AD Truck Project

[Groyd]

Time to get to work.

[bjcaldwe]

Why ya gotta bring up old stuff John?! LOL

I am stuck on the front end until I get the correct width pieces for the crossmember. Until then I am trying to grab some low hanging fruit. I may try and remove the spare tire and spare tire mount off the bed. And if I get real froggy maybe the massive rear bumper.

[scotts62]

Someone say more pics???

[bjcaldwe]

I will post some tonight. Finally got over my stupid spell and got the hood open. Now just taking stuff apart and seeing what I have.

Now that I can get a good look at it, I found some leftover pin stripes on the hood. Kinda looks like it may have been flames. Most of it has long since chipped or faded away.

[bjcaldwe]

I just re-read my thread. It was interesting to see how things have went so far.

Here is the engine bay after I got the hood open.



And after removing the water pump so I could get the radiator out.



I also removed the spare tire, and all but one of the bolts holding the spare tire mount on. The other nut is back under the truck. I will get it at another time.

[scotts62]

Now that it's home what are the plans for it?

Going to have to stop by and check it out sometime and bring the rotors to their new home
Posted via Mobile Device

[bjcaldwe]

A few things need to happen:

1. get the inline 6 bottom end out
2. Get the bed off and in the backyard out of the way so I can get the truck up on jack stands and figure out ride height.
3. Buy the 56in front and rear cross member plates, since the upper arm mounts are the same in all the kits.

Right now I am working on removing stock parts I will not need. Now that the radiator is out, I think I will try and remove the grill tomorrow night. Then after that, see if I can remove the inner fenders without taking the whole from clip apart. It is decently aligned right now. I may drill some alignment holes before I start, so I can get it back pretty close.

[bjcaldwe]

It is missing it's teeth.



I also removed the small lights on the fenders.

[scotts62]

Man your a picture taking machine Billy!!

You will have it done by next month

[bjcaldwe]

Partly for sentimental reason and partly to remember how it all goes back together lol.

[bjcaldwe]

My last series race is Saturday. I hope to try and get a few things done with the truck on Sunday. I think I will go ahead and take the front clip apart. I do not plan any major body work, but I would like to clean and paint the inner fenders and undercoat the fenders before it goes back together.

I have a non-functional power washer I hope I can get working. I want to blast some rat pooh residue out of the truck. I wish I could do it out in the street so it would run down hill away from my house lol.

Since my crossmember is not the right width, I am considering getting one that is already welded and ready to go for a 52 AD. It will cost more money, but should save some time. If I do that, I will most likely just start off with a monoleaf setup with a bag over or behind the axle.

[bjcaldwe]

I got in late from racing last night and did not feel well. That carried on this morning so I took some meds and slept till late afternoon. I did get to take advantage of some late day sunshine though. I got the grill shell, headlight buckets and the splash apron off the truck. I have about 4-5 bolts on each side and I can take off the fenders and inner fenders as a whole.

[scotts62]

Are you going to have it all sand blasted or just sand what all you can or what?
Posted via Mobile Device

[bjcaldwe]

I am gonna rustoleum the frame. I want to maybe paint the firewall, and maybe all the areas that would be hard to paint later without taking it all apart again. The majority of the body will stay ratty for awhile, and I will fix dents and rust and just primer it as I go. I mostly want to get the air ride done and get it driving and mechanically sound so I can enjoy it. Then I can worry about making it really nice later.

[bjcaldwe]

After work tonight I am going to try and make a bit more progress. The goal before the weekend is to have the front sheet metal off the truck, and maybe the core support.

[JohnC]

Cool man little by little you'll get there. I like the idea of getting it rolling and bagged. Then worry about paint. It will look slick!

[bjcaldwe]

I need to get a few more prices, but thinking about trying to get the crossmember from Supreme in Georgia. The welders series stuff is neat, but I think I am going to pay a bit more and have it already welded and ready to fit my year model frame.

[bjcaldwe]

And then there was one fender.


And now no fenders.



Passenger side with some light surface rust and dirt. The drivers side looks even better. One less thing to worry about.

[99 to Life]

seems like you got a solid truck. that is key, all those holes add up on build time and it seems like you got a break. That doesn't happen too much in PA.

Got to love the Gmc's

[bjcaldwe]

So far so good. It needs the usual cab corners, which I have from my previous cab. The floors need patching a bit, but that is all expected stuff.

Looking at the interior last night, it is dirty, but it looks like all the painted trim is peeling and seems like it will clean up real nice. I am hesitating to take down the headliner. I don't want mouse pooh dropped on my head.

[99 to Life]

well it seems like you won't have to do the cowls or kick panels which is good.
just get a pitch fork and start ripping that out!

so you are cutting up another cab to fix this one?
or you had patch panels for another cab?

I wish you were closer if that is the case, I would buy the cab off you.

[bjcaldwe]

I have another gmc cab at my folks that is pretty well stripped. I may try to use some metal off it. Or just get some metal and patch the floor. I guess it depends how bad it is after I get it cleaned up a bit more.

[joe231]

nice progress man!!

[Groyd]

Man you got lucky on the rust issue so far. Keep the lucky streak alive.

[bjcaldwe]

Thanks guys. I am sure trying.

When we bought the truck it had no suspension and was laying in mud. Knowing what I know now about the guy, and what I have seen on the truck it was not laying there long. He sold all the suspension from under the truck to make a quick buck.