1983 garage build

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

Nice! I have been looking for a I6/SB with air

I was looking at 2 different ones with I6s, a 76 step and my 81 step. I opted for the 81 because it had factory air and better shape/paint.

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by rodstored-72

more grip,
Nice job. I am waiting on my kit from summit & then will begin the drop proceedure. I will use the above info on my purches as well. Thank you for the tips!

[moregrip]

Lenox blade cut though the frame like Butta!!






Need to wack a few more rivets off, but we're close!

[Rich84]

Cool build..I picked up a not so pretty 6 banger long bed with air. Thinking about cutting her down to size, but space is a problem...Too many trucks.

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by Rich84

Cool build..I picked up a not so pretty 6 banger long bed with air. Thinking about cutting her down to size, but space is a problem...Too many trucks.

thank you! I'm not a huge fan of a longbed on a lowered truck but they look right at home on a raised truck. I'm kinda in the same boat, 2 project trucks in a 3 car garage doesn't leave much room. Ideally I would only have one truck in the garage/shop at a time!

Edit: Interested to see what you do with your project!

[moregrip]

removed 8 more rivets; thought I had it licked....realized I still have two more to go!

[tinydb84]

I used to fight with rivets forever! If you don't have to worry about the top piece I have found a large impact hammer will sheer the heads off and push them through is seconds.

When I need to save the part though I am still pretty quick with using a step drill for most of it then a flap disk to take the rest of it off and it falls out.

How do you like that kit? Brooks make some nice stuff.

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

I used to fight with rivets forever! If you don't have to worry about the top piece I have found a large impact hammer will sheer the heads off and push them through is seconds.

When I need to save the part though I am still pretty quick with using a step drill for most of it then a flap disk to take the rest of it off and it falls out.

How do you like that kit? Brooks make some nice stuff.

Thanks for the tips! So far so good, the kit seems to work rather well; just finished the drivers side; heading over to the passenger side in a few

[moregrip]

lots of metal shavings later, drivers side mostly done!

[moregrip]

made my own drill jig using the rear frame rails; worked out pretty good if I do say so myself/also used the "Tapfree" cutting fluid for all drilling; seemed to help quite a bit...drill bits lasted the entire project.

[moregrip]

inner plates and welding will happen a little further down the road, however, this keeps it in a roller status for now.

[wixthedog]

You're doing good work! I use a torch on the old rivits, if its near the gas tank I use an air chisel.

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by wixthedog

You're doing good work! I use a torch on the old rivits, if its near the gas tank I use an air chisel.

Thank you! I've never been accused of moving quickly when it comes to these types of projects

[moregrip]

scored some .030 Perfect Circle NOS piston rings circa 1978; from what I can tell by the ink stamp anyway. These are for the NOS TRW .030 forged pistons:

[moregrip]

Update:

For anyone following along, like many projects, this one hit a bit of a pause thanks to a move—and the reality of settling into a new house, city, and state!

That said, it wasn’t all downtime. I built a 10x20 storage shed, added some heavy-duty shelving, and stocked up on some of those 27-gallon storage totes everyone swears by. Let’s just say organization has officially reached a new level.

Now, I’m fully set up and ready to dive back in as soon as winter eases up. Even better—I finally pulled the trigger on a MIG welder. HF was running a 30% off deal, so I grabbed a Vulcan MigMax 215.

Excited to get this party RE-started!

[Shifty One]

In!

[Palf70Step]

Glad to hear you're gettting after it again. Looking forward to updates

[SCOTI]

Good to see you're still pushing forward w/it.

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by Shifty One

In!

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Glad to hear you're gettting after it again. Looking forward to updates

It's now or never!

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Good to see you're still pushing forward w/it.

Appreciate that! Doing the best I can with what I got!

This project is taking a turn for the better. I hope you all enjoy where it goes!

[Shark_13]

Looks great! Nice work

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by Shark_13

Looks great! Nice work

Thanks man, this one is a long time coming. The older I get the more I just want to drive something with the simplicity of my youth. I have a 2018 Chevy 2500HD, it's a great truck and I've been working on it over the years as well, but I'm ready for an oldy! The last simple car I drove was 67 Chevy Impala SS I stupidly sold when I joined the Navy in 1996......

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by moregrip

So interesting story about these jack stands. HF had them listed on their website returnable at customer discretion based on the potential for failure/issues. They weren't recalled per se, but they were on their published list of jack stands the customer could return if they wanted to.

Long story short, I returned 4 sets of jack stands out an abundance of caution knowing my 13 year old son I would be working under the truck together; can never be too safe. HF took them back and issued me full store credit. I have to give HF a solid on that one.

I have since replaced these older jack stands with the newer revised models with locking bar; ie safer versions.