New guy with yet another 85 720 (MetalFab Build Thread)

[flinterman2000]

Yeah. It takes a lot of stress off you. No unnecessary force and no cursing.

[MetalFab]

I should have known better, dealing with expansion and contraction on almost a daily basis welding at school. I'll keep that in mind next time. I was talking with a friend who installed poly bushings on the back of his mazda pickup and what finally worked for him was to boil them in water for a bit, this was to expand the inner diameter of the bushing to accept the bolt sleeve, but much the same idea only backward.

I made some progress today. Truck was running worse than usual and I couldn't think of anything else to do other than replace the carb and dizzy. So while I was in the parts store nearest class picking up oil and filter I decided to grab 3' of vac line to all together replace the 2 short pieces and metal tube that wraps around the motor. 5 seconds later tada! idle dropped down to 1k and it purred like a kitten. Drove all around town with no change, even gained a bit of pep I didn't realize I had lost. The only difference is it tached up to 1500 rpm when I got home (2500' elevation difference) I hosed several cans of carb cleaner in the engine compartment and never found that leak, perhaps it was in the metal itself *shrug* likely not though.

Again, like clockwork. I take one step forward and another back. The slight exhaust I couldn't exactly trace for days ended up being the collector just under the exhaust manifold. Today just after the truck started running better the crack decided to eject a chip of steel and what was a very slight ticking noise has become a rather loud noise indeed. I'll harass the neighbor tomorrow about borrowing his gmaw box and get it all zipped up tight.. again. LoL! At least I can say none of my welds are breaking. I just think my mounts are too rigid to allow the motor the slight amount of movement it wants to make even with good motor mounts o.O



My apologies for repeating myself often, it just helps me to keep thinking about what still needs to be done. One of these days I'll start replacing instead of just repairing. Ditching the cat and doing a full header and back exhaust system would be optimum.

Progress. I hope my milage improves! Although I think it's just as hard if not harder to move those 31's than to hit higher rpm's on the 215's. *facepalm*

[MetalFab]

The neighbor is a retired diesel mechanic with a much better eye than me when it comes to vehicles. I talked to him about my front end not working out even though I've replaced everything and he immediately pointed out the places where the truck was mangled in a wreck. I knew that the suspension was hammered and someone tried rewelding the compression rod frame horn but it seems the damage goes much further than that. The lca bushing mount is tweaked, that part of the frame is bent back some. The left tire sits about an inch or two back from the right. What I thought was the lower control arm being tweaked was something a bit worse. My left lca bushing is already starting to spit it's rubber out. He seems to think we could heat up the frame and tweak it forward but thats just his "I'll tackle anything" attitude. I'd rather save my money for a little while and go the route I should have taken in the first place--SAS this rig! And find me another 720 to throw this lift under, preferably a KC.

It doesn't look like I'll be buying brand new tires anytime soon lol. But I'll stick to my old motto-drive it till it's dead. I just need the truck to last another year, 25-30k miles and I should be able to afford a newer DD. But I'll work on something else as a backup in the meanwhile. Lol watch me look for a reason to do nothing and let my truck wear tires out so a year from now I can finally sas my rig.. Something really wrong about that o.O Guess I just don't really want to chase this jacked up suspension around anymore. It's not as bad as it was before yet I'll probably replace that lca bushing again before I move onto the next phase.

[MetalFab]

Adjusted the toe while I was waiting for the truck to cool down enough for an oil change. The right side was pretty far off if my measurements were correct. I now have it set at 1/8" toe in. Anyone know if thats correct? Of course I forget to read the manual again, as I have so much homework I barely have time to do the things I want to. Thats what I get for holding my general ed classes until the last two semesters.

Anyway, right after I finished the oil change and went to fire it over to circulate and get a final level check and the truck ran for 5 seconds and quit. I have this issue sometimes in the morning, or after shutting off the truck for a short time and then trying to drive up to the house etc. Turns out it IS the choke, which is likely setup to detect from one of the vac lines I've removed. I finally had enough with it and tied it open and the truck purrs. Seems like that butterfly is closing way too much and cutting off all air unless the throttle is opened over half way.

I had thought to change it over to manual but why go to all that hassle? Couldn't I just wire it to a switch and kick it on in the mornings just until it warms up? I need to investigate what it is in the carb that makes a ticking sound similar to the electric fuel pump, or if there's anything else to this carb that needs to stay wired up, as the truck has stalled out on me before when I had the large circle connector unplugged (and I almost got tboned by a semi) This is next on my list of things to figure out, and a weber is out of the question for the time being.

