1970 VA Longbed Project

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by Twisted78SS

I like the look, any idea of how much time or trouble it will take you to get that affect?

I am interested in how your doing your tank and compressor mounting as well, I had better go back over the thread if you covered it already. I have 2 3gal. tanks and two compressors. Not sure if I need 2 of each, or maybe split them between my two projects. - thoughts?

Gonna take a couple hours...it will be under 100 total labor...probably closer to 60 or so if I do the final grinding.

I am mounting one 5 gallon tank behind where the gas tank mounts (I have the room since it's a longbed) finished the mounts last night. Ended up flipping the tank from the way I first had it to have the bungs for the air lines facing up to avoid water issues. I will be mounting both compressors at the very rear of the frame, one on each side, close enough to run the leader hoses directly into the tank to save on fittings and possible locations of leaks.

On your project, I'd do both. One comp and one 3 gallon would lead to the compressor constantly being on.....and waiting for it to fill if you were playing with buttons on the street or at a show....
If I was running two and not running the frame mounted battery box like I am, I would place the tanks behind the cab on the flat part of the framerails and then mount the compressors behind them directly plumbed in. I have seen others do this and it fits well there and looks nice from underneath as well.

Originally Posted by 0331grunt

I think it's one of those "Might as well..." moments! I say it looks good.

One of many so far on this build

Originally Posted by gcburdic

So does almost everyone else I put up a poll and the vote so far is 15 to 2 for doing it.... I had already made my mind up in actuality...just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy to do it

[STOCKISH]

I wanted them too but thought they were out of reach. Mike (camtoys1) gave me a deal I couldn't pass up and now that the rear is painted and the brakes are on I am STOKED!!![/QUOTE]

I am glad to see some of my old parts being put to good use. Your truck is coming along great. Hope to see more pics soon.

[STOCKISH]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

NO PICTURES!



However, I picked up a 5 lug rear with 373 gears, and freshened up with new seals/bearings from mike (camtoys1)

The best part of the rear are the glock's brackets with CROSS-drilled rotors and nice big calipers.
Going to have 4 wheel cross drilled discs!!!!

I actually got those brackets from CaptainFab on the 66 board. Rotors were cross drilled by me at home on my drill press. Took some time but looked great.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 1972SuperCheyenne

I actually got those brackets from CaptainFab on the 66 board. Rotors were cross drilled by me at home on my drill press. Took some time but looked great.

Very nice work. Good to know the rest of the story.....and now I know who to blame if I have rear brake issues

[STOCKISH]

I hear ya.

[VA72C10]

Went over for an hour or so this evening. Got the trailing arms unbolted, centered them in the notches, and measured the bed. BINGO. Exactly centering the rear in the notches will EXACTLY center the wheels in the rear wheelwells.

It's going to take a while to drill out the rivets in the trailing arm brackets, but it will be worth it. Looks like 1 1/2" spacer with the brackets flipped will work perfect as well as bring the angle back closer to factory. I cut some 2X4 to 6" to end up putting behind the brackets and mocking up once I get all the rivets drilled out and get the brackets mocked up. That will tell me for sure if the 1 1/2" will work. If so, I'll order some blocks.

[VA72C10]

The cab is completely stripped....I just realized looking in this picture that I still have to take out the brake pedal because I'm doing a frame mounted one w/ booster now. The e-brake is gone and the gas pedal is a lokar one with the eliminator style bracket so the line will be hidden and not in the firewall.

[VA72C10]

Got the trailing arm crossmember painted up. Will be drilling the holes once the motor and tranny are mounted so I can make sure the alignment is perfect.

[VA72C10]

Mocked up the lower bag brackets I bought from Jlaird. Going to wait to bolt them the rest of the way up until the bags are mounted to the crossmember and the lower arms are installed....then I can use a template to see where to drill the lower holes for the bags.

[VA72C10]

Went ahead and started cleaning the tranny today. Scraped off the majority of the gunk, wiped it down, then sprayed it with easy off and left it on a shelf with a pan underneath to catch everything

[VA72C10]

Got new motor mounts from Mike when I picked up the rear. Found out after some confusion on my end that the mounts I had were V6 mounts. Went ahead and checked these to make sure they fit. Now I will clean them up and grind them smooth because I will be painting them body color.

[VA72C10]

Did a little grinding on the cab as well tonight. Got a lot more to do but it's looking good.

Rockers getting done


Cleaning up the latch area getting ready to shave it for the bear claw latches in the door. The stud for the latch will go here now.


