frame off restore revisited

[jooooooe]

I was looking through the FAQ archives and there was a debate about frame off restores. I have an interesting angle on this, I started a frame-off on a '69 SWB about 6 years ago and am still battling this project. I did a partial restore on a '68 a few years early, a sort of "work as I drive" project, fortunately I'd bought that truck already solid and freshly painted. I just had to finish it, interior, chassis work, A/C installation, etc. About a year ago I was tired of not having an old C-10 to drive around in (since my restore was still in numerous pieces), so I bought a '69 LWB on E-bay and started toying with it as well as the 6 year old project. The LWB truck had some driveability issues that I wanted to fix and the only option this truck had was a horn but I didn't want to just fix these things (such as repairing the original drum brakes) I wanted to go ahead and upgrade as well. So what I did, fortunately the C-10 market isn't like the pre 70's Camaro market, in other words, you can buy a junk C-10 for $150, and I did.... I dismantled the junk truck on one Saturday, blasted, repainted and rebuilt the frame. The junk truck had a power stearing box on it and I upgraded to power disc brakes, replaced the original 6 cylinder 3 speed with a '92 RS motor and 200R4 trans. The frame, chassis dismantle and rebuild took about 5 working days. I rolled my truck into my shop, lifted the bed and body (I lifted the cab and front clip together, not insectioned), rolled the old chassis out of the way and rolled in the new chassis, took about 1 day. Since I opted to install a modern motor and accessories, I've actually spent more time chasing parts, odds and ends, than I have spent working on the truck. If I'd stayed with a original motor set-up I'd been done alot quicker. But either way, this is a frame-off chassis rebuild done buy your average Joooooe in less that 2 weeks. Of course, now the body work has to be done....#*! Always take pictures as you dismantle, and always have an extra vehicle (or 2) around for reference and parts. The junk truck, I salvaged $150 dollars worth of body bolts from it alone, so don't freak out about buying an extra truck for a couple hundred dollars.

[jooooooe]

more pictures before and after of chassis

[68 short step]

looks nice...where did ya get those tie rod adjusting sleeves from?

[QKENUF4U]

now if only the rest of us had the money/time/shop/tools that you had at your disposal i would be done with my SB, BB, 2wd c10 myself.

[krue]

Looks like a nice shop! You plan on coming around for cruzin' the coast?

[Palf70Step]

Nice. I was wondering if your pictures were the after, as thet looked real nice to begin with. Your shop looks far more organized than mine. The resto is coming along real nice!

By the way, are you going to come on over for Crusing the Coast next month?

[kelsfine69]

Originally Posted by 68 short step

looks nice...where did ya get those tie rod adjusting sleeves from?

Yea those are nice, please share

[jooooooe]

those sleves come from Classic Performance Products, www.classicperform.com, they link '70 and older inner tie rod to '71-'72 outer tie rod. The shop is a real bonus, but doing one in an excelerated manor as this one was done requires planning, buying an extra vehicle and prepping it first was the key thing. Momentum is very important, doing it this way allows you to go, go, go, but as I said, going with the newer model motor was sort of a road block in an other wise great idea. The original 6 cylinder and 3 speed was in excellent shape all I needed to do was strip, repaint and replace belts, hoses, etc, and I would have been done much quicker and it would have caused me much less frustration. Hey, guys, I'm glad to here that Cruzin' the Coast is on for this year, what is the dates? If I have Mr. GreenJeans done before that time, you can count on seeing it, but I have to warn you, he's a 50 yard beauty. (lotta' rust, bad paint, dents, etc....BUT IT SURE LOOKS GOOD UNDERNEATH) My SWB project is cool ride but it won't be done for awhile, I'll post pictures.

[jooooooe]

this the one that I refer to as Cranberry, there isn't much on this truck that isn't new, currently in paint shop being painted.

[dalbers]

looks good jooooooe

[kelsfine69]

Originally Posted by jooooooe

those sleves come from Classic Performance Products, www.classicperform.com, they link '70 and older inner tie rod to '71-'72 outer tie rod. The shop is a real bonus, but doing one in an excelerated manor as this one was done requires planning, buying an extra vehicle and prepping it first was the key thing. Momentum is very important, doing it this way allows you to go, go, go, but as I said, going with the newer model motor was sort of a road block in an other wise great idea. The original 6 cylinder and 3 speed was in excellent shape all I needed to do was strip, repaint and replace belts, hoses, etc, and I would have been done much quicker and it would have caused me much less frustration. Hey, guys, I'm glad to here that Cruzin' the Coast is on for this year, what is the dates? If I have Mr. GreenJeans done before that time, you can count on seeing it, but I have to warn you, he's a 50 yard beauty. (lotta' rust, bad paint, dents, etc....BUT IT SURE LOOKS GOOD UNDERNEATH) My SWB project is cool ride but it won't be done for awhile, I'll post pictures.

Thanks, I checked out ther site but Im looking for just a nice aluminum replacement. Does anyone know where or if anyone makes such a thing, besides the steel ones?

[jooooooe]

Edelbrock does....

[kelsfine69]

Thanks Ill look

[Palf70Step]

Hey jooooooe, hope you can cruise on over at least to visit. Cruing the Coast starts Oct 1 and goes thru Oct 8. Big days are Oct 6 and 7. Should be a few folks here from the board.