Also on the list is a valve adjustment. It's easy enough for me to find tdc on a VW but it seems my pulley doesn't have marks. This will also fix my last oil leak which is the rubber half circle at the back of the valve cover. (1/2 quart in alittle over 3k miles isn't too bad at all considering) Oh, and the oil pan gasket is still holding =) never usually have luck with em.

I'll see how it runs in the morning, early enough to adjust the toe again if I find myself wandering all over the road. The best part about this lift is being able to roll around under the truck on a creeper! No jack stands here.

[MetalFab]

One of these days I'll find that matching right rear wheel.

[synack7350]

she looks pretty mean fab

[MetalFab]

Thanks Synack. Found a parking spot at school the other day next to a jacked up yota 86-88 with ifs, same setup I have but it had a body lift and brand new bfg mt 33's >.< Didn't make me feel tall anymore. I immediately started planning a body lift and raising the bed lol. Love it when my imagination runs away from me. However, I'm moving onto other projects with the truck and like it almost the way it is. Now that it doesn't bottom out on speed bumps, or the ridge in the middle of washed out roads, I can move on to more utilitarian projects(which still include the truck, of course) with an aim to legitimize my forum name.

[synack7350]

you wouldn't happen to have a bridgeport mill kickin around would you? haven't found a machine shop around here yet, and don't have a mill or bender myself. Really want some custom door sill running boards fabbed.

[MetalFab]

I wish! I've been wanting to get hired on at the local machine shop but my hours conflict. I've a good chance of picking up a tigging job there this summer and they have pretty much everything one could work with. Although I'd much rather have a lathe and mill at home (wouldn't everyone?) but thats my 5 year goal, to have a functional garage with most of the tools I'll need to do some serious custom work. What I need is to make friends with a couple old timer fabricators/hot rodders and learn the tricks.

[MetalFab]

New toy, needed something quick to help lift engine blocks etc to make a few bux at the metal yard. A harbor freight special which has already paid for itself. After throwing two sbc blocks in my truck the other day I said enough was enough. I can't afford to blow a disk or 3. Oh, and the mounting is not permanant, not even short term. I'll be hunting for scrap iron on monday.

[captainzeros]

awesome, I've always been jealous of those cranes.

[MetalFab]

I've decided to clean up this mess finally, and I'm only keeping the projects that are worth building. Couple of reasons I'm posting anything here about it is because the money I make from scrapping vehicles will end up going into this rig and/or another 720, KC this time =) I'm scrapping at least one of the 620's after pulling all usable parts from it. I have a few older motors and no idea whats in that 510? 520? early 70's trashed datsun way out on the back 9. I'll be keeping anything I find that others on the forums might want. The idea is to make enough at the salvage yard to buy/build a car trailer and to SAS this nissan. Car trailer is a must to start really pulling in cash for projects around here as supposedly the price of metal is about to double.

I have a 14 bolt rear end, and want to find a dana 60 or 70 for the front that I can narrow.

This rigs about to become something terrible once I am no longer a brokea$$ student.

[MetalFab]

Scrounged the iron for the hoist mount today. Not enough daylight to get anything proper done! Tore out 4 planks in the bed and got a good look at some booger welds and shoddy wiring. Actually most of the welds have great fusion and the bed is solidly made. I'm contemplating on looking for some scrap diamondplate and sinking a toolbox into the rear section. The only requirement will be that it can withstand serious abuse; logs, motors, etc. Think 1/4 inch would be up to the task? Gotta be steel for sure, and I can use much smaller stuff for the rest of the box. The only nice thing about the PT wood planks is that nothing slides around on it, I can throw one strap across just about anything and know that it won't shift.

[synack7350]

stainless ?

[MetalFab]

Tackled the mount for the hoist using the neighbors .030 mig, not exactly the best tool to try to wet into 1" plate with but it holds. Threw a sbc long block in the bed tonight with the boom at full extension. I just don't see myself actually ever trying to lift 1k lbs with this thing. Anyway, I'll probably throw in a cover pass with 7018 if I feel the need to. I love to overbuild!




Going to pick up some black paint tomorrow and probably re coat the entire bed. I've been wanting to paint the front bumper and all that for a while now. Perhaps I'll even make the mirrors match! lol in color at least, if not in shape.

