Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Looks great !

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

what are you plans for the exhaust? Looks like it could get tight, especially with it laid out. You going true dual or an x pipe? love the engine scheme.

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Sweet build where did you get those killer valve covers ?:gmc2:

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Thanks a million guys!

I'm thinking something like a dynomax bullet dumped before the axle. I don't really know but I found my exhaust guy last week! He's a mile away and does every hot rod around. Did a killer job on the crew cab daily driver.

http://www.yourcovers.com/valve_covers_10413.php

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Nice progress Leevon!

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

LEEVON

Looking good!

Is that a standard 4" backspace on the 15X7??

Thanks

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

I don't remember, I think it might be 3.5" but I'll check...

So I've made a little progress. I spent yesterday afternoon building a cab dolly and working on the rear end. I set the pinion angle and tacked the saddles to the axle tubes. Today I'll finish welding and then replace the axle seals and brake parts then stuff the rear end back in for good. Then it's on to brake and air lines. Next time I think I'll get help lifting the rear end off that cart...she's a manmaker.

Speaking of the cart, it's my welding table project, just missing the top plate and paint. I used thick 3x3 angle for the frame, it has a bottom shelf and side shelf for the welder. I want to find a tool box or drawers too. The top is going to be 24"x48"x3/8" plate and I have a nice vise to add. Can't wait to get it done but for now it's doing a great job keeping that 10 bolt off the floor.

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Glad to see you are back to the build project. Nice looking shop!

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Well I got the saddles welded on and checked out the guts of the rear end. It was very clean with no apparent abnormal wear so I just replaced the axle seals and overhauled the brakes. The ring gear stamping confirmed the 3.42 ratio and the date stamp agreed with what the seller told me (he said it came from a '78 TA)

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Nice welds
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Thanks, now I just need to finish my welding table to keep up with the Jones' ;)

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Lol, Jones ?? Welding stations are awesome !
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Jones' / Loshes you know people with FINISHED welding tables!

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Looking good. Nice progress

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

The rear end is sealed up and back in along with the driveshaft. That orange thing in the lower right of the first picture is a tumbler for spent shell casings that I've had for awhile but never used. I put some sharp media in there and threw in the diff cover bolts and some other odds and ends like a used spark plug and it did a nice job cleaning them and removing rust.

Next up shocks/mounts and brake lines.

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

progress ....is progress , right !!

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

That looks great Leevon. I have used one of those tumblers to deburr small parts. They are very handy.

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

wonder if a rock polishing tumbler would work too?

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

I think they will, just a little slower from what I understand.

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Do u reamber what the measurement u put your front axle centerline
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

I don't, it came with the TCI instructions and I searched around a little first to confirm.

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Mom and Dad drove their 63 Nova wagon over yesterday. It's a 58K original mile California black plate car. The original owner passed a couple of years ago, when he was in a home they would bring it up and he would sit in it and smoke and listen to the radio. When he passed, it went to one of my Dad's Nova buddies who replaced the interior, swapped to 5 lug suspension and sold it to Dad. 194 I-6 / powerglide runs like a dream. He just put the wheels on, and it will soon be lowered with some suspension and steering improvements. It's a blast to drive!

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Awesome
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Mike, come to GG KC this year and see it in person!

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

That is a slick nova, and lowered I would daily that in a heart beat.

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

that should be no problem , i hope to drive my truck to that one for sure !!

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Thats a clean little wagon.

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Subscribed..

I wish I woulda thought to use C10 trailing arm suspension when I built my bare-steel 53 Suburban in 2007...
I used JW Rod Garage MII and a No-limit engineering fatbar 4-link.

**But my junk laid out flat!!! :lol: ;)

I found your thread researching the TA suspension, because I have a itch for another AD truck.

Great work dude!

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Thanks Tim! I've liked every one of your trucks (as seen here and on the HAMB), especially the bare metal 'burb. The trailing arm idea kind of fell into my lap. I originally contacted Nathan Porter to collaborate on designing a bolt-in trailing arm crossmember kit for these trucks which he had also been thinking about. I wound up buying the back half of a '72 for test-fitting and that's when I realized it would be WAAY to easy just to use what I had and mod the crossmember myself. I've got $50 plus the bags and panhard into it, so maybe $250? I would definitely buy a Porterbuilt crossmember though if they were available were I to do it again.

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Another boring and off-topic update, but maybe this will help me get the truck done sooner! I finished the welding table project, although I would like to find a toolbox to for the consumables, etc. It has already proven to be a valuable tool.

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Great job on the table!

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

NICE , jealous of the top !! i need a welding table like that !

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

I told myself I was just going to pay for the top, and not call in a favor but somehow I had about $80 in wheels, paint and some misc. angle and that was with the main frame from free scrap. So I know a guy...and could have gotten 1/2" or whatever I wanted but 3/8" is just light enough for me to move without help but heavy enough to beat on. The only disadvantage is the welder is a little less mobile.

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

nice i gotta get me a slab of that !!

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Yesterday evening I pulled the old girl out in the sun and hosed 'er off. I managed to fit up and weld in the battery box and start organizing parts and tools for the brake lines all after work and before dinner while refereeing the kids. My neighbor came over, and while we were bs'ing I started rubbing the cab with some oxalic acid (CLR). It came out pretty cool, can't wait to get the whole thing rubbed.

I'm going to start on the brake lines tonight, finally!

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

I messed with the clr one day just to see what it would do and was pretty surprised.

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

That welding table is a great idea. I have a good amount of angle iron around the place. Maybe that will be a summer project.

Looking forward to see more of the truck.

Re: Project "Popeye"
 

Rear brake lines are in, sadly I will have to wait until the truck is together to see how well I make 45 degree double inverted flares though...

Just need to mount the rear shocks and the bed can go on. :metal: