New from North Texas

[sean1960]

Hello everyone, I see a lot of nice Square Body trucks on here, I must be in the right place! I have 1973 GMC that has been an on going project for the last 6+ years. I've been driving it for about 5 of those years. It's actually a 1973 cab with 1984 frame, doors and bed. The front bumper is from an 1982. The list of mix and match parts go's on. Check out the photos in my album and see if you can find a few other things not usually found on a GM Square Body. This truck is street driven and run in the mud bogs here locally. Nice to meet everyone!


HRPC EDIT: Seans Album Link -----> http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/album.php?albumid=137

 

[HotRodPC]

Welcome aboard Sean. Sounds like a cool project even though its a bit Frankenstein. But, that's the beauty of the Squarebodies, they are so interchangeable over the 18 years the squares were available. Feel free to post some of your pics in your into thread too if you wish.

 

[HotRodPC]

ewwwwwwwwwww, I'm tellin !!! I see a Ford D60 up front !!! Must be a high pinion I assume? Nice Rig. Its been said, lift'em high, Fat Chicks can't jump !!!

Sean's Album Link http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/album.php?albumid=137

 

[sean1960]

Thanks, yes it is a high pinion Ford Dana 60 out of a 1989 F350. It also has a divorced 205 transfer case from a mid 70's Ford. Sometimes you just have to use what you can find.

 

[78shortandwide]

Thats a nice truck. Welcome!

 

[HotRodPC]

Thanks, yes it is a high pinion Ford Dana 60 out of a 1989 F350. It also has a divorced 205 transfer case from a mid 70's Ford. Sometimes you just have to use what you can find.

Yeah well, sometimes there is advantages to using some of those other brands parts too. Actually its not Ford parts at all. It a Spicer/Dana front axle, and a New Process Tcase. So just cuz it was intended to be used in a F O R D, doesn't mean its FORD parts. With that, you can sleep at night and your truck won't hold it against you.

 

[HotRodPC]

Looking at the pics, it appears you have all the good stuff on that truck. I also noticed the gas tank is inside the frame rails not outside. Much safer the way you have it.
Only thing I see that could be a little better is the indexing of the rear axle. Looks to be a pretty steep angle. Any problems eating U joints?

 

[sean1960]

That's exactly how I feel HotRodPC. I don't really care what brand of vehicle they were made for as long as the manufacturer has a good reputation. The only U joints I've ever replaced were in the front axle.

 

[Irishman999]

Welcome! Bad ass truck! My buddy had a short bed about that tall and it was a blast cruising around town in.

 

[89Suburban]

Awesome truck man, welcome!

 

[davbell22602]

Welcome aboard. Is that all suspension lift or is part of it a body lift?

 

[crazy4offroad]

Welcome to the forum, nice truck! The HP Ford D60 definately has the front driveline angle advantage but lacks in a couple other departments, specifically the spindles, wheel bearings, and axleshaft spline count. Not to say it is so much weaker that it wont do the job, just that the GM D60s are just a hair above them. Now, you can get 40-spline axleshafts for all of the Big 3 D60s, the ultimate way to go. Given the choice though I wouldnt turn down the HP D60. The main thing I like about the Ford 205 is the 32 spline front output, but I can swap one of those into my GM 205, so I can run 1350 joints all around. I really like your truck and would like more info on that gas tank mod. Looks like you might need a hell of a lot of lift to avoid the rear 3rd member contacting the tank on compression of the rear springs though. Also how are those Ground Hawgs workin out for ya? I notice you have them all mounted in "forward" direction, some people mount opposite corners backwards just for reverse pulling. Do you ever run a bigger tire? Looks like you have plenty of room there for it.

 

[sean1960]

Welcome aboard. Is that all suspension lift or is part of it a body lift?

It has a 3 inch body lift. I didn't want to use a body lift but the wheels only have 2 1/2 inchs of back spacing to keep the tires off the springs when in a sharp turn. The front tires come very close to the fenders when I'm 4 wheeling and have actually hit the passenger side fender. The rest of the lift consist of 8 inch superlift springs ( 52" rear springs on the front and the rear ). Dropped spring hangers and a shackle flip.

 

[sean1960]

Welcome to the forum, nice truck! The HP Ford D60 definately has the front driveline angle advantage but lacks in a couple other departments, specifically the spindles, wheel bearings, and axleshaft spline count. Not to say it is so much weaker that it wont do the job, just that the GM D60s are just a hair above them. Now, you can get 40-spline axleshafts for all of the Big 3 D60s, the ultimate way to go. Given the choice though I wouldnt turn down the HP D60. The main thing I like about the Ford 205 is the 32 spline front output, but I can swap one of those into my GM 205, so I can run 1350 joints all around. I really like your truck and would like more info on that gas tank mod. Looks like you might need a hell of a lot of lift to avoid the rear 3rd member contacting the tank on compression of the rear springs though. Also how are those Ground Hawgs workin out for ya? I notice you have them all mounted in "forward" direction, some people mount opposite corners backwards just for reverse pulling. Do you ever run a bigger tire? Looks like you have plenty of room there for it.

The plan was to get 47" or 49" tires when the Ground Hawgs wear out but even the 47's would get into the springs when I turn. I could limit the turning radius but this truck turns sharper than any Chevy I ever drove. This is the third set of 44" Ground Hawgs I've owned over the years. They are very long lasting tires. I run them all in the correct direction because of the mud bogs we run in. And no, they do not get very good traction backing up.

 

[Mr Clean]

Welcome from N. East Texas. Nice truck, I'm so jealous of you, you don't live far from the IN N OUT burger. I drove 168 miles for one, if you haven't tried one all I can say is BEST BURGER ON THE PLANET!!!! One of the few things I miss from Cali.