[numbernobody]

I'm pretty positive that you have the best 720 4x4 build thread online. Finally, there is a photographed build of that suspension lift kit. Can't wait til i can afford it. Anyway, I've been working on my steering and I can't find a new steering donut or wafer or flap or whatever you call that rubber disc you replaced. Where did you get yours? Also, I bought a pickle fork to separate the tie rod ends from the steering knuckle on the back of the wheel; the first one came off great but it shaved some material off the fork making it impossible to get the second one tie rod on the other end. Plus, now the tie rod or the boot and all that crap are messed up and busted. I don't think another pickle fork or even a small puller will work anymore. Any ideas?
Thanks for all your threads and the advice.

[MetalFab]

a puller is the only other option I can think of, there are several types, the manual showed one I'd never seen before that was like a pickle fork and press/clamp together and looked like it could get into tight places. Not sure what is fouling you up but if you hammered on the threaded end like I did and no longer are able to center a puller you can hit it with a center punch and use a drill to clean up the surface and give the puller a centering locator.

[MetalFab]

Visio posted a link in this thread on the napa universal steering donut thing, my bad for missing that earlier.

I've been caught up in school and loading the truck with scrap every night. Had a whole karamannghia on the back minus motor, glass, and a few other pieces. Just cut the rear fenders off flush with the firewall and the nose hung off the bed 3-4 feet lol. That was pushing my weak rear springs to their limit at 1400 lbs.

I have new rear shackles made just an inch longer. I need to find more material to make some adjustable shackles. Still need to pull the springs off a trashed cut up datsun before I haul it off for scrap. Then I'll post up that project.

Wiring up the garage w/220v soon as my student loan shows up (should have been today, yet someone dropped the ball) Will be nice to have enough amps to run a compressor and welder.

Just playing the waiting game for now. Soon as I get the last few things worked out on this truck I'll move on to a few other projects. Need to get a tow rig and trailer. At 3600 lbs this truck is not legal for towing anything over 6k and the trailer I have weighs almost as much as the truck itself >.< Still really not sure where laws stand on 3 axle trailers with a class C license. Supposedly you can tow up to 26k with a 2 axle trailer if it's built well enough, but can only tow 6k gvwr (including trailer weight) with a 3 axle trailer with a class c license. I have a mind just to remove one of the axles on my trailer and go with it.

Anywho, on my list I still have the rear springs, weber carb, and chasing down the slop in my front suspension. Ordered overload springs as an overkill to my stacked springs lol, also ordered new LED tail lights.

Havn't done any painting as the weather is crappy (lots of snow) but I did get the wiring done out back, a 4 prong plug mounted in the bed.

Also picking up 2 feet of angle iron to make a tow package hitch reciever fit the frame. Hoping to tackle that project monday with the plasma cutter and T1 flux core mig at school. The hitch in the bed is far too high. No one makes more than an 18" (or so) drop hitch for a reason.

a pic of one of my lighter loads

work truck! now to get the bed back together lol.

and a pic of what my tail lights look like now for future refrance.

[MetalFab]

LoL oh yea here's a few of the hoist in action. I've since broken the boat-puller style winch. The latch that holds the tension on the line is now bent and not holding up well. Oh well, I wanted to throw a 12v 2 ton winch on it anyway.



rofl look at that truck lean! The left tire was buried in the bed. Both motors came out to 1200lbs. I'm thinking that big block was 700 itself. Planning on building an outrigger to support most of the weight and stop possible bending of the bed. Not to mention it's far easier to spin a motor around if the bed is level.

[synack7350]

lol that's awesome. man you guys get pounded with snow, so glad i don't live in that crap anymore.

[MetalFab]

Not too bad up here in nor cal. it was 70 degrees last week, a storm blew in and dropped about a foot, and then the sun is back out today melting it off. I had alittle too much fun out in it the other day diving into pullouts, smashing through 2 foot berms and doing donuts. This winter has been a let down so far, I'm used to getting a few feet of snow that melts down, turns to ice, and stays there all winter waxing and waning as more snow comes in. No fun when you live in the hills, or when you're sporting a stock rig that just doesn't have the ground clearance to get above the snow. That was the main reason I got this truck running instead of a 2wd >.< Well it's already been worth it just from the fun factor of playing in snow, pulling logs, hauling cars, and overall my fav would be hitting trails while out lookin for firewood. One of these days when I can afford to break my truck I want to go play in the rocks.

[synack7350]

yeah looks like you were having a good time with it. I finally got my rig running straight whew... I was getting really frustrated with it for a while. when I get this truck completely finished i'm going to get me a '86 bronco to start building for playing. get it all lifted and crazy 4x4 awesome. its big enough to haul the whole fam damily up the side of a mountain.

