Daughter's 1st Square

[my4by2]

My girl working on her truck again.

[my4by2]

Here's the rear of the frame all painted up & one side of the spring hangers installed. Will get the other side on tomorrow & hopefully the actual leaf springs on as well.

[N2TRUX]

Too cool.

[my4by2]

Got all the spring hangers on the truck & the new shackles loosely bolted on. Awaiting parts for the leaf springs so I can reassemble them & install.

Memorial Day weekend is slowing ALL deliveries which sucks, so not thinking that I'll get the new axle or any parts for the springs until at least Tuesday...

[1985-GMC]

Lookin good, those wheels are gonna be sweet!

[JPalmer81]

Lookin good man, that is awesome seeing your daughter out there getting her hands dirty, gonna be a very nice truck when ya'll are done.

[l79m20]

what size bolts did you put in? I just bought 7/16 x inch and a half grade 8's. They are all thread no collar. Did you flat washer under head and then use lock washers under nuts? Any other advice?

[my4by2]

Are you referring to the bolts for the leaf springs to the hangers/shackles? If so, I ordered new ones from LMC Truck. I contacted a company called ATS (Auto Truck & Spring) for the center pin bolts & spring pads - then just Summit for the bushings.

One recommendation when ordering the bushing - MEASURE the springs first!!! Summit's listed parts for her year/make/model weren't correct.... I had to provide the measurements to get the right ones & it sucked!

[l79m20]

I was talking about the bolts you used to bolt the spring hangers to the frame.

[my4by2]

That's part of a frame hardware kit LMC Truck offers - very much worth the money spent!!!

Bell Tech hangers didn't line up well with frame holes, so had to open them slightly. Also the holes for the lead spring bolts were a bit small too...
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[l79m20]

How many sets of those did you buy? Are you going to replace all of the rivets on the frame? How long are the bolts in that kit?

[Pyrotechnic]

Is that a 16 gallon Jaz fuel cell? Are you just going to do a cut out and door in the bed floor above the cell, are do you have something more exotic planned for the filler?

Cool to see her getting her hands dirty.

[my4by2]

Originally Posted by l79m20

How many sets of those did you buy? Are you going to replace all of the rivets on the frame? How long are the bolts in that kit?

It's just the one kit, but it does come with enough fasteners to do all the rivets if desired - We didn't do them all, just the ones for the spring hangers & maybe some elsewhere once we pull the front clip & cab down the road.

[my4by2]

Originally Posted by Pyrotechnic

Is that a 16 gallon Jaz fuel cell? Are you just going to do a cut out and door in the bed floor above the cell, are do you have something more exotic planned for the filler?

Cool to see her getting her hands dirty.

It is a 16-gallon, but it's from Summit & it's their brand. Has the foam inside it also.

Yep, gonna install a billet fuel door in the bed floor via a steel mounting ring. Will need to install an extension as well. Copied this idea:

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/chas...ellinstall.htm

[my4by2]

Here's where we ended up at on my Daughter's truck - not as far as I'd had hoped to get, but with the parts order snafu for the leaf spring bushings I simply couldn't get the left rear leaf spring mounted & therefore couldn't get the rear axle mounted...

We did manage to get the fuel cell mounted up in place & that turned out pretty nice. I do still need to modify the bed floor for that opening & also clearance the support rib underneath for the new Belltech spring shackles.

Was so proud of my little girl & how much work she really did put into this project so far - not only that, but maintained excitement & interest all the way through!!!

Was truly some of the best times I can remember with her!!!!!!

[Cole Trickle]

Awesome thread....

Good job Daddy/Daughter

[jbclassix]

Cant wait till my kids are old enough to work on their own trucks!

[77BBGMC]

Good to see the daughter involved, that will make for some good memories!

[my4by2]

Another shot of my Daughter & I working on the truck together! Got this from my Wife's Facebook photos - didn't even know she took it...

[my4by2]

Didn't get a shot of her rear axle after it got to the house, but here it is all finished up at WFO prior to shipping. Wish I could'a got it installed, but it'll just have to be on the next trip I guess...

[BigMike608]

Wow, I wish my daughter was into trucks like this. You're a very lucky guy to have the opportunity to share this type of experience with your daughter. Congrats and keep up the good work!

[GCncsuHD]

Subscribing to this one. Great pics, I've been following your other build, it's great that your daughter is that interested in the hobby, I can only hope one day my children will be as well.

[mcbassin]

Too cool your daughter is interested in the square bodys. My little girl (15) wants a truck too, 2003-2004 model 4x4 go figure. I guess I could find a fixer upper and do what you're doing. I did a 86 with my son a few years ago. He got some sweat equity invested in it.

[my4by2]

She'd probably appreciate it & care for it better doing it that way - at least that's my hope from all of this! Not looking for her to become a mechanic like me, but want her to know what things her are & some idea of what's going on in case it ever breaks down or has issues. Besides, with today's vehicles & society it's becoming a forgotten art anyhow!!!

[MrBeast]

That is going to be a pretty sweet truck.

As a bonus for you as a dad, I think once she starts rolling around in it the boys are just going to be too intimidated to talk to her, you won't even have to wave the gun around! lol