The Blue Goose

[oldblue1968chevy]

Bed is pulled I got pics on my phone sorry..

Parts list:
-carrier bearing
-trailing arm (split in 2 parts dad seems to think it'd be easier/faster/cheaper to weld it back or re revit it or put a bolt(s) in it to hold. or theres a new one accross the street for 100 bucks along with a track bar and rearend and 2 trailing arms (swb rusty trailer 1972 chevy)
-track bar (centers rearend)

Would Like to do also while im there again:
-5/6" drop kit
-new u bolts and or drop blocks (longer u bolts)
-New U joints (should've did that 1st time around)
-5lug rearend (across street lol) with ALL NEW SEALS and maybe brakes etc, CAN I SWAP MY 6 LUG BRAKE STUFF ONTO NEWER 5 LUG REAREND?)

Probably some more stuff, I REALLY hope I get a fair $ amount. Im going to come out openly and say this, ive got give or take 100$ because theres other stuff I didnt get receitps with (used parts bumper etc). EDITED in my blue truck. The frame doesnt appear to be bent but they'll probably total it..what dad seemed to think the adj. guy was getting at. My atv shop friend (also into older fords). said he'd do an....shoot whats the word, starts with A........i cant think of it curently...but he said he and someone else should do an appraisal of the truck...

[oldblue1968chevy]

Pics...

[oldblue1968chevy]

Well, I heard from the adjuster today..before the wreck he said my truck was a 20 ft truck (looks great at 20 ft but up close...rust etc)

Anyhow, he said before my wreck it was roughly a $5000 truck. (Close to that in it).
So He offered me $4900 and he keeps the truck or $3900 And I keep my truck.

So im thinking it over..Right now im thinking keep my truck and another part of me says let him have it and find a swb or 4x4 project..

I just bought new tires ($500) Some stuff from ECE ($300) in the past month and a half, so I think that justifys the $1000.

Keep it, build a motor and maybe buy a swb frame and start that..in the meantime I need to find a bedside and a carrier bearing, a track arm, and maybe a trailing arm.

On the trailing arm, it split! Can I bolt it back, weld it back or what? I hate to take it off (freshly painted, new pushing (pita to do). Can I fix it wihtout pulling it back off? I'll probably have a rebuilt title on the blue truck now (dern). Will I need someone to come out and look at it before its back on the road (to check my work to make sure its safe)???

Thanks guys!!!!!!!

[VA72C10]

That's a tough call. If you can find a good truck local for around 1000-1500 that might get you ahead of the game. Did you fix the rust in the cab? Also, you did the tank swap, right? Think they'd notice if you took that and the stereo out? Or let you? Do you have any cheaper rollers to substitute for the new tires?

[oldblue1968chevy]

I rebuilt front suspension and put disc brakes on, power discs..
new tires too late they already saw that..
gas tank relocation blasted cab back
for 1000 im not loosing much I dont think...the stereo wasnt in truck when I wrecked...long story. lol

I could probably find a local truck for that, but Im attached to this truck somewhat. the frames not bent etc...im probably going to keep it but will listen to others.

[VA72C10]

Then maybe look for a longbed (or short-what you want in the end) truck complete with a bad cab and no engine (or a good engine if you wanted) and use that for parts for yours.....

[oldblue1968chevy]

Yeah...i'll probably fix my truck I have now (dont think it'll take much honestly). And drive it and go from there. I'll be signing hopefully tomorow(they made a fair offer).

[sourkraut]

I have a practically new carrier bearing and you can have it if you want. Just pay shipping and it is yours. I am going with a one piece shaft.

[matchstick]

IDK how attached you are to the truck, but if it was me I'd keep it. You know what you've got, and it won't cost that much to fix.

I was in a similar situation in high School. I had a truck I loved, wrecked it and the insurance totaled it. I wish I had it back now.

[67ChevyRedneck]

That sucks, or does it?

$3900? Nice longbeds go for only a few hundred bucks, and you already seem to have a line on getting the trailing arms/etc replaced cheaply. You're now ahead of the game.

Even though the wreck wasn't your fault, always be proactive, especially in parking lots and gas stations and keeps your eyes open for the dumb ****s.

[Hubscrub]

i would keep it for sure the major part of the damage is in the bed area so it shouln't be too bad to fix be a good time to make it a short bed if ya wanted

[oldblue1968chevy]

Yeah! Lol it was almost a good thing. I got it torn down this evening (for the most part). Ima either do 1 of 3 things
1-save the $
2-build a baddd drivetrain
3-build a swb truck

Things I got done and have yet to do:
-I got the trailing arm pulled, undecided on what imma do still
-panhard bar is off of the axle side, cant get bolt out of frame side
-stud comming off axle for panhard bar to mount to looks like it got a little bent oh well i needed a 5 lug rearend anyway
-carrier bearing dad got was wrong lol its gota go back
-got a tranny seal (where D shaft goes in tranny installed).
-Need to take my old u bolt to town and get a 2 inch longer u bolt for drop blocks and because the threads are IFFY!
-Pull my bedside off (GOT FRONT BOLTS OFF BY THE HEADBOARD, AND THE BOLTS UNDER THE FENDERS, ITS STILL NOT BUDGING WHAT ELSE)???
-Find good bedside, spray bomb, and install (I think Tim is going to help me with this If I can figure out how to ship a bedside from KS to TN) Any advise?