[MetalFab]

My first 4x4 was a 76 k5 blazer, blew 3 trannies and 2 motors in it, after the 3rd trans I gave up on it and gave the motor (which was nice enough to blow 2 trannies) to visio. I got away from the full sized v8's when gas broke 2 bux a gallon. I still have the blazer and it's in good shape cosmetically. I've kept it for one of those *someday* projects. It needs something bigger than a small block and half ton axles.

My neighbors ended up moving and downsizing and left me all of their tools. Bench grinders, sander, small bandsaw (wood, although I think I could do small metal with it) and a shopsmith... one of those all in one lathe, drill, etc... I'm crapping my pants right now, this stuff just doesn't happen to me. The list of stuff they left is endless.. machine and drill bits, heavy duty shelving, steel, aluminum.. No chunks of metal just odds and ends really, But I hope to be turning out parts and pieces soon as the reality sinks in a bit.

So my rear spring stack is on hold for a little longer while I try to get things organized. Still picking up new tail lights this weekend. I modified a bolt on hitch to fit the truck, pics to come on that.

[synack7350]

that's awesome, ready to make me some custom door runners? ehh they prolly didn't leave you a bender, and a mill.

yeah the bronco definitely won't be a daily driver with the cost of gas ouch... just a fun got 60 bucks to spend lets fill her up and hit the mountain trails.

that reminds me I still need to do something with my tow hitch. Its an eyesore, I'd just delete it since I don't exactly have a tow rig, but you never know might wanna hook up a trailer. I guess if I can find some one with a stick welder I could delete it and then weld up the hardware for a pinned hitch that I can remove.

[MetalFab]

Ends up it's a mill as well, a smithy. It's been lightly used, everything feels tight. The two lathes I've had experience with were majorly sloppy. These guys used it to hollow out coins and all sorts of wierd stuff for their magic business. I can't wait to get things organized and go through the few books I found on machine work. Really want to narrow down full size axles, make intake adapters, exhaust manifold plates, disc brake brackets.. the list will never end. Give me some time and I'll get some 720 projects underway.

Shame I can't mill myself out some new tires though, my fronts are balding + snow + crazy steep mountain roads = some pretty interesting slip and slide.

pics(or it didn't happen) to come.

[fastboatman29212]

Funny you should mention magic and coins for magic. I've been a magician (part time) for over 30 years and I'd be interested in hearing about any magic related stuff layin around - plz don't just toss it. You can PM me.
Great to hear you have a nice Smithy to use. I'd be pumped too.

[MetalFab]

Oh for sure, I'll grab whatever I can find. There's some pretty nifty stuff kickin around.

Have I mentioned I got the wire for the garage? Well, I'm getting the welder up and running within the next few days (in the process of tackling the wiring now) Picked up a ridgid chop saw so I can cut down leaves to do a proper stack out back. The garage is a complete cluster #$%@ and the first two things on my list are wiring and heat so I can see down there and not freeze my arse off. Hard to get thoughts of the warm house out of ones head when it's cold enough to see your breath lol.



I've since oiled everything after noticing the light surface rust that formed up by moving it in the snow.

[synack7350]

that is friggin awesome and you got it for free!!!!

[MetalFab]

Aye, The price is right! I've been busy as hell and have not organized anything at all, or even plugged this thing in yet! >.< but I did get my tail lights in tonight. Had to grind out the holes a good 1/4 inch to fit the 4 inch LED unit plus the rubber grommet.





Visio throwing sparks, thanks again bro. Those tail lights are BRIGHT. All the wiring is soldered and shrinkwrapped. I'll do alittle more tucking and mount the trailer plug now that I have larger drill bits, then I can put the last two boards back in the bed.

[MetalFab]

Cut and drilled a plate to match this little 3000lb winch I picked up and welded it into my hoist. There goes the warranty. The first project with the newly wired AC buzzbox and crappy old rod. Also welded a pulley onto the end of the boom as I didn't care for the way it was setup before. Might remake the end later with a pin to hold the cable if it ends up twisting up badly like the last one did. Going to pick up some thicker gauge wire, a switch, and an inline fuse and just run it off the battery. It's remote controlled and I wouldn't want any interference while driving around town to make the thing kick on and burn itself out.



Looks pretty clean now, although once it gets scuffed up some it'll show orange. Oh, and I plan to drill a hole in the top of the tube and in the bottom through both plates to run the wiring, should keep it tucked away from harm.