1970 VA Longbed Project

[0331grunt]

That is looking awesome!! Keep up the great work. I still haven't tackled a rear end yet, but hopefully wont be too bad..

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 0331grunt

That is looking awesome!! Keep up the great work. I still haven't tackled a rear end yet, but hopefully wont be too bad..

Thanks...I was intimidated before I started and when I first started working on it, but once I got started it was easier than I thought...
Now, setting the proper pinion angle on gears and shimming them correctly isn't something I'd be willing to do unless I had someone there helping me along the way.

[brian69longbed]

did you install new bearings and seals?

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by gcburdic

Jonathan,

did you change the rear axle seals and bearings as well???

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Mike did before he sold it to me

Originally Posted by brian69longbed

did you install new bearings and seals?

Nope, but they were done for me....even better!!!

[vegaschevy]

making progress and looking good. Cannot wait till I get to working on mine again

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by vegaschevy

making progress and looking good. Cannot wait till I get to working on mine again

Thanks. No work yesterday, but I finalized the custom panel for my tailgate, and ordered everything else I need to put the front end together and have this thing as a roller

Should have it all by the end of next week or beginning of the following week. Will be working on the few spots of rust in the floor of the bed, grinding all the patch panel welds in the cab, working on the doors and the latches for those, and cleaning and prepping the engine and tranny for paint until those parts arrive.

[0331grunt]

guess I missed it, but what color you going with?

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 0331grunt

guess I missed it, but what color you going with?

I originally was going with a blue pearl, but now thinking a deep red almost cranberry pearl. I'm looking at a candy apple red pearl right now that's inbetween fire engine red and cranberry...


Got a little work done today....spent most of this afternoon trying to center the rear and get it to tuck up in the notch. Looking for solutions for that right now in the suspension section....

A couple pictures and details to come later.

[VA72C10]

Worked on centering the rear. Got a center mark on the pumpkin, got the rear centered and then worked on the U-bolts. Found I could move them slightly in the trailing arm holes and got to where the bolts cleared the frame so that the rear would tuck up into the axle and hit the bumpstops


However, quickly realized afterwards that the rear is 1" longer on one side than the other so centering it means you'd have one wheel out 1" more than the other side :dumm:






So, after much raising and lowering, adjusting the end of the super trac bar, bolting and unbolting that...., playing with the trac bars and unbolting them and trying to see how to flip/move their mounts, I ended up centering the brakes the same distance from the outside of the frame.

[VA72C10]

I hadn't painted the underside of the front crossmember yet (waiting to install it and get it up off the ground) so I did that today. Also started working on some custom brackets for my chrome air tank, mocked up the compressors (will get them installed soon)
Bolted on the lower bag plates to the lower A-arms, and took the last bit of wiring out of the cab. Also unbolted the gas pedal mount and studs...should be the last thing before cutting metal to smooth the firewall.

[VA72C10]

When I was leaving, Jason was finishing up welding the rockers and a small patch needed between the new rockers and the PO's cab corners to perfect those. Also was going to cut out a few small rust areas and weld in patches. He got the last main support piece welded in on the passenger side from where we replaced the rear corner of the floor.

Decided to use a weld in driver's side cab support like we did on the passenger side since the slip on (tri-plus) doesn't fit as close as we'd like and wouldn't match up to the other side....gotta order that now and sell the slip on to someone else willing to go that route....

[VA72C10]

I'll take some pictures of the cab process tomorrow and hopefully have a few more things accomplished. Waiting on some parts right now to get this thing on the ground and rolling

[Twisted78SS]

Looking very good.. I just started on my 72 short wide frame. Reading through the thread has helped answer a few of the questions I was concerned with. So moving the U bolts around a bit solved the notch interference issues?

Thanks,

Drew

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by Twisted78SS

Looking very good.. I just started on my 72 short wide frame. Reading through the thread has helped answer a few of the questions I was concerned with. So moving the U bolts around a bit solved the notch interference issues?

