1971 Chevy Cheyenne frame up restore

[Jgoudeau]

Hello all, new to the forum as far as posting; but been reading for a long time. Finally decided to start my own thread on my build I am about to embark on. Let me tell you about the build. I brought a 71 LWB in very good shape, I really wanted a SWB. After sitting on this truck for 3 months, my neighbor calls and says he found me a SWB donor truck. I got the SWB, now I will do a frame up restore on the SWB and use my LWB front and cab. I will be starting on the frame this weekend and look forward to everyone's opinions and tips. I will be tearing the truck down and using a carbonate pad to take down to bare metal. I will be replacing all front end components and dropping the truck. Let me know your pointers. I will post pictures soon when I figure out how to do it.
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[swamp rat]

Welcome and good luck, post lots of pic's.

[Jgoudeau]

Got the frame cleaned up today. Gonna clean it up need to opinions, should I go disk brakes in rear? Gonna be running a 396 motor in it. Also what size fuel line and brake lines should I run? Gonna use the stock crossmember with stock arms, with drop spindles. What items on the stock member should I upgrade or change at this point?
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[Jgoudeau]

That last pic was the frame when I took off the body, here is the frame after all the work today.
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[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Jgoudeau

Got the frame cleaned up today. Gonna clean it up need to opinions, should I go disk brakes in rear? Gonna be running a 396 motor in it. Also what size fuel line and brake lines should I run? Gonna use the stock crossmember with stock arms, with drop spindles. What items on the stock member should I upgrade or change at this point?

Frame is looking good.

I would use a 3/8" fuel line. The brake lines depend on what you will be using for brakes. Normally 3/16" for disk brakes and 1/4" for drum brakes.

Maybe someone else will chime in on the drop spindles, I have never used them.

LockDoc

[Jgoudeau]

Locdoc, thanks for the line sizes.
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[Jgoudeau]

Also, I need help on something else from my fellow chevy lovers.
My first truck has 5 lug disc in front and drum in rear. The donor frame has 6 lug drums all around. My thought was to swap out ladles and crossmember and go with the 5 lug. What do you all think? The power plant will be a 396 running 10:1 comp. I plan to keep drum in the rear ( unless opinions say other wise). Does anyone know the gear difference between the 6 lug and 5 lug rear? Or the strength difference. Thank you all in advanced for your help.
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[Jgoudeau]

After thinking about the last post all night, question? Do I need to swap the whole crossmember or can I use the current crossmember and just swap the rotors and the drums? I should be able to just swap the spindle for spindle and have my disc brakes and 5 lug at that point correct?
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[swamp rat]

Why would you want to swap out the cross member? should be just fine unless you were converting the engine to a diesel. Are you referring to the A arms?

The stock size fuel line should be adequate for a 396.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Jgoudeau

Got the frame cleaned up today. Gonna clean it up need to opinions, should I go disk brakes in rear? Gonna be running a 396 motor in it. Also what size fuel line and brake lines should I run? Gonna use the stock crossmember with stock arms, with drop spindles. What items on the stock member should I upgrade or change at this point?
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I would replace springs, shocks, ball joints, tie rod ends and add a front sway bar. All of the stock pieces will work with drop spindles. Several sources out there for the parts you need but believe it or not Moog still makes most of the small stuff like ball joints, tie rod ends etc. and NAPA carries them!

[JD'S 69]

I went with drop spindles and disk brakes in the front from ccp. I swapped the rear end for a five lug, image my decision based on wheel selection. What ever you decide I think it needs to be 6 or 5 all the way around. Just my opinion hope it helps....
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[NGN]

What year is your swb fram , if you going with PS make sure the fram hads the indent for the gear box now , if it a 67 fram. there's no indent and you mite as well do that now while it's easy to get to.
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[Jgoudeau]

@ NGN, it is a 71 SWB, what indent exactly are you talking about?
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[NGN]

You have a 71 it has the indent already , 68-72 have them for the PS gear box ( not sure about all 68 ) 67 did not , it was flat on 67 along the side of the fram rail were the stering gear box was mounted , diffent set up for 67. Going from manual to PS on a 67 fram using a PS gear box from a 68-72 would require you to make a indent for clearance to fit the PS gear box , one way like I did was with heat and a ball pin hammer thers other way to. But do it before you clean and paint the fram not like me were I did it after I paint my fram then had to claen upp and paint over again. I'd hate to hear anyone go thuogh that . . But your good you got a71 fram. I hope I said that clear . Typing and thinking scrw me up lol. Nice project truck you got going there use this site. Good people here with good info.Posted via Mobile Device

[Jgoudeau]

Alright, frame going to powder oat Monday. Want to start looking for the front end rebuild kit. Any and all opinions are welcolm, please also give me any recommendations to do or change something now rather then later.
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[Jgoudeau]

All, need your help. What is the lowest drop with doing the c notch in the rear. Frame is on its way to powder coat tomorrow. Will get it back in 2 weeks. Will post before and after picks.
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