1971 Longbed Build Thread

[gonline71]

I had originally posted news of the truck and the fact that I had just gotten the cab back from the painter after a year and a half. Long story. Anyway, the past three weeks have been busy and here is a list of accomplishments.

1) radiator painted, installed, and filled with fluid.
2) wiring harness figured out
a. headlights/high beams work
b. engine starts and idles
c. removed all crimp-on connectors, soldered the wires and sealed with shrink tubing.
d. Order Russell wire wraps.
e. I will wrap the wires once I verify everything is working.
3) master cylinder installed and connected
a. bled the brakes.
4) Aligned the starter.
5) Found, cleaned and painted the shift linkage
a. Connected the shift linkage
6) Removed, cleaned and re-installed the neutral safety switch
7) Rear glass is tinted and installed
8) Ran plug wires and installed them in the wire looms
9) Installed heater core hoses and the heater control assembly…..fan works!
10) Painted the tranny cooler and installed it
11) Began filling the tranny with fluid…..hard to check the level because the truck is so loud. Scares my kids
12) Found my throttle cable bracket and installed it.
13) Painted and installed my new battery bracket.
14) Installed my billet air cleaner and breather valves.
15) My fatmat sound deadener is on its way.
16) Filled my power steering pump with fluid. Still need to purge the lines because it has been sitting so long.
17) Grounded my fuel tank to the frame.

I have been seriously contemplating throwing a lawn chair inside and taking a cruise around my court. Wife is not too crazy about the idea. Here are few pics of where it is at. I will post more pics shortly.

[pitt]

ooo nice paint... about the gas tank where would you suggest getting one and how easy/hard is the conversion? mine still has the old nasty behind the seat.

[pitt]

ooo nice paint... about the gas tank where would you suggest getting one and how easy/hard is the conversion? mine still has the old nasty behind the seat. you can e mail me at masterofpupetts06@yahoo.com. thanx

[gonline71]

Pitt,

I had originally installed a blazer poly tank in the bed, but with a 6” drop it hung way too low. Sold it on craigslist and purchased the aluminum one from www.nolimit.net

Here is a link to the tank. http://www.nolimit.net/prodinfo.asp?number=B2%2DTNK
Unfortunately they are not cheap, but they fit really well, do not hang too low, and do not require removal of any of the cross sills.

Hope this helps

Mike

[aventur1]

Nice Job! Looks good and I'm thinking of the fuel tank relocation also.

[gonline71]

Update: It moves on its own!!! Finally got some free time to add tranny fluid. The truck is running straight headers and is scares my kids....so I was not able to fill the tranny before. They left and hence, I got started. It felt so good to push the truck into the driveway, only to be able to drive it back into the garage. Now I need a seat.

Other minor progress:
Removed and cleaned the heater switch.
Hooked up the heater control cables.
Cleaned and painted the parking brake.
Took a wire brush to the seat brackets.
Should be ordering my sound deadener from RAAMaudio this week.

Pics to follow....

[Sequoyah]

Looks like you're doing a very nice job on the truck. Keep us updated

[gonline71]

I have been working on her as much as possible, but did want to post until I had a few pics to include.

Progress...

1) Installed sound deadener from RAAMaudio.com - great butyl based product and "excellent" customer service

2) Purchased carpet kit from christiansclassics...."excellent" customer service.
3) Installed an adjustable panhard bar from Early Classic Enterprises
4) Ran some temporary exhaust using flex pipe - It no longer scares the kids.
5) Hooked up the heater control and removed/cleaned the control switch - works so much better now.
5) cleaned and painted the parking brake and seat brackets

I am sure I forgetting some stuff, but wanted to at least bring you all up to speed.

Also....painter says he is hoping to get the bed, hood, tailgate etc back to me by the end of October....holding my breath

[ColoradoK5]

that is a clean truck! Sometimes it's worth the wait!

[gonline71]

Got bored waiting for my painter, so I removed, powder coated, and rebuilt the steering column (no pics of column yet). Completely rebuilt the front suspension. Here are a few pics...

[72BlckButy]

Lookin' good!

[BACKYARD88]

Looking. I'd be going nuts waiting on the painter about now

[VA72C10]

Looking great. Will be nice to see another longbed that's done well. Most of them are ignored as the ugly stepchild...

[gonline71]

Took a big chance going with white, but I think it will work once I get the white door panels back. Really stressful picking fabric from a one inch square....

Let me what you guys think. Shop is located in Fremont, CA...King Covers. They replaced 3 broken springs, repaired any foam problems and custom stiched the material. Here are the before and after pics.

[VA72C10]

Looks great. I think the white will work well once you add the door panels. Plus, it goes with the white roof.

[gonline71]

Finally an update from my painter. I trailered the truck out to him and we were able to put the bed on temporarily. I was giddy!!! It's been so long since the bed has been on. He has the rear tubs painted as well. All that is left it the hood, tail gate, cowl, and a few odds and ends. Hope you enjoy these pics as much as I did.....

[thirdstreettito]

Now bolt that bed on and you'll be good to go...

[laplander]

Man I love that shade of Blue!!

[RJGeister]

Gonline 71,
The truck has a nice stance and look, especally from the side. Long and curvy. Don't understand the appeal of a short bed when you see something like this. Nice ride! Glad I have a longbed. Wish it was a Longhorn after seeing this one and 72 Freak. I see the attraction. Hope you get to enjoy it soon!

[BACKYARD88]

Awesome!

[gonline71]

Finally after almost two years, my entire truck is back from the painter....though it is in several different pieces. So now I feel overwhelmed....no room for the parts because I am in the process of finishing the bed wood. Enjoy the pictures and stay tuned for updates.

[gonline71]

More pics....

[gonline71]

last ones...

[VA72C10]

Looking really great. Can't wait to see assembled pictures.

[gonline71]

I have been working on this thing every chance I get. The big steps were alignment, exhaust, insurance, and registration....I can drive it whenver I want....

My wife recently asked me after I crawled out from under the truck, "Will this every be done?"....I said not really. There has been so much progress since my last post that I am just going to post the pictures of my first show. I did not win any awards, but still braved the rain and had a good time.

Enjoy the pics....

Still to do:
Tail Gate Chrome and lettering
Paint cut/buffed
grill (I am in the process of wet sanding....only installed it for the show)
antenna
windshield
other minor issues to be addressed prior to the Pismo Beach show in June.