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1965/73 Cheap Build Up
I bought this 1965 C-20 Long Bed for $200.00. It needed a lot, but was in good shape. It came with a lot of chrome, and a new front chrome bumper, plus 8 lug mags. I couldn't pass up the deal. It had no bed on it, so I went looking for short bed step side, and found one from a 73 wrecked C-10. The 73 had a bent frame in the front. He hit a buss, and the damage was above the bumper, but still bent the frame near the power steering box. I bought the whole truck for $450.00. It has power brakes, power steering, disc brakes, 2 1/2" dropped spindles, power windows, locks, A/C a custom bench seat, and 15" & 16" Cragar SS Wheels. One in the front is bent. The rest cleaned up like new.
My plan is to convert the 65 Long Bed 3/4 ton to a Short Bed 1/2 ton. I don't like the coil springs in the back, so the 73 is a perfect donor. In the process of making it a short bed I will mate the 2 frames together, and end up with exactly what I want. A 1/2 ton step side short bed 1965 C-10 I just stripped the 73, and am going to use everything from the bumper bolts to the wiring harness. Here's some pictures when I brought them home, before any work was done. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/443345345_t8b47-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/443345252_H5U46-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/443345654_4M3Qq-L.jpg NOW THE HARD QUESTION IS. WHAT SHOULD I NAME IT ?? Half ass 65/73 ?.......LOL |
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I forgot to mention. The 73 came with a 350 engine, 700R4 Tranny, and a 12 bolt 308 posi rear.
I can't believe the great deals I found. I'll try to post my progress as I continue my Cheap Build. I'm going to look for as many good deals I could find, and good use used parts. |
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Thats a good lookin 65. Cant wait to see it come together.
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Thanks. I have a lot of work ahead of me.
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The first thing I did was order a white face sticker kit, and restored the gauges. Notice I turned the odometer back to 000000
http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/457666684_iadGr-L.jpg |
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Man, it looks like you have a great plan. Looks like you don't have much rust to deal with. :metal: Can't wait to see the build come along.
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That looks cool. You gonna put the custom badgeing back on it?
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Short bed 3/4 ton!
Slammed! |
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We I finely took the cab off the 73, and stripped everything off the front of the frame. The engine & tranny, mounts, complete front suspension..
http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470116884_MU8UH-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470116794_fXiBE-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470116329_qgx6J-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470116436_7KVrq-L.jpg |
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After I pressure washed the front end I leveled the frame front & rear on jack stands.
http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470123036_SxHZu-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470122473_KQS7M-L.jpg |
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Next I organized everything I was going to use from the 73. This is what I started with. A pile of junk
http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470121978_v64rV-L.jpg I cleaned up some shelves and put the junk on them so I knew exactly what I had.. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470123402_T4zVf-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/gallery/69...252_qapcz-A-LB |
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The 350 has a 2 barrel on it. I scored a RPM Performer Edelbrock intake, a Chrome 2 piece timing chain cover, and a Camaro Tilt Column all for $150.00.The manifold looked almost new, and the timing cover is new. The column is tight with all the electrical on it. I can't believe I'm finding all these great deals.
http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470116604_o9ano-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470122263_MLk6k-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470116521_SVNCS-L.jpg |
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I was going to mention, did you know some of these trucks came with leaf suspension in the rear? Mite not be too hard to find one.
I like that your bed is already the same color as the truck!:thumbs: Cool stuff, cant wait to see what you come up with on this one. |
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I knew that. I was going to shorten the frame any way even If I didn't decide to go with leafs. Since I came across the deals on both trucks, I might as well.
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Looks like a fun project. Is that a Lark convert I see in your shop?
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Here's pictures of the Wagon., and Porsche. They are slowing me down on working on my truck, but I have to pay bills....LOL http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/468250062_DaQAy-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/468250093_57HJS-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/468250112_xZ8Mc-L.jpg Next week I have a 59 Ford Panel Truck coming in for a steering column. |
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I got more done today. I cut the frame off the 73, and I think I will cut it in a different place than I did. I'm going to cut it further back where it is straight..
http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470899340_kxnry-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470899399_eqBxL-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470899524_NhCQh-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470899603_HLnUc-L.jpg |
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Then I brought the 65 into the shop, and started taking the body off.
http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470899826_idhkn-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470899877_4g2bz-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470899920_HVLsw-L.jpg |
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I took the body off all by my self. Look how I did it without the lift.
