Please help motivate me to finish this build! I'm so ready to sell the darn thing

[JAG123]

I've had this behemoth for 3 years and this is as far as I have gotten.

Its a 76 single cab, long bed frame, with an 89 crew on top. 4,000 miles on 350 engine and transmission

I can't seem to figure out the best way to mount the cab mounts to the frame in the rear. Or how to do the interior.

I'm fairly certain I have EVERY part to get it up and running - but I have just lost interest.

I have wayy to much money invested but I'm tired of watching it just sit there.

Sorry for the venting..

[tinydb84]

Shortest bed ever?

For the rear cab mounts just build a stand off the frame out of 3/16'' plate or get a set of mounts from the junk yard and modify them to fit.

[Westwind]

Maybe do some of the little stuff for a while to get you motivated again. I would burn myself out and not do anything and then be behind the eight ball on the whole project. I was building a 57 chevy 2 door hardtop and a friend of mine suggested that I work on the little items here and there to get the feeling of accomplishment. That first weekend I restored the ash tray. Then I restored the parking brake, then the door flippers and in a few short weeks I had a shelf of restored items on the shelf and less on the garage floor. I was motivated once again. My dad called it a "Brain Enema".

[JAG123]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Shortest bed ever?

For the rear cab mounts just build a stand off the frame out of 3/16'' plate or get a set of mounts from the junk yard and modify them to fit.

I think the bed, once the lights and tail gate is on, comes out to 56". Plenty big for anything I'd ever use it for.

Cutting out the rear "perch" -would it hurt the frame or cause it to twist in anyway would it? I need a plasma torch to do that. I've already drilled out over 30 rivots, to get the cab mount brackets off another frame, what's another 8?.. haha

And Westwind - that's a really good idea. I was thinking about hooking up the wiring harness, since it's just plug and play, just to see if I could get the engine purring again.

[tinydb84]

I don't see a need to cut the frame unless something is blocking it. I have used a sawzaw and a cut off wheel for 99% of my build, thought a plasma would be quicker.

Do you have any pictures of the area? You can definitely drill out the rivets on another frame and use those parts.

[1968vetL-71]

I've seen u had it for sale for a while locally. Maybe it's a sign it didn't sell. It looks like a killer project. I'd b willing to meet with ya sometime and go over anything u might need some help with. I've built a ton of 4x4's and crews! Still have a couple now and looking for another nice daily driver. I'm just south of ya a few miles.
If u want to keep a true crew cab long bed I have a line on a 77 frame? Pm me if interested.
Good luck either way and keep pushing forward if it's what u really want too build. I struggle with this daily. Lol.

[rusty76]

I'm with you on this. I drove my truck daily for years then gas prices skyrocketed and I basically parked it. Then I tore the motor out thinking that would get me motivated. It did. Then I hit a snafu and I've done little to my old truck in 12 years. I even started a build thread last year hoping that would help motivate me. Then I set a goal to drive it this Dec. we both turn forty. Then life hit in ways I didn't count on. I finally made up my mind I'm getting it on the road somehow and going to Roadkill this thing. Im tired of seeing it sit and I'm tired of being tired. I'm going to work on the small stuff and enlist the help of those who can. A driving project is better than a bunch of sitting rusty metal. Good luck and keep on.

[lilpoindexter]

If it's not running, get it running, even if you gotta rig it up. Get it running by any means necessary, then drive it around the block. If that doesn't motivate you, nothing will.

[JAG123]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

I don't see a need to cut the frame unless something is blocking it. I have used a sawzaw and a cut off wheel for 99% of my build, thought a plasma would be quicker.

Do you have any pictures of the area? You can definitely drill out the rivets on another frame and use those parts.

the red circled section illustrates the place the rear cab mounts lines up with.
but there's some angled metal that connects to the bottom (for support I assume) that won't allow me to feed the bolt through. Since I've taken off that channel iron in the same picture, I've thought about trying to use it, but the other piece would have to be cut out first, and I am unsure if it not being flush with the frame, if it will cause issues.

Originally Posted by 1968vetL-71

I've seen u had it for sale for a while locally. Maybe it's a sign it didn't sell. It looks like a killer project. I'd b willing to meet with ya sometime and go over anything u might need some help with. I've built a ton of 4x4's and crews! Still have a couple now and looking for another nice daily driver. I'm just south of ya a few miles.
If u want to keep a true crew cab long bed I have a line on a 77 frame? Pm me if interested.
Good luck either way and keep pushing forward if it's what u really want too build. I struggle with this daily. Lol.

