Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

thanks for those pics.. I need to start searching for crank pulleys it looks like.

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

No trailer queen thats for sure....I believe in driving em....The plan is for the truck to be the full-time hauler of the bass boat....Gonna sell the F-250 Diesel and buy a "commuter" for work.....as I put on a ton of miles in my job....driving that big Diesel everyday on my outside sales job is WAY over kill.....Selling it will basically pay for the "Resto" and most of the new "Commuter".....

COLORS ???...Huh.....I'm all over the board with that...I initially started out thinking that I would paint it an original factory color....but now I'm thinking maybe not....

At first I was gonna go with the "Anniversary" look.....like this:

http://www.hotrod-express.com/08/68_...exterior_5.jpg

Then, I told my painter.....that this two-tone Blue/White was in my future:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/ST...532%5B1%5D.jpg

Then a couple weeks ago I saw a car at the Goodguys show painted this very rare 1975 Corvette color...."Steel Blue"....And I absolutely fell in love with it....I would still do a two-tone with a white cab...I want to keep an Old School, stock look...but I think this color would look awesome in that scheme....

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/ST..._01%5B1%5D.jpg

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

This truck is turning out awesome!! Keep up the good work, and keep the pic's comeing.

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Not sure how I missed this one! Wow--excellent job. I've got a couple of trucks I would like to do this exact type of resto on.
Gonna keep an eye on you.;)

john

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

I'm with you. I like that Corvette blue color! you still have plenty of time to decide though. Keep us posted. Can't wait to see it all done and pulling that boat! ...Joe

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Nice job...and quick too. At this rate this thing will be painted by Christmas.

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Very nice .. Looks like its gonna bea quick build.

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

I have a set, i'll have to look for them.

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Awesome truck! Cant wait till you drop it off here when your done! :lol:

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

A little Progress and a LOT of frustration lately....Just everything I touch is a disaster.....Parts not fitting.....receiving the wrong parts.....Drum brake installation was royal "B".......Painter moving at a snails pace.....overspray on the frame (my Bad on that but it's not too bad).....overall just pretty frustrating....Here's picsa of what I did manage to get done...or not done:

1. Got exhaust fully welded up and re-installed

2. Got new drum brakes installed on rear axle

3. Got the some of the engine stuff put in place...Plug wires routed, coil installed, vacuum lines, clutch linkage....etc...etc...

4. Last couple pics are of the issues I'm having with my new SS brake lines that I got from Inline Tube....Both rear axle lines are TOO short....also the front rubber disc brake lines are TOO short as well.....

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SU...s%20%23103.jpg
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SU...s%20%23100.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SU...s%20%23101.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SU...s%20%23102.jpg
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SU...%232%20002.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SU...%232%20004.jpg

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

let me know what they say about those brake lines, I'm about to order from them as well.

I got my rubber lines from NAPA, not installed yet though.

Where did you get the bumpstops?

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Everything I have ordered from them has fit great. I am noticeing lately that places I order from and never had a problem with , is screwing up, because they had to cut back on staff, and can't keep up. SUPER upseting!! I feel you'r pain.

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Very nice. That was one solid truck to start with. Sure to be one heck of a build. :c2:

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

very nice build going! I used the pre-bent kit from The Right Stuff and all fit very well....if anyone is considering buying a kit like this.

Hopefully Inline tube will take care of you.

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Well I spoke with a guy from Inline Tube....he seemed "New" as he wasn't at all knowledgeable about very much....but they are sending me out a new set of brake lines (both front & rears)....He had no idea why they were wrong and couldn't even tell me the correct overall length of what they should be or even the length of what they sent me.....I had to make a template out of string so that I could tell him what the overall length was of the ones they sent me were....They also billed me for the new ones but said they will reimburse me when they receive the other ones back.....Hopefully the next ones are correct....

I've heard nothing but good things about them.....So I'll give them the benefit of doubt and a second chance to make it right!...just not sure how or why all four of those lines would be way too short....especially the hard lines as they are supposedly made on computer controlled benders?....Oh well!

