The troubled traveler

[Jeff Jamison]

In the one picture it looks like your passenger side front cab mount is cracked.I did one of those frame swaps on a scout a couple of years ago,took 2 of us about 16 ours to do it,but I pulled everything off of the frame and put onto a different frame
Jeff

[Dennis Bernth]

Originally Posted by BioTex

Both tags are missing from the diff. covers. Anyone know what the gear ratio is for a 78 with 345 and an auto?

Anywhere from 3.73 to 3.07, to possibly include 3.54 (pretty popular ratio) and maybe even 3.31. And that's just if nobody has swapped gears or axles in it, if it has 1980 axles they could be 2.72's! You might be able to do the 'jack it up, mark the driveshaft and tire, and turn and count' thing but the best way is to drop a cover and get the tooth count and figure it that way. It probably needs new gear oil anyway..... Plus, with not knowing the history on the truck, it would be nice to know that both axles are the same ratio instead of finding it out the hard way on a trail.

[BioTex]

Originally Posted by Jeff Jamison

In the one picture it looks like your passenger side front cab mount is cracked.I did one of those frame swaps on a scout a couple of years ago,took 2 of us about 16 ours to do it,but I pulled everything off of the frame and put onto a different frame
Jeff

Jeff,
Good eye for the details. I thought the same thing when I first saw it. Turned out it was a piece of MIG wire left over from the factory welds. I went over the mounts up close on all of them, and none were even bent from rocks.

[BioTex]

Started painting on the frame just to clean it up a bit.





Then I swapped over the newer style fuse block and dash interior wiring harness. Removed the wires from the 76, and went back together with the harness from the 78.



I also took apart all the guages, and cleaned them up. Checked all the light bulbs while I was there, and took an eraser to the circuit boards to help with the contacts where the bulbs srew in. I removed all the a/c components from the 78, and installed them into the 76 tub. That way if I ever want A/C, it will be there.



I had to do some cutting on the firewall to make room for the newer fuse block connectors.

[BioTex]

Well, I found the tag on the front diff. cover, and it has 3:07 gears. I kind of figured as much, but I do have a set of 76 terra axles that are 3:54's.
Probably not worth the time to do the swap since I'm not planning on towing with it. I am toying with the idea of running a set of pro comp M/T 33's I have.

[BioTex]

Got all the wires finished up for the most part. Couple of them I don't know where they go, but should have it sorted out shortly. The distributor was converted over to points, but I can't find where they added a resistor of any kind. I'll need to fix that.

I installed the inner fenders. I'm not too worried about painting or detailing at this time. If the truck drives good, and appears to be a keeper, then I can go back and make it cute.

[Dirk Kolnsberg]

Great progress as always, sorry I missed your wrench day!

[Dennis Bernth]

Originally Posted by Dirk Kolnsberg

Great progress as always, sorry I missed your wrench day!

Biotex is another Gary Billings, he seems to get more done by himself than most of the rest of us can with four people helping. I'm glad he can knock them out, but when I compare my puny progress on Scouts with guys like him, Gary B, and Darren ( MichiganScout), I feel pretty inadequate

Good thread though, I have to say after Sunday's fiasco with the old style bulkhead connectors you have me considering swapping harnesses to the newer style...

[BioTex]

Originally Posted by Dennis Bernth

Biotex is another Gary Billings, he seems to get more done by himself than most of the rest of us can with four people helping. I'm glad he can knock them out, but when I compare my puny progress on Scouts with guys like him, Gary B, and Darren ( MichiganScout), I feel pretty inadequate

Good thread though, I have to say after Sunday's fiasco with the old style bulkhead connectors you have me considering swapping harnesses to the newer style...

Thanks Dennis! It's called "no kids". I still have energy left...

From everything I can see, if you can find a new style harness, it is 100% plug n play. Just need to cut the two holes in the firewall.

Last night, I installed my spare radiator, only to find out it too has a leak. The shop that fixes radiators is closed down, so I'll have to wait until I go to town.

I took the holley 2 bbl carb off and rebuilt it last night. Reinstalled, and she fired right up. Not a bit of smoke out the tailpipe, and great oil pressure. Looks like the engine is a good one. Now i'm a bit more motivated to finish.

[thehud]

Originally Posted by BioTex

Got all the wires finished up for the most part. Couple of them I don't know where they go, but should have it sorted out shortly. The distributor was converted over to points, but I can't find where they added a resistor of any kind. I'll need to fix that.

Since it is a 78 and up harness, it should be for an internal resistor coil that went with the electronic ignition. So there shouldn't be a length of resistor wire or a ballast resistor. The coil feed wire should supply you battery voltage with the key on.