PROJECT "Father/Son" C-20 Rolling Chassis Build

[nuke1]

OMG that thing is looking great, coming along nicely, sorry if you are having bodyshop issues. i do restorations and hotrods for a living and i would like to work on some customers cars more so i can get them done, but the boss always brings in this crap work and gets his best guy,(ME) to do it, what a waste,so their cars wait longer and longer, i hate it, but it is my job. anyways looks good and can not wait to see color on it.

[ChiefRocka]

Nice, Rich....really Nice !!!


So, did they figure out how they're gonna mate the flat donut to the corragated bed ??

The under side looks great !!

BTW...the Heinekin went fast...too fast. I have to put a pad-lock on my mini-fridge !

[rcrahn]

Yes, I made the trip there to discuss this in detail with Master Yoda.
Stand by, it will come out good.

[rcrahn]

We are done with the body shop for now. Over the next several months work will focus on installing the drivetrain (LQ9/4L80E) and getting this project up and running. Yes, it will stay in primer (as you see it here) while this happens. That way if I want to make any changes/tweaks I can.
Then tear down and final paint.....
I know how much you all love pictures.... so here you go

[ChiefRocka]

Man those are some sweet pics....the truck looks nice !!

You think 'Yoda' will still have the shop when your ready ??

The fuel fill looks good, I ws worried about that, thanks for the pic...

Nice man...really nice...

Let me know if you need that thing hooked up, you know where I'm at !!

[nuke1]

looking really good, glad to see that you got your truck back. I have one question though, if you are installing the engine, are you gonna get it running, and if that is the case did you not want the interior painted that way all the wiring does not have to be removed and such. either way she looks great!
James

[SCOTI]

Man.... What a nice build. Chiefs foundation was an impressive start & it's getting even better. What's the final paint scheme going to be? I'm assuming something custom because of the rollpan/smooth gate.

As I was looking @ those last pics of it in an even shade of primer, I was imagining this thing in a super clean factory looking scheme (w/late model colors), and . . .... don't shoot me for this suggestion, some powder-coated solid steelies w/dog-dish caps. Get the over-sized rears (they were like 16x10's or 11's) w/the big tires & roll w/the tires just about tucking. That would be a timeless classic truck that WORKS!

Very nice project regardless!

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Man.... What a nice build. Chiefs foundation was an impressive start & it's getting even better.....

Thanks SCOTI....appreciate the words man...Like your ideas for wheels and paint...

However, these old guys are pretty much stuck in their ways...

[rcrahn]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Man.... What a nice build. Chiefs foundation was an impressive start & it's getting even better. What's the final paint scheme going to be? I'm assuming something custom because of the rollpan/smooth gate.

As I was looking @ those last pics of it in an even shade of primer, I was imagining this thing in a super clean factory looking scheme (w/late model colors), and . . .... don't shoot me for this suggestion, some powder-coated solid steelies w/dog-dish caps. Get the over-sized rears (they were like 16x10's or 11's) w/the big tires & roll w/the tires just about tucking. That would be a timeless classic truck that WORKS!

Very nice project regardless!

I am undecided but I do have some ideas....
I am actually favoring the use of some hot rod flatz colors, perhaps a 2 tone scheme or 2 tone with some graphics overlaid between the colors that combine it. This is a really large vehicle. To paint it one solid color will be too boring.

I like your idea also about the steelies but have already spent the money on these wheels. I will stick with them for now.

Yes, for the 100th time, Chief is the man!!!!!

Originally Posted by ChiefRocka

Thanks SCOTI....appreciate the words man...Like your ideas for wheels and paint...

However, these old guys are pretty much stuck in their ways...

Hey, watch who you call old.....

[rcrahn]

Originally Posted by ChiefRocka

Thanks SCOTI....appreciate the words man...Like your ideas for wheels and paint...

However, these old guys are pretty much stuck in their ways...

One more thing....
This project really needs a name. I have mulled this over.
I have decided to reach back to my roots growing up in the Boston area in the 60s & 70s. Some great bands emerged from that area around that time. One favorite was the J. Geils band. These cats were red hot. Man they cooked. So I am calling this project "Whammer Jammer"....
Check out the tune sometime.......

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by rcrahn

I am undecided but I do have some ideas....
I am actually favoring the use of some hot rod flatz colors, perhaps a 2 tone scheme or 2 tone with some graphics overlaid between the colors that combine it. This is a really large vehicle. To paint it one solid color will be too boring.

I like your idea also about the steelies but have already spent the money on these wheels. I will stick with them for now.

Hot Rod Flatz in a factory 2-tone scheme would/could be modern, yet traditional. Hopefully the steelie idea will grow on you . . ....

[ChuckDriver]

Just read the thread! Awesome build, will be following this one!!

