Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Lines are looking good.
Take it you're documenting every bend/ amount of curve of bend/ contour of frame in relation to how the lines will bend? Im dreading the day when Im there.
Once the lines are bent are you polishing them or clear coating?
Nice to see top notch updates?

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I'm bending welding wire with a pair of flat bill pliers in the shape I want, then matching the tubing to the wire. On the first of the tubes, I match it to the wire identically. On the second, I match the first bend, then I mirror image the rest of the run to the first tube, allowing for the gap between the tubes. When I decide to make a bend, I mark a small line with a Sharpie on the tube relative to the direction I want to bend it. I take that mark and line it up with the 45 degree hash-mark on the bender. I then take the welding wire and load it into the bender in the adjacent, smaller tube groove. Sometimes, I'll even line up and tape the jig wire to the tube being bent. Then, you make very small movements with the bender arm and constantly check your tube to the jig wire.

Don't dread it. It's actually fun and not hard to do. The tube bends easily, and if your jig is accurate, the tube will be also. You can make slight bends by hand if you're off by a little. If the tube has a whoopdedoo in it, you can lay it on the floor and tap it with a deadblow hammer and iron out the kink.

One word of advice:
ALWAYS be mindful of where your fitting is when you're bending a tube! If you make even the slightest bend and the fitting is on the wrong side of the bend, you'll have to cut the tube and start over. You can't make the fitting slide down the tube if it's not straight. I've made this mistake more than I care to admit.

I'm probably just going to leave the tubing in it's aluminized state. I don't want to polish it because I don't have a ton of shiny stuff on the engine, just the valve covers and the air cleaner. The intake and serpentine brackets have been ceramic bead tumbled and they match the sheen of the brake, trans cooler, and fuel lines, so I'm just going to leave them raw.

I'm always happy to provide updates. It means that I'm gettin' stuff done and I'm that much closer to getting this pig on the road!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Great job on those lines so far. Hope the rest goes smoothly for you as well. Definitely looks like tedious work, but it's great attention to detail!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I started redoing all of Yeller's lines last night to clean up the Charlie Foxtrot that was still there from the PO. I can attest to the line nut problem, and adapters to fit oddball stuff. I've been trying to channel Alex as best I can!

Work looks terriffic, Alex!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Nice bends coming from a pipefitter.!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I spent the afternoon yesterday getting the master cylinder lines bent so I could test fit them in the truck. I had to do a lot of measuring and taking the master cylinder in and out multiple times before I started bending lines. The lines are still only about 80% done, as I still have to figure out how I want to terminate them at the frame rail so they can continue to the front and rear brakes. I'm glad to be done with this part because I'm certain that it was the toughest section of lines to make.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps24e0c8a5.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...psb4be9c80.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...psdbd569c9.jpg

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

looks great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I'm grinning dude! That looks awesome!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Nice job....and really loving the billet line separators. I need some of those myself!!!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Nice job on bending the brake lines!
I bent my lines similar to the way that you described, including marking them with a sharpie, and bending them with the fitting on the wrong side of the bend! LOL!
Where is your proportioning valve going to be?

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Thanks!

I won't tell you how many hours I have in those lines. If I had a shop and quoted someone a fair price for the job, I would have taken it in the shorts. Once I got the lines bent at the master cylinder, I must have measured and remeasured for at least two hours before I made the first bend at the firewall. I should have taken a picture of the way I measured everything. I had straight edges clamped in every direction and a notepad full of scribbled measurements.

Well, the separators weren't planned from the beginning. In my effort to be trick, I actually made the lines a little too close to each other, and nobody makes a separator with that spacing. So, I had some scrap billet pieces and had to make my own.

It sucks when you're all proud of the bends on the line, only to find out that you left the fitting on the wrong side of the bends. Now, I always grab some masking tape and tape the fitting to the end of the line before I start bending to keep it from moving around. The proportioning valve that I'm using is from SSBC, and it's identical to the one that Wilwood makes. It's just for the rear brake line only, and has the adjustable knob to control pressure. It will be mounted inside the driver's framerail, about 12" behind the transmission crossmember. I have to account for the e-brake cable and any wire harness routed in the same area, so I tucked it up out of the way.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Been there done that. Once while working I did this complex bending and all this really jazzy neat stuff, and flared my line. Picked it up admired my hard work. Then realized I forgot the flare nut. Oh well. First was just practice right.? Killer work on the lines!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I Love what you've done with this one too!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

That looks fantastic, Alex! Nice job!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Still working brake lines, specifically the rear. With my truck being so low and the rear tires being so tall, getting the rear wheels off is going to be a challenge. The original route of the rear brake line is down the passenger side frame rail and the flex line drops down right above the rear end, but it's too short to allow enough droop of the rear axle to get the rear wheels off.

