Lil Red Express...exhaust/progress.

[Prince Valiant]

Currently in the process of restifying the Lil' Red Express truck, and the first thing I decided to address was the engine.

The engine that was in there was a fine stock "magnum" engine (92+) 360. Stock heads, cam, exhaust manifolds from 79, etc. Did use an RPM eddy manifold and some nice ignition components.

Decided to upgrade to a 408 AL headed engine geared for hotter street use.

Since I was using headers, we ran into a problem...exhaust on a stock LRT runs outside the frame rails, while the headers are routed inside said frame rails. There was a spot where the exhaust could come cleanly out, but it was blocked by the gas tank on the driver side.

So Ron at clocks off racing and I decided on a fairly simple fix...take out the old gas tank and use a 15 gal fuel cell in the rear. Here are the results of Ron's work...3" with magnaflow 40 series mufflers, using an x-pipe.

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad349/sweetroscoe/Lil%20Red%20Express/lilredexpress006.jpg

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad349/sweetroscoe/Lil%20Red%20Express/lilredexpressengine.jpg

I can't figure out why these keep coming up small?!?

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad349/sweetroscoe/Lil%20Red%20Express/lilredexpress001.jpg

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad349/sweetroscoe/Lil%20Red%20Express/lilredexpress002.jpg

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad349/sweetroscoe/Lil%20Red%20Express/lilredexpress003.jpg

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad349/sweetroscoe/Lil%20Red%20Express/lilredexpress004.jpg

The gas tank really looks sharp in back!
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad349/sweetroscoe/Lil%20Red%20Express/lilredexpress007.jpg

a nice little video of it at idle...though it doesn't allow you to hear the lope it has as much as it does in person.
0WnwQsji3Qs

[DR.FORD]

Kudos on the engine build! That thing sounds great!!

[Irish]

Not bad! Why was the fuel cell put so far forward into the bed? Wouldn't the weight out back help better with traction?

[juicedimpss]

Not bad! Why was the fuel cell put so far forward into the bed? Wouldn't the weight out back help better with traction?

we figured he would still like to use it as a truck once in a while.
:D

[-stew-]

I'm stupid. System looks great and sounds great.

[nismodave]

Looks fantastic!

[Prince Valiant]

Kudos on the engine build! That thing sounds great!!Thanks...again, got to thank Ron for the excellent work. Pictures don't do Ron's work; Plus he helped me solve a starter issue as well as a troublesome timing issue.


I'll be very curious to see what this thing runs at the track. Took the wife for her first spin and got on it...it downshifted to first @ ~20-25mph and it lit off the tires...then started to get wheel-hop :wow:durr

Next mod after I address a couple little issues will be some caltracs traction bars since the axles do hop so friggen much. I never would have thought an engine developing 13 or so inches of vacuum (neutral) would be this strong. Might have to pick rons head about other ways to keep the tires on the pavement too...

[97z2801ss]

sounds great!

[WhatsADSM]

Very nice. In for more vids of the thing at WOT ;)

[BadAzzGTA89]

Looks awsome a job very well done can't wait to see some 1/4 numbers and see it all fine tuned !!

[Holeshot]

Very Cool. Looking forward to seeing it.

[jbiscuit]

Looks and sounds great!! Turned out so
nice, well done Chris

[WilliamZ]

Looks and sounds awesome!

[WickedSix]

Very cool classic truck! Can't wait to see/hear it in person sometime

[DirtyMax]

Sweet! That's about the only gasser that stacks are acceptable on and they look/sound f'in awesome!!

[Waver]

Sounds great, looks even better. I really want to see this in person in the near future. Plus, it will be cool to see what it does at the track!

[Irish]

Sweet! That's about the only gasser that stacks are acceptable on and they look/sound f'in awesome!!

Personally speaking, I HATE stacks on trucks that did not come that way
from the factory.

[wrath]

Why didn't you put an OE gas tank between the rails behind the axle?

[BadAzzGTA89]

Personally speaking, I HATE stacks on trucks that did not come that way
from the factory.

Came that way from the factory lol like my Peterbilt.

[-stew-]

Why didn't you put an OE gas tank between the rails behind the axle?

Pretty sure a Ramcharger tank wouldn't work on a step side with where the filler neck comes in. I think it would end up somewhere under the middle of the back half of the fender. Not that the issue couldn't be worked around, fuel cell was prolly the cheapest and easiest route. just my guess.

[Irish]

Came that way from the factory lol like my Peterbilt.

I think the red express is acceptable because it did come from the factory that, I would go further to say that the red express wouldn't look right without them.

I was referring to diesel pick-up trucks that put aftermarket or homemade stacks on. I am not a fan of that at all.

[-stew-]

I would go further to say that the red express wouldn't look right without them.
.

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/1970peaches/aabwarlock1.jpg

the Dodge Warlock would like to have a word with you...

[Irish]

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/1970peaches/aabwarlock1.jpg

the Dodge Warlock would like to have a word with you...

Ahh... but, a Warlock is not a Red Express...

[Prince Valiant]

Why didn't you put an OE gas tank between the rails behind the axle?


Pretty sure a Ramcharger tank wouldn't work on a step side with where the filler neck comes in. I think it would end up somewhere under the middle of the back half of the fender. Not that the issue couldn't be worked around, fuel cell was prolly the cheapest and easiest route. just my guess.Looked into the ramcharger tank...can get it in the same 35 gal capacity and everything...but as you point out, you have to solve the fuel neck issue...but it is solveable imo; but then you change the look of the rear. The tank would be readily visible in a bad way from behind, obscuring the rear, etc.

So when measured against the pros-cons, I felt the fuel cell was the best way...and had the look I wanted to boot.


On a side note, I was a day late trying to purchase a 77 warlock w/ a stock 440. It was absolutely perfect...far more finished/restored. A little more expensive, but worth it imo. Like I said, the guy agreed to sell it a day before I got out there.

Oh well, this is working out pretty good :D

[Waver]

I thought the Warlock only came in black with the gold colored rims?

[Prince Valiant]

I thought the Warlock only came in black with the gold colored rims?Nope...multiple colors and even varying amounts of wood in the bed, etc. Also, pretty much every engine you could get in a regular truck was available: /6 2bbl, 318 2bbl, 360 2bbl, 360 4bbl, and the 400 4bbl and 440 4bbl up until 78.

[wrath]

They made a ~22 gallon tank for Traildusters/Ramchargers. It's about 8" tall.