Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Hey Chad I posted some pics in the C/10 Club Thread since you asked :D
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Cool man! I wish I could have gone. It looks like a lot of fun.

Dad got the other side cut yesterday, the notch is in and almost finished up. He is painting the PB pieces (I went on the cheap a little, $130 for powder?) The PB will be primed good and painted with a Dark Grey color. It's actually a Toyota color but it looks really sharp. Just enough contrast against the black frame rails. It's almost done, we'll be bolting everything back up shortly. New Trailing arm bushings, I'll be flipping the brackets soon .. I ordered my drop blocks and U bolts this morning. I'm sticking with stock arms for now. The ones I have are really nice, nut rusted at all. I may change to the PB trailing arms as I get the coin.

Joy (my wife) and I are going to talk to the doctors on 10/26. We're trying IVF instead of adoption for now. The cost will be substantial so we'll see how it goes. I have considered selling my stepper to help with it and just keeping my GMC as my toy. All my step needs is paint and interior and it will be incredible. Absolutely rust free cab, blocked and in primer (SW P30a) Very nice metal, West Coast 68 front end. BS wheels.. Lokar stuff all over it, and of course the BBC. It will be a nice truck when finished, I'm just not sure I'll make it. I have been tossing around the idea of selling it though. Someone could take it to the body shop and finish it and have a really nice truck.

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

True hmmm much to process when I get to the point of the frame off

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Pop has the notch finished up, Ill post some pics in a little bit. I still need to get the lower shock and track bars from Nate before we bolt everything else back up.

Trailing arm bracket flip on the list for this weekend. Im probably going to need to cut the tailpipes off right behind the muffler so we can set the ride height. Once its back together we'll tweak the exhaust as needed.
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Turned out nice! :metal:

I still need to drill / mount my PB track bar bracket on the frame rail of course but for the most part, the top is finished. I'll order the reset ASAP.

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Sweet !

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Looks great!
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Nice work! Very clean!

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Very nice work. This is going to be a beautiful truck when you're finished. Might end up so nice you're not gonna wanna make it your DD:lol:

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Yeah, you're probably right .. :lol:

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Looks good, I like the look of the gray with the black
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Thanks for the compliments! :)
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Looks phenomenal!!!! Love IT!!!

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Dad is picking up an Air Chisel today..

What's the best way to get the rivets out of the Trailing Arm brackets? My cut off wheel / disc is just a 4 1/2 and I'm not sure drilling them out would be the best option? How do you guys get them out?

Dad had the trailing arms blasted yesterday and I think he painted them today. New Prothane bushings are going in and we'll mount them up as soon as the flip is finished up. By that time I hope the drop blocks and Ubolts come in.. But I gotta wait on my PB brackets and stuff.

One step at a time. ..

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

I used my Plasma cutter to get the rivets off on my '70 model last week. Just slice the head off and knock it through with a punch and Whammer.

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Cut an x in the head, then use a flat bit to chisel it off. Chisel again with the pointed bit to push th through. They're easier to get to from the trans side....
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

exactly how we do it!!!

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

I remove all of my rivits, trailing arm rivits included, by drilling a small hole in the center of the rivit about 1/2 way throug and steping up in size until I just knowck the shulder off the rivit and then I smack it with a mini sledge and a punch in the hole. they are easyier to get at from the trans side. I found grinders molest alot of steel and the result never looks good to me.

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

This is how I do it too, I use an air hammer to chisel the head off and then switch the bit and use it to hammer them out. Works really good.

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

I am with you. Chad and I tried the "X" method, drllling down the center, and the Makita grinder. All of them are a pain in the a$$ and take forever. After researching online, I watched YouTube videos of guys removing riveted ball joints in our trucks with an air hammer/chisel. This one guy removed the heads from 4 ball joint rivets, changed to a sharp pointed bit and knocked them out in less than a minute.