Dude!! I would even pay you, feed you or pay you in beers if you would come out here and give me some pointers! I'm serious, I could use all the help I can get. I dont know if I would convert it back to a longbed just because I to want to do some light offroading - I am not sure the extra length would be helpful. BUT it sure would go back together a lot faster!! haha

Originally Posted by rusty76

I'm with you on this. I drove my truck daily for years then gas prices skyrocketed and I basically parked it. Then I tore the motor out thinking that would get me motivated. It did. Then I hit a snafu and I've done little to my old truck in 12 years. I even started a build thread last year hoping that would help motivate me. Then I set a goal to drive it this Dec. we both turn forty. Then life hit in ways I didn't count on. I finally made up my mind I'm getting it on the road somehow and going to Roadkill this thing. Im tired of seeing it sit and I'm tired of being tired. I'm going to work on the small stuff and enlist the help of those who can. A driving project is better than a bunch of sitting rusty metal. Good luck and keep on.

Maybe we can motivate each other to get back on it!!!

Here is my inspiration - what I kind of want it to look like. Granted this is a lot smaller, I still like certain things - the brush guard, rocker panels, tail lights, roof rack, limb risers.. I could do without the window guards though.

[1968vetL-71]

I don't need paid. I don't roll like that. But i've never been one to turn down a cold beer either!. lol . I'll PM you my number and give me a call sometime on sunday or next week. I'd be glad to swing out and we can get ya motivated!!!!

Its always nice too meet a fellow board member and gearhead!!!

[MTCK]

Sweet truck! I know how the motivation can be tough sometimes... I get mine from working the crap out of my trucks, having people come up to me at gas stations and ask about them, oh and not having a $750/month payment.

I haven't seen a crew on a long bed regular cab chassis before, so can't say how hard that will be. I love having a long bed, so maybe take a look at L-71's frame, maybe cut that one down if you want a short bed. I know that has been done a lot on here with good documentation.

My advise would be get her on the road as quick as possible. Things like the interior can be sorted out as you drive it, which is the best motivation in my opinion. Good luck.

[JAG123]

Originally Posted by lilpoindexter

If it's not running, get it running, even if you gotta rig it up. Get it running by any means necessary, then drive it around the block. If that doesn't motivate you, nothing will.

You're absolutely right!

Originally Posted by MTCK

Sweet truck! I know how the motivation can be tough sometimes... I get mine from working the crap out of my trucks, having people come up to me at gas stations and ask about them, oh and not having a $750/month payment.

I haven't seen a crew on a long bed regular cab chassis before, so can't say how hard that will be. I love having a long bed, so maybe take a look at L-71's frame, maybe cut that one down if you want a short bed. I know that has been done a lot on here with good documentation.

My advise would be get her on the road as quick as possible. Things like the interior can be sorted out as you drive it, which is the best motivation in my opinion. Good luck.

So far everything is actually bolting up in factory locations. I just had to cut out the floor from the rear of the cab, so it would sit low enough on the frame. Won't really hurt anything in terms of foot/floor space.. I just have no desire to have a long bed. So even if I found a long bed frame, I would still want to cut about 20" out of the frame and make it a true short bed..

Does there happen to be a shop/service manual online for download?
I thought about getting a battery, hooking up the wiring harness and getting the engine running tomorrow.

[74CustomK20]

I've seen it locally as well on CL, and I'm in the same boat. I tore mine down for a frame swap and literally today just considered parting it out to help free up money for the house I just bought and pay off my truck. I know I'll never get out of it what I have in it, but the extra money does always seem nice...

[1970pelle]

There have been some great suggestions. Or make a list of what needs done, and tackle one job at a time. Cross it off the list. Then if a break is needed in between jobs on the list, you always know where to start up again when ready.
Doing it this way it doesn't seam such a huge mountain to climb all at once.

Ken

[74CustomK20]

I've recently been doing that Ken has suggested, and it's been quite helpful. Now I have my exhaust 3/4 way done and my body mounts figured out. If just sucks being broke so I can't get the parts I need to really kick it into gear. Seems like everything nickel and dimes me to death. 30 bucks for u bolts, 20 for gaskets... Sucks but is what it is!

Another note. That crossmember you circled earlier I drove around without for months. Didn't hurt anything but all I did was drive it. I would just measure where the bolt holes, drill for the correct hardware size, and use the correct bushings for the rear mounts. The rear angle piece I never put back in... Just tryin to help!

[rusty76]

Could you possibly move the crossmember back out of the way?