Father Son truck rebuild!

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89on35s

Inferno Red Duster
FABO Gold Member
Joined
May 11, 2006
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Location
Martensville Sask. Can.
I hope nobody minds a non A body build thread here. I know there are a few.

I have owned this 89 Dodge truck since about 1993. It was my daily driver until about 2000 when I got a work van provided to me by the company I worked for at the time. That was the point when I lifted the truck 4", added headers, dual exhaust and 35” tires making it a weekend toy. After driving it like that for a couple years I swapped the stock ½ ton axles for 8 lug Dana 60s because I wanted 4.10 gears and the axles were free. I also put on a 3" body lift and 38" tires later.

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The truck has sat from about 2010 till this fall when I brought it home with the intention of selling it. My son Hayden caught wind that it was for sale and asked me if we could rebuild it in time for him to get his license. Well I was ecstatic at this news! A father son project was always a dream of mine but I knew it had to be his idea. Also I really did not want to sell it and was looking for an excuse to keep it.

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So now it’s tucked neatly in the garage where I rebuilt my Duster. It has prompted me to change my other garage into a clean workspace instead of a junk collection space which is a welcome addition for us. My Duster lives there now. We have started disassembly but space constraints are slowing progress a bit.

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I got new windows and front fenders for a sweet price so that helps with a lot of the rust issues. The box is really rough but I have a spare if I can’t save this one. The plan is to tear it down to the frame. I’ll blast and paint the frame and rebuild it from suspension on up. It will get the 360 that is currently in my Duster (I'm building a new one for it) with a rebuilt 727 trans and I’ll need to go through the NP241 transfer case too. The Dana 60 diffs are good but I need to put a sure grip in the back. Those 205/55-16s are hardly off road rubber but hey! it fits in the garage now!

It’s an aggressive schedule since we have only about 15 months to finish it. Wish us luck!

Cley
 
It’s really great to see the amount of young people coming into the hobby lately. Wether it be car, truck, or whatever, it’s good knowing there will be some continued interest in old iron. And some young blood for those of us who have acquired “old fart status” to pass all the experience and knowledge along too.
 
Before and after same truck started out 87 gas shortbed. I wanted more power so I converted to a 5.9 common rail.

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Sweet. I gave my son my 79 F-150 SWB. Get him some wrench turning with grandpa and I.
 
Slow and steady! Actually the cab and bed are ready to pull off as soon as we get back from holidays in a couple weeks.

Cley
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Got a bit more done today. Got the box removed with my reciever hitch mount engine crane! My daughter helped too, and took pictures!

Cley
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Awesome build Cley. The best thing to do is get the kids interested and then work and spend time together. Great project!!!
 
Well we're down to a frame and drive train! He is not going to school due to Covid 19 so we should get lots done!

Cley
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Great project boys! I'm sure he is supposed to do some remote school work too, so don't plan full days in the garage!
 
What a great day! I am truly appreciative of the slowed pace our life has taken of late. +7°c today made a great garage day. We started by sweeping out the shop and moving the truck against the north wall to give us the maximum rpm to work with. Then we got the drive shafts out, the fuel tank out, tagged and removed the wiring. But better than that we laughed, talked and had fun!
We are both enjoying this project so much!

Cley
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What a great day! I am truly appreciative of the slowed pace our life has taken of late. +7°c today made a great garage day. We started by sweeping out the shop and moving the truck against the north wall to give us the maximum rpm to work with. Then we got the drive shafts out, the fuel tank out, tagged and removed the wiring. But better than that we laughed, talked and had fun!
We are both enjoying this project so much!

Cley
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Look like you have the ground rule.
Whoever owns it is the one under it.
 
That's a good rule! He is learning alot! With the body off it is do much easier to explain things. I keep telling him "Last time I did this it was way harder!"
Cley
 
My son and I are off to scavenge some body parts! Going to trade an old trans core for a grille surround and some pieces we will cut out of an old truck bed! Maybe get into the fine art of negotiating a bit too!

Cley
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