1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"

[kreigjean]

So after thinking about what to do for little over 2 years finally started tearing down my 83 GMC. I have had some success in some areas and not so much in others. So here it goes. SO now i am at a stopping point trying to take the bed apart. It is removed and all the bolts have been removed, the wheel tubs, seam sealer, but i can not get it to come apart at the tail gate. I am wondering if there are some pinch welds that i need to drill out any help wouold be appreciated.

[kreigjean]

I am shortening the lower control arms and moving them forward and hopefully this weekend installing cups. I am trying to get as low as possible with 22s without loosing my a/c going ot be close. Pictured below is what I hope the end state to be.

[rcsbls2]

rear crossmember is welded at corners of floor just inside tailgate. If you use cutoff wheel and just cut weld it will come apart. Right where boxside meets floor. Don't know if that clear.

[neverfinished94]

What kit is that you are using?

[kreigjean]

Originally Posted by neverfinished94

What kit is that you are using?

The 4 link is from Chris Alstons chassisworks I also got the panhard bar from him as well. The valves, dual pack compressors, bags, bag mounts (front and back), lines, 8 inch c nothch, and some fittings from BC Fabrication.

[neverfinished94]

Originally Posted by kreigjean

The 4 link is from Chris Alstons chassisworks I also got the panhard bar from him as well. The valves, dual pack compressors, bags, bag mounts (front and back), lines, 8 inch c nothch, and some fittings from BC Fabrication.

Thanks for the quick response? I cant seem to find that notch for the driveshaft on the website
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[kreigjean]

Originally Posted by neverfinished94

Thanks for the quick response? I cant seem to find that notch for the driveshaft on the website
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I don't know if you can buy it by itself, it came with the 4 link kit.

[neverfinished94]

Originally Posted by kreigjean

I don't know if you can buy it by itself, it came with the 4 link kit.

Do you have a link or part #? Thanks for all your help.
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[neverfinished94]

Any before and after pics?
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[tinydb84]

Good looking truck and great start!

One thing, your lower control arms might cause some problems with the cups. You don't need to have them hang below the arm. They might get caught up driving low or when you lay out the cup might hit the ground first. You may want to check it out before final assembly.

[kreigjean]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Good looking truck and great start!

One thing, your lower control arms might cause some problems with the cups. You don't need to have them hang below the arm. They might get caught up driving low or when you lay out the cup might hit the ground first. You may want to check it out before final assembly.

Here it is all aired out. The truck sits the front upper spring mounts on the a-arm. The a-arms and spring cups do not touch the ground. I have 22" in the front which is why nothing touches the ground if i only had 15"s I am sure it would be a different case.

[tinydb84]

Glad it didnt get caught up. You can flip your nuts and bolts around on that upper plate and get a hair more drop. I had to do the same thing on mine.

[kreigjean]

Been working on raising the bed floor.

[neverfinished94]

Looks good
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[tinydb84]

I like the way you are sectioning the inside. It looks much cleaner but man that is a lot of work!

[rusty76]

Truck looks good man.

[kreigjean]

Finally started making the bed mounts. I didn't want to have to crawl under the truck to remove the bed bolts so now i don't have to with my new bolts.

[kreigjean]

Made my custom transmission cross member. Got it outside to check the body lines after I mounted the bed. I still have to figure out some way to straighten the bent "New Bumper".

[bigblock73]

That looks like a 73-80 rear bumper....true?

[bbbc10]

truck looks good!! can u post some pics of the inside of the bed...an that does look like 73-80 bumper....u should get 81-87 bumper

[kreigjean]

Originally Posted by bbbc10

truck looks good!! can u post some pics of the inside of the bed...an that does look like 73-80 bumper....u should get 81-87 bumper

I will get some more bed pictures for you later today. It took me a long time sitting arolund thinking how I was going to tackle the floor raising.
I ended up just cutting the inner bedsides just above where the wheel well met. Ended up at about 7 1/2 inches. I then removes that much from the front and was still able to bolt all the panels togeher like factory. The only problem I had was with the fitment of the tailgate. In the photo from behind you can see the braces that i installed that go from the bed bolts stands to the lower portion of the bedside. It was the only thing i found to be able to hold the bedsides securily enough fo the tailgate to close properly. After finsishing the bed off the truck I leveled the truck frame on blocks then placed the bed on top. With the truck frame level i just leveled the bed and aligned the body lines, then made the bed stands that are pictured previously. I am by no means a professional welder or hot rod builder so I think it came out pretty good.

[kreigjean]

Originally Posted by bbbc10

truck looks good!! can u post some pics of the inside of the bed...an that does look like 73-80 bumper....u should get 81-87 bumper

Inside bed pictures. The last one shows the bottom of the bed runners that I had to trim to get the bed to sit a little lower.

[Louisianagmfs]

Do you have any pics of the truck at ride height and max height? Truck looks damn good

[kreigjean]

Originally Posted by Louisianagmfs

Do you have any pics of the truck at ride height and max height? Truck looks damn good

The first one is ride height and the second is all the way down. I dont have one of it all the way up.

[Louisianagmfs]

Thanks, I really like the setup.