Gary Lewis

Darin - How quickly do you need it? Perhaps have Ron ship it to me and you pick it up in Sept? Ron - We'd talked about displaying things, or at least pictures of things, that you make at the show. Might this be one of them?

The truck was more than likely parked there because the frame was broken. It's been there for a long long time. One of the others I looked at this week, equally sunk into the ground, was parked there in the 1990's. Some of these old vehicles rusted out from the salt air, just sitting in the driveway...lol. I can tell you from recent experience that getting a truck out of the ground is a chore. And it takes a lot of jacking individual corners to get under them. I can't see that one coming out in one piece w/o damaging things.

Lots of money, but overall a really nice truck. But, the air pumps, plural, appear to have serpentine pulleys on them, and one air pump doesn't have a belt while the other does but the belt appears to be very loose. And there's no belt on the A/C compressor, but it is v-belt, as is the power steering pump. Something strange there. Also, notice what appears to be an air compressor on the driver's fender liner. And air injection manifolds that I don't recognize. And a "muffler" for the dual smoke grinders, as Bill would say, that I don't know that I've seen before. But, I do like the overhead console with the switches and volt meter.

That's a lot of truck for $3500 - and maybe they'd take less.

The bull bar looks to be in good shape. Let's see if Ray's "handle" proves to be accurate.

Nice truck. Beautiful really. But, $22K??? I really hope they get it, but doubt it. Is there a way you can track it?

I've never seen a frame that far gone. If that is indicative of the rest of the truck, or at least the parts underneath, then it wouldn't be worth even "cheap". But things like the roll bar, bull bar, and maybe the rear pumper might tip the balance.

Thirty years ago I might have been able to determine what part of London via the accent, but all I know now is that it isn't Cockney. Anyway, it really is running smoothly and you've done well. When will it be on the road?

Yippee!! Well done! It sure sounds smooth. But what did you say the background noise was? Played it three times and couldn't understand, but was glad it continued when the engine was off.

If you have to jump it to the other truck then the battery must be low. I would check to see if the alternator is charging as a low battery may be causing a problem. Perhaps the Computer is losing its memory?

I think your dream was spot-on. Isn't it amazing what the sub-conscious will come up with when you let it work?

If it can go wrong it will. But, look at all the improvements you are making as you peel this onion. And, think of the large bowl of onion rings, or maybe even a bloomin' onion, you'll have!

We are pulling for you!

The hard to find parts I think I do at this point. Tail lights I should be able to come up with if I don't go with LMC LED ones at $160+ for the pair. It was the light & fender opening brackets that you can't get that I was after. Ron should be sending a plate bracket and told the light you can still get so we are looking good. I hope to get the last of the body work done his weekend if not too hot. Dave - - - - Last week was too cold, and next week may be too hot. What is our weather coming to? Anyway, sounds like you are on a roll. Keep on truckin'!

I like that plan, but have a suggestion - let's get Luke to come to the show and accept the trophy himself.

Well done, Ron!

He says that he's been running this kit for years, but the problems have come up in the last year. To me that says that wear is the problem, and that would include springs, spring bushings, and axle bushings. (He's replaced another wear item, the ball joints, apparently in an attempt to fix the problem.) Looking at the illustrations and remembering how those things go together from Huck and Big Blue, I can't see the bushings causing that problem. Other problems, yes, but not negative camber. It looks to me like the geometry limits the source of that problem to be sagging springs. However, we know that toe-in causes the opposite of this problem when the trucks are driven in reverse. What if the toe was set incorrectly so that the tires are pulling themselves into that position when driving forward? That doesn't really fit with the problem having come on gradually in the last year and an alignment having been done, but...

Oh and September, if I do get the truck.....I will try. I have to save some vacation and roll it over to next year for Holly and I are driving the 69 Impala to the grand canyon.. I am pouring $$ into the Impala right now, just bought a power disc brake conversion kit, Aluminum radiator, Pertronix electronic ignition and coil. Its a 210 hp 327, and I have a 1970 300hp four barrell rochester intake I am going to put on it with a new Rochester before the trip. I'm kicking around the idea of building the 400 small block for it though....I may just run the original 327, and stroke it with the 400 crank. Same bore as a 350, and has the large crank journals...so it should make a 383 stroker I am thinking. That would be a bit more torque than the 327. The car is getting setup to be a cruiser, not a hotrod. The 4" stroke of the 400's crank is what creates the stump-pulling torque. And that's true in either block. So you can't go wrong. And the torque will be significantly better than the 327's. I doubt there would be much difference in the cost of building any of the engines, so I'd at least go with the 400's crank. As for the show, please keep it in mind. I'd like to see you and the family, and Big Blackie would surely take home a trophy.

Gary...I will have to tell my wife tonight....somehow...that I am bidding on it. Well, she was born in Wichita KS, so maybe that'll score me some points? Its not too far from you and our family in your area, so.... I went and got cash out last night to buy Holly a used Tahoe. The one we looked at was nice, and I just about started to negotiate. Then I started noticing some things not adding up...and I started asking questions. The guy got real rude and Holly and I looked at each other, gave each other the mental telepathy treatment, walked to our car and said nothing but "good luck buddy." The guy was really rude to us. Anyway, so I am trying to convince my wife, right now, that we go visit her birthplace, swing by Bartlesville OK and see her family, then go see Gary Lewis and check on our rent house too while we are there. Good plan, Stan! I'll have to compare notes with Holly as to where she lived in Wichita. We lived there 6 years and I was born 55 miles southeast. As for a used vehicle, the next door neighbor has an Avalanche he says he's going to sell. They bought it new and recently replaced it with a new Tahoe, but haven't sold the Avalanche. Don't know anything about it, but can ask if you are interested.

Well shooooot....I'll give ya $10,000 right now!! Watching, and bidding!! I am Chevy59ss on Ebay. I hope you get it! And, when you come after it drop down and show it to me. Plus, bring it back for the show in Sept. PLEASE!

I'm sorry you are having such problems. But, for all the problems it sure is looking good. I really do like the valve covers. As for Edelbrock, I really like their carbs. However, the rest of their stuff varies from decent to poor, so you have to know what you are getting. And then there's the GM distributor. They are just too big for a Ford, and while they work they have clearance problems on the smaller engines - like you found. Hang in there, it is going to be worth it!

Bill - I think he said he has a 4" lift and 37" tires, so the ride height issue is a moot point. But the rest of the test should work.

Thanks, Bill. A friend with a '93 was over today and I saw the same seals/baffles. I'll have to do something like that when I EFI Big Blue.

Worth many times that. I have it on my watch list. This I have to see.