First I jacked up the cab, and put jack stands under it. Then I took the front wheels off for clearance, and with the floor jack I wheeled it back. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470899956_8Qmu3-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470899994_4tybA-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470900065_cJ3rP-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470900032_xKJQt-L.jpg |
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There it is.
http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470900135_5TcBf-L.jpg I put the wheels back on so it rolls. Here it is under the 73 frame. This is where I decided to cut the frame in a different place. Back a little where it's straighter. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470900217_RN23f-L.jpg |
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I lowered the body a little at a time so I could get dollies under it. With the hand truck I can wheel it around. I need to go to Harbor Freight to get 2 more dollies.
http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470900095_Gwgk4-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470900182_GDk5V-L.jpg Notice the doors are closed. It's friggin Raining, snowing, and hailing out side. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470900320_aegda-L.jpg Here it's going to sit for a while until I get the frame welded back together. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/470900264_23p3v-L.jpg |
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nice work!
and I dig your shop! |
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Thanks!!
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Today I pressure washed the frames, and began to measure measure for
the cut. I thought cutting it at an angle would work, but it didn't. So I cut it at a 90 degrees. I decided to slip the 2 sections together instead of but welding together, and welding gussets at the seam. It worked GREAT, and is very strong this way. After I decided to slip them together with the front part of the frame be cut at a angle. See it just didn't look right. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/472087022_2TDuo-L.jpg So I cut a 90 degree, and slipped them together again. To make them fit snug I heated the lower part of the rail and hammered them down to open it up. I also used a ratched tie down to squeese the front frame together which made it move in & out better to get the measurement correct. Now the front frame slips in real nice. I measured the cab mounts to get the correct length when they are joined. Next I leveled both frames, and crossed measured to make sure they are square. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/472086963_S2cit-L.jpg The frame still didn't fit tight against each other, so I drilled a hole through the frame where the didn't fit good. Then I bolted them tight. This pulled them together. Then I hammered the bottom up tight again to fit close to the inside frame. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/472087264_EpK9D-L.jpg Here it is together, but not welded yet. With both sides drilled & bolted it's real sturdy. Even lifting it on the lift it stayed put. When I let it back down I remesured, and it didn't move at all. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/472087321_dVtjn-L.jpg Next I'll put the cab & bed on to check the fit. If it isn't right I can still move it.Then I'll weld it. |
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Nice progress.:metal: I love your shop.
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Thanks Allan.
Got more done today. I moved the cab over to the lift. So I could lower it onto the frame. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/472668379_5y59c-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/472668422_SkrKE-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/472668455_kGxD6-L.jpg I needed to see how it would fit with the frame just bolted together. |
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It didn't sit level with the frame. I'm going to channel the rear of the cab to make it right.
http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/472668564_EXaz9-L.jpg |
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Mean while I saw that the cab trial fit was good. So I lifted the cab off, and rolled the frame out to do the final welding.
First I leveled, and remeasured. Then I started to weld it. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/472668714_uqrXb-L.jpg I took advantage of the holes, and welded them up through the front frame that I slipped into the rear frame. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/472087164_nvtdb-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/472668826_kh6CL-L.jpg |
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Where exactly is your union of the 2 frames? Is it anywhere near the cab mounts?
Where you cut them, if you wanted, how easy would it have been to shorten the wheel base? Love your shop too! :metal: Edit: Sorry, we posted at a similar time. I see your mounts. :) Second question still stands. |
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Here's what it looks like all cleaned up. I tried to hide where I joined the frames together, and make it look as clean as possible, and very strong. Notice I welded the holes and ground them smooth.
http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/472668772_xX6tt-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/472668894_4RJTK-L.jpg I have to put the frame back on the lift to weld the bottom. Next I have to modify the rear cab so it fits level. I'm want to paint the frame ASAP. but after I clean up the rest of it. |
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http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/184540660_CLhHe-L.jpg http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/184541002_b4qjU-L.jpg |
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BTW Thanks everybody for the complements on my shop. I walk 90 ft to work from my back yard. I love it.
http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/191158828_rn2g6-L.jpg The floor still looks good here. The more work I do the more the floor gets screwed up. OH WELL. http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/191156457_asYEm-L.jpg Good thing I walk to work. I wouldn't have made it if I had to drive.....:lol: http://belair.smugmug.com/photos/438632122_pFio8-L.jpg |
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I have to say 'nice shop' also. Thats cool how the frames fit together like they did. Nice work.
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:agree:
you do restos/customs for a living? |
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