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Today I installed my steering box and hooked up my drag link. I turned the wheels left and right with the steering wheel for the first time since 05'. I said "cool". Then I rigged up my clutch linkage, fired up my engine, pressed down the clutch and watched the drivetrain move under it's own power for the first time in 3 years! I ran it through the gears and then sat down and just watched the axles turning with the truck on the jack stands for about 10 minutes.
I probably would have stayed out there all day but I ran out of gas and had to go to the family Christmas party today. Watching it move was a beautiful thing. Just like one of those 1970's mechanical art scupltures whose artisits name escapes me now. Rube Goldberg or something like that?:D

Congrats David,
I does sound like one of those maze/marble machines.
Road trip next, huh?
Your jack stands are very stought, I'm thinking?

Way to go, David.....ain't life grand. Nice Christmas present to yourself.

Congratulations David! What a great feeling, huh?
Gary

Yes, it felt very good. Nice to hear it run. Especially after that whole distributor debacle I went through in Sept-October. It was about 30 degrees in the garage and she fired right up

A road trip will be more towards April-May. I have no brakes or wiring yet.

I have 6-ton jackstands that I use. Nice and stable.

Blackhawk?

They are "Goodyear" branded jackstands I picked up at Sams club a few years back. It was like $40 or $50 for a pair. Lovely blue and chrome, of course they are covered with grease and paint overspray now

congrats, and merry xmass.
I did the same thing when I started mine the first time. I was standing there just watching the rims go round, my wife came out to share in my pride, just as she walked up, the rear D.S. rim fell off, roled across the yard and almost hit her.
Lesson learned... always put lug nuts back on when admiring running truck on jackstands.
Come to think of it the brakes worked great untill the first time she rode in the truck.... well atleast the emergancy brake still worked.
Congrats again, and make shure your wife isnt along the first time you do go for a drive, I think the M37s are divas and dont like other women.
Rich

Thanks Rich, Merry Christmas to you and yours as well.
Yes, I had my wife take a video of me starting the engine and the drive shafts turning. I had AC/DC cranked up on the garage radio. It was an historic moment . I think I will fire it up a few times a month over the winter just for fun. I need to blast and prime my seat bucket so I can install it and sit in it comfortably. That way like a big kid with a Tonka toy I can pretend to drive it until it is ready to back out of the garage come spring

David, have fun putting the remainder of the truck together! And let us know when it hits the ground running. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

David;

Thanks for the tip, will try it. Gonna also try to get the wipers hooked up, have two weeks off for Xmas this year so have a good amount of time to play with the truck. I'd like to get heater hooked up but don't have all the parts yet.