[davids78bronco]

It's been quite awhile since I've posted here. Last time I was here, I was talking about a Pontiac 400 engine and tranny in a 75 D300 crewcab dually. Until recently, I haven't been able to do anything with it. In my spare time these last couple weeks, I've modified the stock tranny crossmember to accept the Pontiac TH400 tranny, built custom motor mounts that will be welded in tomorrow. I've replaced the stock alternator with a big case alternator, and modified the stock mounting bracket to fit. I need to cut down the front half of the driveline and do something for the exhaust - which will most likely come from my wife's Bronco, since it's just sitting there waiting for an engine swap(after all this)

Here, I've removed the stock tank from behind the rear seat, and installed this 30gl tank from some dodge motorhome. Dual stacks will eventually go back here too - maybe with some flame throwers

Pontiac 400 engine in it's new home. Qjet will temporarily be replaced with an Edelbrock 1406. The A/C compressor will be converted for OBA. That A/C condensor in front of the radiator will be converted to tranny cooler. I was going to build an underhood welder, but I've since decided on trying to get a Miller Bobcat generator/welder instead

Obviously the D70 axle. The tranny output yoke is a 1350 size Ujoint, whereas the Dodge is 1310. That's going to make for one helluva combo Ujoint. Either that, or I swap out the driveline yoke for a 1350 size yoke - which I might do

Building the mounts was pretty easy, tho a little time consuming

 

[davids78bronco]

Here's how the deal went down:

I had a 65 Dart I was trying to sell. A friend of mine was moving, and offered a trade - he needed a commuter car, and I really needed a crewcab pickup that I could also use for my welding truck. Perfect deal. Problem was, there was no engine or tranny for it. I told the guy to find one, and we've got a deal. We both set out looking, and I found this, for 100 bucks. '74 engine, high compression heads, RV cam, 30K on the rebuild. I told the guy about it, he traded a 2wd chevy parts truck for it(he bought it for 50 bucks), and strapped it to the back of the Dodge. I paid 150 for the Dart, with fairly new tires. Do you think you could do better for an inital 150 dollars? So far, I think I have another 150 into it

And because this has the Pontiac TH400 in it, I'm going to(eventually) plan on getting a '70 Caddy 500 for it. Other future plans for it are tilt steering from an '84 RC, power steering, rear disc brakes(that is, if I can fit a pair of D44 brake caliper brackets to the axle), flatbed primarily used for welding, RADIAL TIRES AND GET RID OF THE SPLIT RIMS, front clip upgrade to a newer year, and if at all possible, a new Ram-style interior upgrade. There will also be a gym locker on the flatbed, so I can keep the coveralls and work boots out of the pickup, and raised paint for my business name that I want painted on the sides. Front bench will be swapped for two buckets, kids in the rear seat will most likely get a small entertainment system to keep them occupied.........think MPWT - multi-purpose work truck. Not sure what body color I want tho..............

 

[davids78bronco]

Boy, am I slow...and broke too. Engine turns over from inside now, but I need to finish: wiring the engine, exhaust, Combo Ujoint, fluids, hook up the throttle cable and in-cab throttle adjustment, and wire in my 78-9 Ford taillights(yup, more sacrilige, I know), bucket seats, shifter, custom built tranny mount/crossmember and a few other odds and ends.

Nothing's changed with the truck, other than adding 4x4x1/4" box tube bumpers at both ends, with the driver rear corner being made to a mount for my pro-tools bender. And I'm still looking for a set of wheels to replace my widow makers.....I had no idea how hard that'd be!

Still wish I had that Dart..........