[chevy_mike]

Great build up.

I do have to ask the question, with the fuel filler that far into the bed, with the tailgate down, will you actually be able to reach it? Seems awful far away...

[rcrahn]

Originally Posted by nuke1

looking really good, glad to see that you got your truck back. I have one question though, if you are installing the engine, are you gonna get it running, and if that is the case did you not want the interior painted that way all the wiring does not have to be removed and such. either way she looks great!
James

Good point James....
We still need to fill and smooth the firewall. Then fit up the engine/trans with the mounts and a custom trans-crossmember. That said I agree that painting the interior would be a good idea. We are just not at that point yet. We are still doing fit-up. I just had to get it out of the body shop and back home to continue.

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Just read the thread! Awesome build, will be following this one!!

Thanks, I am happy with how it is going.....

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

Great build up.

I do have to ask the question, with the fuel filler that far into the bed, with the tailgate down, will you actually be able to reach it? Seems awful far away...

Hey Mike,
Thanks buddy. It is not too far away with the tailgate up. I can touch the filler cap with my fingers. With the tailgate down you are right, it is too far....

[ChiefRocka]

Hello ya'll...just in case you thought this project was gone, I decided to bring it back up into the NEW YEAR.

This afternoon, I went over to join the "Father & Son" team (Richard and Justin)....and help them with some "motivation" and stab the LQ9 and 4l80 into the nicely powder-coated frame rails....CHECK IT OUT:
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The "MAN" quickly realized the pan was going to hit the crossmember...so he quickly pulled out his camaro pan.

I stepped in and said, why dont you just move the frame mounts to the next hole ?

Perfect fit from there on out !!
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[ChiefRocka]

Justin is getting in there and checking it all out:
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Boss man taking a break, while Justin and I keep working:
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Checking how the Intake will look:
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[ChiefRocka]

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Even though I told him it wouldn't be a good idea...he insisted on the 1" plywood tranny crossmember:
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Not sure if thats a happy or annoyed look:
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TEAM RAHN:
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See you all in Pomona at the roadster show !!!

[meathead95]

what engine mounts are you using?

[rcrahn]

A huge thank you to Johnny O for the needed motivation...
It wasn't really planned but Justin just happened to be there and we said what the heck, let's try a test fit. It was a three man job (and at least a couple beers) to wrestle the beast in there....

Meathead95 - the aluminum plates on the LQ9 are from S&P, cost ~$100. Very nice pieces. I bolted Napa motor mounts pn 602-1108 (~$15) to those. Then we rested the engine on the orginal Chevy towers that once held the 283 in place. As John said once we slid everything to the back pair of holes it looked good.
Yeah the truck pan does sit below the cross member by ~1.5". I am not that concerned. We aired out the suspension completely and measured 2.5" between the pan and earth.

John will fab up a custom trans crossmember to get that engine/driveline angle perfect. Something trick to allow the exhaust pipes to pass through.

About my picture, that is just my engine install game face......

[ChiefRocka]

Here are a few more pics from my 'homeboy'.....
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[67cheby]

nice progress

[CHEMPOWR]

Super great documentary. I learned a bunch following the 12 pages and 3 years of building here. Thank you for sharing.

[eagleuh1]

Nice. What headers you plan on running? Hows the clearance with the tranny tunnel and firewall? Thanks.

[rcrahn]

Originally Posted by eagleuh1

Nice. What headers you plan on running? Hows the clearance with the tranny tunnel and firewall? Thanks.

Thanks.
Not sure yet on the headers. Will start with trying the stock exhaust manifolds from the LQ9. Will likely have to remove the heat shields if they are going to work. If they don't fit I'll look at the Doug Thorley pipes. Have a set of them on our 1969 Firebird and they are awesome.
Tranny is tucked right up real close and tight on the tunnel. I purchased the crossmember from performance online but can't quite get it to slide between the powdercoated frame rails on the passenger side. Off by just a red ch. Will need to slice the xmember and do a little grinding to make it all fit. Oh well, that's hotroddin...
As far as the firewall clearance the LQ9 is sitting just right, not too close and not too far.

[rcrahn]

Stock 6.0L exhaust manifolds are a no go. Looks like Doug Thorley will be used. Hope the deal is still cooking when I'm ready....
Next issue is converting from manual to power steering. Called a local guy who has a ton of parts, did some horse trading to clean out my garage more and in return got a PS box from him....
Only a small issue. I'm having a little problem with the fit of the PS box. The 4 holes in the box all line up to the frame dimples OK. But the PS box hits the back edge of the core support tab.

I can solve this by grinding a small bit off. Don't really want to so thought I'd ask the forum first.


Is this normal?
Or are there smaller PS boxes out there???

Here's what I am talking about...