N00b with a 72 c20

[JointTech]

Changed my rag joint (steering coupler) today. Dorman 31015. Didnt fit at first so I gave up and waited till the new one came 31011, which is actually for manual steering. Well that one was even farther off.
SO I stuck the 31015 in a vice and opened it up some where the splines are. It then slipped right on.
Steering doesnt feel any different and I still have this weird grumble when turning.
I think I narrowed it down to something in the column itself. You cant hear the grind when under the hood.
steering column bearings are next on the list I guess.

[ironroad9c1]

good work man keep it up.. I have a 70 C 20 I'm bring back myself.

[JointTech]

Today I pulled off the back wheels and did a little cosmetic work with a wirewheel and some hammered black paint.

Need to get it cleaned up because you will be able to see through my new wheels and I didnt want to see all the rust.

started with


ended with


also had to readjust my neutral safety switch as well. I assume it got whacky when I messing with the shifter. All better now. starts only in N and P and the lights come on in R

[JointTech]

Ordered wheels and tires today. AE Series 018 Matte Black and milled.


Cooper LTZ 275/60/20 and 275/65/20 we are going to test both and see which i like better.


Then I pulled out my power steering pump which squeals on lock and looks like its because the pulley wobbles. I suspect the bearing is bad so going to swap it. I rented a couple pulley pullers from oreillys so I can get it off and back on the new one.

getting it ready to sandblast the brackets.

[JointTech]

got my brackets blasted today and ordered a new pump and pressure line. I bought a new cap for the pump as well.


ill paint them tonight and put in the pump tomorrow.

[JointTech]

got the new pump in today. I dont love how the pressure hose runs but I didnt want to bend it all up like the one I took off. Im guessing there is a better fitting hose but since the engine and pump arent original i got what fit. The engine will probably get swapped soon enough anyway.

[JointTech]

good thing I have new tires coming.
was pulling the truck around to work on the valve covers and heard something weird. Assumed the suspension was falling out since I just put it back together.
turns out I may need a new tire.

[JointTech]

pulled off my valve covers to replace the gaskets and while I had them off decide to paint them.
ended up blasting and painting the valve covers, breather cap, plug wire separators and the air cleaner.
Unfortunately it doesnt look much better under the hood more work to do. I taped up the melted wire cover for the temp sending unit. I need to shorten some hoses and the batery cable to the engine block.

[Superdrag67]

You're making good progress! I'm in the middle of a steering rebuild and drum to disc brake swap so i feel your pain with those ball joints. The pickle fork was too small, the press from o'reilly was too short, broke a press from harbor freight. After several hours and only one ball joint free i gave up and broke out the grinder. Cut some relief slots and those balljoints popped right out. luckily i was trashing it all anyways.
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[JointTech]

went and picked up the truck from the tire shop today. Tried to drive it off and was out of gas always something.

anyway they look bad-ass
went with AE Series 018 matte black and Milled. With Hankook 275/55r20

[JointTech]

I got my new body mounts put in today. just the cab mounts. I havent done the radiator core support yet.



getting them out wasnt too bad. Had to put breaker bars on the top and bottom of the front bolts, it was pretty tight. the back ones came right out with the impact gun.

I also hit the hood with the DA and some 80grit. Smoothed it down a bunch. the flaking paint was driving me crazy.

I also for the first time ever cleaned all the windows inside and out. took alot of simple green and windex but it makes a 1000% difference when sitting in it. lol who'd have thought huh.

still going back and forth on paint. I really want to start shooting it with some cheap rustoleum. I have a quart of Aluminum color staring at me at the shop and a new paint gun...

I figure at least it will be one color. I have to take every panel to metal anyway and am going to go a panel at a time so one more layer of paint isnt going to make a difference.

[Pro Performance]

Just came across your build thread... nice work. I think the wheels and tires look great!

[JointTech]

Thanks! Finally getting back to work on the truck after getting into the new shop.
I took the cowl off and started sanding it. all those little grooves and angles are a nightmare.



so then I had this idea...


Gotta go to chinafreight and get a new gun for my blast cabinet before I try it.

[JointTech]

I got all my new stuff. respirator/tyvex,body hammers and dollys (made in usa), paint, dynablocks and paper. Cheap TCP paint gun set. Extra 2.0 and 2.5 tips. A finex paintgun with 1.4 tip. Body mud, glaze, spreader, paint mixing stuff and filters.



Then I actually got to some real work on the cowl. Its really hard getting into all those crevices. Stuck it in my sandblaster and used a bunch of different wheels to get in the cracks. Got half completely done. Now on to the next half.

My hand was freezing from the cold air coming from the angle grinder.

[ThreeQtr]

Uh, Would like to see this work and stuff but.... something's missing.
Anybody else notice something is missing?

[zellway]

It's cool to see a 3/4 ton get some love. Looks great!

[JointTech]

doh. dumb photobucket. I fixed the pictures.

[Steve-W]

those rims look awesome! keep up the good work

[JointTech]

done with the cowl


Got the hood off and ready for stripping. It seems to be pretty straight. Looks like somebody had a hood ornament on it at some point so those holes need to be welded. There are also 3 or 4 holes on the underside front lip of the hood. I was thinking they are for drainage?



Shiny new suspension stuff all covered in crap. Im going to goodwill to get 5 sheets. One for each tire and one for the engine compartment.


getting my new "paint booth" tomorrow and hopefully I can get some epoxy at least on the hood and cowl this weekend. If im feeling frisky Imay try to paint them completely.

[JointTech]

got half of the top of the hood done. Love those paint eater things. I used a 4" on the angle grinder. I tried 80grit on a DA but it was close to worthless. I dont see how you would do this with just sandpaper.

[Steve-W]

Originally Posted by JointTech

got half of the top of the hood done. Love those paint eater things. I used a 4" on the angle grinder. I tried 80grit on a DA but it was close to worthless. I dont see how you would do this with just sandpaper.

Why not sandblast it?

[JointTech]

Originally Posted by Steve-W

Why not sandblast it?

It wont fit in my blast cabinet
tbh I've thought about it, but I've spent so much on all the tools to do this stuff myself I want to just see it through.

[Steve-W]

Originally Posted by JointTech

It wont fit in my blast cabinet
tbh I've thought about it, but I've spent so much on all the tools to do this stuff myself I want to just see it through.

some good old elbow grease althought sanblasting in a living room size cabin wearing a full suit with airsupply isn't exaclty a walk in the park either.

[Low Elco]

The trick is to not use a sander. Get a good corded drill and a 6" DA pad at the local paint store, and a roll of 6" 80 grit stickyback discs. Put the pad in the drill, paper on the pad. Note: keep pad flat with the surface, never up on edge. You will lay waste to any paint/bondo in your way. This will work for the vast majority of your flat surfaces. Then go to HF and get a 4 1/2" angle grinder. Then go to the weld supply and get a flat knotted wire brush for your new grinder (or several, I bought a box). This will get into 90% of the places the pad won't. Use the little air tools for everything else. Enjoy your domination of the old paint and don't forget your respirator.

[JointTech]

I got the top of the hood finished last night.
Today I played with filling trim holes. Testing on the bed.


Im getting comfortable before tackling the holes in the hood. there was a hood ornament at some point.



And it looks like they had a rock deflector or wind deflector on it as well.


making some progress at least. Thought I was going to get some painting in this weekend but its not looking like it.