Thread: Shop Truck (True Spirit) Project

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Dave I ordered the maximizer (RV) tranny and converter. I'm planning on driving this quite a bit and probably a bit of light towing. It is also likely to have a trip or two back to Illinois in its future. That has been the big factor in cam, intake and gear selection to this point.

looking good looks like you have some $$$ rapped up into it already with the chassis and motor done. what color do you plan on painting the body? the origonal brown or something different?

I was looking at some of the street/strip type trannies... Thinking I might just go find a 'maro with a clutch pedal to steal and stick with the stuff I actually know something about~~!!!!!

"....what color do you plan on painting the body?...."

The truck will be white with the pinstriping and decals in red and red interior.

I figured this was far enough today. Looks a bit better than when I first saw it

Way big improvement Mike!!!! The engine looks super!

Well I went from twiddling my thumbs to going back to full bore on the truck.

The transmission came in Monday, so that night it got bolted to the engine. Last night was moving the frame back to the shop and getting the engine and tranny ready to put in.

Part of that was installing the steering gear brace. Dodge started adding them from the factory in the early 80's. There was no problem with my frame in that area but they are readily available reproduction and I figured it was good insurance on the 30+ year old frame (and it sure is easy to install now).


On the way home from work tonight I went by the body shop and my cab was out front on the trailer, so I got to pick that up . They also have all the rest of the parts (bed, fenders, doors and hood) media blasted and are starting on the body work that those need.

One I got the cab stored away in the shed the engine and trans went into the frame. I’ve got a 3 day weekend coming up so hopefully I can get some more parts on it.

The cab looks great, Mike! Man, if they do that nice a job on the rest of it, you'll have it made in the shade at paint time!!!!

It's a whole lot nicer than it started out, nice thing is after the media blasting you can see exactly what you have to work with. Mostly on the cab it was minor dents and dings and in spite of the wait they did a LOT better than I could have.

One of the things I did on the engine that I wanted to take a picture of but forgot until it was too late was a little extra work I had done on the crankshaft. My truck is an automatic and the crank was not drilled for a pilot bearing. I knew the automatic equipped Mopar engines of the 50’s and 60s weren’t drilled but was a bit surprised to find out that engines even into of the 70’s engines weren’t. While the crank was at the machine shop I had it drilled.

I’m have no plans of running anything but an automatic in the truck, but I also know plans can change and at least now I have the option of running a stick down the road if I ever change my mind.

This weekend I got the accessory brackets, PS and Alternator on but the new compressor didn’t come in until yesterday. When I got the truck the alternator and bracket were missing and although it had power steering it wasn’t an AC truck and the PS bracket was bent. As I am adding AC and wanted a Sanden compressor I just bit the bullet and bought a whole set of brackets from BPE. I also started building the exhaust over the weekend.

Last night was about a total waste. My new compressor came in so I figured I get that on and work some more on the exhaust.

Well I got the compressor on only to find out that the one I had used for mockup had a bigger pulley and my belts were too long. So I started on the exhaust, I ran 2 short beads with the MIG and ran out of wire (and also found out my gas bottle was about empty). So today was getting the right parts more wire. But the accessories are on and the exhaust should be done in the next day or so.

Man! That sure is "purdy"!

i know someone that has a 4spd Tranny from a plymouth warlock if he still has it but his brother builds rods an lives down there in AZ you can Private message me if your interested an i can give you his phone number an what not. or i could call him for you just so you don't have to make a long distance call if he sold it.

that warlock tranny was alot like a GM saginaw tranny cast iron an side linkage.

Thanks Speedy I appreciate it but I've got 4 speeds (both standard and overdrive versions). Like I said, I had it drilled just in case. If I do decide to do something else down the road it's now a bolt in instead having to pull the engine back down to have crank done.

You mention BPE as your bracket supplier. Who are they? Do you know if they carry small block MOPAR brackets? Any information will be appreciated. Looks like a beautiful job on your project. Keep it up!