I got them from Wes @ Classic Heartbeat....he helped me with a bunch of the chassis components.....

Dan

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Just checking out the build and it looks great. You are making lots of progress so keep up the good work. Can't wait to see the finish.

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

I had to come over here and check out youre build thread. WOW, you are doing a great job!

I also like the paint scheme you want to go with, that "steel blue" is a very classy looking color.

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Ok....well the body work has finally begun...pics kinda suck as my buddies little shop is jam packed full of cars, but at least there is some headway being made....

The passenger rocker was the only rot on the whole truck...it wasn't real bad but we decided to replace it anyways....the worst spot was on the passenger kick panel...so we patched that area as well....My buddy cut & fit the rocker & patch panels but let me do all the welding...including filling about 100 screw holes inside the cab that were made my the PO....Still need to weld up the two large round holes on the firewall that were from the aftermarket AC.....I'm going Vintage Air!

The bed is going to get diassembled soon, so that we can began the wood bed conversion....I picked up all the new metal parts form Mar-K....That looks like It's going to be a pretty big job....thinking a long weekend for two guys!

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SU...Work%20001.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SU...Work%20002.jpg
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SU...Work%20003.jpg
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SU...Work%20004.jpg
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SU...Work%20005.jpg

Fresh load of parts from the powdercoater....
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SV...wder%20001.jpg

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Subscribed

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

No joke... me too.

I just can't get over the fact of how clean everything is...
Good Lord, man... it must be nice to start with such a clean
ride..

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Here is a photoshop picture, I'm starting to think the color is a little more gun metal than you wanted.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1230079932

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Hey look at it this way. A little progress is better than no progress like my truck! ;) ...Joe

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Thanks again desertrat....I love it...The pic of that blue is best I could find....the few pics I have found on the web of that color do not do it any justice...I saw this color in person at a car show and it caught my attention immediately...pretty unique color...

I think I'm just gonna roll with it as pictured....I can always add the white rockers later, but I think with the white wheels...it's perfect!

Dan

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

any updates?

thanks for those spacers, did the trick... did you get your fan issue figured out?

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

HEY RACKMAN,
good to see another arizonian on here. the truck is looking great. i was wondering who you are using for paint & body?? i have a friend that does body work in mesa & was wonderng if it the same guy. where about in mesa are you? i am off elliot & the 101 in chandler. good luck with the "finish" of the build. maybe you will be able to drive it to the next AZ. board meet.... hopefully in jan or feb....

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Not much progress lately with the holidays and the honey do's the lil woman has been putting on me....Still waiting on parts and Inline Tube is still jacking me around on the replacement brakelines...AARGH!...I am picking up my wheels from the powdercoater on Friday and a friend of a friend hooked me up on some new BFG all terrains...31x10.5x15....$510 out the door...so I should have the frame back on the ground this weekend.....Then once I get the radiator core, fan and the misc. items hooked up I'll be ready to fire the engine up!....


My paint & body guy is a buddy of mine who owns a small restoration shop....normally doesn't do just paint & body work or trucks for that matter.....but he made an exception for me.....His company is Classic Performance Restoration in Mesa...I'm posiitive that I won't be able to drive her to the next meet but let me know when it is as I would like to meet fellow AZ board members and scope out their rigs....

Dan

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

You'll get rockin' on that truck before long! Holidays are just about over so everything should get back to normal. Keep us posted as the bodywork and paint progress. Can't wait to see some color on it! ...Joe

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

You officially suck!! I am SOOOO jealous!!

Just joking about the sucking part, you ROCK:metal:

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Well....she's back on the ground and a "roller" (kind of).....As she is not rolling very freely.....I used a ratchet strap to activate the clutch as apparently it is in gear....however, I cannot move the shifter any direction...not into neutral or not into any other gear....Any thoughts...???....And then when I was pushing her around, there is a lot of resistance coming from the driveline somewhere??