Running the brake line down the trailing arm seemed to be the best alternative. My plan was to bring the line to the trailing arm crossmember and use a bulkhead connector (Earl's part# 989543ERL). These connectors are -3 AN on one end and 3/8 inverted flare on the other. It is held into place using a spring clip. The only problem is, the frame is too thick and the receiver groove for the spring clip is obstructed. So, I handed them over to Brad, and he chucked them into the lathe and turned them down. They fit perfectly now. Here is a before and after picture:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps95d20d28.jpg

I built a bracket to hold the forward part of the line and attached it to the trailing arm with two 8-32 button heads.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...psc83691c6.jpg

Here it is with the fitting installed, the spring clip in place, and the line connected. It's a very secure assembly, nice and tight with no movement.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps07f0a072.jpg

Starting to clamp up the line.....
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...pse2cfb887.jpg

Here's where it got tricky. I tried a couple of line routes using a piece of scrap tubing, but I didn't like the way it wrapped around the edge of the arm. I didn't want a brake line hanging out in the breeze, especially in an area when it can get damaged from everything in the road. The only alternative was to use another one of the modified Earl's fittings. The best place to install the fitting was right between the perch and the coil spring, but that was right in the area of the reinforcement plate. Here is a picture of the hole drilled to final size (5/8"). You can see what I mean about the reinforcement plate.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps882811f7.jpg

I figured that chucking the arm in a mill and milling away a part of the plate was the answer, but Brad had a better one. He used a flat bottom mill and just spot-faced the arm. I actually liked his idea better!
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps3385cc4d.jpg

Here's a picture of the arm with the brake line installed. Once it's back on the truck, I will bend a small line to connect the fitting on the arm to the tee on the rear end. I used a 1/4" clamp along with a 1/2" spacer to secure the line. (there is a 3/8" clamp in the picture, but it has been changed to a 1/4")
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps18c3a85d.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps9b4debd2.jpg

A HUGE thanks to Brad for opening up the shop on a Saturday night to do the machine work for me. I can't thank you enough!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Looks good.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I'm glad I was able to help! I'm diggin' how this setup is looking so far! I would never know that you're still a rookie in the bending lines department either because your quality is absolutely first class! You may have to bend up the lines in the streamliner! Great job dude!!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

That...is slick. Nice work, both of ya!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Okay,
This build is so slick I've re-read it over again.
Staying on budget with top notch mods.
Killer workmenship all the way!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

This is what sets him apart from most budget builds (actually ANY budget) is that it all comes down to taking your time! Most guys are in such a hurry to drive the truck they get in a sloppy hurry and say they'll fix it later even though they NEVER do! Alex is dying to drive the truck right now and he is soooooo due to have a fun driver, but he's NOT going to do something halfass just to rush the final product. Take notice people, THIS is how you build a truck!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I agree^^^^

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Man, words cannot describe how badly I want to get this thing done and start driving it.

However, I want to build it ONCE and be done with it, so if it takes a little longer to do it right, it's worth it in the end. Having to do something over again because it wasn't done right is one of my pet peeves.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Smarter words have never been spoken. I agree 100%. Don't settle for less than you want, even if it takes a little longer to accomplish.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Love readin your build. It gives me a lot of ideas for my 64.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

brake line is as slick as they come, great job :metal:

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Man, you have hit the nail on the head!
This has been my philosophy from the start of my build!
I know for sure that once that I start driving mine that the last thing that I want to do is fix things that I rushed over...Nor do I want for anyone else to notice them...
Nice work!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Awesome build!! Any updates?

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Yeah! Yeah! What he said!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Me tooo^^^^^^^We need our cheap fix.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I agree but I've also been told that their never done. lol

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

What a cool truck and quality build!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

We know you're there, Alex!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Hah, caught me snooping!

I have been doing a ton of stuff on the '64, and although I have taken a bunch of pics, I don't have anything to show. I gave my computer to a buddy at work, who is our IT guy, so he could give it a tune-up (add more RAM, update to Windows 7, etc). Well, he's slower than molasses, and on top of that, he went out on Medical and there's no timetable for his return. My next step is to see if any of his co-workers can help me out. I need that computer back, because my tablet has limited capability.

In a nutshell, I bent some more hard-lines, made some frame reinforcement gussets to help support the front sway bar, started to restore the grille, spent way too much time trying to make a 2002 Camaro rear sway bar fit (I'm too low, won't work no matter what orientation you put it in), built emergency brake cable brackets, and bought a American Autowire Classic Update wiring kit but haven't started it yet.

And I sold my '83 shortbed fleetside. Too many projects, and I needed to thin out the herd. The guy got a helluva deal on an incredibly solid California rust-free, dent free-truck that had a bunch of work already done.

I have been busy, and will post up pictures very soon.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I just bought the same wiring kit, hurry up and do yours so you can save me all the do overs LOL

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Glad to see you're still out there. We've been waiting on our cheap update....lol.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

x2 !!! I've got the same kit too. Wiring is not my strong point so any tips, tricks, hints, and help you can offer up would sure be appreciated!!!

You've got one sweet truck going together and a bunch of ideas I'm "incorporating" (stealing your ideas :lol: ) into my truck.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Dang, I shoulda bought your 83. You might try a round body s-10 Blazer rear swaybar. I've been eyein' 'em, just gotta get my tape measure out. And they're FAT!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Hey! Alex! It ain't that cold out there yet! You still movin' and groovin'?

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Man I thought there was another cheap update but dang.....dog gone it. Low Elco you tricked me.......grrrr.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Sorry Rusty! We're just the two sad little kids standing outside the closed tent, waiting for the circus to open.