Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Oh yeah!!
Everyone in town will know it's me comin! Even more so since I'll be running the other two factory horns as well, so hopefully 3 horns is enough :lol:

Today I worked on separating the grille, grille support and rad support.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Here's some of the rust I'll be dealing with, not at all bad compared to how the rest of the truck was.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Shouldn't be a problem for you Nik.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Not at all! This has pretty much become the routine:lol:

Today I got a little time in the garage so I started cutting! Always seems like I find more rust once I go deeper, this was no exception. But it's nothing compared to what I've done in the past so it shouldn't at all be a problem. I'll start on making some patches tomorrow.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

After school I spent a couple hours on doing the rust repair first I welded this patch in place and smoothed it out.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Here is the finished product, the area where the bolt goes through to the frame was was triple layered 18 gauge, so that took a while to form.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Another pic, the next order of business is to sand and clean up the entire thing and then spray it black so it will be ready to install.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Got a little freetime today so I got the core support all cleaned up and painted, turned out pretty good. Tomorrow is the last day before spring vacation in my school district, the next two weeks I'll have off so I'll be getting some major things done on the truck:metal:

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Wish I could get two weeks off......from Anything at this point. lol! That much truck time would be sweet.....enjoy it man!

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Two solid weeks of truck time :metal:You should get a ton of work done. You'll be cruising in no time.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Thanks guys, it will be nice to have some time so I can get quite a bit knocked out all at once, of course I'll be doing lots of fishing as well:)



Today I got the core support bolted in and ran a few wires as well as cleaning up and attaching the horn relay and voltage regulator. Starting to look like a truck again!

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

I had been trying for a while without success to figure out some sort of mounting for the dash extension. I finally built some brackets that worked and mounted it up on the dash, the next step is to remove all the gauges and paint it.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Also been working on some of the smaller details, just today I got the battery tray cleaned, painted and installed plus I put in a new battery, and cleaned, painted and installed the voltage regulator and horn relay and both the factory horns.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

And now it finally has a face!

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Excellent progress! Getting the front end back on is a real milestone.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

:metal:

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Thank you, yes the front end is where the majority of the work is, once it's all finished it'll be a weight off my back.

:metal::chevy:

Well today was quite the day! Along with the above progress I also worked into the evening and managed to remove the rear end, it just didn't want to let go! The u-bolts had to be cut off. But other than that it all went smoothly.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Looking good Nik. Keep at it, spring's coming

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Thanks dale, I'm not super tight on the plan, as long as I get it on the road before summer starts I'll be fine.


Today I made some more progress on the rear end swap, I knew I had to figure out some way to hook up an e-brake since the cables from the 71 rear end mounted to the trailing arms differently and were too short. But to my surprise when I pulled the cables from the backing plates and compared them I found out they would swap over and snap right in, no modifications at all!

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Been struggling to get the u bolts out of the trailing arms, they are rusted right in. I've already tried heating up, soaking in penatrant oil and beating the crap out of them with a punch and sledgehammer and it didn't budge. I'm thinking I might have to take off my trailing arms and get the u bolts pressed out. Anyone have any other ideas?

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

I had the same problem on our 60. I just beat kept beating on them up and down and spraying with oil until they finally came out.
Have you tried tightening the nuts on the bolts? Might be able to spin them some.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

I tried to turn it using a socket and breaker bar with a 4' pole on it, just felt like the breaker bar was going to bend with all the force I was applying. Tomorrow I'm going to try using an air hammer.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Took me awhile to, I used a LOT of heat and a big hammer with a punch. Wasn't long after that. lol When I put the new ones in I coated them with anti seize.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

That's what I've tried but with no such luck, good tip there on the anti-seize.


Today I tried the air hammer and that did the trick, I got both of them out on the drivers side, now I just need to finish the passengers side.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

That's the way Nik Just keep beating on it until it gives up :metal:

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Spent a couple hours beating away at the passengers side and finally got them out, I then wire brushed the trailing arms and inside the holes and put on a little rust paint where the axle mounting pads sit. Before I install the rear end I will apply some anti seize to the ubolts. While I was under the truck I made a little discovery. I found that one of my coil springs is cracked right at the base. So it looks like I'll be in the market for new springs.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Hey, you done a good job on that radiator support patch, let me guess it was the passenger side that was rotted.. from the battery acid...that's the same place where mine was and I just patched it like you did couldn't see getting a new one since that was the only place...keep up the good work...

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Thanks randy, and yes the drivers side had no rust at all which had me scratching my head for a bit. But that makes complete sense about the battery acid leaking down, on vehicles of this age most of them seem to have rusted out battery trays for that exact reason.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Right on Nik! Looking forward to seeing you rig on the road. Hopefully I can get out to the Okanagan this summer, I will definetly drop you a line. Keep it up, in the home stretch now :metal:

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Make sure you get the new mounting plates and bolts. i had to cut one of my springs out and pound out the long bolt. Now you can order the the drop size you want and lower the front to match.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Thanks Anthony! I'm really wanting to see it on the road as well, shouldn't be long... Looking forward to hopefully seeing you this summer!

I was actually wanting to keep it stock height as I do a lot of fishing and dirtbiking in remote areas that require some ground clearance and beefier tires (the reason I got the Dunlop rover m/t's).

Today I got my new ubolts and bolted in the rear end, it's a great relief to see that all my measuring and welding was done properly and it all went together super smoothy. I then put the wheels on and put the truck back on the ground.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Worked on getting some small odds and ends ready on the engine, installed a few small parts. Put in the distributor and picked up some new plug wires, I had to trim a couple of them but other than that they worked perfectly. All I need to do is clean, paint and install the oil filter system and lines and it'll be ready to fire up! :metal:

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Yesterday was a sanding day, lots of sanding. And today was a painting day. I stripped the radiatior, and sanded the hood latch piece, the front filler panels and the old 6 lug wheels. Obviously now that my truck is 5 lug I have no need for these 6 lug wheels, but I didn't pay anything for them as they came on the truck and I only paid $100 for the pretty much new whitewalls. So the plan was to sand and clean them completely, mask off the tires and paint them gloss black and then clean up the tires really well and put them for sale. I'm thinking I should be able to get about $500 for them which will free up some cash for other truck parts:metal:. So here are the wheels painted up, I just need to give the tires a good clean and post them for sale.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Here is the hood latch and filler panels all painted up.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

And here is the radiatior all painted up

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

One of my buddies that was building a truck for someone ordered a few parts for a 250 six cylinder, but the customer changed his mind and wanted a v8. So he had no need for this part and have it to me. It's a upper rad hose for a 63-66 which is clearly too long but part of it has the same curve as the original 62 hose.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Parts look nice!!

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

And here is the hose cut to fit. This will be the last update for the next few days as tomorrow I'm driving a few hours to the coast to do some fishing, but I'll be sure to make some progress before school starts back up.

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

I bought those WW's you linked to me a while back for $200, they are on older 6 lug rims with the clips for the caps. I got a good score there !

Re: Nik's 62 build
 

Thanks!

Yes that was a great deal! I'll be posting these for sale soon and I'll see what I can get for them.