RobRobitaille

I always use a test light and put it from the neg on the battery to the side of coil the distributor is connected if it flashes when the engine cranks there is a coil problem if you have no spark if not look at the points and condenser. This is on neg ground system. I am not sure but if you have a pos ground I think you could do the same but attach the test light to the pos on you battery. This may not be the best way but has worked for me many times. My experience with points has been that after they have sat for extended periods of time you will need to clean the contacts with emery cloth or replace them. and condensers usually fail when engine has been running for a while then it will quit and once cooled down they work again. Hope some of this is helpful

Well the cab is ready to come off! Just need to make something to set it on and round up some guys!

I have been researching converting the electronic T5 to mechanical but haven't found a way to do it as of yet. There are some cheap aftermarket speedometers that will work with the GM sending unit and can be calibrated with any gear ratio. One if the biggest issues I see with the T5 is the loss of your parking brake unless you swap the rear end for one with wheel mechanical brake. Here are some pics of the electronic T5 speedo unit maybe one of you will have an idea if how to convert it!

That sounds simple enough! I think I may box in the frame ahead of the bell housing anyway just to make me feel better about it. I got the cab almost ready for the guys to lift off. Just need to remove the mount bolts and the steering box. I pulled the tranny so we don't have to lift too high and it needs to come out anyway to make room for the T5. I noticed looking over the transmissions that the T5 input shaft is about 3/4" shorter then the original. Is this normal or are there different lengths available in the T5?

Could use an electronic speedo one and just change the speedo.

My wife said no more looking at grill pics

I didn't notice a crack there yet but I do have this one! I took all the electrical out this afternoon. Gauges switches etc. and had a helper for a bit!! Whats the best procedure to repair a crack?

Thanks everyone that's all very helpful advice. I greatly appreciate it!!!

So I am planning on lifting the cab off this weekend if all goes well. How many guys should I line up to lift it? Then I think its time to stop reading and thinking things over and start putting the plan in to effect! That's the only way to prove my plan is flawed! One set back I found is in one of the attached pics. I found a crack in the frame right behind the steering box mount. Someone at one point put a nasty looking booger weld on it. Any advice on how to deal with this will be greatly appreciated. I expect I should grove out the crack and weld it then box in the inside of the frame at least in front of the bell housing on both sides. Over Christmas I will be off nearly 2 weeks and its getting cold outside up here so in the warm garage puttering away sounds like a great place to be. Once the cab is off and in the shed I want to do a bunch of mock up. I have a S10 T5 and Langdon's kit, The 98 Explorer that will donate the rear diff and parking brake system is on the trailer in the driveway, I am Going to order a 2000-2004 Jeep master cylinder and Scarebirds disk brake kit is on its way. One thing I know I need before I can look at the pinion angle of the diff is new mounts for the bell housing. so its sitting right where it should be. Anyone know where to get these? Reading over this I am thinking boy this is unorganized. If anyone has any tips or things I should check or need to know about please let me know any help is appreciated!

Great Advice Thankyou

I am using a 98 explorer rear diff but the master cylinder is too long to fit behind the steering box. trying to decide if I should use a Jeep m/c or move it to the firewall and use the brake booster as well with a hanging peddle for the brakes. Any advice?

Is a proportioning valve needed with 4 wheel disk brakes?

Got Langdon's Stovebolt T5 Kit in the mail today. Have Scarebird Brake kit on order and got this off ebay. Its not perfect but it will work. Have not got as much work done on the truck as I would like to but have done a lot of research and have a plan I think I can fallow. I will go get the explorer that will donate the rear diff and the parking break assembly soon. I haven't decided yet but I may even try to switch to a swing brake peddle and go with a power brake system on the firewall. That`s all I got for now

Have any of you made grill bars for the job rated grills? Would love to see pics if you have.

That's Cool

I can't find much detail in the Stovebolt sight about the kit. What all does it include?

Looks Good!

Got the T5 out pulled from the S10 but its and electronic speedo anyone ever switched one to mechanical? But I think that my drive line plan is going to work! 265 Flathead T5 with 0.86 overdrive 3.54 Jeep Danna 35 and 255/70R15 tires Should give me a 70 mph cruse RPM of 2500 and the low 4.0 first gear should get things rolling easy when I have a load on. Anyone have and concerns with this plan?

I went and got that S10 out of the field this afternoon after work It pored rain here until 4 and the field was about 3-4" of that slippery loose clay that you can barley walk in. I cant believe My Honda Ridgeline!!!! It dragged my car float and the S10 in that slop. I first pulled the S10 out of the hole it sunk in on flat tires behind my trailer then winched it up on the trailer and the Honda walked right out of the field up on to the road. I was having a hard time to walk out there. I will admit I never liked these little trucks before. I work for Honda and resisted buying one since 06 I had a GM, Dakota and Tundra but this spring they made our corporate price to appealing to pass up so I got one and I have to say its impressed me every time I have done any work with it since. Tomorrow I will pull the T5 and clean it up for my Dodge. Sorry to ramble on but just cant believe I got out of that field!

Like I said Common Canadian Currency!!! You can almost buy anything with beer

I talked to the woman at the office today and she called the owner and explained I was interested in the old truck out in the field. He said to me right away before I could say hello I don't want to sell that truck I need it to hold my sign. So I said I don't need the truck just the transmission. As polity as I could before he hung up on me. He paused for a second and said how do you plan to take it out, where it sits? So I asked if I could put it on me trailer take it home remove the trans and return the truck and explained I only lived a couple miles away. He said whats it worth to you. I told him I don't know the condition of the trans so I'm not sure it would be better if he told me what he wanted. He laughed told me the trans was good in that truck and told me 2 case of beer. (common Canadian currency) But he wanted the truck returned promptly because of the sing. I agreed asked what kind of beer and thanked him. He told me I could take the truck any time I wanted and I left. I don't know why but this kind of deal always stresses me at least it ended well I found a T5 and at a reasonable price.

I found an old S10 80's model with a 5 speed its been sitting there holding up the sign at the sod farm 5 min from my house. Anyone got any advice on how to approach the owner to see if I can buy the T5 and drive shaft?

I will get the MSDS sheets and the guy at the paint place always gives me a mixing cup and marks it to make it very easy for me. I worked in the paint shop at work for 7 years before I went to the stamping department but our paint was pumped in to our guns from the paint mix department in the basement. So I never did any mixing or product selection but I understand how important it is not to breath this stuff. I confirmed today I have a 265 Flathead (4.75" stroke) I don't know what year the motor is its been remanufactured and they stamped the # R72 10996 where the engine # would have been. I may be way off but me guess is that R72 means remanufactured in 1972. Also my Uncle gave me a set of wheels 15" with 4" back space will they clear the tie rod ends? Thanks again everyone

Ya this primer thing is confusing. This is the primer I have. Hope you can read the label. It was recommended I skim coat with short strand than apply this at the paint supply place (This place is a family run place and it was the older fellow who I think is retired but likes to shoot the **** and give advice who suggested doing it this way) Has anyone used this product? And I was reading some post on here about the T5 and I get the impression guys are making what they need to fit things. I think the price for the eBay kit seems a bit too high for an adapter plate and a clutch disk. In my opinion. My latest plan for the drive line is to go with the 251 or 265 flathead I have (not sure witch it is but its out of a 5+ ton truck and has sodium cooled valves) A T5 trans (still need to source) and a jeep Dana 35 3.54 rear axle (I have) How do you think this combo will work? I need to be able to run HWY speeds with a load of for example 2 quads on a trailer. I will have trailer brakes for sure and may upgrade to front disk. Thanks For everyone's Input

What did you do for a parking break?