Thanks guys!!!!!

[oldblue1968chevy]

Oh, I also found a barn find 1971 chevy 1\2 2wd green white 2nd paint job (factory colors) automatic with 307 2brl carb. not much rust at all! some in floorpans and floor supports cab corners/rockers looked solid, he said rockers were replaced a few years ago..

If anyone wants more pics or info Id LOVE to go back he had a fourwheeler in the back of the barn rotting away id love to get my hands on, itd be a great excuse to ask him about it, "i know someone that may be interested whats your # and can I snap a few quick pics?"

he was asking $2500.00 it was pretty clean tires looks like they need to be replaced he said he rebuilt the motor recently because of a rod bearing I think...

If anyones interested id love to go back! Thanks again and its in middle TN!

Am I allowed to post this kind of material... :S

its NOT MINE and its NOT A CLOSE FRIENDS OF MINE just a random guy that lives few miles away lol

[texanidiot25]

I'd take the 3900, and keep the truck. It's not often that you get paid out that good to keep it. You can get a lot done for 3900

[bigguy69]

Originally Posted by texanidiot25

I'd take the 3900, and keep the truck. It's not often that you get paid out that good to keep it. You can get a lot done for 3900

i agree

[oldblue1968chevy]

Does this stud look bent or is it supposed to be like this?

Thanks!

Didnt get anything done to the truck today, went riding. May work on it tom. after church...

[JesseH13]

that must suck to get it wreckd bro sorry to hear about it but now yo got better plan right lol?!?

[oldblue1968chevy]

Can anyone tell me if this is bent or not? The stud?^

[VA72C10]

I'll try to remember to look at mine later...but that looks bent. If you're considering going lower, just order the ECE super trac bar that relocates the bar to the trailing arm (passenger side) It will work better than factory and you won't have to worry if that's bent or not...

[texanidiot25]

I remember that mine is angled slightly. If you can measure the angle, I'll double check it.

[Jacfourteen]

Sucks that you got hit, but maybe it will work out better in the end. That is a pretty good payout IMO, it won't take that much to fix it so you can get some other goodies with the extra $. I think if you want a swb now is the time to chop yours down. Hope you luck changes for the better!

[oldblue1968chevy]

Well, my welder neighbor wasnt home..so I took it to my Gfs dad (can weld pretty good but not a pipeline welder). He welded towards the axle (I would think more important) And I put down some welds towards the bushing end

Havent done much welding but it looks 'ok'.

Slopped some more bedliner on the welds after we were done.

PS, if anyone ever coats there frame in bedliner, its VERY hard to scrape back off for welding purposes. Had to use the handgrinder!!!

Got my track arm off with the big sledge and lots of wd40 and oil. Gonna have to hit the junkyard for a better one LOL.

All I have left to do to make it running driving (minus bed)=

-Buy new U bolts (peace of mind lol my threads are worn badly.
-buy/Install carrier bearing
-Install trailing arm when dry (welded/bolted it together).
-E-brake cable (didnt work anyway, should I still get new one, the old ones gone lol
-Get my wrecked bedside off (ANYONE TELL ME WHERE ALL THE BOLTS ARE HIDING LOL)
-Figure out how to ship bedside from KS to TN (will do when trucks driving)

Thanks!!!!!! It feels good to be getting this thing 'on the road again for the second time in less than 1 month LOL)

Thats about it...

[oldblue1968chevy]

-Got both my trailing arms welded/installed.
-still need track arm bar (junkyard)
-still need bedside..
-Got my driveshaft dissassembled ready for carrier bearing (and if im not cheap and have coin left over new U joints) Yeah that cheap!
-Ordered my u bolts they should be here friday. Custom shop wanted $60 for 2 U bolts, napa wanted $30 for 2 U bolts (AND 1\2 LONGER)

-How do I get my Driver side bedside off?
-Where can I get a big drill bit (to drill holes for my drop block) Or should I just take it somewhere and let someone else do it, how often am I going to use a 5\8 drill bit(good excuse to buy new/more tools lol)
-How tight should the bolts on the diff. cover be? it was leaking a little with new seals..the bolts werent too tight so I tighened em down 3 fingers tight lol.

[72chevyfleet]

damnnn i looked through the whole thread you've got a nice truck and the accident damage didnt look that bad glad you took the 3900 and kept it cause its a nice truck keep up the good work dude

[VA72C10]

Coming back together nicely!!!! Great decision to keep it.