1968

[gdavis]

I don't have a press to press my lower ball jointsin. So I took them over to a friends house and he is going to install them with his press. So tomorrow I will have a rolling chassis again. except for the brakes.

[gdavis]

There is no place for me to buy sand for my sand blaster in our county So this is what I have to do.
First, I have to dry it. I put a black piece of pond liner down and spread the sand out.
Second, I have to sift the sand in my home made sifter. There is sall rocks that plugs up my sand blaster.
Third, I leave it in my storage can for a few days to make sure all the moisture is out of the sand. It is a lot to go thru but I have no choice. I guess I could buy from a company and have it shipped in. But that would cost three time the amount of the sand.

[gdavis]

as you can see i have no room in my small shop for anything. So I am adding a extention to my shop. Here is two pictures of the extention.

[gdavis]

Tomorrow I am planing on installing the upper and lower ball joints and the drag links on the front cross member. The yoke in the rear end I have to replace it with another one that I have on hand. along with a new seal. If it wasn't for the seal I would just buy come longer u bolts for the universal joint.
A picture of the rear end all put back together.

[gdavis]

Everything is time consuming, but all I have to do is work on my truck. I am retired and I hate to set around and do nothing. Doing the sand thing is saving me a ton of money.

[sduckworth13]

Great job, everything looks awesome.

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by gdavis

I don't have a press to press my lower ball jointsin. So I took them over to a friends house and he is going to install them with his press. So tomorrow I will have a rolling chassis again. except for the brakes.

For future reference o'reilly's loans tools for free, you just have to leave a deposit you can use a credit card if you want or cash works too and you get it back when you bring the tool back, thats where I got the ball joint press to install mine.
Man later on when you are done sandblasting you are going to have to rent a yard vacuum to get all that sand pulled up so grass can grow again.
Are you going to buy a 2/4 drop spring kit for your truck?

[Bomp]

You are one busy person.

[Bhelton]

Building is looking good, and i give it to you for sifting sand...looks like a good way to save money!

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by Xeen

For future reference o'reilly's loans tools for free, you just have to leave a deposit you can use a credit card if you want or cash works too and you get it back when you bring the tool back, thats where I got the ball joint press to install mine.
Man later on when you are done sandblasting you are going to have to rent a yard vacuum to get all that sand pulled up so grass can grow again.
Are you going to buy a 2/4 drop spring kit for your truck?

We don't have a o'reilly's around here. Nearest to us is Ocala whick is 1.2 hours away or Tampa which is 2 hours away. But we do have Aut zone and Advance Auto parts. That is where I got the axle bearing puller from. I borrowed it from them. had to put 150.00 deposit and got it back. anyway thanks and I wish there was a o'reilly;s around here.

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by Xeen

For future reference o'reilly's loans tools for free, you just have to leave a deposit you can use a credit card if you want or cash works too and you get it back when you bring the tool back, thats where I got the ball joint press to install mine.
Man later on when you are done sandblasting you are going to have to rent a yard vacuum to get all that sand pulled up so grass can grow again.
Are you going to buy a 2/4 drop spring kit for your truck?

as far as e drop I have not made up my mind about that for the 72 frame. My 68 frame is going to be stock as it was from the factory.

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by Bomp

You are one busy person.

thanks a do try and stay busy. I really enjoy workingh on my 68 step swb

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by Bhelton

Building is looking good, and i give it to you for sifting sand...looks like a good way to save money!

The sand is play sand from Home depot for 3.65 a bag. It come wet and has a few stones in it. But I don't mind sfiting and drying to save money. I can buy sand fron Ace but It want go thru my sand blaster they sell it for 7.99 a bag. It doesn't matter if it was 2.00 a bag I can't use it.

[gdavis]

Today, i sand blasted some more parts. Window parts and cornors to attach the front fenders to and wiper motor arms, I started to blast the window cranks but found out they were worn and it would not work right.

[gdavis]

I Didn't like the way the sand was filling up my work area. so I put a tarp down to catch most of it.

[gdavis]

Then I called to see if my parts were in and I spend the rest of the day installing upper and lower ball joints on the pass side. tomorrow I will do the drivers side.

[gdavis]

drivers side installed but not the spring. I will do it tomorrow.

[gdavis]

I have a mess to clean up tomorrow..The sand I hope it stayed on the tarp at least most of it.

[Xeen]

The new front suspension and brakes look good, now your cookin with gas!

[Bhelton]

Coming together nice!

[gdavis]

Today, finshed installing the drivers side spendle and backing plate.Installed the rotors and now have a rolling chassis again.I remember being here a month ago but with drum brakes. But now I am happy I switched over to disk brakes and 5 lug rear and 5 lug front. Now I have 5 lugs all the way around.

[gdavis]

also cleaned up the sand pile I had at the rear of my 1972 frame. or at least it is some what cleaned up. I am going to use my lawn tractor to blow the rest of the sand to the 4 cornors of the earth. So from now own I will put tarps down to catch all the sand. What a difference tarps make.

[Bomp]

Total amazement.
You going to paint the cab and other sheet metal on the other frame before install?

[Xeen]

Nice work man, glad to see the disk brake setup, that will help civilize the old girl.
Now on to future options, you should consider CPP 2/4 drop springs to get her center of gravity down so she will handle a bit better, that combined with the GM front sway bar, a CPP rear sway bar, rear shock relocation kit, and front shock mount reinforcement kit she will drive better than she was ever intended to.
If you add Tilt, AC, and a fly-by-wire cruise control from dakota digital you will swear you were driving a truck 30 years newer.

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by Xeen

Nice work man, glad to see the disk brake setup, that will help civilize the old girl.
Now on to future options, you should consider CPP 2/4 drop springs to get her center of gravity down so she will handle a bit better, that combined with the GM front sway bar, a CPP rear sway bar, rear shock relocation kit, and front shock mount reinforcement kit she will drive better than she was ever intended to.
If you add Tilt, AC, and a fly-by-wire cruise control from dakota digital you will swear you were driving a truck 30 years newer.

Yes that was my idea leaving the cab on the old frame and do all the work and paint before I mount it on the 68 frame. As far as the other is will I have to change the rear springs also.