The transmission is still in Chad's truck, but the bed is off. It looks like the rivets are more acessable from the trailing arm side. The one thing that worries us is the gas line that enters the cab floor close to that passenger side bracket. We really don't want to be throwing sparks anywhere near that line. So, it just makes more sense to use the air chisel. We will still use a welding blanket to shield the gas line, but sparks should be at a minimum.

POP

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

I have a couple $100 air chisels.
They suck for knocking rivet heads off.
I cut an "X" in the head and then use the air chisel to finish the rivet head and punch the remainder thru the hole.

I've heard from my buddy n2billet that the "high dollar" Snap On type air chisels will peel the rivet heads off with no problems.
But the air chisels are expen$ive!
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

I dunno, lolife. There are times I'd gladly pay that to not have to deal with the rivets. There's a vid around here from ridetech using the snap-on air chisel and it makes quick work of them. Hard to beat the $20 HF special though...
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Me too.
I hate rivets.
I always look for the "good" air chisels when I go to swap meets.
I may have to break down and buy a new one.

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

I was with Keith (n2billet) one day when he did a rear notch. It took every tool he had in his well stocked box to get the rivits out. Yeah, that high dollar Blue Point chisle set did remove the heads nicely. Unfortunately some of the rivit bodies would not budge. We used quality step bits, real bits and BFH blows and they still fought us.
Rivits are evil, and there is no easy way to get all of them out. Plan on being there a while, and cursing a lot.

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Ive never dealt with them till we dropped this truck. Yes they are a pain. Ill probably just do the whole cross member swap on my stepside. Im somewhat of a perfectionist so I have a whole lot of patience.. we'll get them out.

Why is the Hotchkis anti-squat kit so expensive? Wouldnt the bracket flip do the same thing? I understand 1* of pinion adjustment per hole.. but do I really need their brackets?
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

We have some friends that have offered to loan us a Snap-On air hammer, so that's the best option. Both Ricky (Flintstone Media Blasting, Flinstone, GA) and Tony (Tony's Auto Body, Soddy Daisy, TN) are always willing to help us out when they can. It's nice to have good friends! We will probably get a gift card to Summit or Jegs for the use of the air hammer.

Eventually, we will need to buy one because Chad is talking about notching his stepper next. Have I said that I HATE RIVETS?

POP

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Snap-On air hammer is the only way :metal:
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Trailing arm brackets are off.. gosh I hate rivets :devil:

Hotchkis anti-squat kit on the way tonight. More coming soon :D
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Nice can't wait to see some updated pics
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Frame looks great as do the notches

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

I appreciate it fellas.

I have 1.5" blocks, new U bolts, shims, etc. on the way. The trailing arms were blasted and came out like new. Dad is finishing them up now. We're about ready to start bolting things back up.

When we were taking the brackets off, we kinda chewed them up in places so I just got another set. One of the guys on the forum had a set of the Hotchkis adjustable brackets, so I'm going with them on this truck. That kit is almost $300 from Summit, but you get extra U bolts, shims, and grade 8 bolts .. That I don't need (?) All I need are the brackets I'll get for $50. So, .. saved a little on the whole kit. He was using everything but the front trailing arm brackets, so it just workd out. :metal:

I'm just waiting on my bolts and blocks now, next will be the 5 lug swap over and mounting up my rear brakes, wheels, etc.

Dad is working on the initial sanding on my bedwood this morning. Spar coat #1 should go on today (on the backsides first)

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

First coat of Spar varnish on the backside of my bed boards. I really like how the varnish colored up the boards. I'm going to do 220 / Coat, 400 / Coat, and 500 Coat then polish on a low speed buffer.

this is just a 220 sand with one coat .. I'm diggin it so far! :metal:

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Looks awesome!!
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Nothing like using one Chevy as a work bench for another :lol: love it :metal:
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

:lol: Yeah, my stepper is like .. "What about MY wood?? .. HEY !!"


They're just there to dry, they weren't brushed there .. (no drips on the step)

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

The wood looks great!

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Looking good man. So jealous. :)

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

That wood looks great chad!!!!

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

It's coming together! :D Maybe I'll have it drivable by spring.

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Wood looks great!