Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

Ive been talking about ditching my little commuter car for a little truck. The Truck would be better for me. I was looking for a running truck to begin playing with, but ended up with this.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9180-2/IMAG0398.jpg

Its a 69 chevy 2wd short bed. 67-68 front clip, has a bunch of work done to it. Air bags up front, nothing out back, lays rocker.

Got it home and almost took a tree out trying to get it in my back yard.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9184-2/IMAG0400.jpg

To get it out i figured id use my other 2wd truck, the wheeler. Yep still havnt fixed it from blazer fest.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9187-2/IMAG0412.jpg

With the trailer hooked to the wheeler, My buddy Jeremy helped me get it in the garage.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9190-2/IMAG0413.jpg

Someone before me had Z'd the frame to get it to lay so low. They never finished the job and this is how they left the front of the frame.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9210-2/IMAG0441.jpg

After some pondering and looking at it, then some measuring and drawing. I had a plan of attack.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9198-2/IMAG0434.jpg

Headed to the shop to cut the steel on the horizontal bandsaw. That thing is a life saver.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9201-2/IMAG0435.jpg

After a bunch of other steps and cutting, not to mention some welding. Its in. On the drivers side at least. Its acting like a steering box brace incase I ever decide to crawl rocks with it.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9204-2/IMAG0439.jpg

If your monitor isnt too dark you might be able to see both sides. Damn battery was dying on the phone so it disabled the flash.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9207-2/IMAG0440.jpg

The plan is to build something fun, cool, usable, and that gets better gas mileage then the crew cab. Was going to go 5.3 liter, but scored a 6.0 instead. Ill be backing it by a t56. The truck came with a new wiring harness that needs to be installed. Also came with new drop spindles and brake booster/master. I hit up the junk yard last weekend and found a hydroboost setup for less then $30. That will soon be finding its way on. Trying to find a 9inch that I can get cheaply and not have to spend a bunch to be the correct width and lug pattern. I also plan on running 20s with a decent sidewall to keep from messing up the rims on pot holes. Its nice to have a garage again and to beable to tinker. Even if the tinkering is the same thing I do during the day.

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

sweet, gonna be cool when its drivable. keep up the good work

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

that wheeler is way cool!

bet this frame dragger will be too... good luck!

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

Got the passenger side done this morning. Added a box x-member under the core support also. Mocked the core support back up and it looks a lot better. Need to order some new cab mounts and what not to bolt it all down now.


http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9222-2/IMAG0445.jpg
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9219-2/IMAG0444.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

nice working cleaning up the Z

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

nice work..lookin forward to watching this one. whats the plans for rear suspension?

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

Think trophy truck trailing arms with triangulated uppers. Bags mounted to the trailing arms. Still just a thought at this point. For Sure going to be a triangulated 4 link.



This tax return money is flying out the window. damn it.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9225-2/IMAG0449.jpg
Interesting...a 10 inch wide rim fits in the front.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9228-2/IMAG0450.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

hey i now why lol. its because the control arms are narrowed haha. thought about doing that to mine but ended up not doing it

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

Exactly...wanna trade arms? haha. I think its going to be too narrow with the 8.5s I have for the front. Plus they welded the upper ball joint in on one side.

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

haha no thanks, and that sucks they welded the ball joint in. i meant to say i thought about shortening the lowers lol.

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

cant have my 6.0L swap looking like all the other swaps out there.......
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9273-2/IMAG0489.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

cool build. Will be following along!

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

looking good we need to see another shot of that intake cover its pretty WILD looking

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

isnt a cover so to speak. Its the actual intake manifold.

before
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9261-2/IMAG0484.jpg
after some grinder time
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9267-2/IMAG0486.jpg
First layer of fiberglass
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9270-2/IMAG0487.jpg
glass after some drying
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9276-2/IMAG0490.jpg
Toss some paint on for a guide coat.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9279-2/IMAG0491.jpg

Its kinda hard to take a picture of a black thing in the garge with a cell phone.

