My first project... 1968 GMC lwb fleetside

[Sicksty8]

I made some major progress this week. I finished the exhaust pass through on the driver side and it looks freakin amazing!!! Next order of business was to fix a major bend in the frame behind the rear axle. What it was was a pack of leaf springs bolted to the frame as a form of overload or helper springs and they bent the crap out of the frame. Sooooo the plan was to chop the last 2.5 feet of frame off and weld the good portion from my other parts truck back on. My slice and dice worked well. I was so pumped with the fitment. Everything is square and straight. I just haven't fishplated it yet but looking good to take it to the sandblaster by the end of the week.

[Sicksty8]

Also, I brought my motor and tranny to the shop where I'm working on the frame. Today was an expensive day, I bought $400 worth of tools. Beauty eh?! Got me an engine lift and leveler and a good arsenal of clamps for the frame fix. Anyway, got the engine sittin pretty in the frame and checking for clearances. My engine stand clears the headers and I patched the frame on the driver side header notch. I was also checking drive train angles and I measured my engine and trans to be 6*. Now I'm kind of a noob but I've been reading around and everyone says max angle is around 4*. Any recommendations on how and where to shim the trans up?

Just curious what would you say the engines milage is based on how the heads look?!

[trac209]

Looking great

[my67chevytruck]

nice progress....

[Sicksty8]

So today I fabbed up my fishplates for the frame repair and after work I got my pops to help me lay the floor onto the frame to check for trans clearance. Everything clears with inches to spare and looks freakin amazing to boot. Everything is now officially ready for sandblast hopefully tomorrow

[Sicksty8]

Today was good. I hit the junkyard this morning and bought me a power steering box off of a 73-74 C20. I thought that the boxes from this year would still be imperial with a flare fitting but the box I picked up is a metric one with an o ring fitting. This should be a bit better because the LS pump is metric as well so should be a bit easier to figure out the lines. The rad support bracket needed a bit of clearancing to fit the box but overall the install is pretty bolt in. Now all I'm wondering if I need the centerlink off of the donor truck in order to make it all work or if I can use my 68 drag link.

[Theboatandcarman]

following! i have to do the same frame repair for my c20 as my auxiliary leafs springs rotted a hole where my trailer hitch would mount.

[Sicksty8]

I had a few days off this week and got the frame sandblasted and coated. Also finished up fishplating the rear section. I ended up using a POR15 like coating. IT's KBS coating which I think is just POR re-branded. It layed down really well but brushing it on was a PITA. It took me a whole day to coat the whole frame but it was definitely worth it it looks great. I got all the other parts coated as well and re assembly will begin on the weekend. I still need to find a rear end and fab up a set of trailing arms then she'll be a roller.

[swamp rat]

Your making great progress, ya know in your first post it sounded like being a student you didn't have a lot of experiance at this stuff so some folks natural instinct is to tell people not to tare it apart cause it will forever remain a project, but your showing us otherwise!

[Sicksty8]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Your making great progress, ya know in your first post it sounded like being a student you didn't have a lot of experiance at this stuff so some folks natural instinct is to tell people not to tare it apart cause it will forever remain a project, but your showing us otherwise!

Thanks! I want to be driving this truck within a year from now so I've definitely got the drive to finish it!

Yesterday I put mounted the front and trans crossmember, steering box, pitman, idler, centerlink, and my gas tank. It's starting to look super good. Ive got all my a arms spindles and brake parts painted but I cant put them on because I've got no bushings to put the a arms together. No place has them in Winnipeg so I'm kinda stuck for a bit. Oh well

[swamp rat]

If ya havent ordered yet maybe order thru a place like Rockauto.com?

[Sicksty8]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

If ya havent ordered yet maybe order thru a place like Rockauto.com?

I think I will because part source or canadian tire wants $100 a shaft kit. Insane if you ask me. Think I'll order them tonight.

[Sicksty8]

It's been a while since the last update mainly because I was dead broke for the past 2 and a bit weeks. Anyway I started fab of the rear trailing arms then I ended up drilling a hole wrong and that sidelined that for a bit. Decided to practice my welding skills and built a bumper for my buddies 95 truck . Had it CNC'd a couple of years ago but I never had a welder to finish it.

Anyway, I started painting the engine and trans on monday and just bolted it all up today. It turned out friggin awesome Still waiting on parts from rockauto to finish up the front end. Hoping they get here before christmas.

[Metaldoc]

trail arms look similar. I made these from 2x3x3/16 tubing. I also found some bushings body mounts and other stuff through autopartsway.ca

[Odaroloc]

Looks great! Cant wait to tear apart my 71 GMC!

[Sicksty8]

Originally Posted by Metaldoc

trail arms look similar. I made these from 2x3x3/16 tubing. I also found some bushings body mounts and other stuff through autopartsway.ca

Yeah I liked your design so I thought I'd try my own. The hardest part was cutting the mitres just wondering how you ended up doing it. Thanks for the info on the bushings. I hate trying to find the little stuff in canada.

[Metaldoc]

Originally Posted by Sicksty8

Yeah I liked your design so I thought I'd try my own. The hardest part was cutting the mitres just wondering how you ended up doing it. Thanks for the info on the bushings. I hate trying to find the little stuff in canada.

I found it had a 15 deg kick up so I did some lay out on my table to get that angle. I set my angle at 12.5 deg because of the lowering. Then I don't need a pinion shim. I left the bottom uncut, cut the notch with a 5" quick cut then bend the end up. I drilled the holes through and welded tubes inside, added E brake clips and sway bay mounts.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Metaldoc

I found it had a 15 deg kick up so I did some lay out on my table to get that angle. I set my angle at 12.5 deg because of the lowering. Then I don't need a pinion shim. I left the bottom uncut, cut the notch with a 5" quick cut then bend the end up. I drilled the holes through and welded tubes inside, added E brake clips and sway bay mounts.

nice work doc!

[Metaldoc]

Thanks and by the looks of your skills these shouldn't be to bad to make. Make sure you have 100% penetration welds. I did the same mod for the steering box. Keep it up man it's coming along great.

[Advanced Design]

I am really liking the color combo on the engine and trans. Looks good.

[Sicksty8]

Originally Posted by Metaldoc

I found it had a 15 deg kick up so I did some lay out on my table to get that angle. I set my angle at 12.5 deg because of the lowering. Then I don't need a pinion shim. I left the bottom uncut, cut the notch with a 5" quick cut then bend the end up. I drilled the holes through and welded tubes inside, added E brake clips and sway bay mounts.

I suppose my first mistake was cutting right through the tube. I dont think I'm going as low as you so I'm just going like the stockers at 15 deg and sleeving the ubolt holes. I'll just cap both ends flat and add the e brake brackets and call it done

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

I am really liking the color combo on the engine and trans. Looks good.

Thanks! I'm stoked at how it turned out

[Odaroloc]

Awesome work!

[Sicksty8]

Got a surprise package today! I wasn't expecting this but I got the package I ordered last last week with the rest of my front end parts. So I got down to business.

Had a great time working with my brother putting it all together (I'm the one in the toque). Packing bearings was the least favorite part even wearing gloves. For some reason I just hate having that much grease on my hands. Anyways I got the rotors on but I couldn't put the callipers on cause I didn't have any high temp grease for calliper pins. I'll do that tomorrow oh well.

Big milestone today being that I put it on it's 2 front tires for the first time in over half a year! Super happy with where it's going so far. Hopefully I can get the rear arms done before Christmas and have this thing rolled out and the cab in its place.

[Advanced Design]

Looke really good!

[mooseknuckles]

lookin good, great progress!