Project: Bad Bagged '68.5

[scotts62]

Yeah, i like the Auto Meter Ultra lights but havent seen them to match them

[jlaird]

Well I haven't updated this thread with my dropmember purchase, so here goes. Back in December I got the bright idea to sell my sectioned crossmember and get a dropmember. So I had to pull the engine and trans to do so. While the trans was out, I sold that too! The money is going towards a Tremec TKO 600. I said to myself I'm building a hot rod, so why the hell do I have an automatic in here! It all felt like two steps backward, but I think the end result will be well worth it.

I got a flaming river power rack from Summit. All the dropmember pieces except the actual crossmember I powdercoated myself with an Eastwoods gun. That thing is awesome! So much better than dealing with paint that doesn't have he durability.

I also went ahead and got a swaybar from Nate.

The only thing that sucked about the whole deal was welding in the rack notches in an already powdercoated from. I took pictures of that but can find them. I felt like I was performing surgery!

A couple other notes for the record, I had to cut 1.25 inches off the ends of the rack. I also had to mill down one side of the AirRide upper control arms shafts because they were dished for the factory washer spacer thingys.









In this picture you can see the notch surgery.





Factory 73-87 brake calipers

[jlaird]

Here are some pictures of the stainless hard lines for the air and brakes.









And the tools of the trade.

[jlaird]

Here a couple pics of the cab repair that I found which I never posted.

[c10Mang]

insane work! I want a swaybar too now!! How was that to install?

[jlaird]

OK, back to the steering column. I wanted to make a reinforcement panel on the firewall where the column passes through. I gave me an excuse to use my REINFORCED harbor freight bead roller which is now a beast!







Here is the Flaming River Stainless tilt column and the Ididit mount.







Upper column mount is also from Flaming River.

[VA72C10]

Looking really good!

[ksbrktracer]

Hey Jlaird.....The clamps you are using for your brake lines and air line.....made 4 you brand ???? How rough a time did you have bending up the lines, did you make patterns out of steel before you did the stainless ? Any problems flaring the stainless other than having to have a 37 degree flare tool ? Sorry if you have answered the questions elsewhere. Tryin to decide what to do with mine.....really like the way you have yours layed out, gonna steel some of your Ideas.

[jlaird]

Here is the bead roller. I still want to add a steering wheel to it.



This is the back where I added the square tubing.

[jlaird]

Some more holes filled on the firewall tunnel area.





Here is a pic of some ads I bought off ebay for the garage.

[ksbrktracer]

One other question, your power brake booster...who's is it, what brand....I really like it too.

[jlaird]

OK, time to smooth out the dash where the dash pad used to go.

I cut these out of a piece of steel exhaust pipe because they had the same curve as the dash.



Tacked in place.







Ground smooth. Yes, I'm a Jr. fan. LOL

[jlaird]

Originally Posted by c10Mang

insane work! I want a swaybar too now!! How was that to install?

Swaybar was a snap to install.

Originally Posted by ksbrktracer

Hey Jlaird.....The clamps you are using for your brake lines and air line.....made 4 you brand ???? How rough a time did you have bending up the lines, did you make patterns out of steel before you did the stainless ? Any problems flaring the stainless other than having to have a 37 degree flare tool ? Sorry if you have answered the questions elsewhere. Tryin to decide what to do with mine.....really like the way you have yours layed out, gonna steel some of your Ideas.

Yes, http://www.made4uproducts.com/ There is more info on bending stainless in this thread. I did buy steel lines from the local parts store and made templates with them before doing the stainless. It takes more time, but when you have a line with 100 bends in it and you screw up the last one, you will not be a happy camper!

Originally Posted by ksbrktracer

One other question, your power brake booster...who's is it, what brand....I really like it too.

The booster is a 7" diaphram from CPP as is the Master.

[Coda O'Dell]

Got a part number on those shocks?

[scotts62]

Looks good! I like what you did with the dash!

[67cheby]

why dont you build some of those lines and sell them.... i would buy the first set !!

[jlaird]

Originally Posted by Coda O'Dell

Got a part number on those shocks?

carquest 1924202

Thanks everybody for the compliments!

[BACKYARD88]

Looks good! I culled my sectioned crossmember as well along with my Zed frame. Started on the Dropmember tonight!

[68laydout]

Damn nice man! Lookin' real good!

Cory

[Ghostwhite]

Originally Posted by jlaird

Ground smooth. Yes, I'm a Jr. fan. LOL

My wife is similarly afflicted.....

[trenz68]

looks like a good project

[bigguy69]

looks good!!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by jlaird

OK, back to the steering column. Here is the Flaming River Stainless tilt column and the Ididit mount.....

Wouldn't all that work to slick out where the column protrudes through the firewall hole appear better w/the nuts on the interior side of the firewall vs. the engine compartment side?

[67cheby]

that is a clean looking setup

[gixxerpymp]

Very nice job man. Can't wait to see her finished.

Keep it up!