My 79 SWB 4X4

[broke350]

Hey guys, new to the forum and thought I'd show the progress of my truck over the past three years.  It's a 79 Bonanza I bought from a friend's dad with ~80,000 original miles.  Was a 350/350 with the NP203 T-case, but the 4 wheel drive wasn't working.  I drove it for about a year when it started having mechanical problems and lost about half it's clearcoat.  It sat for awhile so I could get all the parts/money together to turn it into what it is today.  A pic from the day I bought it:


And right before all the work was done:



Swapped in a 355 from my 71 C10 I sold to get this truck, Had the trans rebuilt and ditched the non-working 203 for an NP205.  Added a 4" BDS lift and recently had it painted. 

Few pics during the swap, and how it looks now:








Next up is to powdercoat and install the new bumper

and to get the bed and rocker panels rhino lined.  Next year will be working on the front/rearends.  Want to go with Dana 60's as this will be my play toy at the dunes and I will be running paddles.  Not sure if the 12 bolt and Dana 44 are going to hold up.

[beastie_3]

Thats a heavy duty bumper!

[77 4x4]

Nice truck!!  Love the paint scheme on it.

[Irish_Alley]

Nice work

[broke350]

Thanks guys.  It's been a long road and well worth it.  The paint was the hardest decision.  I knew I was going to wheel it, so I originally wanted a flat or satin black so I wouldn't feel bad about scratching it.  Then the "murdered out" craze came in and I was looking for something different that would work with the red interior.  Can't go wrong with red and black. 

[broke350]

Wow it's been forever but it's finally done.  I ended up going with a 700R4 trans which turned out to be more work than I thought it would.  With the 205 t-case, the front driveshaft was hitting the trans pan.  Even with the double cardian removed and a standard yoke, the driveshaft was hitting on the yoke and getting into a bind.  Had to get a new output shaft to make everything work right.  4.10's installed and the stall converter removed alongside the 700R4 and the fuel mileage is much better.  Finally got to the dunes and had a blast.  She gets around great.  Can't wait for winter to hopefully play in the snow.



Even got some video on my gopro. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2ME6bUEA_w&feature=c4-overview&list=UUA0QEr2R5KZ9uHpkaarDcVw

[Irish_Alley]

you didnt use a 2" spacer for the 700 to 205 ?

[broke350]

I originally had a Turbo 350 attached to the 205, and just got the advance adapter kit for the 700 to 205.  Different tail housing and shaft, but there was no spacer.  It allowed me to use the factory hole in the floor for the t-case shifter with a slight modification of the shifter.  I would think with a 2" spacer it would've moved the t-case shifter back even farther and would've required making another hole in the floor.

[Irish_Alley]

from what i understand the 350 and 700r4 can use the same adapter plate but you need a 2" spacer in between then cut your 700's tail shaft to leave i think ¾". this pushes the double cardian back enough to clear the trans pan. one down fall is it also lengthen the front and compresses the rear. then you do have to lengthen the hole for the t-case. but i think you can get the spacer for under $50.

[broke350]

Yeah, going with the adaptor I ended up having to shorten the rear drive shaft and have a new front one made anyway.  Luckily the adaptor didn't cost me anything as I had a gift certificate to advance adaptors.  It was just the new T-case output shaft I ended up having to pay for.  All seems to be working well now.

[pholliday1]

Nice project Broke like the pictures what photo resizing did you use? Photobucket?

[broke350]

Thanks.  Yeah, I use photobucket to host the pics.