James’ 1974 W200 build

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I reread through some of this and was looking for the size of rims that you're using? 15, 16, 16-1/2? Reason I'm asking is for the disc brakes. I have the original 16 and 1/2 and not sure if I could do a 15...?..
I’m running 15x10 wheels, but mind you, I had to grind the ever living **** out of my calipers. I wouldn’t recommend doing that, LOL…but I wanted a 15” wheel. Some guys are okay with grinding, some are not.

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next time I do a brake job, I’ll replace the calipers and mounts and use a 17x10 Mag wheel.

U.S. Mags U10117008245 U.S. Mags Indy U101 Polished Wheels | Summit Racing
 
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The fuel line stuff is great. You said the exhaust isn't as loud as you had hoped. If you take that dumbfuck cross over/wye off and run real duals, you will get that crisp sound back. Cross overs suck dead rotten roach infested, puss droolin, bleedin elephant elephant balls.
LOL! Tell me your true feelings!! Hot damn. I agree with ya. I will have that remedied real soon. :)

fuel lines were a pain in the *** I tell ya, I had em in and out of there 35 damn times to get the bends right. Easier to just run push lok the whole way.
 
I’m running 15x10 wheels, but mind you, I had to grind the ever living **** out of my calipers. I wouldn’t recommend doing that, LOL…but I wanted a 15” wheel. Some guys are okay with grinding, some are not.

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next time I do a brake job, I’ll replace the calipers and mounts and use a 17x10 Mag wheel.

U.S. Mags U10117008245 U.S. Mags Indy U101 Polished Wheels | Summit Racing
It looks like 16s would fit no problem??.
 
Looking good James. You’re doing great work on bringing that truck back to its glory.
Thank you sir!

I’ve been real sick since Christmas, so I’m feeling better finally. It’s been real cold outside, I don’t like seeing the condensation on my engine so Today I was under the truck and finished most of the fuel lines. I had to do something to make some headway. I’ll continue up to the carb, filter and regulator once I get the front clip back on.

Tomorrow I’ll bolt on the flywheel and clutch assembly. Maybe find a couple guys to help me lift that behemoth of a transmission in.

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Don’t know if I have a pic of the new engine installed. This is where I’m at today. Got some clutch linkage to hook up, a few bolts to tighten, headers to install. I’ll find out more what I need to do. Lol

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Headers, starter, clutch linkage all hooked up. Got the front clip on today thanks to the help of a couple good friends. Front wheels are on. Lol. Making good progress.

I’ll be installing MSD ignition so I got some wiring to do. Not sure how to wire that in quite yet, gettin rid of the ballast resister and all. I got some reading to do.

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My dad and I mounted the MSD ignition box. I have some wiring to do for that and the internally regulated 3 wire alternator. I will be mounting my fuel filter and the carb bypass regulator on the inner fender like so. I am currently using magnets just to hold them as a helping hand. LOL.

I’m not understanding some of the wiring and it’s exhausting. Some days I just lay under the truck and think for hours on what is the best way to do something, how I should run fuel lines, how a wire should be and what not. This is slow going project.

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I should probably take off my battery tray and rattle can it black. Just another thing to do if I do it.

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This photo shows how I plan to run the fuel lines. I’m gonna hook everything up like how it’s shown, might come out okay. The feed and return lines come up kinda by the alternator and tuck inside the frame, they go around the motor mount.

…And I’ll clean up that rats nest of wiring on the driver side. I’m not quite there yet. I had to unravel everything to see what the hell I’m doing, and what wires need to go where. Sheesh.

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I do the same daydreaming under my truck thinking of ways I want to run exhaust and other fuel lines and things like that. I hear you on the battery tray one thing just leads to the next.. all that new stuff and then all of a sudden one old thing and that's all your eyes can see.... Might as well grab those hood hinges out there while you're at it LOL...
It almost like never ends till it's perfect...
 
I did the rest of the fuel lines today. I needed a 90 fitting to come off the bottom of the regulator to go back to the return. Kinda down and dirty I can always change the configuration.

Found a coil mount for the Blaster SS coil.

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The fuel lines are done. They are okay…I’m not too happy, my OCD gets the best of me, I don’t like how the feed & return cross over each other but that’s just how the layout worked.
I’m not gonna spend all day tweaking on small ****, it looks good enough I can change it later.
Toss out some ideas if you have some. On to the next items on the list.

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You know I've been asking about the size of your rims and I remember you saying the 16s will work. As I recall you had 35s? Did you have any certain offset? I'm going to have a 4-in lift that should clear but I'm not sure if I should have a neutral offset or they should be any different?..
Just wondering what your experience was...
 
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You know I've been asking about the size of your rims and I remember you saying the 16s will work. As I recall you had 35s? Did you have any certain offset? I'm going to have a 4-in lift that should clear but I'm not sure if I should have a neutral offset or they should be any different?..
Just wondering what your experience was...

Right now I’m currently running a 33x12.5x15 Nitto Mud Grappler on a 15x10 wheel with 4” of backspace.

U.S. Wheel 70-5080 U.S. Wheel 70 Series White 8-Spoke Wheels | Summit Racing

I HAD a set of 35x16.5x15 super swamper mud boggers, on the same wheels, but they were just too damn wide and rubbed my fenders when I turned. Maybe a 12.5-13.5 wide 35” tire would have fit better!

I certainly like the more aggressive tread!
But the guys at the truck pulls actually say an All Terrain tire works better than a mud tire!

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Right now I’m currently running a 33x12.5x15 Nitto Mud Grappler on a 15x10 wheel with 4” of backspace.

U.S. Wheel 70-5080 U.S. Wheel 70 Series White 8-Spoke Wheels | Summit Racing

I HAD a set of 35x16.5x15 super swamper mud boggers, on the same wheels, but they were just too damn wide and rubbed my fenders when I turned. Maybe a 12.5-13.5 wide 35” tire would have fit better!

I certainly like the more aggressive tread!
But the guys at the truck pulls actually say an All Terrain tire works better than a mud tire!

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The wheels that you posted say they have a 4-in backspacing which means 6 in towards the outside maybe that's a little bit of the problem of it rubbing the fenders? Of course if you go in too much it starts rubbing the frame...
I was thinking some 16s or 17s with a 35 12.5... that's definitely the style of rim I like the old school White...
 
:thumbsup: Very nice build. Really like the induction system.
You are doing some fine work.
 
The wheels that you posted say they have a 4-in backspacing which means 6 in towards the outside maybe that's a little bit of the problem of it rubbing the fenders? Of course if you go in too much it starts rubbing the frame...
I was thinking some 16s or 17s with a 35 12.5... that's definitely the style of rim I like the old school White...
I really think the problem was those SUPER wide 35’s. I mean 16.5 inches wide that’s pretty damn wide. Lol. Your standard run of the mill 35 incher would fit. I didn’t want 35’s because I have 4.10 gears. I think 33’s and 4.10’s are a good match.

When I get some cash or another side job, I really, most definitely want these 17x10 Mag wheels. Just my favorite.

And oh my god the price just shot up $50 bucks a wheel since I checked a month ago. Dammit!! What the hell?!

U.S. Mags U10117008245 U.S. Mags Indy U101 Polished Wheels | Summit Racing
 
Wiring. I’m going for it. Man I hate it. Got most of it done I think. Lost of stuff for the MSD, Boost Timing Module, fuel pump relay & circuit breaker, etc etc. hard to make it all look tidy.

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Beautiful truck and great job! Dad had a 73 short bed growing up. Steel crank 440, auto, all factory yellow . I'd love to find one for my boys.
 
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