Comin over to the sqaure bodies with a '78 Silverado!

[Corts60]

Here is what I have apart so far. I had to cut apart the outer skin of the door to get to the locking mechanism so I could get the door open. I forgot to take pictures of the door. As you can see, there is only a couple tiny little spots of rust, which is great, but I think the passenger rocker has to be completely cut out and replaced. There is also damage to the body where the back of the door meets the cab. Not sure how to fix that just yet. Are there patch panels made for this section?

[justcuz]

I know they make bottom corners, but don't know how far up the cab they go.
That does not look too bad, you may be able to get behind that and bump it out.
I've used a crowbar in the past to get in behind stuff and gently work the bar along the panel. I've also bumped out dents in doors and blind panels using different length spring leafs.
Good luck on the repair, since you have other vehicles to drive, I presume you are taking this on yourself.
Does the long bed have a front sway bar? If so you can see how simple they are to install a stock one. A stock bar with urethane bushings should be plenty stiff.
I posted in my Mojave Road thread that your next purchase should be a diesel Suburban 4x4. Y5mgisi here on the board is in Portland too and did a 5.3 swap into his Suburban.

[Jonboy]

If it isn't rusted, you could weld a tab and pull the rocker and rear pillar back to where it needs to be. I would do that before cutting anything off. If it isn't square, the new rocker and door will not fit well either

[1774btcrew]

Originally Posted by Corts60

Here is what I have apart so far. I had to cut apart the outer skin of the door to get to the locking mechanism so I could get the door open. I forgot to take pictures of the door. As you can see, there is only a couple tiny little spots of rust, which is great, but I think the passenger rocker has to be completely cut out and replaced. There is also damage to the body where the back of the door meets the cab. Not sure how to fix that just yet. Are there patch panels made for this section?

Sent you a PM

[Corts60]

Got it. Thanks Jeff.

So, I have some pictures to upload of the new door installed, which proves how bad the rocker is. I don't think it can be pulled out. It's probably 1/2" to 5/8" bent in the middle. I'm trying to find some time to upload the pics but the last few weeks have been super busy for me. Standby.

[Jonboy]

You will still want to make a pull to get the stress off of everything else. I don't see the floor mangled, but everything may be over a bit. If you can get the inside flange close to where it belongs, you can sacrifice the rocker to get it there.

[Corts60]

Ok, I see what you mean. I've never really done much body work other than fairing and painting. How far apart should I weld the studs for the slide hammer?

[1774btcrew]

Originally Posted by Corts60

Ok, I see what you mean. I've never really done much body work other than fairing and painting. How far apart should I weld the studs for the slide hammer?

Your stuff went out today priority mail. Have a great weekend!

[Corts60]

Thanks Jeff!

Here are the pics of the "new" door on for a test fit. It seems to be tucked in at the top front and tight at the lower rear corner. Not sure if something else is bent on the cab…

Also, you can really see the damage to the rocker now:

[Corts60]

And here is the interior completely gutted of everything…except that stupid driver seat belt which has a stuck bolt.

It will probably stay this way until I get the Dodge Cummins donor truck later this year.

[Corts60]

Some progress:

This weekend I scored a super straight mid-eighties bed for the truck. I mostly wanted the 80's bed for the fuel doors because the early beds are hard to fill. So this morning I got rid of the original bed and brought back the new bed this afternoon. The little brown truck is starting to look like a frankenstein truck at this point.

[79Betty]

Idk if you know or not, but if you wana keep your old tailgate you have to take off and switch the hardware like hinges and all that jazz... Nice progress though and the bed doesn't even look too far off!

[c3006]

Great thread,tagging to follow your progress. Nice to see someone care about keeping the good old ones alive!

[Corts60]

Originally Posted by 79Betty

Idk if you know or not, but if you wana keep your old tailgate you have to take off and switch the hardware like hinges and all that jazz... Nice progress though and the bed doesn't even look too far off!

I didn't know that. Good thing I kept them from the old bed though. Thanks!

[y5mgisi]

Nice! Let me know if you come across a good cheap long bed near by. Looking for one for my 78 and also would like the fuel doors.

[Corts60]

It's been quite awhile since I updated this thread, or even worked on the truck for that matter. Been a busy summer.

So I finally got the engine, tranny, and gear venders out of the truck. I am going to change a few wear items, re-gasket, and put this engine into my green '78.

I found a bunch more cracks on the driver's side frame than I thought there was. I will need to be doing some serious welding and then installing the steering box support bracket to give some strength back to the frame. Next thing to do is pull the cab and start the body work….




This little guy survived over 250,000 miles. Time to send it back to Gear Venders in exchange for a rebuilt one.

Getting ready to tear into this for installation in my other truck.

[6cylinderstepside]

Dang! I have a '79 Stepside I am converting to a '74 just as you have done and I have a '58 Kenskill vintage camper and the kicker is a '63 Sea King that looks identical to your boat as well (Although in stage 1 of restoration while yours in incredible!) you have good taste sir! haha! I have always loved the brown and tan color scheme on your truck too, I am glad you are keeping it.

[Corts60]

Update.

This past week has been heartbreaking as Tom, the original owner of the little brown truck and dear friend of mine, has passed away at the age of 79. I have been spending a lot of time helping his wife get things in order as they do not have any kids nearby to help.

While trying to get things sorted out around the house his wife, Lynn, found some early pictures of Tom and the little brown truck and gave them to me. Needless to say they mean a lot to me and have started the fire again to get the truck back on the road. I will try and upload the pictures soon.

I will be ending this thread and starting an actual build thread in the near future as I now have a goal of getting the truck fixed, painted, and back on the road by next June so that Tom's wife and I can drive to the ocean in it and spread his ashes as was his wish. Thanks to all that followed along this thread over the past 4 years and stay tuned for the real build thread.

[justcuz]

Cort,
So sorry to hear about Tom. Hopefully when you start your new thread on the brown truck you can have a redirect message In your current thread about it.
At my age 79 seems pretty young, my Dad was 79 when he passed also.
Hopefully I have more than 17 years left!

[y5mgisi]

Sad, yet cool.

[Corts60]

New build thread for the little brown truck:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=650751