Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Anytime any night Austin. Ordered pass side rocker, driver side inner rocker and cab supports this morning. I believe the rest I can cut from the donar cab. Picked up a few spot weld cutters this weekend, so I plan to go out and start cutting welds and removing OEM panels tonight. Once I know what I can salvage, I'll order the rest.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

The Bluebomber (Austin) stopped in last night and we came up with a game plan for tonight. Front end will be off and maybe crossmember dropped is the goal. I'll set the front end on the fleetside for storage purposes for now....and to keep me on track as I keep getting side tracked. Should have some pics tonight of the progress.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Action shot!

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Well, success last night. Austin and I had good weather, although it was 90* and we have a tropical storm over us, but the front end was removed and transferred to the fleetside. So now the real fun begins. Crossmember will come out this weekend, frame prep finished and should have 1st frame install of engine for clearance issues done.

Few surprises, some were expected. PO decided to weld the pass side fender to the rocker....out came the grinder. :waah:

Driver side lower front fender bolt head was 1/2 gone.....out came the grinder. :waah:

Had Austin on fire patrol inside the cab when grinding on the driver side due to the couple of small holes so nothing caught fire. :devil:

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Couple more pics. Rest of the frame looks solid, no cracks or damage from any accidents that I can see. All the front end components are oem and retain the rivets, but the new crossmember is done and complete, so the swap should go a little faster.

Lower a piller on driver side can get added to the list.

And the fleetside with its temporary front end. Hoping that by putting the front end on the fleetside that it'll slow me down on that build some so I can get the stepside back on the road.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

And a big thanks to Austin (bluebomber) again for the help!!!!

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

It sure is great getting to meet fellow member's and get that second set of hands when needed...:metal:

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Oh yeah, have met quite a few. Austin and I have been friends for a few years already and hes also one of my groomsmen in the upcoming wedding in November. We worked many long range matches up at Camp Butner, NC together when I played RSO (range safety officer), paramedic and pulled targets.

The trucks we both had and was just another thing in common. I don't work at Camp Butner much anymore, but Austin still works the range and still shoots competitively. Most of the matches there are 600, 800 and 1000 yards. And the help is much appreciated.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Nice to see the other 63 with a front end. lol So..I might have missed it, but what you gonna do about a front clip for the 63 stepper?

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

I have another one that's already been torn apart. I have a NOS grill support, oem radiator support, the aluminum 63 grill I polished out, I've rebuilt the closing panels and only have the pass side inner fender to complete.

The big block is done, minus swapping valve covers, clutch assembly done and installed on block and trans is done, just waiting to be mated to the block.

Front crossmember is already prepped and painted as are all the components. All new front suspension parts sitting in the boxes. So just prep and install now.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Looking Good, everything is falling into place, I agree on concentrating on the stepper, especially with the big block, new seat and all the other cool stuff u have for it.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

My OCD is bad and especially when they are parked side-by-side. But I have all the parts to complete the step side and 90% for the fleetside. My main focus will be the stepside at least until is running under its own power again. I don't mind if the exterior takes a back burner a little, but I want my short stepper back on the road. I'll get a lot of progress done now, so stay tuned.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Nice to have help doing that kind of work.

You gonna get that crossmember and suspension done this weekend?

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Depends on what our tropical depression does, but it's my goal. Frame prepped and trimmed and engine/trans/crossmember set in.

Rear end removal will follow next so I can get it to my builders for the posi.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

No problem you know I'm always down to turn some wrenches and bust some knuckles.

I was working on the truck today and out of nowhere 35 Mph gusts came in and started wreaking havoc... scared the life out of my cat.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Good progress man. Can't wait to see that BBC in there. Speaking of the A-pillar I just welded my passenger one in this morning. Wasn't too bad but it took some massaging to make the lines match up.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

OK, work resumed on 7/3 and ended 7/8 on front end, but its done. Started with adding the dual mc and hydraulic clutch mc since the firewall was already prepped and them it was time to remove the crossmember and start frame prep.

All parts completed in this phase:
New dual mc
wildwood hydraulic clutch mc
Captainfab brake/hydraulic clutch kit
New shocks, tie rods, ball joints, spindles, rotors, idler arm, pitman arm
factory sway bar added
factory front hooks added
new tires/lug nuts
all new grade 8 bolts

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

More frame prep, rust prevention, sealer and undercoating, then installed the pre prepped crossmember

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Next was coil spring and spindle install. And let me tell you....3/4 ton springs are fun to compress. I used a combination of coil spring compressor and floor jack. I would tighten with the compressor and then raise with the jack. Once spindles were in and castle nuts on, I decompressed the compressor and slowly lowered with the jack. Took awhile, but very effective. I also ran 3/8" logging chain through the spring (just incase anything went FUBAR)....but didn't get a pic. Luckily I didn't need the chain.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Nice work. Looking Good!

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

What is your trick to get the bump stops in the a-arms?

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Got yer text and photos while at the beach. Lookin high and tight!

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

More pics. Dust shields in place and rotors on

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Sway bar install and shocks in.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Next up was factory tow hook mock up. I used the hole closest to the radiator support and had to trim the radiator supports just a hair to get the placement I wanted. Hole drilled out to 9/16" and lower hole added. All grade 8 hardware used

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Few more

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Last of tow hook install and starting tie rods and main drag link. I did the pitman and idler arms before sway bar install.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

And there we have the completed front end. All new components, grade 8 bolts and a lot of prep and finish time.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Last two pics for the day are of the driver side white wall installed. The 73 4x4 gm rims cleared the calipers just fine. Will get it down off the jacks tonight and get the lug nuts torqued down so I can get the caps on.

I can tell you for experience.....installing a new front end with all new painted parts alone is a challenge, but can be done.

Now time for phase 2.....engine & trans

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Sharps40 was kind enough to install new ones before I got the crossmember, so I didn't have to. I'd check with him.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Thanks Rich. A lot of blood, sweat, tears and $. And a few beers afterwards!!!

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

That front looks great! Really like the contrast between the flat undercoating on the frame and the gloss black and blue on the suspension parts.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Thanks a bunch for the kind words. Was what I was going for, wasn't sure how it'd come out, but I'm thrilled with the results. I used gloss chasis paint on the crossmember, my undercoating in the can on the frame after prep, and the silver on the drag link and spindles is caliper paint. Went with a matte black on the calipers which you can't see once the rims are on. I taped off the backs of all the front suspension where the zerks go and all the threads. I'm glad I didn't go with my initial plan of a blue sway bar....I think it'd been too much. Just got lucky that Monroe sent blue shocks as they were advertised in black and the moog sway bar bushings were advertised in red, but luckily the blues match and make a nice touch on the front end.

Calling for rain the next 5 days....so engine/trans may have to hold off until the storms pass.

I also installed all new grade 8 hardware anywhere I could get a new bolt/nut on.

The crossmember install was probably the hardest part doing it solo....followed by the sway bar. I used wood clamps to hold the top of the sway bar to the frame which allowed me to get the a-arms measured up. Once bolted to the a-arms, the rest went fairly easy....just drilling holes.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Looks good bud! Looking forward to seeing that engine sit perrty in that bay. :metal:

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Thanks TJ....me too!!

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Very Nice!!! :metal:

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Thanks Don.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

grease, push, beat, pry, cuss....repeat.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

That looks great. I am going to have to stop by. I am selling my car this week then I am going to get my 62. I will drop the motor mounts off with you.

Re: 1963 C-10 in NC
 

Man I like how that front chassis looks. Nicely detailed for sure!