Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

Update.

Cab is back from the blasters. The transmission is at the rebuild shop. SHould have the motor in with headers on and trans in. Then i can get to epoxying everything and start working forward.

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

How does it look:confused:

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

Looks alright. I will have some pics and what not.... Just at work, and bored...

Some rust around the REAR window area...

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

OIC. Same here:(

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

Still no pics of the "primered" avatar yet?

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

Avatar isnt primered. Its fiberglass fenders. The bed has primer, but previous owner primer..

NExt week i will have some progress. hope to have the engine and trans mounted in the truck....

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

Did you figure out your transmission cross member yet?

-Joel

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

nuts is all i gotta say. if i ever buy another one it will be done and ready to drive. i have done 2 blazers , 68 camaro and started on my 71 pro-street and im sick of projects. better you than me. looks awesome so far. i wish ya luck.

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

Yeah, goign to make my own. Bought the metal already.

I figure i will only build one of these bad boys, so i dont plan on doing another one.

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

Updates. I have been working on it pretty much every weekend.. Its tough when you have 4 kids. And two of them are under 3 and want to HELP. ahaha... I got the motor installed, crossmember drilled for exhaust, new transmission xmember i made and the headers installed... I just sent my driveline out to have it custom fit for my truck. First price quote was 450 bucks and i found a place that would do it for 230.. YAAY...

here are some pics.
This is the original driveshaft and how close it comes to the th400. They are going to shorten my driveshaft and add a snub nose kinda like a 4x4 setup...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...n/DSC08457.jpg


Here is my engine ready for the tranny.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08441.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08442.jpg


Here is the trans on, now the motor is ready to go in its home.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08443.jpg

Here we are installed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08450.jpg

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

This is the cab after the blasters.... Not many suprises in there. Some questions i have is theres little pin holes here and there... Can i just weld up those little holes and be good, or should i cut it out and weld in new metal??

Cab'
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08444.jpg

Heres the area im concerned about...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08445.jpg


THis is a previous owners work. This whole area was smooth and really well done with body work. I dont even know how im going to tackle this. I might cut that WHOLE section out, or just go to work with hammer and dolly then remud it.. I dont know.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08446.jpg

This is the drivers side rust i have to fix.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08447.jpg

This is the passenger side area that i have already finished... Is there any side affect to completely welding in the rocker?? I mean the whole thing so there is NO line where the cab corner and rocker meet?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08448.jpg

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

Heres the crossmember where i put the holes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08449.jpg


Me figuring out my tranny crossmember. I just ended up using a 2x4 of metal and some bolts.. Works great..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08450.jpg

Just trying to get the right level.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08451.jpg


This is how close the oil pan is to crossmember.. kinda close.... IM going to reroute the brake lines, or will they be ok where they are?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08452.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08454.jpg


More updates to come.

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

I didn't weld my rocker panels in completely either, not a full bead, but they're not going anywhere.

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

coooool! watching this build closly.

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

What i meant was the side of the rocker. You know how there is a line... Can i weld that up??? I dont mean INSIDE the doorjam.. The outside line.

Cool... Next step after the exhaust is diggin in to the drivers side of the vehicle... Then i will epoxy the whole thing and mount it back up...Im thinking of doing my engine bay in a semi flat black color. Havent decided if i wanted to color match it...

Some good news i found is that my kickdown switch for my transmission is a direct fit. I have an 81 donor truck where i got the motor and trans out of and the throttle pedal assembley is IDENTICAL to my 71 except i didnt have a kickdown switch.. that was pretty neat.

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

Thats what I was talking about also.

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

I wanted to know if i COULD weld that up.. So the bottom is all smooth, no line in it where the rocker meets the cab corner.

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

There shouldn't be a problem with that lyrikz. Should make it pretty solid. I can tell you though that I had mine mudded in these area and and they did crack from flex of the cab. Your weld should hold just fine.

Nice build by the way, been watching.

Question I been meaning to ask you, is where you got your glass fenders and how much? Are you satisfied with them? PM me.

Eric

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

I got the fenders for 400 plus shipping. I love them. BUTTT, i found a SWB bed that i wanted to buy. Do you happen to want them??? I wont lower the price any from what i paid because i cant find the guy who sold em and they are still perfect. ahah. Never painted em yet or anything.. Let me know.. id like to buy the bed but i cant without some cash...

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

So, got the driveline installed...

here are some pics.
Custom line... neat neat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08458.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08463.jpg


Here is where im running into an issue. The truck will have bads in the rear, thats why i chose the driveline i did. Well, the truck is at the height it will ride at right now and THIS is how close the driveline is to the trailing arm crossmember....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08459.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC08462.jpg

The actual distance is less then 1/4 inch.... SO, eventually the truck WILL go lower when i have the air bags on. Can i just cut the top of the crossmember, and box in above it to get me some more room.? How much room do i have between the crossmember and the rear of my floor???

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

Hey I think you forgot to install this piece. =)

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

Is that 400 a piece or for both plus shipping. I am needing some fenders. Dang, I'm kind of in the same boat right now with funds, of course I'm clear across the country from you as well. Thanks anyway.

Eric

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

400 for both, and 100 dollars for shipping FROM FLorida is where i bought em. ahahah.

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

ahaha, thats my paint gun. ahaha.

Re: My build. Project Karma. 71 stepside.
 

Thanks lyrikz, I'll check into them sometime. Good luck with your build.

Eric