"Project Orangepeel" 52 A.D

[reaper71]

View from front and first look back together to see what she looks like.

[tattooedblue]

Great looking truck!
And you must be building it for me since you put my name on the door!
Oh... and I want that visor for my truck

[reaper71]

yeah I get that alot about the visor lol

[FarmerSid]

Looks awesome Reaper! How high is your front bumper, front and back running boards off the ground?

[reaper71]

The bumper is 4-41/2 front of running brd is 5 and back os 53/4

[reaper71]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Ok, this post is of my control arms I found out that with the front end sitting so low the truck would not turn (hitting inner fender)
the camaro stubs are a bit to wide for these trucks. One cure spend the money on wheels or 2 spend the money on shorter control arms. so I decided to cut the lower arms myself and i bought the upper arms they are a stock car upper arm already shorter than stock (keyser performance) here is the outcome../FONT
]the first pic is of the lower arm after i removed 2" from it and already tacked it back together.

[reaper71]

this pic is of the arm showing the open spots that need to be addressed. I know looks spooky...

[reaper71]

In this pic. you can see how it is solid to the table using tubing and the clamps this made sure it all stayed in the same plane as the stock arm.

[reaper71]

This one is of the arm all welded up I had to move some metal around and make backing plates to fill in the gaps but once it is all welded and smoothed out you cant tell it was cut apart.

[reaper71]

This of the arm all smoothed out and ready for new bushings. will be using energy suspension poly bushings..

[reaper71]

These next pics. are of the arms in primer then paint and finally on the truck. I then checked them out with the front end bolted back on and works great. it narrowed the track width 1 1/2" per side

[reaper71]

Originally Posted by FarmerSid

Looks awesome Reaper! How high is your front bumper, front and back running boards off the ground?

To answer your question I was going off of memory and i was not correct.
The front bumper is 3-3 1/2 The front of running board is 3 3/4 and the rear of running board is 4 3/4 off of the ground..

[FarmerSid]

Thanks reaper! I like that stance.

[reaper71]

Thanks FarmerSid!
i wanted this to sit nice and low without having to bag it hence the reason I did the 4" Z in the front end..

Mark...

[FarmerSid]

I want mine low too but not so much that I have to worry about hitting speed bumps going in to the beer store. I'm liking the 4 3/4" off the ground but front to back. I'm going to be running C4 Corvette IFS and IRS. Hope I don't have to C notch the rear to get the 4 3/4".

Like the visor. I have the same one and it's going back on!

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by oldman3

AD, I'll answer this question, Yes that's my son. We've done a few jobs together, but now all the work is his, with me helping when he needs me. He hasn't been able to work on his that much, but is getting to now. My only wish is I wish we could have started when I was a few years younger, but we still get the job done...Jim

Mark and Jim, that is so awesome! Mark you do really nice work. Were the upper control arms shorter? Dumb question as they must be to bring camber in.

[mechanixman]

I love the build. Please keep it up.

[reaper71]

Originally Posted by FarmerSid

I want mine low too but not so much that I have to worry about hitting speed bumps going in to the beer store. I'm liking the 4 3/4" off the ground but front to back. I'm going to be running C4 Corvette IFS and IRS. Hope I don't have to C notch the rear to get the 4 3/4".

Like the visor. I have the same one and it's going back on!

To answer the question on the C notch you will probably have to notch it to give yourself room for axle travel. simple to do if you have the tools to do it.
A.K.A. welder grinder etc. go to the scrap yard and pick up a piece of 4" tube 1/8" wall and cut if half to make the C

Mark...

[reaper71]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Mark and Jim, that is so awesome! Mark you do really nice work. Were the upper control arms shorter? Dumb question as they must be to bring camber in.

A.D. thanks for the compliment.. on the upper control arms are shorter. they measure 8" from center of ball joint to the flat of the mounting surface. they are stock car upper arms they are ava. in several lengths as are the lower arms they
were not very good looking hence the reason i cut my own..

Mark...

[reaper71]

Mechanixman Thanks i'll keep the pics coming!

Mark...

[reaper71]

Ok on to the cab!!
first shot of the firewall as it rolled in WAY to many holes for me so time to fill!!!

[reaper71]

The next shot was after alot of welding,grinding etc. the remaining holes were left till I made up my mind of what to do with floor.

[reaper71]

This is of the inner kick pan rot and part of the floor.

[reaper71]

these next 2 are of floor pan and the outer drivers side kick pan..

[reaper71]

The pics here are of the damaged pieces removed and now replaced..