Thanks,

Drew

Some of them, but not all...I am going to move the trailing arm mounts (space them out 1 1- 1/4") or the entire trailing arm crossmember to get the rear centered back in the rear wheel well...have to test fit the bed to do this so it will be a few days....I want the rear wheels centered instead of forward as happens when you lower a truck over 4-5"

[PBFAB.COM]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Some of them, but not all...I am going to move the trailing arm mounts (space them out 1 1- 1/4") or the entire trailing arm crossmember to get the rear centered back in the rear wheel well...have to test fit the bed to do this so it will be a few days....I want the rear wheels centered instead of forward as happens when you lower a truck over 4-5"

I have some input for finding the center-line without having to install/remove the bed.

Just take a measurement from a bed mounting hole to the center of the rear inner wheel tub... transfer this measurement to the chassis using the corresponding bed mount's hole. You will have some room to adjust the bed fore and aft... but not more than 3/8" or so.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by porterbuilt

I have some input for finding the center-line without having to install/remove the bed.

Just take a measurement from a bed mounting hole to the center of the rear inner wheel tub... transfer this measurement to the chassis using the corresponding bed mount's hole. You will have some room to adjust the bed fore and aft... but not more than 3/8" or so.

Thanks, I've been pulling measurements to make sure my air tank compressors, etc will clear crossmembers and the wheel tubs, etc...but didn't think about doing that in this instance...guess that's why you get paid the big bucks

[0331grunt]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

....gotta order that now and sell the slip on to someone else willing to go that route....

What's the biggest problem with this? I haven't started on any of the patch panels yet, but might be interested in it.

Wish I could make progress like you are. Guess it helps to have a shop and someone to help you!! Looking good, tho. Glad you got the problem worked out.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 0331grunt

What's the biggest problem with this? I haven't started on any of the patch panels yet, but might be interested in it.

Wish I could make progress like you are. Guess it helps to have a shop and someone to help you!! Looking good, tho. Glad you got the problem worked out.

the slip on panel leaves a gap to allow for water to drain. The panel fits fine but since I did a replacement, not slip on, on the passenger side, it looked too different. I have slip on supports for both sides. If you want them, pm me.

[0331grunt]

pm sent..

[brian69longbed]

hey man your making the rest of us look bad with all this progress ha ha

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by brian69longbed

hey man your making the rest of us look bad with all this progress ha ha

I actually feel like I'm moving slow....trying to take advantage of this short period between jobs but I have a ton of things to do that keep me from working on the truck as much as I want. Hope to get a good bit of time tomorrow. Have a lot to do Friday.

I didn't have my camera tonight and that really stinks........


Because the rear is on the ground rolling!!!!!!

Used a set of 5 lug rollers I got that actually cleared the rear discs. Man, it sits low...when I first dropped it, the rear of the frame was only a couple of inches from the ground because I had the front up high on jack stands.

I got the brackets for my air tank functional tonight. I'll probably still pretty them up a bit more before painting them. Have to decide how I'm going to run my connector for airing up tires. I want to have one set up and keep a length of hose with a tire chuck on it to fill any flats I may get or anyone at a show with me. Also figure to bring an air nozzle to blow off dust too. Figure if I'll have a 5 gallon tank w/ compressors I might as well use it

Made a list of a few small parts I need to order and some bolts I need for the brackets. Made a plan of attack for tomorrow as well. I'll bring the camera then and get some pictures.

[VA72C10]

Got a question for those following along.....I am thinking of another mod with all the smoothing I am doing (door handles, stake pocket, one piece windows, gas cap, antenna, wiper cowl, emblems, trim, marker lights, firewall, tailgate handle,....

I also had jason fill the gap between the rocker and cab corner so that seam is smoothed...


Do you think I should cut off the pinch weld on the rockers? We'd end up reinforcing the cab corners and would weld the inner and outers together and add metal where needed to make a smooth transition on the bottom. Just thinking that it might add to the custom/smooth look of the truck.

thoughts???

Here's a truck that shows the pinch weld (below the door) and then a quick paint job where I shaved it



Shaved pinch weld

[Twisted78SS]

I like the look, any idea of how much time or trouble it will take you to get that affect?

I am interested in how your doing your tank and compressor mounting as well, I had better go back over the thread if you covered it already. I have 2 3gal. tanks and two compressors. Not sure if I need 2 of each, or maybe split them between my two projects. - thoughts?

[0331grunt]

I think it's one of those "Might as well..." moments! I say it looks good.

[gcburdic]