Project "What to do with no time and a grain truck?"

[Notch1988]

Here's the original thread for the truck. I bought it off of Matt (Slammed66) in the spring of 2010, cruised it for a while and I think I've figured out what I want to do.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=359368


I've started this thread in hopes of gaining some help from fellow members and as motivation to get things done. I'm only home for six days a month and with a wife, three kids soon to be four I don't get a lot of time to play.
Anyways, I'll show you where I'm at and hopefully we'll get some progress over the holidays.


I picked up a wrecked truck last Christmas. The cab had caught fire but the drivetrain was perfect. It's a 6.0L/4L80.






The truck currently rides on a 1 ton frame, so I picked up a half ton frame over the summer and will be working with that. I've got the box off and I'm stripping it down. Body work will be outsourced.












I've gathered a few parts the last few months. The plan is to lay frame on 20's so the parts are geared towards accomplishing the goal.

Accuair setup







Coys C5's. 20X8.5 with 255/45 and 20X10 with 295/45





A few boxes of parts from Mr. Porter













The plan is to get the chassis done this year and transfer over the original drivetrain and body. Next winter I'll do the LS swap and get the truck painted. Just plan to get the box worked on this year.

[narx66gmc]

Great looking truck right now. It'll b even better w that motor trans setup!
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[allaboutchevelles]

Ill be watching, Looks like a cool build.

[Slammed66]

Right on dude!!!
Looks like all the ingrediants for one *****ing truck.

Shes come a long way from her humble grain truck roots.

[63chevyll]

Good start. Will be nice to see progress when you can
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[Notch1988]

Well, got a little bit done. Finally got the LSx off the picker that it's been attached to for a year.





Starting to pull the front end apart. First time doing so and I'm having to break out the air hammer to clean some of the crud off trying to find bolts. Finally got the drivers fender off, the inner fender is ready to go, rad is pulled, all fluids drained. Checked the wheel to make sure there were no fitment issues with the hub/dust cap and it's all good. And a pic of a Christmas present from my wife, she made me covers for my plasma and mig!

[64shortc10]

I like this thread already!
Tony from Norcal
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[Notch1988]

A little bit more done today. Had an issue with a fender bolt. The threads on the inside started spinning with my bolt, gotta say I love my plasma cutter!

[lolife99]

Looks like a quality build!

[tk-mpl]

Looking good buddy!!!! You got a hell of a space to work in too!

Better hurry, I need someone to cruise with...

Trevor.

[Notch1988]

Thanks Trevor, I just hope my truck turns out half as nice as yours!

[Slammed66]

Maybe I can ride with one of you two.... Ill buy the big gulps!
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[tk-mpl]

Anytime man, just no spills..

[Notch1988]

Finally got to come home so got a little progress done today...

Pulled the 292 out, got the spindle and brake assembly out that I'll be re-using with the dropmember and had a welder buddy from work come over and weld up a frame I tacked together for setting the cab on to wheel around the garage. On to the pics...













Tomorrows plan is to find more bolts for the castors and get the cab off the hoist. Seperate the tranny and motor and get the 292 on an engine stand. Gonna pull the bags off the front end and yank out the rearend. Then I'll be going to town with the plasma and cutting the frame up. Oh yeah, have to remove the front cab mounts from the old frame too...

[Slammed66]

I like where this is going!!!
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[C@rnut001]

It looks good...keep it up. You have a great start going! Thanks for sharing your updates, it is always interesting to see how everyone is doing on their trucks.

[creep]

I like it! I don't know how you guys can work in such clean and organized shops. How do you get anything done without having to rummage through piles of parts and boxes looking for wrenches or bolts.

[Notch1988]

Well, not a lot done today. Basically got tranny seperated from the 292 and the motor up on a stand. Can't believe how much grime came off the tranny. Finally had to fill the parts washer with Varsol and put some parts in it... this project is way beyond a can of brake clean LOL.

[Notch1988]

Not a lot done today. Got one of the front cab mounts off the old frame. I've never played with the GM rivets before so it took longer than it should have. The other side will go much quicker now that I know the secret... a BIG hammer! Had to do a clean up and move things around the garage so my wife could park inside. Off to work tomorrow so no more updates for a few weeks.

[Notch1988]

Got a little bit done yesterday and this morning. Removed the other cab mount, pulled the rear suspension apart and got the diff out. Cut the frame up and made a run to the dump. Just a few action shots for now... I've said it before and I'll say it again, I LOVE my plasma!

[Notch1988]

Got a little bit done today. I had bought a Princess Auto (the Harbor Freight of Canada) sandblast cabinet about a year ago but have never needed to use it so haven't bothered getting it "setup". So yesterday I assembled the dust collector for it, installed the light on the inside and fired it up. I quickly had issues with the syphon hose kinking and collapsing under vaccuum so I didn't get too far. Today I bought some hose and changed it out and got a couple pieces blasted. I'm using the 20-30 grit crushed glass, seems to do okay, doesn't make any dust really either. I don't even turn on the dust collector.
Pulled the crossmember out and she's now ready to mock up the dropmember. Can't wait to start assembling something...

[allaboutchevelles]

cool, glad your getting something done. I havent done anything in about 2 weeks now. Any pics of that blast cabinet??

[Notch1988]

Originally Posted by allaboutchevelles

cool, glad your getting something done. I havent done anything in about 2 weeks now. Any pics of that blast cabinet??

I hear ya, I just really want to cruise this thing at least a little bit this summer. I look at what I have left and it scares me LOL.

Got a little bit done today. Finally decided on a colour for powdercoating my suspension and some engine stuff so I called NIC and ordered up 4lbs of colour and 4lbs of clear. I then began installing the dropmember. She took some tweaking with the come-a-long to get the last hole to line up but otherwise it's going okay. The three main holes in the upper and lower flange were all a hair small for the bolts so I reamed them. Unfortunately the top holes needed a 7/16" drill bit and for some reason I have 13/32 and 15/32 but no 7/16". Ran to Home Hardware in town and they were sold out so had to make a trip to the city just for a drill bit. Oh well. Have to head back to work tomorrow so no more progress for a couple weeks...

[coulter]

looks like your off to a really good start!!! keep it up this is gonna be a sweet ride

[McMurphy]

Sorry if you answered this question someplace else, but the purpose of the large yellow screen?
I am guessing it is a spark/debris shield?

I totally dig your shop, I would be in danger of losing my marriage if I had a shop like that right now.
After I retire, it is going to be pretty much a given, but that is still a few years off yet.