Cool that you got it reviewed. Can we maybe toss some factory color at the access panel?
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Cool that you got it reviewed. Can we maybe toss some factory color at the access panel?
It's actually factory paint underneath rattle can bedliner. Not real impressed with how it's held up. I'm sure the next time I swap a fuel pump, I'll spill gas all over. Thereby stripping half of it off. Then I'll be forced to clean the remainder off.
You know I don't care about how it looks!
In this area..that truck is in mint condition. We would treat that truck with nothing but love and care with a perfect clean body and undercarriage.
It's funny how your perspective changes. When I lived in Michigan, I would have killed for a rust free truck like this one. But here, they're the norm. I don't feel bad about hacking a hole in the bed. If it did eventually bother me, I could probably get another box off a Craigslist part out for a couple hundred dollars. In fact, future plans include cutting the hood to let the heat out during the hottest part of summer. Then getting another hood for the other 8 months out of the year. I can get a junkyard hood for under $50, and there's always S10's, Sonoma's, Jimmy's and Blazers in the yard. White is super common too.
On the flip side of that, I can't buy a simple LM7 drop out for less than $1200, where you guys out east would probably pay $600-$800. Supply and demand. We have to wait for a truck to be totaled before we can get the engine. Out there, you just wait around until the truck gets too rotten to drive.
So I'm changing directions on the trans cooler. The bed mount would have been cool and all, but didn't really fit the overall cheap/simple theme of this truck. I may revisit it if I have to, but I'm going to try something else first. Plus it was heavy as frigg.
I got a Tru-Cool M7B 20,500 BTU cooler. It's the next size down from the H7B. I'm mounting it in the front and running it in line with the radiator cooler. It's crammed in there, but everything clears fine. I know you're not supposed to mount them with the ports on the bottom, but I didn't have much choice. It's so tight in there. My plan is to run the engine with the cooler unmounted and ports up to purge the air out then mount it again.
Just waiting on a couple AN fittings and some hose and it should be good to go.
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Box truck and van I run with ports down, with the fluid pressure I doubt anything stays long
You know... That's a good point. Walking through the yard, I saw multiple trucks with factory coolers with the ports down:
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Just seems odd that the instructions would specifically say not to mount it with ports down... I dunno. I'm going to run with it. Shrug.
I did find this gem at the yard:
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Yes! A factory AM/FM stereo!
Here it is after a little cleanup:
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Turned out really nice. I love that factory look. That's where the good news ends. If you are this guy, I don't like you:
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Buy the $10 adaptor!!
Time to get out the iron and solder and heat shrink tube...
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But, after all that work, I'm happy with how it looks, and it even works!
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Saw this guy on the way out too.
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Notice the Sonoran plates? Came all the way from Mexico.
Well, I finally made some passes at the track. Had a great time. Definitely going to do it again!
Time slips in order:
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14.0 is the fastest you're allowed to go without a helmet and driveshaft loop. So, that 13.972 was it for the night.
bishing
Each pass the 60 foot improved, if you could get a sub 2 second 60 foot this is basement 13's in my eyes.
Needs moar traction.
Oops. Forgot to add the beauty shot.
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yeah, we need to see that number so we know the time slips aint fakes lol
Wholeheartedly agree. I kinda feather footed it off the line, just to avoid spinning. Got a little braver each time. Still pretty happy considering it was my first time out. Drag radials and wheels are in the shopping cart. Just waiting on the funds.
Haha! I guess that thought hadn't even crossed my mind. I know I'm a dork, but it did feel kinda cool rolling through the grocery store parking lot with the number on there.
I see those numbers and think someone just bought it at a auction.
-6an union arrived yesterday. Inline trans cooler is plumbed in. Had one gusher leak where the -6an x 1/2" NPT 90° went into the cooler. Re-taped and all is well so far. Ambient temps are supposed to be over 90° before the weekend, so we shall see how it does. For reference, I usually see trans temps around 220° after a 20 minute drive. I'd be thrilled to keep them under 190° in traffic.
I took zero pictures. I was in a mad thrash to just get it done. I don't like it when the truck is bleeding.
Sooo what got better?
I'm glad you asked!
As of late, I've gotten the tune dialed in. WOT PE looks good, and I can stab or roll the pedal at any MPH to WOT without tagging the limiter. Got rid of that gaudy Wal-Mart CD player and replaced it with a genuine ACDelco AM/FM receiver to enhance that stock/sleeper feel. And most recently, got the auxiliary trans cooler plumbed. A quick trip to grab groceries confirmed no leaks.
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i want that black bow tie.. that come on it? or you make that better too? lol