Here is a patch Jason did. Found some weak metal around the driver's footwell area so we cut it out. He made a patch because we didn't need that whole patch that's sold. Needs a little more grinding by me but almost there and looks good in person.

[VA72C10]

Here's the rollers I got...off a newer chevy...not much to look at now...but they were 20 for 4 and will make good rims for paint to roll it around.



Amazing how much room. Easily cleared the caliper on the 12" rotors...

[VA72C10]

Here's the air tank mounted at the rear. Ended up switching to have the ports at the top. Will install 90 degree fittings to these. Wanted to make sure the fittings weren't seen when looking under the truck at the rear bumper.

[VA72C10]

I'm going to stylize those mounting brackets before paint...they're just loosely installed for now...

Here's how far the pumpkin sits up when the rear is centered in the notches and resting on the bumpstop....just shy of 3" so it should just miss the bedfloor.

[VA72C10]

The parting shot for this evening

[Slick67]

Yeah...I'm watchin your build to see how I'm gonna do mine. Brakes look great..

[ryhan87]

Hey looks like its coming along real nice. I just bought a 72 Gmc LWB. Wish I could do the same to mine right now. Looking real good though. Here's a tip for your intake manifold. If you sandblast the manifold than hit it with a can of clearcoat it will look like you just pulled it out of the box. Plus the clearcoat protects from oil and dirt. Any mess you get on it pressure washes right off.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by Slick67

Yeah...I'm watchin your build to see how I'm gonna do mine. Brakes look great..

I'm a newbie...better watch someone elses thread....
I hope my paint job looks half as good as yours....planning a deep red pearl and thought of putting another pearl in the clear.....
The rear is my favorite part of the truck right now

Originally Posted by ryhan87

Hey looks like its coming along real nice. I just bought a 72 Gmc LWB. Wish I could do the same to mine right now. Looking real good though. Here's a tip for your intake manifold. If you sandblast the manifold than hit it with a can of clearcoat it will look like you just pulled it out of the box. Plus the clearcoat protects from oil and dirt. Any mess you get on it pressure washes right off.

Thanks. I actually plan to clean up, prime, paint, and clear the manifold to match the block which all will be painted the body color. Then I will be adding a lot of chrome to set it off...

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Went over for an hour or so this evening. Got the trailing arms unbolted, centered them in the notches, and measured the bed. BINGO. Exactly centering the rear in the notches will EXACTLY center the wheels in the rear wheelwells.

It's going to take a while to drill out the rivets in the trailing arm brackets, but it will be worth it. Looks like 1 1/2" spacer with the brackets flipped will work perfect as well as bring the angle back closer to factory. I cut some 2X4 to 6" to end up putting behind the brackets and mocking up once I get all the rivets drilled out and get the brackets mocked up. That will tell me for sure if the 1 1/2" will work. If so, I'll order some blocks.

Go to Lowes and buy yourself a $20 air chisel. You'll save yourself a lot of time AND drill bits.

R/

[0331grunt]

That is looking good! Keep it up!

[Slick67]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

I'm a newbie...better watch someone elses thread....
I hope my paint job looks half as good as yours....planning a deep red pearl and thought of putting another pearl in the clear.....
The rear is my favorite part of the truck right now



Thanks. I actually plan to clean up, prime, paint, and clear the manifold to match the block which all will be painted the body color. Then I will be adding a lot of chrome to set it off...

I got my ghost blue pearl from a place in Denver called Painting with Pearl, here is the link. http://www.paintwithpearl.com/ They even have temperature sensitive pearl that changes with the temp.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Go to Lowes and buy yourself a $20 air chisel. You'll save yourself a lot of time AND drill bits.

R/

Got one in the shop...I'll try that tonight! Thanks!

Originally Posted by 0331grunt

That is looking good! Keep it up!

Thanks

Originally Posted by Slick67

I got my ghost blue pearl from a place in Denver called Painting with Pearl, here is the link. http://www.paintwithpearl.com/ They even have temperature sensitive pearl that changes with the temp.

I'm going to talk with Jason and have him ask his bodyman friend if he is going to do the spraying for me and if so, if he's comfortable with the pearl. I appreciate the link....cool stuff.

[67cheby]

careful putting to much pearl over red , it tends to turn pink, experienc speaking

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

careful putting to much pearl over red , it tends to turn pink, experienc speaking

Thanks for the warning....I'll leave the pink for my young daughter's toys...