Also, I did wind up going with a bit of smaller tire than I had planned...I went to have the 31x10.5x15 all-terrains installed and the place I got em said that I could not put them on a 15" x 6" rim.....that the biggest I could go was 30x9.5x15.....Though I have seen others do it, they said no....so I chose to go with mud-terrain instead.....They had a set of the original KM's there and sold em to me for the same price.....After the body gets back on I'll see how small they really look and then maybe think about going to some 16"x7 Rally's where my tire choices are a lot greater....but for now it is what it is!

Any thoughts on the issues mentioned above would be greatly appreciated!

Dan

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SV...0/100_0050.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SV...0/100_0051.JPG

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Well, I don't know...

mine seems to be in gear except that I can shift it into every gear except 1st...

Tires look good, they could have done a little larger, I put 31x10.5 on my 15x6 or 7" S-10...

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Stuck shifter problem solved...thanks to "Green Machine"....The thingamjigs that the shifter shaft sits in were not lined up properly and I simply used a flathead screwdriver to move the first position back in the center where it belonged.....it now shifts & rolls perfectly....

This pic shows how it was improperly aligned.....bascially it was in first gear (granny) and needs to be in neutral to re-install the shifter....

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SW...0/100_0080.JPG

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

sounds like I need to pull my shifter since mine has some issues too!
glad to hear that it's back on track..

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Your chassis looks great! How's the body coming along? Any more updates on it? ...Joe

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Looking really good!!

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Wow, that rolling chassis is a work of art. I say just leave that one as a show piece and find another for the truck :). Amazing progress!

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Dan, I hope my build turns out half as nice as yours. Keep up the effort!

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

WOW what a build . I just wish mine was that far a long . swapping parts and frt suspension is a PITA when going from old to new . going to watch this build :thumbs:

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

Thanks guys for all the compliments....Helps keep me motivated!.....I'm doing my best to try and do a really quality restoration.....it's a challenge for me as I can be short on patience sometimes....This being my first "Frame off" resto I'm learning as I go....and this site has helped tons...I spend hours using the search function...that feature is priceless!

Getting closer to firing her up...Just waiting on a couple small parts to get the radiator core and related goodies installed!...I plan on doing video on the initial firing....hopefully it doesn't show up on "America's Funniest Home Videos" or "When Good Times Go Bad"......LOL


Dan

Here's one engine pic....playing with my new Camera I got for Christmas...was hoping it would be better in low light conditions than my other one....but not so much!

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SW...0/100_0096.JPG

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

I know you swapped to a later front axle but did you change the rear axle to a '71 or later housing?

Not 100% sure about the 4x4's but 2wd models, starting in '71, the axle widths became 1.5" wider, which could account for the brake lines being too short.

Also, starting in '71, with disc brakes, the hard lines were in front of the axle, where the flex line would connect, not behind like your frame is setup for. This could also account for the front lines being too short. Again, this info is relating to 2wd models so 4x4's might be different but it could be something to check.

That is always part of the fun when swapping in parts that are not for the exact year and/or model, you start to find all the little differences.

Hope the info might help you. Nice build!

Re: "FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics
 

I appreciate the insight....

Well, I'm 99.9% sure that both of my axles were original.....the existing GM 12 bolt hard lines do not have the spring wrap like in the 71-72 and fit perfect....the bends on the new ones are fine....their just too short on the last leg before the "T".....

On the front brake lines....I explained to Inline Tube exactly what I was doing as far as the axle swap.....They said no problem...but not only was the length wrong....the fitting that goes through the frame had the wrong ID to accept the new lines they sent me....

Also, my existing drum lines entered the frame in front of the axle, just as your claiming that the Disk should.....is that a correct statement or did you mean the opposite?.....because the length would have been correct if I mounted them on the rear side of the bump stops....

Here is a pic of where my existing front lines entered..

Thanks, Dan

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2wzS50GoNjQ/SP...ate9%20030.jpg