Another 4BT Travelette build

[michigandon]

Haven't decided if I'm going to to document the whole thing here or over on 4BT swaps (or both), and it's going to be several months before I really dive into the project in earnest, but I'm bored at work and decided to start a thread on it just the same.

This will be the truck that I have been dreaming of ever since I finished installing the 6BT in my Travco motorhome several years ago. Like Royce, I'm hoping for a decent daily/weekend driver that will deliver low-mid 20s for MPG and install several upgrades to make it more user-friendly and comfortable. I also do not plan on doing any uber-heavy towing with this truck, nor do I plan on bombing the hell outta the motor and making it "roll coal".

Basis for the project: 1961 Travelette C120

Pros: Already upgraded to D60s front and rear with discs brakes on all four corners and power steering. Watson Brown-Lipe auxiliary overdrive transmission already installed behind the transfer case (yes, I know that I will only be able to use "direct" when in 4WD).
Has a cool 3" straight pipe exhaust stack, with a flipper no less!

Cons: Obligatory cowl rust, wiring is a nightmare.

Plan: Repower with 4BT and Spicer 3053 transmission. Retain the NP202 transfer case and Watson Brown-Lipe aux box (Double overdrive, baby! ), and the 4:10 gears. Tire size/type is yet TBD (torn between pizza cutters like 1966 Travelette has on his um, 1966 Travelette, and HMMWV tires like BloodyKnuckles has on his truck). Also plan on upgrading to a dual circuit master cylinder with a hydroboost. The truck currently has a utility box on the back that not only is of no use to me, it has seen better days. And since the odds of finding a bed for a Travelette on this side of the Mississippi river that's not going to crumble into cornflakes if I as much as sneeze on it are slim to none (and Slim has left the building), I'm going to replace it with the bed from an M101a2 military trailer.

Hoping to get it torn down and shoved into my new workshop in the next month or two, and start working on it in earnest this fall.
If there's anyone in the Raleigh, NC area who want to stop by and lend a hand, it would be IMMENSELY appreciated!

Don

[guidolyons]

Sounds very cool

Can't wait to see some pics!

[BloodyKnuckles]

Man, I can't wait to see this one. Sounds killer!!




BloodyKnuckles

[joe frank]

I love these travelette builds