1978 GMC Sierra C35 "Project Second Life"

[1tonchevy]

llooks great will be watching this one. i have a weak spot for the C30/C35 crowd

[Conundrum]

This is a cool project, i'll be watching as well.

[JRANGER]

looking good

[tc4x4]

Thanks guys!

[tc4x4]

Ok guys I have the the bed completely detached and ready to take off that way I can get the work done easier and faster on the truck. Also that means I can paint the back half of the truck right now and clean it up underneath.

What way have you all lifted your beds off?

Are they strong enough to set on the ground on the bottle edges?

Is it safe to stand it on end by the front side so I can paint the bottom of it?

[Conundrum]

Originally Posted by tc4x4

Ok guys I have the the bed completely detached and ready to take off that way I can get the work done easier and faster on the truck. Also that means I can paint the back half of the truck right now and clean it up underneath.

What way have you all lifted your beds off?

Are they strong enough to set on the ground on the bottle edges?

Is it safe to stand it on end by the front side so I can paint the bottom of it?

Usually myself and a friend to take my bed off, but it's a short bed so you may want an extra friend or 2 to help out.

I wouldn't set it on the bottom edges for very long, if you can pick up a couple of old pallets to set it on that works pretty well.

I have stood mine up on end a time or 2, and I think it'll be fine as long as you are inside or don't have any big gusts of wind.


I was also wondering what part of MI you're in?

[tc4x4]

I'm from Traverse City, right on the top of the pinky finger! Anybody have an idea of how much a long and short bed weigh?

[JRANGER]

good questions...Im interested in the answers as I want to do the same...What part of MI are you from btw?

[JRANGER]

damn...dont think i have a long bed but that stinks...4 people is a lot of people to remove it lol

[JRANGER]

Nice...let me know how easy that kit is to install...I am not a mechanic and this is all learning on the fly so yeah...heh took me an hour to get the driveshaft off.....Would of been easy if I stuck in in neutral after removing the bolts....lol

[Corts60]

I am also interested to see how that flip kit goes together. Sweet truck btw!

[tc4x4]

Hey I'm nothing close to a mechanic at all, and I'm also learning as I go one step at a time. I still have a lot todo before I instal the kit and with two young kids my truck time comes second.
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[JRANGER]

Yeah I hear ya...That is how it goes...Wish I had the garage and such but hey these trucks are fun! Got my drive shaft out, Transfer Case Tail Off, and Found me speedo gear!! Now to put it back together lol

[tc4x4]

Well I got a little done after I got the two kids to bed. But then I had to call it a night. My wife and I are watching a mini series that looks good so she was wanting me to hurry up. But that's the great thing about Project Second Life, it does not have to be rushed and will always be there tomorrow.

Tonight I got everything off the frame that needs to be off in order to do the painting with POR 15. I got the old bump stops ground off, the leaf springs, shocks, and shackles.

Now to the questions...

1) The metal sleeves in the shackles, and leaf springs do they stay in or come out?

2) If the sleeves should come out, when I buy new bushings do they come with sleeves?

3) I took the over loads out and two other springs, so I'm down from nine to six. Should I keep it at 6?

4) Where do I get new of those little brackets that hold the leafs springs together out at the outer ends?

[JRANGER]

hmmm just curious but do these older truck have to have a spring compressor like the newer vehicles? Just thinking for my future lowering

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by JRANGER

hmmm just curious but do these older truck have to have a spring compressor like the newer vehicles? Just thinking for my future lowering

No. Shorter drop springs are pretty easy to install. Stock length springs are a bit more of a challenge but a compressor still isn't required.

[glimmertwin01]

nice truck, once you got the frame cleaned n prepped I would go with POR15 satin..its semi glossy and will stay that way if not exposed to sun.. since its a frame if should be an issue.
suggestion time
would it be easier to install a 1/2 ton front cross member? if that baby was mine Id convert it to a 4x4..but thats me.. for someone in the RUST/ SALT belt u got a great solid truck.. western NY trucks that old are CRUSTY as im sure they are in MI
good luck

[tc4x4]

Yeah its hard to find a truck around here new or old that isn't just covered in rust. This thing was a good find. I think that I said earlier in the thread that I have had 4x4's in the past and this time wanted to do something really different from what I'm use to. Not many truck like this around here at all. EVERYBODY lifts there trucks, people have no perception of dropping trucks round here and would just call it stupid.

I want to show people other options out there that can be done. What makes it even more unique is that this truck is a 1 ton! Lowering a 1 ton around here is even more absurd.

I'm really looking forward to see where this project will take me. I really want to get a rendering done of this truck. Something to hang on the wall.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by tc4x4

Yeah its hard to find a truck around here new or old that isn't just covered in rust. This thing was a good find. I think that I said earlier in the thread that I have had 4x4's in the past and this time wanted to do something really different from what I'm use to. Not many truck like this around here at all. EVERYBODY lifts there trucks, people have no perception of dropping trucks round here and would just call it stupid.

I want to show people other options out there that can be done. What makes it even more unique is that this truck is a 1 ton! Lowering a 1 ton around here is even more absurd.

I'm really looking forward to see where this project will take me. I really want to get a rendering done of this truck. Something to hang on the wall.

Lowering is no different than lifting one sky high. How many lifted trucks never leave the pavement? What's absurd is a truck that can't be used as a truck. As long as you can drive it & load it up when needed, it's functional.

[tc4x4]

I'm hoping to start something around here. There are a lot of car clubs but not a ton lowered trucks.

[JRANGER]

How much was that kit? Looks great!

[tc4x4]

The kit was 380.00 but this cost me a lot more. Paint, sand blasting, new parts with no core exchange... As far as western chassis, they are nice but I had a few things that weren't so great. They sent the wrong spring saddles, and also the U bolts were WAY to long leaving me with no threads. So the saddles and u bolts were wrong, that was about half the kit. So I had to buy new u bolts.

[tc4x4]

I think I got about 30'' or 32'' u bolts when i needed 20''.

[JRANGER]

Originally Posted by tc4x4

The kit was 380.00 but this cost me a lot more. Paint, sand blasting, new parts with no core exchange... As far as western chassis, they are nice but I had a few things that weren't so great. They sent the wrong spring saddles, and also the U bolts were WAY to long leaving me with no threads. So the saddles and u bolts were wrong, that was about half the kit. So I had to buy new u bolts.

NOt bad...Can you send me a link...The one you mentioned didnt seem to work

[tc4x4]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WST-211626/?rtype=10

part number 211626

Let me know if this does not work.