Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Yesterday I was able to get the front cross member and suspension back off the 82.
Which meant I had to move the jeep and the vette outside. I set the 82's parts aside and brought the 62's suspension back in and bolted it under the 82 so it could be moved around.

When I let it down the torsion bars were less than two inches off the floor. It would not go back on the lift with them being that low. When I tried to pull it outside as soon as the front wheels cleared the shop door the torsion bars started gouging into my concrete floor. After pondering the situation for a while I decided to jack up the front of the truck and while it was in the air I stuck a 4X4 chuck in between the lower a frame and the cross member on each side.

When I let it down off the jack it could be moved where ever I wanted it so I put back on the lift and parked the vette back under it with the jeep back inside.
This took the biggest part of the day but now I'm ready to tear down the disc. brake suspension, rebuild it and install it on the 62.

No pics. of this progress. It would be all the same stuff in different locations in the shop and the yard.

The reason I keep everything in shop is because if I set in the yard a clock starts ticking about how long it will be there. It doesn't bother me but my wife doesn't have the same appreciation for this stuff as I do. So for peace in family everything stays in the shop until I'm ready to send down the road.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Last week I got very little done in the shop. I did get the control arms off of the 82 cross member.

This week I have been able to get the ball joints and control arm bushings removed.
I had not done this before so it took me a while to do it.

Now I'm ready to clean up the cross member for installation on the 62 then on with rebuilding the front and reassembly.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Front end Fun!!! You got this Brother!

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Small progress but it still feels good.
Got the cross member installed for mock up purposes. I'll mark the frame to drill my holes and then drill the holes, paint it and install it.
The pictures were taken with the lap top at a weird angle.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Progress... Looking good Brother!:mm:

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

I understand about keeping everything in the shop. Progress looks great.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Slow and steady is the way I roll. Also I try to stay out of trouble with my projects.

Not very much got done this week. I did do a lot of looking, thinking, planning and some more looking.

One of the lower control arm shafts got damaged when I was removing the bushings. The hammer must have went off when I wasn't looking because the nut and threads needed to have some first aid to able to go back together.
That took a while with a thread die, file and time. In the end it came through all nice and ready for the new bushings.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

That's half the battle right there! Planning things out so nothing too unexpected happens.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

I just finished getting caught up on your build progress and posting too.

To me any progress that I make feels good makes the effort worth while.
Even if it is cleaning and scrapping grease and rust it all has to be done.

I really like the spot light, mirrors and horn you've found for your truck. The easy rider rifle rack is a nice touch too.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

I agree, sometimes when you're having a tough day, a little truck time is like medicine for the soul… scrapping, cleaning or dreaming. All good.
Keep after it buddy, she's looking fine.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Looking good Brother! Keep after it... He is Risen!!!

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

He is risen indeed!

Thanks Don.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Another update without pics.

I have my new upper and lower ball joints, upper and lower control arm bushings, inner and outer tie rod ends, wheel bearings and disc. brake pads.

After talking with the machine shop owner today I decided not to use the alum. heads.They are set up for a sprint car and have too many mods to be able to run in my truck.

I'll be using the cast iron 882 heads from the donor engine out of the 82. They are at the machine shop now getting freshened up.

I've taken the cam out of the newer short block to take over to the machine shop tomorrow so they can tell me about the lift and if I'll need some additional valve spring work done.

The machine shop is a father and son operation. They are building a 1928 Model A that will be stock. Cool place to work with.

I've been spending money and not seeing much progress but it is getting closer to going back together.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

I always find it a plus when you can learn/have work done and not worry about getting gouged in the process. Machine shop folks sound like good business people.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

They are some cool dudes. As I was leaving I thought if I was more like you, Rian or Don and others on this forum I would have taken pictures of the shop and the Model A project. Alas I'm not a techno savvy picture takin' uploadin' downloadin' postin' kinda of a guy. Not yet anyway.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

You are thinking about the pics and posting... Soon you'll be adding your viewpoint through pics... :mm: Have a blessed day brother!!!

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

It sounds like you're making good progress Vince, pictures would be great but I know what you mean about the uploading, downloading stuff (give me a welding torch any day). You need to do what I often have to do, rely on my kids :lol:

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Check this multi-quote reply. Yeah, I think about a whole lot of stuff only some of it gets done. I used to feel guilty about not getting things done so I quite thinking about it as much.

My internet is not very good here so that limits what and when I can do stuff.
I need to find an IT kid to follow me around when I'm in the shop and take pictures and post them for me.

All this computer/internet is still like magic to me. I can't get over how much I am doing with it. Limited as I am it is great fun.

Got my cam identified so the machine shop knows what direction to go with the heads. It is a mild Crane 266H10 cam with a smooth idle and strong low end torque according to their catalog. They said some valve springs like a Z28 would use is what I'll need.

I'll be putting the short block back together soon. When I get the cam reinstalled then the timing cover, oil pump and oil pan can go on and be ready and waiting to the heads.

Picked up some paint for the frame and suspension and some engine paint too.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

I just got home from a shop where I took my control arms and coil springs to have them sandblasted. They also do powder coating and made me a deal to sand blast and powder coat my parts . Also if I wanted I could bring the cross member to for a package deal which is cheaper than I could have had them blasted and me paint them. So I made another round trip home and back to the shop with my cross member.