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

WOW...killer work , now i see

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

Finally did some real work to the truck last night. I dont want the box tubing that I added to the frame rail open. So I cut some flat plate and welded it in there. Now to do the other end and then to cap the work from the PO. Those required templates, and I got lazy at that point.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9302-2/IMAG0508.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

Hit up the yard that I saw a disc braked 9 inch in a few weeks back. When I first saw it a few weeks back they wanted $450 for it. I was like for an axle that has been sitting out in the weather in a pile for hella days???? I got him down to $400. But didnt pull the trigger as I thought it was still too high. Today I went with $340 in my pocket, and another $60 in the truck just incase. Had my tape measure and a wheel pattern disc in hand. Double checked everything and made them an offer of $340. Luckily the dude that was running the yard was right next to the dude I was talking to and he asked him if that would work. I dug it out while the dude moved 5 cars to get to it. Forked it in the back of the truck and off I was.

It should be the correct width, its the correct bolt pattern, Already has discs, big bearing, and I can weld to the housing. According to the internet its out of a 77 Mark V, 28 spline axles (thought all large bearings where 31) and sweet 2.75 gears. Also open.

I might be able to use the link brackets on it. I think the lowers might have frame and tire clearance issues. Gotta mock it up and see what happens.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9308-2/IMAG0517.jpg
Also got some more boxing done on the frame. Err capping of what has been boxed already.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9311-2/IMAG0518.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

Got the vac booster off the firewall the other day, then mocked up the hydroboost. Still need to lengthen the rod and attach it to the pedal.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9314-2/IMAG0529.jpg

Also brought the motor home. The intake is just sitting on there as I still need to clean up a few spots.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9317-2/IMAG0533.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

So hit up the car show on Saturday. I wasnt scared of the rain like everyone else seemed to be. The night before I picked up a rototiller from my dad. Its old and has been abused and he says it wont start. First thing I do when I get to the show is stop at a vendors both to drop and pick up some trannys. A dude walks by and says he has the same rototiller, told him this one doesnt run. He told me there was a dude at the show selling several in the first row. On my way out I picked one up, $30. So hopefully for $30 Ill have a rototiller.

Ok back to truck stuff. I got some lug nuts and valve caps for the truck. I was really looking for a set or 2 of headers to cut up. Figure Id buy some BBC or SBC headers, cut new flanges and make a set to work for the LS. No one liked my low ball offers for their old used headers. Cept for this one dude. $20 got me a set of mid length LS headers. SCORE!

Did get some work done to the truck today. Got one of the firewall patches cut to size and tacked in place.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9323-2/IMAG0542.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

The $20 headers.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9326-2/IMAG0546.jpg

Shaving the intake left me with some ugly fuel rails. So I got some after market ones.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9332-2/IMAG0548.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

Oh what a busy weekend. The guy I bought the truck from owed me a rear axle as part of the deal. He had it in a truck still and after a few weeks he had not pulled it. I offered to pull it if I could haul off the whole truck. He wanted a few more parts off of it and we are going to trade some stuff. Im going to end up with the front suspension xmember with arms that arnt cut down, and he will get the cut down arms back. So I picked the truck up at 6pm friday night, by 5 pm saturday night I was home with an empty trailer. Made 2 runs to the scrap yard, got some ok money for the scrap and got me some parts.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9379-2/IMAG0554.jpg
The truck was complete minus a tranny......I was beat.

Sunday I got a few hours into the truck. After welding in the floor patch, I cut a big hole in the firewall.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9382-2/IMAG0557.jpg
Mock up filler panel
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9385-2/IMAG0558.jpg
welded and ground most of the way down
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9390-2/IMAG0560.jpg
Got the drivers side patch installed and mostly welded in.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9393-2/IMAG0561.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

4/7
Installed the custom AC setup today. AKA I pulled the windshield. I saw a spot of rust, more like a 3/8" hole. Pulled the windshield to see how bad it was. After I poked it a few times it got a little bit bigger. Better to fix now then later. Got the windshield out with out breaking it, mostly cuz I bought the tool a while back. Did notice a small chip right in the drivers view. So now im thinking about putting this glass into the wheeler.....its only been broken for like 3 years.

