Daughters 68 step...

[Getter-Done]

Nice work.
I like the cross-member.
Good craftsmanship.








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[Andy4639]

Gas tank is bolted in place along with rear cross bar. Rear brakes done. New hard lines from both wheels to tee and the long hard line from the front to rear is done. Rear end filled with 90/140 gear oil, tomorrow the front brake lines and maybe fuel lines ran.
Good day today I got the winch on the ramp truck fixed also.

[Andy4639]

I scored a set of 18" Boss wheels with new tires today for $850.00. Less than 2000 miles on them. 5on5 truck wheels just like mine other than being 18". We will have matching wheels!
Sorry no pictures tonight maybe tomorrow.

[68 P.O.S.]

Wow, great deal! Jealous over here haha

You're making great progress. Looking good! Did you upgrade the LCA u-bolts to the 9/16" ones?

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by 68 P.O.S.

Wow, great deal! Jealous over here haha

You're making great progress. Looking good! Did you upgrade the LCA u-bolts to the 9/16" ones?

No never have had any issues with the ones installed before.

[Andy4639]

Got all the wheel studs swapped out and wheels & tires mounted. She is a roller again. 18"x8" all around.

[Andy4639]

More progress on the 68. Motor and trans are in the frame. Fuel line is hooked to the pump. Trans cross member bolted down and hooked to the 700R4. 1 piece drive shaft is marked for cutting.
Now the fun begin's. Getting the cab ready to set but first I have to load it onto the ramp truck for our local club picnic this weekend!

Do you know how to measure for a drive shaft? I was taught how today. It was a simple thing after looking and see a pro do it.

Stick the old drive shaft into the transmission all the way then pull it back about a inch. Then measure from the cups most forward spot on the yoke to the most rearward spot of the pinion cup. Mine will be 55.5" long. It will have 1" of travel this is with the tires on the ground.

[2 Stovebolts]

Definitely the way to install an engine & transmission.......

[Minkota]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Stick the old drive shaft into the transmission all the way then pull it back about a inch. It will have 1" of travel this is with the tires on the ground.

My truck has the Cab & Bed removed. Once the Cab & Bed are put back on will I have less than an Inch of travel?

[Andy4639]

I doubt it. The cab shouldn't change anything. This is for a 1 piece shaft not the 2 piece. This is with the frame sitting on the tires.

[Minkota]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

I doubt it. The cab shouldn't change anything. This is for a 1 piece shaft not the 2 piece. This is with the frame sitting on the tires.

ok, thanks. I thought maybe the weight of the Cab and Bed would drop the suspension and the yoke would push slightly into the transmission. thanks for the help.

[Andy4639]

Got a lot done today on the 68. Got the harmonic balancer on and pulled all the stuff off the cab to get it ready to pull next week. All the linkage for the 3 speed is disconnected and the clutch pedal assembly is out along with the hand brake speedo and all the rest of the wiring. Pulled the dash & dash pad along with the harness out of it and stripped it down after I got home and found a few problems with it but fixed them. The main cluster plug had paint all over the connections so I don't see how it could have worked. One wire which I think was the dash light grey wire was bad so I put a crimp connector on it.
I have really enjoyed my daughter being around in the shop while we work on it.

[Andy4639]

Well I been hunting parts for her truck all last week without much luck.

Today I was working on my Ramp truck when a neighbor pulled up in the drive way. We have talked several times in the road but nether of us had ever been to each other's house. I stopped working on the ramp truck and we got to talking vehicles and such. So I mentioned I needed the pulleys for her 350 and he said would 327 pulleys work. I said as far as I know they should. We walk out to his truck and he hands me both the crank & water pump pulleys and a alternator bracket. Both for AC to.

[clay68c10]

Nice neighbor! That’s pretty cool when things just show up like that.
I really like the pic with your daughter and the steering wheel. Cracks me up

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by clay68c10

Nice neighbor! That’s pretty cool when things just show up like that.
I really like the pic with your daughter and the steering wheel. Cracks me up

Thanks, yea she is excited about her truck to say the least! I got the mini starter for it on yesterday and took the drive shaft to have it cut, balanced and new union's installed.
The mini starter is a shelf item at O-Reilly's for a 2000 Caddy Escalade 5.3.with staggered bolt holes.

[Andy4639]

Just got a shower and supper! I'm tired but I got a bunch done today on the 68.
Cab is ready to lift off
Both front fenders and inner fenders off, passenger side front inner fender is gone along with the cab corner on both sides.
Hood is off
Front grille is off and needs some major fixing!

The air passages on both sides need some repair work as well. I guess I'm going to get some welding time in soon.
It's going to be interesting for sure.

[Andy4639]

We got it primmed today! Getting close to starting her up. We tried but the new starter I got was bad. I'll have another one tomorrow!

You Tube

[Andy4639]

Got the first coat of fluorescent paint on the needles for the new Tack dash. Also got the first coat of stain on the steering wheel I'm working on. I will lightly sand it down tomorrow and stain it again.

[GerhardH]

Wow excellent pictures and work Andy. Go foreward.

[Andy4639]

Well after 2 starters and 3 batteries it came to life. It sounds good.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFq_F39i1cE

You Tube

[Andy4639]

We rolled the old LWB frame into the shop and lifted the cab off it rolled it back outside and moved the SWB frame over behind the cab. Monday I start on cab cleaning and cutting all the rot out of her! Hope to get my welding practice in soon and fix some flooring issues and the rockers on the driver's side.
It's not really that bad looking other than the drivers side rocker panel and rear cab corner.

[Andy4639]

I fixed my buddies sand blaster this week so I started using it for the 68. Been blasting parts all afternoon. It's a slow go. It needs a new glass and a bigger vacuum. It gets real cloudy quickly and you can't see what your working on. I think it needs a better light bulb to. I bought new gloves and media for it. I'm going back tomorrow and take the bulb out and put a new one in it and clean the glass. It has plexi glass in it right now.
But I got a few things done.

[PanelDeland]

Making progress Andy. She'll be cruising it soon. What bed are you using? Step (I hope) or fleet?

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

Making progress Andy. She'll be cruising it soon. What bed are you using? Step (I hope) or fleet?

Thanks, yea I hope so.
We are planning on it staying a step side. We don't have one yet but I have a couple that I'm looking at but nothing bought yet!

[Andy4639]

A little more progress. The parts have been blasted and primed. The bed of the ramp truck makes for a nice paint surface. I welded up 3 bad spots to day on the cab. The air vents had rust in the bottom of them. I took metal and cut out the rust and welded in pieces. The drivers side floor has a little rust so I welded it up to.

Still have a bunch to do. I ordered a new 3 row aluminum radiator last week off E bay. it came in damaged and they sent me another one and said to keep the other one. No questions on it, can't beat that customer service.