Hoosier's 1984 Someday Driver

[1984RESTOMOD]

I have posted mechanical inquiries and updates to other threads but never took the time to create a detailed thread of my build so here I go.

In June of 2021 myself and a buddy took a 12 hour drive to Minerva, NY to pick up a project for myself to learn in depth auto mechanics, having only basic functional knowledge, while simultaneously building a 4x4 hunting/farm rig - paid approximately $1200 for it (travel expenses included). It was a mostly stock 2.8L V6 with the TK5 trans/BW1350t-case combo and I say mostly because it had some backwoods custom options and a 3" body lift. It was used as a plow truck around the owners property until it spun a bearing in 2014 and was parked.

This was it all loaded up ready to head back Indiana way.

The beginning stages of the teardown - wasn't real clear on an end goal but I knew what I did not want so I started stripping it down.

I got to this stage and found the passenger coil tower had rusted through the frame sidewall so I continued and sent it to sandblast.

POR-15 matte chassis paint and UV top coat on all frame and suspension assemblies

Took a Dana 35 from a 1992 ranger and an 8.8 posi from a 1996 exploder

Bought a 302 reman long block and dressed it up. Holley Off-Road Avenger 670CFM carb with ready to run Holley distributor and some other goodies i.e. Performer intake, shorty water pump for radiator clearance, remote oil filter

Trans acquired - ZFS5-42 wide ratio for badass granny gear purposes then slapped a BW4406 behind it

I bought a house that has a barn containing a 4 post lift so I moved it home from the farm and started locating the motor and assembling the drivetrain. I was thrilled to find that the original trans crossmember located perfectly so i was hopeful for shifter location in the trans tunnel. HERE is a thread of the whole shit show.

I picked up a BW1356 for free but had major clearance issues so I opted for a manual shift BW4406 and converted the shaft to accept a mechanical speedometer drive gear to retain my factory speedo instrument.

BW4406 Electric to Mechanical Speedome

The check ball pocket that holds the drive gear on BW1356 (shaft diameter is the same for BW4406) Measurement of 1/4 check ball above the output shaft and distance from retainer clip to center of pocket Into the Bridgeport. 1/4 carbide drill to a depth that the ball sits .085” above output...

www.therangerstation.com

Picked up a donor bed, cab, and quarter panels from Middlebury, IN because NY had not been fair to my OE body.

With the 3" body lift clearance in the trans tunnel was great

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Accessory system is a CVF racing All-Inclusive 8 Rib Serpentine system with alternator, power steering, and A/C

Here she sits today - so much accomplished with so much more to do...my someday driver.

 

[pentode]

Wow, great score, impressive ambition and well executed. Keep it going. That’s gonna be a very nice truck.

 

[1984RESTOMOD]

Wow, great score, impressive ambition and well executed. Keep it going. That’s gonna be a very nice truck.

Thank you - I look forward to continuing this thread and meeting people from this community who have helped me along the way. It's a labor of love and love of labor that keeps me going.

 

[19Walt93]

The left exhaust manifold points straight back, on my 93 that put the mainfold outlet an inch from the firewall so I had to find something different. I got a pair with C6AZ ID numbers and I think 289 Hipo mnifolds would have worked, too.
Great looking workmanship on the build.

 

[1984RESTOMOD]

Got my driveshafts today and bolted them up in there - a smokin deal from Patterson Driveline in Waverly, IN.

 

[Awesom-O]

This is gonna be a great build man!