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9399-2/IMAG0564.jpg
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9402-2/IMAG0565.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

4/9 So got some stuff done today.

Cleaned the new suspension xmember
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9405-2/IMAG0570.jpg

Got the rest of the firewall holes plugged.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9408-2/IMAG0571.jpg
And the stock gas filler hole
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9411-2/IMAG0573.jpg
Did some work to the passenger side lower pillar.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9414-2/IMAG0574.jpg
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9417-2/IMAG0575.jpg
Also fixed the windshield hole
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9428-2/IMAG0579.jpg
Passenger inside floor and kick panel
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9420-2/IMAG0576.jpg
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9423-2/IMAG0577.jpg
Did the same to the drivers kick panel, then this happened
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9425-1/IMAG0578.jpg
Guess Im done welding this weekend, unless I wanna break out the flux core.

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

great progress

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

Time for an update...I never got my welding bottle filled, didnt have cash till pay day and now no welding store is open on the weekend. Did remember a buddy who ran an exhaust shop welding with straight CO2. Luckily one of my 3 CO2 tanks had 700 psi still in her. Hooked that up to the welder.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9439-1/IMAG0587.jpg

Then to test out the welder I got crafty and made a cab lifter for the cherry picker. Since I had gone to the metal store earlier I had some fresh 2x2 ready to make it. Add some 1/4 plate and bam I was done.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9442-2/IMAG0588.jpg
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9445-2/IMAG0589.jpg
HOLLY COW did that make that job so much easier. Ive pulled one of these cabs before with a cherry picker and straps...That was scary and Im so surprised I didnt mess up the cab.
So I pushed it off to the side so I could tackle the projects that warranted pulling the cab.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9448-2/IMAG0590.jpg
So someone before me decided to box the frame and cut it down....it was basicly 3" tall and 2" wide. While it might of been ok I wasnt too excited about it. Felt too flimsy.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9451-2/IMAG0591.jpg
To add some strength back into that section of the frame I added some 2x2x.120 box tubing.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9453-1/IMAG0592.jpg
After an hour or so of welding, the box was welded all up to the frame. Except on the ends...I still need to cap those but can do it with the cab on the frame. I even painted it really quick.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9456-2/IMAG0593.jpg
Then I tossed the cab back onto the frame with some new body bushings. Also cut down the 87 motor mount towers and bolted those in.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9459-2/IMAG0594.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

WOW! Great progress.

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

:agree: Thats a ton of work in what? a month and a half? keep it up

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

It helps having access to a bunch of tools and parts. Not to mention a ton of **** kinda fell into my lap right when I got the truck.

Anyways..todays update.

My buddy Kenny came by and helped me get the 6 speed back together. Then mated it to the 6.0 liter and tossed the whole combo into the truck. Its just mocked up so that I can figure out what motor mounts I will be using. Or Fabbing... It also brought up some issues, gotta rework the tunnel in the floor for tranny and driveshaft, need to do something about the oil pan, and the headers will need to be modded.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9476-2/photo+2.JPG
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9470-2/IMAG0597.jpg

I was trying to raise the motor so that I could gain ground clearance...but with the Z'd frame thats not really working. haha

Also got the rest of the sheet metal mocked up. I need to get the bed mounted so that I can figure out the center of the wheel well to start mounting the rear end.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9464-2/IMAG0595.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

Guess Im committed to doing something to the floor now.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9488-2/IMAG0603.jpg

Work also donated a cracked f-body oil pan to the project. Welded most of it up last night after work. Finished it up today and leak tested it. Didnt leak so I swapped it on tonight. Gained a ton of clearance under neither the engine, it also lowered the motor a bit, and pushed it back some. All things that should help me out else were.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9482-2/IMAG0600.jpg
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9485-2/IMAG0602.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

I got some motor mounts made and bolted in earlier this week. But didnt take any pictures.

