The Outlaw 1968 build

[outlawc]

Well, its been a loooong time but I finally started and have been working on my 68 build pretty steady lately. The truck I started with is a base model, 6 lug, manual brake/steering 1968 long wheel base truck with a good cab and body. I like these trucks low but after pricing everything I needed to drop it and convert/upgrade the worn out and outdated work truck suspension I decided to use a Camaro subframe. This will give me the drop I wanted, power steering, disc brakes, front sway bar, better suspension geometry and tighter handling. I used a subframe from a 1979 Z/28. Well, on to the pictures.

Heres the truck I started with





And the Z/28 subframe



First thing I needed to do was strip the truck down to just the cab and clean everything, I HATE working on nasty cars! Here it is stripped down and cleaned.



Getting the truck leveled and ready to seperate it from the trucks front suspension.



I started by taking any measurements I thought I would need then started cutting the front suspension several inches in front of the cab. This isnt where the actual cut needed to be but it got the suspension out of the way to make it much easier.



And its gone!

[outlawc]

Getting the camaro subframe ready to go in



Checking to see where and how far I needed to cut the truck frame to allow the subframe to slide into the trucks frame rails. I then cut the trucks frame where it needed to be cut.





The camaro subframe rails are wider than the trucks so it needs to be cut to allow it to slide in. I slid the subframe up to the truck to get an idea of how much needed to be cut off, squared it up and made the cuts.







Here it is with the extra width removed and ready to slip in the trucks frame rails.

[outlawc]

Here its slid all the way in and I have started getting it squared, wheel base set etc.



View from inside to show how far the subframe goes inside the truck frame, 2 feet in all.

[outlawc]

Once I felt everything was set right and square I tacked the subframe in and set it back on it wheels. I cut out most of the rear coils to drop the rear down to see how far it needed to come down. Its sitting on the bumpers and still needs a couple inches to be level.

[outlawc]

Hung the sheetmetal to see how it was looking so far





Heres a better view with the cab removed.





Shortened the frame to a short wheel base.





And here it is with the Z/28 subframe and shortened

[outlawc]

Now I can move on to the rear. I am installing a Posi, Disc brake rear end from a 1979 Trans Am to match the camaro width and bolt pattern.

Start by getting the trucks rear out and removing the axle brackets.





This is where I am at now, setting the pinion angle etc.

[LuckyHenriksen]

Wow what a project! I like this pic

[nuke1]

that looks really good and low,, me likey, i just installed a cmamro sub frame in a 58, by the way is that a vette i spy in your first photo, what yr=ear is it, another pic would not hurt either, great job.

[72BlckButy]

This is quite the project, nice work!

[outlawc]

Thanks everyone. I am enjoying building it.

Puropedo, I havent decided whether I am going to shorten the fleet bed or use a swb step bed I have on another truck. The track width of the T/A rear is about 4 inches narrower than the truck rear, the front I cant remember the exact measurement but its just slightly narrower than the trucks. I might raise the trans tunnel alittle, it clears but barely. I need to set the cab back on now since I have the mockup motor and trans set in place.

Nuke1, Its just the way I wanted it. Its all stock Z/28 ride height too, no drop spindles, no drop springs. The vette belongs to my cousin and I have been "storing" it for him for about 8 years now. Its a 76 Stingray.

[Spray-Bomb]

Glad to see this build over here

Keep at it

[outlawc]

Thanks spraybomb! I thought that since I am actually making progress now and had something to show that I would go ahead start a build thread here too.

Hows yours coming?

[Spray-Bomb]

Originally Posted by outlawc

Hows yours coming?

Freak'n slow !!!

I hope to get some junk done to it soon

[outlawc]

I know the feeling. Mine goes real good for awhile, then nothing for several weeks.

[texanidiot25]

That's flippin' wild.

Sweet build so far.

[outlawc]

Thanks texanidiot25.

Heres something I picked up yesterday in a local junkyard. I had been wanting one of these and just had to put it on today to see how it looks. Its a 1959 Impala wheel.

[cstm68]

whats going on with the 69 camaro in the back ground of the pick with the sheet metal hung?

[ERASER5]

Nice!

[outlawc]

Thanks ERASER5.

The 69 is a freinds car that I am one day going to restore for him. No new sheetmetal on the car yet, thats all original metal there. We took the entire car and had it stripped and EDP coated. Its a real 69 Z/28 but is missing the original motor, but I think he has acquired a rebuildable date correct motor for it.

[Puropedo]

Outlaw, what is your plan for the rear suspension? Are u going to step notch
it? Bag it? Tell us! Love the steering wheel, that reminds me of a friend
who's got an 59 impala dash sitting in a shed at his back yard. Great project!
keep us posted

[outlawc]

Yeah, I have to step notch it. The rear end is sitting on the frame right and still needs to drop a minumum of another inch to level it. So, I will have to make a small step notch for suspension travel because the axle tubes at ride height would be riding in the frame notch. I have bought a set of Firestone bags that I will run with seperate schrader valves and leave it set at ride height. I am thinking of running Hotchkis sport springs in the front which will lower it about an inch more so I want to be able to have some adjustment in the rear if needed.

[nuke1]

just to let you know, if you ever get tired of storing the vette, i have a nice heated garage up here for it, jsut to be helpful you know., lol

[STOCKISH]

Looking good so far, keep it up.

[outlawc]

Thanks everyone. Right now I am waiting on parts to come in to finish up mounting the bags, panhard rod and a new complete suspension rebuild kit with poly bushings. I am going to make new trailing arms and box the frame from front to rear and I need to pick up the metal to do that today. If nothing comes up that keeps me from working on it tomorrow I will start finish welding everything and cutting all the peices to box the frame. I will try to get some more pics up over the next couple days.

Nuke1, I have been trying to buy that vette for years and the answer is always the same.

[outlawc]

Not alot of progress over the holidays but I got some done.

Some parts I needed came in.





Heres the trailing arms I made. After seeing the ones that Ram-Man made I had to build some.











Also decided to build an new crossmember instead of modifying the old one. 6" x 6" x 3/16" square tubing I picked up to make the crossmember from.