Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"

[MrFinland]

Originally Posted by MrFinland

Hi Mike! Did you buy a new blast cabinet? What are you going to use in that cabinet? sand, metal or something else? We use first our cabinet a sand but it was bad, then I changed the sand to metal so it became good. Now I see what I do. And it does not need so much to vacuum.

... I forgot the photos!

[Dads79GMC]

Originally Posted by MrFinland

Hi Mike! Did you buy a new blast cabinet? What are you going to use in that cabinet? sand, metal or something else? We use first our cabinet a sand but it was bad, then I changed the sand to metal so it became good. Now I see what I do. And it does not need so much to vacuum.

Ilkka, I will probably start with glass beads? Spent the day tearing out everything in the corner of the garage and began my plumbing for the new compressor....still have a long long ways to go in order to plumb the whole garage; one step at at time. I installed a T of the main line to feed the blast cabinet. I have a 3/8 filter and then a separate regulator before feeding the blast cabinet.

Hopefully I can start the passenger panel work tomorrow????????

I did get some fender emblems in today for Addiction.

Thanks Mike

[MrFinland]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

Ilkka, I will probably start with glass beads? Spent the day tearing out everything in the corner of the garage and began my plumbing for the new compressor....still have a long long ways to go in order to plumb the whole garage; one step at at time. I installed a T of the main line to feed the blast cabinet. I have a 3/8 filter and then a separate regulator before feeding the blast cabinet.

Hopefully I can start the passenger panel work tomorrow????????

I did get some fender emblems in today for Addiction.

Thanks Mike

Sounds good. Glass beads can also blow aluminum.
Your garage looks so fine.

[Dads79GMC]

Started the passenger side; ugh 😑. It’s better than it looks.

Thanks Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Gotta love the two screws in the rocker panel! ����

[Dads79GMC]

Got a couple hours to further dig into the right sight of the cab after work today. As I mentioned earlier, someone along the way had replaced the both cab corners, rockers, some or the floor and capped the passenger side cab support. Previous work failed to incorporate inner rockers and inner cab corners. Today I took off the passenger rocker, and like the other side, it was barely attached. Luckily, they overlapped the the rocker about an inch or so, then welded it in place after using a couple screws to keep it in place. Why do I say "Luckily," because it gives me more room (material) to attach the new rocker panel. Don't think this side is going to give the same issues as the drivers side give me.

Pictures:
1. Slowly chipping away at the front of the rocker. You can see the overlap and weld of the old rocker panel.
2. Shot of the front pillar and rocker cut-away.
3. Same pic looking back at rocker panel.

If I don't go to the gun show here in town tomorrow, I'll get the whole day to work on the cab.

Have a great weekend!!!

Thanks Mike

[Dads79GMC]

8 hours in the garage today!!!! Was able to get a lot of the structural work done along with tacking in the front of the rocker panel. Should be able to rework the rear of the rocker tomorrow along with getting the corner installed.

Pictures:
1. Operating table!
2. Cut out the old rocker, kick panel and some of the floor in preparation of installing new floor brace and cab support. Also supported the pillar before cutting into the floor brace.
3. Using self-tapping screws I fastened the inner rocker and kick panel in place.
4. Cut floor brace after drilling out the spot welds.
5. Good shot of solid floor being covered by previous repair. I just peeled it back to expose the original floor so that I could weld in the floor brace. I deal with the overlapping floor later.

[Dads79GMC]

Pictures:
1. Why you need to wear eye protection; kind of got my cut-off well buried into tough position and it blew apart!
2. I found that using the cab mount bolt and seat bracket bolt gives you two good reference points (previously stated). I marked the old floor brace up front on the fire wall so that when I put the new one in place, I just used the two vertical markings to line it up.
3. Realigned the inner rocker and kick panel then cut and spot welded in the inner rocker and completely installed the kick panel.
4. Tacked in outer rocker.
5. The mess!

[Dads79GMC]

Picture:

1. Door before aligning and tacking in outer rocker panel. Door fits much better than it looks. I adjusted both the panel and the door before tacking.
2. Close-up of filling the gap when installing the inner rocker panel.

Thanks Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Great day in the garage!

Pictures:
1. Tested the new blast cabinet; worked awesome. I'm glad I bought the vacuum as well!!!!
2. Put the frame on jack stands in preparation for shortening of the frame and installing the front clip to check alignment with new panels.
3. Installed doors and front clip. It won't take much to align anything, fell pretty much right in place
4-5. Tore down rear drivetrain. Tomorrow after work I plan on shortening frame and temporarily assembling the bed in order to check alignment etc.

More to follow:

[Dads79GMC]

Pictures:
1-2. Things lined up surprisingly well.
3-4. Relaxed on the my C10 Bench Seat Couch and took a couple pic's of the days work.

Oh, the gas cans spent the day outside; they usually do when the sparks are flying!

Thanks Mike

[aggie91]

How did you get a hold of the Built by Brooks LWB to SWB kit? I can't seem to find a place to get it.

[aggie91]

Oops, forgot to say:

Nice progress, keep up the good work!

[Dads79GMC]

aggie91, he has a Instagram page. I'll get you the email once I find it.

[Dads79GMC]

Worked late last night and a bit today. Progress!!!

Pictures:
1. Leveled the frame - that took quite some time and a lot of moving around the truck.
2. This is the level after the chop and the Built by Brooks LWB to SWB brackets were installed. For now, I did not install the inner brackets because I'll take it apart again after final body adjustments and panel install. I will weld the cut line, then install the inside bracket and then weld the perimeter of the outside brackets as recommended.
3. Pic of outer brackets. It's amazing how using so many factory holes snaps this thing into square and level (as long as nothing changed up front, from cut forward). I did finish installing all the bolts before proceeding.
4. Had to partially install some of the floor in order to test fit the bedsides etc.. Since I didn't fully install floor and outer metal floor support pieces, the bedsides slightly sagged about 1/8" or so.
5. Need to drop this thing!!!!!

