Thrown Together 71 swb

[ksshane]

Started a new post because my original got off topic and Ive changed ideas since then.

This is my 71. I had been looking for a SWB for quite awhile off and on and when I saw this one I was blinded by the SWB and missed alot of things I should have easily picked up on as being wrong.
She was had a straight 6 originally, and a step side bed. She alos had coils in the back, but for some reason was switched to leafs.
She has many of the common rust issues.

Ignore the Date in the picture. Picture was from last July



Plans are to lower the truck, fix the rust, paint, and probably put in an automatic (currently a 4sp manual with granny first gear).

[bodydropped68]

nice can't wait to see more.

[ksshane]

Current Height

29 7/8 Front
32 1/2 Rear

Picked up a flip kit from DJM, and 2 1/2 Dropped Spindles from CPP. Planned on cutting a coil and a half out of the stock springs up front.

Installed the flip kit and that dropped the rear down to 27", but Im riding on the frame so Ill be installing a c-notch, and Im guessing it will allow the rear to drop another half an inch or so. Atleast Im hoping it doesnt drop anymore than that.

Tore the front end apart and discovered the front coils had been heated so Im picking up some new 3" dropped coils today. Replaced the ball joints so should just have to bolt it all back together.

Ill measure the front end when its done and post updated photos.

[ksshane]

Hitting some bumps in the road.

The local shop that carries aftermarket parts for 67-72 trucks didn't have the 3" springs in stock so I had to order some. That put everything off for a week.
Got those in, and started working on the c-notch and ran out of wire for the welder. Going to try to finish up welding up the notches tomorrow, but Im betting something will happen and it ends up taking most of the week.

Here are some before and after pictures. Ill get some better ones once Im back to road worthy

[ksshane]

Got the notches welded in, and drove down to get the alignment done. Picking it up tomorrow.

[ksshane]

Alignment is done. Took a little longer than they thought (doesnt it always). Picking it up today.

Figured out a way to kill two birds with one stone for my next project. The rear end doesnt have shocks because the PO swapped the coil springs for leafs, but didnt install upper shock brackets.
And I think my rearend sits just about a half inch to an inch to low.

So Im going to install Air Shocks... Now I know what people are going to say. But the biggest complaint about these are that the upper bracket isnt strong enough and they sometimes snap off. Well mine doesnt have an upper bracket so Im going to design my own. Then I will have rear shocks and be able to lift the rear that half an inch or so.

I had a 76 camaro that had them and they worked great.

**Update**
Went to pickup the truck from the alignment shop and something is dragging or grinding horrible. Got out and checked to make sure the tires werent rubbing something (wasnt doing this when I brought it to the shop). Couldnt find a problem. Sounds like tire grinding or brakes dragging... I dont know. I just backed it right back to the shop and parked it. Total driving distance.... About 30 yards...
No mocking anything up for me this weekend. They wont touch it again tell monday.

[ksshane]

Finally got her back home.

Hoping to pull the bed this weekend and beef up around the c-notch and weld in some upper brackets for shocks, but now they are colling for 34 for the high on Saturday so Im not sure if it will happen then or not.

[Low Elco]

What was rubbin'?

[ksshane]

A friend of mine was helping me put everything back together when we flipped the axle. He finished tightening down the u-bolts when I took the ball joint tool back to Oreillys.... Well he didnt tighten them enough. What was happening was my rearend was twisting and the driveshaft was raising up rubbing on the crossmember.

My buddy feels horrible, but these things happen. He meant well, and we found the issue and it was a quick fix.

[ksshane]

Well the rear doesnt set too low now...lol Driving to help a friend out and pulled around a corner when I heard a pop, and some dragging.

Long story short. Front drivers side coil popped into place. The whole front end dropped almost an inch and my tires would rub the wheel wells on any slight bump. So out came the wheel wells.

Front end is at 26" at the front fender, and just under 27" in the rear.

Going to look into aftermarket sway bars for the front to help with body roll in the turns. Not sure if I can do anything to help in the rear with the leafs, Ill be researching that today.

[Low Elco]

You can- Don't spend aftermarket money. 1-ton 1 1/4" swaybars bolt right n and work like a bandit in the front. For the rear, I've seen the big fat bars off the reat of the s-10 Blazers work, or, there's this-
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...507111&page=12

It looks good- can't believe the alignment shop didn't check the spring seating out.

Where you at in Wichita?

[ksshane]

Thanks for the info. Thats definatly the way Ill go.

Im out west almost to Goddard

[bpotter05]

Hows the project coming? Too cold to do much I bet!

[ksshane]

Wow time just gets away.

Nothing real impressive. Replaced the brake lines up front. With the lowered spindles my brake lines were being pulled too tight. I tried all the recommendations for different year vehicles, but something strange was going on with my truck. So I ended up just going through everything Oreillys had in stock box by box until I found what would work.
Replaced the master cylinder also.

Truck goes in for body work Friday or Monday. And then it looks like my next project will be to swap the 4speed granny for a 700r4... but that project isn't quite set in stone.

From a few weeks ago when I rebuilt the front brakes

[koop67]

Looks good, what size are your tires?

[ksshane]

Finally have an update. Body and paint is done.