dude! put those wheels on the yota!

 

Man that thing is a boat! lol

 

The Torino is 4100 pounds, w/ a 351 Cleveland. That is the cruiser, power every thing, air conditioning, the works. Only problem is it loves fuel. About 11 miles to the gallon. I take that out when we just want to drive slow and comfortable. Fits 5 comfortably.

The wheels are off a Lincoln Mark 7 or 8, and they are the only rims I have for it, so the rims belong to the Torino. Don't worry the yota will get some nice shoes. All in good time

As for now, the yota is being put to work, I moved about 6 months ago and have not set up my garage yet. So all my stuff is still in the other house. Good thing I got the truck as my tenants kinda want to use the garage. When I get my garage set up, the yota will get some much needed love.

Also I checked my tires last night, and there are no weights on the rims anywhere. So I am going to go get them checked and balanced. That might be a contributing factor to my front end shimmy at anything over 55. I also got to adjust the slop out of my steering after I get this death wobble figured out.

 

Not much been going on w/ my truck. Put all most a hundred miles on her and she is doing great. Multiple trips to the scrap yard. Bed filled up w/ 600 + pounds of stuff and she is doing great. Nevada scrap yards won't take cars with out titles, so my 2 race cars had to get cut, and a 260Z all got chopped w the sawzall and the torch. I still got more cleaning in the garage before I can get the truck in for body work and suspension.


I got the final plan for the truck. She is going to get a flat bed in the back. I have never seen a flat bedded mini truck. I am looking right now for some really big rear tires. Like 10 inches wide, older style. Since it won't have fenders, I'll do a wide body in the rear to cover those tires. No rear bumper, rolled pan in the back, some nice integrated tail lights. Lower the front a tad to get that old raked look. Paint it a similar shade green, w/ a black top. Do the underside all in black w/ green highlights, stainless lines. Drivetrain is going 5 speed w/ a 1 piece aluminum driveshaft. Do the engine bay in black again w/ green highlights on the engine and asc. Black out the grill and the front bumper and the body will be done. Interior, will be done all in black, and the same green. buckets and a center council all integrated and seamless. I might move the rear window back a inch or so just to get a lil bit of recline in my seats. And that should be it.

The front shakes so bad on the freeway that I can't take it to work anymore. It shakes so bad, I broke the grill. I broke 3 mounting tabs on the way home last night, also the light buckets got crackes forming. I'll get a pic of that. Here is just another side shot of the truck.

 

so this is really a stock green???

i do like the color but thought it was aftermarket, until i seen the floor and everything is the same. or did they paint the interior???

 

As far as I know it is stock green. That green is everywhere, even under the truck. So it is either stock or they did a really good paintjob.

Predracer, really nice cougar. And you gotta love the cleveland engines. Mine gets my tank moving and just has torgue everywhere, They don't rev for ****, but it moves my beast very nicely

 

I got some pics for you guys that will make you laugh. This is just to get you guys ready for tommorow's night pics. I'll give you guys the info then post the pics. Since I am not racing anymore I got a whole lot of parts that I am going to try and put on the truck. Some will be just for fun. The 4 inch HKS Supper Dragger exhaust and HKS Twin Suction Intake, depending on how it looks and sounds may stay on the truck. Other parts maybe just for the fun of it. Like the 2 nitrious bottles, just hook up the purge, just for fun, or make a flame thrower exhaust w/ it. Still up in the air. Wait till you see the pics

 

Well, I have tried all the rims in my possesion and friends possions. This is the winner. The spacing is tight, I'll get the backspacing and info but they are Konig 18 X 8's, if I remember correctly, on the front, at full lock I have a finger width till it rubs, all most flush w/ the fender. A slight stretch maybe required to get me some more room, front end will get a nice drop, about a finger above the tire and may get rolled depending on where it lines up. The rear also has about a finger till it hits the leaves, again matching drop and depending again slight roll.

 

Again I can't fit anymore rubber under the truck. All most a shame because I still have a set of fno1rc in 19 x 10's. No way in hell do they fit. Because of my flat bed idea, I really wanted 10's in the rear, but after alot of checking, 10 inch wide rim is all most impossible.

Also here is a pic of the exhaust that I am thinking about, going to try and be fitted to the truck. HKS Super Dragger, 4 inch piping, 6 inch tip. No matter what engine gets swapped in the truck, I will never have to upgrade my exhaust. Of course the rear pan will get notched so this thing fits up as high as possible. If it looks like **** of course it will get taken off. I am still throwing the idea around, it may be attempted and it may be not. Any opinions apreciated as long as they are semi constructive.

 

I don't know about that exhaust. I honestly think that it won't look right. You should try to go with something flatter. My exhaust worked out okay. I wish it was a little bigger. But the shape of that exhaust will be really difficult to work with.

Are you going to have it stick out to the side? Or just run straight back?


You should be able to fit 10" rims in the back. My buddy made his work. Funny, he's running 5-Zigen F1FORNR whatever model 17"x10" in the rear. Buy some spacers. It'll work.

 

I have more pics to post. The rims took up alot of time. I am alittle behind on the pics. I'll get the measuring pics up asap.

 

pool ball shifter

 

Not much new w/ my truck. My house is taking alot of my time. I was able to make this tonight. Only extra ball I had laying around. I'll eventually do a 4 for the 4 speed or if I switch for the 5 speed, I'll do a 5, or maybe a 8 or a 13.

If people want to know how to make there own pool ball shift knob, I can do a write up, it is something I have done for years, everyone of my vehicles has all ways had one. And the way I do it is the easiest to make a threadable shift knob, so you can change balls whenever you want a different look.

 

Ive had several pool ball shift knobs over the years myself too...I think you should do a write up on it.

 

Wheel pics

 

1st pic is w/ full weight at full lock, I got a finger before it rubs
2nd pic, I know not very good but, it shows how it lines up w/ the fender
3rd pic, shows the block of wood, and the truck resting on the block, to get a nice fender gap, the fronts are going to have to come down a ways

Also note: These are not my final choice of rims, they are going to be used just to get all my settings and then changed out for period wheels, same offset and size

Those are the widest rims, that can fit under my truck. You can't see it all that good, but the lip is just a hair wider than the fender. To get it totally flush, the fender will require a ever so slight roll.

The rear is just about the same but a finger before it rubs on the leafs, and sits all most totally flush to the fender.

 

Not much of a update. But I am starting to get all my parts together to rebuild my front end. I have to collect them slowly as my house is taking up almost all my cash. When I am done, my front end will be pretty much new.

new parts:
center link
tie rods, both inner and outer and sleeve
shocks
pitman arm
bushings
wheel bearings

My truck shakes at any speed above 55. So I am hoping after I get this stuff installed and aligned, I'll actually be able to take my g. machine on the freeway.

 

what about the idler arm? cant find it or did you already do that and im forgetting? these trucks will do fine on the freeway at high speeds if there arent problems. i had my 78 at 100-120 for a good 7-8 miles last night and it was fine. little ignition missing here and there because of my crap voltage regulator but no suspension issues. and those speeds, the tire rubbing makes me laugh.

 

okay, I'll add that to the list too.

I don't know where the shake is coming from. I've had it in the air, and everything seems tight. I know I am not supposed to be able to move things by hand. Nothing seems to have excessive wear. But the shake is there and since it probably has never been rebuilt, I'll just go ahead and do it all at once.

While I am collecting my parts I'll go ahead and start on my interior.