Thanks Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Glad I didn't complete the passenger corner and only tacked the drivers corner in place. I'll need to adjust the corners and rocker. Excellent!

[aggie91]

Nice!

The one concern I have about the Brooks kit is that it spaces out the front spring hanger by the thickness of the metal used. How do you feel about that causing any mis-alignment in the springs and their function?

[Dads79GMC]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Nice!

The one concern I have about the Brooks kit is that it spaces out the front spring hanger by the thickness of the metal used. How do you feel about that causing any mis-alignment in the springs and their function?

Karl, I asked the same questions of Holyguacamole (on this site) the same question before I purchased my previous set and they said they saw no difference. When I installed them on Dad's truck, I had no issue installing the leaf spring, nor did I notice any problems; everything still lined right up (spring perch, spring bushing in the rear and front hanger). I believe the axle is still in the same place as original since brackets are used on both sides, which off-sets any alignment concerns.

Thanks Mike

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

Karl, I asked the same questions of Holyguacamole (on this site) the same question before I purchased my previous set and they said they saw no difference. When I installed them on Dad's truck, I had no issue installing the leaf spring, nor did I notice any problems; everything still lined right up (spring perch, spring bushing in the rear and front hanger). I believe the axle is still in the same place as original since brackets are used on both sides, which off-sets any alignment concerns.

Thanks Mike

Thanks, that is the kind of info I was looking to get.

[Dads79GMC]

You’re welcome! Karl, I’ve tracked your builds for a long time! Korbin’s first Build was excellent until the wreck ��

Great builds! Thanks Mike

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

Worked late last night and a bit today. Progress!!!

Pictures:
1. Leveled the frame - that took quite some time and a lot of moving around the truck.
2. This is the level after the chop and the Built by Brooks LWB to SWB brackets were installed. For now, I did not install the inner brackets because I'll take it apart again after final body adjustments and panel install. I will weld the cut line, then install the inside bracket and then weld the perimeter of the outside brackets as recommended.
3. Pic of outer brackets. It's amazing how using so many factory holes snaps this thing into square and level (as long as nothing changed up front, from cut forward). I did finish installing all the bolts before proceeding.
4. Had to partially install some of the floor in order to test fit the bedsides etc.. Since I didn't fully install floor and outer metal floor support pieces, the bedsides slightly sagged about 1/8" or so.
5. Need to drop this thing!!!!!

Thanks Mike

fantastic work brother!!

[Dads79GMC]

Originally Posted by moregrip

fantastic work brother!!

Thanks moregrip!!!!

[Dads79GMC]

Good day. Wanted to go back talk about some of the panel alignment. One of the things that always draws me to a great looking truck, outside of paint etc. is how the lower box line, lower rocker line and lower fender line align - the lighter the paint, the more important I believe it is to have well aligned panels. Here are a few pic's related to what I'm working with, or have fixed on the right and left side.

Pictures:
1. After first installing the front clip, you can see the fender line and rocker panel are quit off, almost a 1/2 inch. Again, having only tacked in the rocker, I was able adjust as necessary and shim fender to where they finally aligned.

2. On the drivers side, I had the same issue and was able to adjust. You can see the slight tear in the rocker panel (just below the vertical yellow line where I got a little aggressive) which will fill quite easily, with a weld. Learning this from my young mentor JaysonB, I will have to make cuts (1)
along the yellow line on the rocker and push forward and weld in a small patch panel to give the door, fender and rocker a good clean line all around. (2) Showing the good alignment of fender and rocker panel.

3. Notes are on the picture. However, it'll be a balancing act to not over-correct. There will be a lot of taking of the bedside and putting it back on.

Thanks Mike

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

Good day. Wanted to go back talk about some of the panel alignment. One of the things that always draws me to a great looking truck, outside of paint etc. is how the lower box line, lower rocker line and lower fender line align - the lighter the paint, the more important I believe it is to have well aligned panels. Here are a few pic's related to what I'm working with, or have fixed on the right and left side.

Pictures:
1. After first installing the front clip, you can see the fender line and rocker panel are quit off, almost a 1/2 inch. Again, having only tacked in the rocker, I was able adjust as necessary and shim fender to where they finally aligned.

2. On the drivers side, I had the same issue and was able to adjust. You can see the slight tear in the rocker panel (just below the vertical yellow line where I got a little aggressive) which will fill quite easily, with a weld. Learning this from my young mentor JaysonB, I will have to make cuts (1)
along the yellow line on the rocker and push forward and weld in a small patch panel to give the door, fender and rocker a good clean line all around. (2) Showing the good alignment of fender and rocker panel.

3. Notes are on the picture. However, it'll be a balancing act to not over-correct. There will be a lot of taking of the bedside and putting it back on.

Thanks Mike

Mike,

Excellent detail! thank you for taking the time make everything clear and precise! Can't wait to get my built by brooks brackets installed on my long bed frame too! I'm wrapping up this damn College degree I started in 3 weeks time and then I can have some free time again!

Devin

[Dads79GMC]

I can’t think of the name of the tools, they come in a 2-3 pack and they are long pointy steal rods, like an oversized pick, that come to a point. They are great for aligning the brackets!! Just came to me, steal alignment punch!! The ones I used were quite long -1.5 to 2ft long.

Thanks Mike