1970 VA Longbed Project

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

You could take pics of those super-cool billet knobs! Cool project!

Thanks! I will definitely have to take some pictures when I get my camera back....lent it to my sister in law.

[VA72C10]

I will be using Early Classic's Super trac bar kit. Recommended for any drop over 5" in the rear to help keep the rear end stable. http://www.earlyclassic.com/catalog.aspx

[VA72C10]

Found a front end kit that included 2 1/2" drop spindles, cross drilled rotors, calipers, stainless brake lines, brake pads, and all other needed parts for converting to disc brakes in the front. Still will need the newer style ball joints for this to work. Mine was a craigslist find that the guy hadn't used and isn't available any more. But Several vendors make them including ECE, CPP, and GMCpauls http://www.gmcpauls.com/67-72_d&s.htm GMCpauls seems to have the best deal...the picture is from ECE.

[VA72C10]

I am going to use the John Fabris Stake pocket gas fill mod. I was going to do the sidemarker light mod, but was worried as the nozzles have larger and larger rubber vapor catchers around them that eventually I'd have to fill up w/ a 5 gallon gas can Put pictures of the four main types of fills for others information...and I considered each of these at some point.

Stake Pocket http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=stake+pocket
Taillight fill http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=tail+filler
Sidemarker Fill http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=77104
Bed Fill http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=224662

[VA72C10]

I got Roddoors panels from Gcburdic and the 2001 chevy truck seats from Ebay. Here's a couple of pics of both installed for an idea of what it will look like. Also the red speaker box is inspiration to what I want to do in mine. Stole the black and blue rod doors pic from Danny Ewing's awesome truck I'm pulling a ton of inspiration from...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=197866
And a link to the rod doors site
http://www.roddoors.com/pages/chevtrk-6787.html

[VA72C10]

Also going to do the tailgate handle relocator mod. I purchased mine from Mark-K as they're a board vendor and I've read their kit is a little better than some others on the market. Here is LFD's post on that and a picture of a completed one http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=tools+welded

[STOCKISH]

Looking good so far. Keep it up.

[VA72C10]

Thanks for the encouragement....It will be a slow build, but will be worth it in the end. If I had moved faster on this, I wouldn't have gotten all the deals I have. If I had to buy everything at once, I would have had to pay retail. This way, I have run accross deals for the parts I know I want and bought them only on sale or used.

[VA72C10]

Quick update...old bed is off and sold...to a member...Porterhausen (Ben) Getting old brackets ground off and the frame cleaned up to paint. Mocked up the poly blazer tank, took some measurements for the speaker box behind the seats, got the supplies for the stake pocket bed fill, and planned out locations for air tank, compressors, air valves, & battery.

I love working on it and it kills me that it gets dark so soon and I am always on the road during the week and busy with family and church on the weekends....but I see some more opportunities upcoming to work on the truck a little more.

Hopefully will get some pictures next week when I get my camera back or I'm gonna have to buy another cheap digital.

[70k52wd]

The trucks you have picked for inspiration are spectacular. I like where you are going with your build. I love the leather seats, they look sooo comfy. Keep up the good work.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 70k52wd

The trucks you have picked for inspiration are spectacular. I like where you are going with your build. I love the leather seats, they look sooo comfy. Keep up the good work.

Thanks, hopefully sometime by the end of the summer we'll be cruising with a bagged blazer and longbed

Haven't even seen the truck since my last post ...still buying up parts though ....waiting for taxes and will FINALLY be pulling the trigger on airbags and a air ride controller setup.

I did start organizing my garage and going through some parts to sell and found a few things I forgot I had already. Working really hard on getting some time in the next couple of months where I can work on this consistently.

[nuke1]

you sure have to love how this site helps a person with inspiration, you have great idea on what you want. cannot wait to start seeing pictures.

[70k52wd]

Originally Posted by nuke1

you sure have to love how this site helps a person with inspiration.

Inspiration, Boy I'll agree with that...Maybe a little overly inspired in my case....But loving it.

[IvelDesigns]

glad to see you're getting back to this project. Even if it is just doing some shopping for now, having those new parts in the garage is always a good motivator.

and yeah, this site does wonders for inspiration... without this site, I would have probably just cut the coils on my truck and drive it like that. There is so much to learn here it's ridiculous. Some very skilled people hang out here.