Anyway now I'm looking for more stuff to have powder coated on the truck.:metal:

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Sounds like a good deal any way you look at it Vince.

I did my stuff by hand and it takes a lot of time, and the pro finishes are so much better.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

I picked up my powder coated parts from the shop. They are also a paint and body shop as well as sandblasting and powder coating.
The son of the shop owner works there too and has a cool 34 Chevy street rod.
I took some pics. while picking up my parts.
I've been rounding up the parts to rebuild the suspension as I put it back together. Still have to clean and paint the front of the frame.
Then I think it will be ready for the next step and the next step and the next step.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Wow, that's one cool hot rod, chevy's are so much rarer than fords ( you literally never see one in the UK) the back window is awesome. Plus if the owners son drives that, you just know your parts are in good hands.
Thanks for sharing

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Very Cool Brother!!! Dig the kid's Chevy!!!:metal:

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

I've been cleaning the powder coating out of the control arms where the bushings and lower ball joints press in. Also cleaning up the control arm shafts for paint before reassembly. I think I have all the parts needed to get the front suspension back together almost complete.

The machine shop called and said my heads are ready. So now I need to get the engine together too.

I'll try and upload some pics.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4249/...18d1f8c9_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4219/...5ec65355_z.jpg

http://https://farm5.staticflickr.co...18d1f8c9_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4183/...3f63120b_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4201/...2697cfe0_z.jpg
Cool 32 Olds street rod that belongs to a friend.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4249/...1a6903a2_z.jpg

A nice little Nova still on the street.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Diggin' the progress!!!:mm: Neat Olds, and man I would like to build a Nova like that...;)

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

He has had the Olds for years and drives it quite a bit.

I thought you might enjoy the Nova.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Better than new.:hot:

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Maybe I'll find an affordable :lol: one someday...

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Picked up the rebuilt heads today from the machine shop.

While I was there I took some pictures of the Model A they are building.
It's a 1928

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4185/...78110e7e_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4245/...c91476d5_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4273/...ccc59a01_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4219/...fcdc44f7_z.jpg

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

That's some sweet looking steel right there.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

I have my short block back together and ready for completion.
It has JE alum. flat top pistons, a Crane cam, I'm not sure what crank but everything is new and looking good. The crank and rods look like they have been balanced.
The machine shop installed stainless 2.02 intake valves and Z28 valve springs in the heads I'll be using.
If I ever get it in the truck and going down the road it should run pretty good.

Also got all my control arm bushings and ball joints installed. Also got the spindles and most of the rest of the rest of the suspension painted.
I still have some frame work to do before I put the front end back under it.
Getting things done slowly but still plugging away when I can.

It seems like everything I do I see more that needs to be done and also everything that needs to be done needs more money to do it. That really slows things down.

I spent money on the heads and on the block that I had not really planned on and then bought a complete engine gasket set which if my engine had been what I thought it was I would not have needed to buy it either.

But like Grizz A.K.A. Rian says, "Every time I look at my old truck, it makes me smile madly"

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Good news Brother!:metal:
Gotta agree with Rian's sentiment!!!:mm:

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

An update without pictures.
Since last time I posted anything not much has been done on the truck until yesterday.
I started shifting things around in the shop and getting truck parts sorted.
The cross member is installed for the last time (I hope) so that is progress.

I cut off the power steering mount on frame section of the donor truck to see if I can use it as an adapter for the the 62 frame.

I had to work on my daily driver truck some and spend money on it that would have/could have gone on the 62 plus I had a medical deal that required money I would have rather spent on the build.

I'm still dreaming and making plans to get this old ride back on the road sooner than later.

As I was sorting parts I realized there are a lot of things that need to done and a lot of things that need to be figured out but progress is progress and it was great to get back in the shop on this truck.

I'll get some pictures when I get more of the suspension installed.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Still no pictures but more progress.
Yesterday I installed the upper and lower contol arms and am ready for the coil springs, spindles and all the rest. Going slow because that seems to be how I roll these days.

I've got more time and more tools and a better place to work than any other time in my life but I get wore out after just a little wrenching, lifting, moving the jack and getting up and down. I guess I could use the excuse that I'm very detailed and methodical in my work habits. You know that is how we did it back in the day at the wrecking yard.

I'll see about some pictures and get them posted soon.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Progress is progress as Don says Vince.

Glad you are still on top of this.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Oh the joy of adding the days to our ages!!!:mm:

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Progress with pictures this time.
The coil springs are installed. What a job to do with the engine out and by my self. But I persevered and over came.

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Nice build! I'm going to be watching...keep up the good work while I am out of town I like to see what everyone is working on in their post. I started with a 62 but it is now a parts truck. I now have a 66 and just getting out in the shop and doing the small stuff helps clear the mind and give me satisfaction....:waah:

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Pictures...:bann:

Looking Great Brother... Finalizing plans to get down your way soon... Have a blessed Day!!!:mm:

Re: 1962 stepside project by realvc
 

Things happen pretty slow around here. It took a good while to get the suspension back to this point.
Thanks for stopping in.