fuel cell
re-attach muffler, it fell off
r+r rad arm bushings on drivers side, they got beat and the solid plastic one is cracked
All in all, it was a really fun and productive time. Hopefully all the problems have been found and dealt with for the upcoming race.
Wish me luck,
Richard

Good luck