[VA72C10]

I should get some time near the end of this week to work on it and I will be getting some help with parts of this to get moving on my project...finally. Mainly bumping this up to motivate me to get moving on it

[VA72C10]

FINALLY progress

Plans have changed on the truck and now it will be more of a Rat Rod/Shop truck with a little bling

I'm going to have it painted a satin black and it will have chrome 20's, a 5/7 drop, and all new exterior chrome.
Plans changed again... ......full on show truck. Airbags,shaved almost everything, custom leather interior, 5 lug, 4 wheel cross drilled discs, smooth firewall, A/C etc....

I have given up on the idea of me doing all the work and have taken it to a local guy who I found on Craigslist. He works on projects and bikes on the side and does good work from what I've seen so far. Truck has been over at his house for just a few days and it's looking better already.

I've also been over working on taking off parts and getting things ready for body work/paint.

Here are a few pictures
When I brought her over


Door inside corner needing work

Door inside corner being worked on. Watched him make a template, cut it, bend it on the english wheel and weld it in. Cool process and good education for my next build. I will try to tackle more if time permits. Will take finished pictures the next time over.

Front side of door he already patched. Looked in the door and there is no other rust so that's a good thing.

Welded up holes for last mirrors

Welded up holes for original mirrors...thought PO had done that..but he'd put caulk in the hole then bondo'd over it

[VA72C10]

Work on the bed



Fender with emblem holes welded/sanded for paint

Door all welded and sanded

Bedside welded up old trim holes and old top rail holes. He sanded this down and it's like glass.

[VA72C10]

There's gonna be a lot of work to the rockers to get them to fit better (Fix the PO's work) and some floor patching in the cab, but honestly the truck is looking pretty darn good and will be rust free soon!!!

[bigguy69]

looks to be in good hands.

[lks dcvn]

Looks like you have made some nice progress - hopefully the CL connection will be educational as well so you can learn on this one and use it for your future projects...

My neighbor is teaching me body work - very time intensive to make it look perfect.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by lks dcvn

Looks like you have made some nice progress - hopefully the CL connection will be educational as well so you can learn on this one and use it for your future projects...

My neighbor is teaching me body work - very time intensive to make it look perfect.

Definitely....he's a great guy and more than willing to share what he's doing and how he's doing it. Plus, he's the first to admit he's always learning so he has no problem answering my stupid questions

Between what I have learned on here and what I learned when I worked on a friend's 49 GMC and an 80Z28 I had, I know enough to be dangerous... But I'm continuing to learn

If I had more time I would tackle some of the work I'm having him do, but in honesty, I realized it's better for me and my family to have him do the work and let me take care of my family, work, and home. He's MUCH faster than me on a lot of this anyways so that helps as well...

[VA72C10]

Well, finally got over there again today to work on it myself...he's been finishing up some other projects to make room for the bed/hood/fenders/doors to be separated from the body so no work from him other than finishing up that one door patch.

I, however, got alot done today. Took off the cowl and cleaned the insides up and was SHOCKED to find NO RUST!!! I fully expected it since it was full of leaves. Then, pulled out the rear window, NO RUST, then, pulled the windshield....you guessed it.....NO RUST


I AM HAPPY

[VA72C10]

Got both doors completely stripped down (handles, locks, vent window, door glass, and window regulators (I'm replacing both)

I also have decided to go back to my original plan and finish it the way I want it.

So,......Air ride, 20's, relocated tank, and a bunch of custom ideas...some from here, some my own...

[VA72C10]

Also got a bunch of stuff off the engine to begin prepping that for paint. And undid the underhood wiring and finished stripping out the cab and cleaned it out.

[VA72C10]

Been buying more parts. Have 4 Slam RE-7 bags, chrome 5-gallon tank, 2" blocks with longer U-joints, rear shock relocators, one window regulator, chrome tilt column, chrome rear sport bumper, cab supports, the panels to shave the door handles, stake pockets, and gas cap.

Gas cap has been shaved already. The patch by infanti designs fits perfect with no work required..just tack it in, weld it up, and sand it smooth....

The guy helping me, Jason, is finishing up expanding his garage. As soon as it's done and the floor is epoxy'd, I will be going over to pull off the doors, hood, bed, and front clip. I'll be painting the frame, doing the cab supports, and getting it all prepped for paint. While the bed and front clip are off I'm going to install the airbags, drop spindles, etc. The engine/tranny will be pulled to get cleaned up and painted and then they'll be dressed up before being re-installed.