Started messing with the headers tonight. These started out as 98-02 fbody mid length headers. On the drivers side the first tube was hitting the motor mount tower, once I started bolting it up it went into the frame rail. Ill need to take about 1/2" at the flange and weld it back together to get the tubes closer to the block. I will beable to flip a slit bend around that was in the forward most tube and then it will clear the mount.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9494-2/IMAG0613.jpg
On the passenger side I had the same problem with the front tube. To get it to clear I will need some more tube. The tube sticking straight up is the new routing. I need two 90s to get it to the flange.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9491-2/IMAG0612.jpg
A keen eye will notice the stock ac bracket is on the engine...The Ac compressor will go on and clear the frame.....For the most part. I do need to notch the x-member for the lower part of the a/c compressor. I want to use the compressor to run the air system. Less stuff I need to find a hiding spot for.

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

nice project! glad to see you save a truck that in the wrong hands would have been ready for the wreckers.nice work, keeping an eye over here!

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

Liking it! Subscribed.

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

looking good,keep pictures coming & progress of your up dates :cool: :metal:

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

Damn talk about getting me motivated to work on my junk... Btw voted for ya on the ttc.

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

Thanks for the vote. Wasnt too bummed I didnt make it, cuz that means less time and money away from this. :metal:

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

5/8 So ive been slacking on this thing. When I have been working on it over the last 2 weeks Ive been slowly messing with the headers. Had to cut the drivers side totally off the flange and take about 1/2" out then weld it back to the flange. Also had to rework the forward most tube to clear the motor mount. The passenger side was a lot more involved. I even cut the collector clean off, pulled the EGR port out, rewelded the center of the 4 tubes together, then rewelded the collector on. Not to mention notching the frame and redoing the forward most tube.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9500-2/IMAG0648.jpg
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9503-2/IMAG0649.jpg


5/10 Pulled myself into the garage for a bit tonight. There was one last thing I wanted to do to the firewall before I even think about mudding it. Ive installed a porterbuilt firewall patch kit before and liked how it made the passenger side of the firewall match the drivers side. So I made one of my own on the bandsaw. Added a little twist to it tho, also continued the inner lip to match the new edge. This way I dont have to attempt to sand bondo way far down into a canyon.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9506-2/IMAG0654.jpg

http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9509-2/IMAG0655.jpg
Its hard to see the drivers side in the picture...
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9512-2/IMAG0656.jpg

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

So I took an almost 2 month break from this. Working on OPPs (other peoples projects) all day makes me just want to chill on the couch after work rather then work in the garage. That whole time I was itching to work on it, just wasnt motivated. Then last week something kicked me in the butt and got me out there. I think it was the heat, if its hot inside and Im going to sweat might as well go outside and sweat.

I started by knocking out the old ball joints from the upper arms. Painted them, then tossed in the new ones. Im going to pull the motor to do some other things and will pull the lower arms at that time to use the press to change the lower ball joints.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9554-2/IMAG0787.jpg
Also started bondoing the low spots on the firewall. YAY! sanding.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9551-2/IMAG0786.jpg
I needed to mount the clutch master cylinder....so after some thinking. I decided on a way to mount it. Ive installed the ATS bracket on a few camaros and liked how simple it is. So I made something like it for my application. Drew it up in CAD and then went old school. Drill press, hole saws, unibit, bandsaw, cut off wheel, press, and a grinder where used to make the bracket. Could of cut it out on the CNC plasma at work but it was more fun to spend time making it without the fancy tools.
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9557-2/IMAG0790.jpg
http://pnkages.com/gallery/d/9563-2/IMAG0792.jpg

Hopefully I can keep the burnout to a minimum and keep going on this project. It doesnt help that Ive done headers, drilled rotors, and pads on my tow rig. Then new shafts, joints, driveshaft, a diff service, and some other small things on my wheeler. I guess I havnt been on the couch too much.

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

so i take it your going to have a 67 68 style e brake?

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

cool truck

Re: Project Daily Driver in the weeds
 

subscribed