Project: Recycle

[SCOTI]

Alrighty.... I got most of the shock c.member welded up & ground down (good enough for pics anyway ). I plan to add some gussets between the lip of the c.member & each side of the upper shock plates but I didn't have them 100% ready for welding in yet....

[SCOTI]

I'm using Porterbuilts Dropped Truck Arms on this truck.

The shock mounts w/the PB truck arms accomodate a standard GM shock stud. I measured off of the C/L of the lower stud to calculate some rough numbers for shock length/travel. I needed a rear shock that was approx 17" @ ride height.

I tried some G-body shocks I had stashed away (I have a Malibu too) & realized the shocks were pretty close to ideal if mounted flush w/the top of the OE truck shock c.member. The drawback was the upper mounting configuration was different.

The different/fabricated upper shock plate for the c.member allows me to use the A/G body rear shocks (they measure 21" extended; 13" compressed) & put the shock length about dead middle of its range @ my anticipated ride height.

My truck has just over 3" of compression before bottoming out on the c-notches so that will prevent the shocks from bottoming out & I've calculated max extension @ no more than 3" as well so these should work very well. The mounted shock angle is approx 57°....

[SCOTI]

The notched portion of the c.member was necessary because I wanted exhaust all the way to the rear bumper (I dis-like how turn downs stir up dust/dirt).

Since my bed floor will be raised 3" above the frame rails, the notches allow for routing of exhaust over the c.member (going under gets it too close to the rear axle) w/plenty of clearance (no rattles). This routing choice also required notching the Panhard bar triangulation c.member so that the exhaust can drop back down before the gas tank (69-72 Blazer tank).

As you can see, this mod allowed almost 4.25" between the c.member & bed-floor & just over 4.5" between the PHB c.member & gas tank lip. Some 2.5" pipe should route through there w/no problems.....

[my67chevytruck]

looking great bro...

[lolife99]

Excellent detail.
You have way more patients for taking pics and documenting everything, than I do.

(on a side note,... how about one picture of your Malibu?)

[MattA]

That crossmember looks great.

Here is the Malibu project

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by matta

that crossmember looks great.

Thanks!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Excellent detail.
You have way more patients for taking pics and documenting everything, than I do.

(on a side note,... how about one picture of your Malibu?)

I try & remember to take pics as I go.

Alot of these were @ the end of the work just for the glamour shot. I installed/removed those c.members a bunch of times measuring & making sure things were going to work like I wanted.

[Jonboy]

I dig the Malibu, too. I need a wagon like that.

[VA72C10]

nice work and attention to detail!

[lolife99]

Sweet Malibu!
I use to have a '78 as my daily driver.

[MattA]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Sweet Malibu!
I use to have a '78 as my daily driver.

That car has been in our "family" for about 15 yrs. ScotI's brother had it, I bought it from him and drove it for about 6yrs. My son drove it for a few years and locked the motor up. I took it apart and started to mini-tub/ frame rail notch the rear. I ran into some financial difficulties and Scot bought it from me about 3 yrs ago.

It will get finished by someone eventually.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by MattA

That car has been in our "family" for about 15 yrs. ScotI's brother had it, I bought it from him and drove it for about 6yrs. My son drove it for a few years and locked the motor up. I took it apart and started to mini-tub/ frame rail notch the rear. I ran into some financial difficulties and Scot bought it from me about 3 yrs ago.

It will get finished by someone eventually.

Of the multiple 78-81 Malibu's I've owned (3 2drs & 2 Camino's), this one is the cleanest as far as floor-pan rust issues. I still accumulate parts for it when I see something it will eventually need....

Originally Posted by jgh64pkup

awesome build

Thanks!

[LEEVON]

SCOTI, did you cut that bed down or just using that frame?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

SCOTI, did you cut that bed down or just using that frame?

The frame was a 68 lwb that I shortened & cut up for the 64 swb body. I've learned over the years of 'not yet completed' projects to not take anything apart until I'm 100% ready to immediately put it back together (some guys can; I can't). Building the replacement rolling chassis also allows me to get some cool photos of the naked drivetrain & chassis (to show off the work that the 45yr old body will be covering up).

If you're asking specifically about the bed floor, it was part of a package deal from an old board member here in Dallas. I bought the entire short fleet bed @ a good price but only wanted the tailgate & steel floor. I re-sold the fleet tubs to FirstGen; the bedsides, front panel, & tailgate to n2billet, & kept the floor for free .

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Of the multiple 78-81 Malibu's I've owned (3 2drs & 2 Camino's), this one is the cleanest as far as floor-pan rust issues. I still accumulate parts for it when I see something it will eventually need....


Thanks!

I went back through these early posts, saw this one above from 10yrs ago ( ) & had to chuckle....

It's now 4x 2 doors & 2.5x Camino's I've owned (the .5 is for the non-running manual swap donor I bought solely for the 3-pedals & column shift delete steering column). We (myself & MattA) wound up swapping the automatic & column from the tan 'Bu posted early in this thread (pg2) over to the ElCo after we were able to get it running. Surprisingly, it even ran pretty decent. So I thought cha-ching.... I'll get the manual trans swap parts needed & make some money on top of it by selling off the donor! But, my buddy needed a cheap solid ride so it went to him.

Since then, this is No.4 2dr. It now holds the title of cleanest as far as floor-pan rust issues . . ….

[jgh64pkup]

awesome build

[VA72C10]

I like that. Nice and simple and clean. And out of the way if you ever did have anything in the back...

[my67chevytruck]

nice progress bro....

[ksbrktracer]

I like it ..... NICE work.....!

[MattA]

Very cool dolly set up. Will be easier on the back. Looks great.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by MattA

Very cool dolly set up. Will be easier on the back. Looks great.

Kind of . . .... They just help get it from 'here to there'. Getting it on/off the frame solo is still a challange (but do-able).

[n2billet]

Any better pictures of the truck itself?

[72BlckButy]

Like the fuel filler SCOTI!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

Like the fuel filler SCOTI!

Thanks!

I cut the stainless tubing for the 'under bed' portion after work today. I had to cut some scrap SS transition pieces to get the 2.25" neck @ the cap & grommet down to the 2" pipe sized for the tank inlet. It was fun trying to keep things nice & square.

Tomorrow, I'll move the bed back on the frame to verify exact dimensions for final fitament of the tube.