Heavy Chevy -- the penny pinchers rebuild

[custom72c20]

get a lube that penetrates the bolt and gets down into the threads. lol

[panhandler62]

To get from the last pic to this one took a couple hours, a new breaker bar and the rest of the WD-40 .... (I'll get the suggested brand next time) .. now my back is killing me.. I think I need to invest in a scooter seat.. :P

Never could get the ball joints to pop loose, but that's ok.. the only thing I'm saving from this are the springs.

[panhandler62]

Thanks for tha advice on the PB Blaster.. it does work better.

[samwise68]

ahh. the look of disassembled control arms.

and i must agree. PB Blaster is a real arma nd back saver when it comes to cranking on stuck nuts and bolts.

looks like you've got some really good plans, i'll be watching this.

-Sam.

[panhandler62]

Not a bad haul of parts for the front end upgrade for $70 thanks to beaterC10

(nuts, bolts, a proportioning valve and some etc are in the box..)

P.s. .. don't laugh at my welder.. I just need to do a little sheet metal work -- I'm not building a frame! lol

[panhandler62]

So.. what do people with no garage to work in do on cold, rainy days?

We polish stuff.... (and lay it on top of our performance reviews to photograph it.. lol)

[panhandler62]

Been bit warmer and I got a little work done...

Don't you love spring?

[panhandler62]

Short update -- I have the interior almost comepletly gutted now. I need to get the bed off before I finish that though cause the truck is on a slight incline so I don't want to pull the parking brake untill I get the rear set down on stands (and I don't want to break loose 40 year old rusty bed-bolts with it on stands... lol)

I think I can actually see the point where the build up will begin... lol

[Blue'72]

Great build! I can appreciate the sore back and hours spent when it seems like your spinning your wheels. Too bad we're not closer or I'd help you out with the extra long bed I have laying around now. I also love seeing kids get involved like that too!

[panhandler62]

She lost some weight this weekend:

[panhandler62]

I already knew I was gonna be putting new cab corners on.. lol

[panhandler62]

Here are some shots of the rear end .. other than dirty and leaky... can anyone tell me what I have here?

[panhandler62]

Originally Posted by Blue'72

Great build! I can appreciate the sore back and hours spent when it seems like your spinning your wheels. Too bad we're not closer or I'd help you out with the extra long bed I have laying around now. I also love seeing kids get involved like that too!

I think you're about as far as you can get from here.. lol

I think the bed will probably be one of the last things I do.. but I'll be keeping my eye out for opportunities. I want to put a wood bed in... I think they are prettier.

Those helper springs are history once the PB soaks in enough. She's put in her work... it's time to get a make-over and just haul mommy and daddy around.

[ripdog28]

Well its a F@rd 9in rear end with a rare removeable back plate. probly came out of a truck seeing that not many cars were set up with that back plate. You are better off with that then a 12bolt if you plan on making any power.

[panhandler62]

Did manage to figure out that it is an H052 with a locker.

It works well, though it leaks, so I think I'll keep it.

[panhandler62]

It's weird how this happens...

[panhandler62]

A little progress.. went to the Smithsonian on Saturday... had a storm all but blow the satelite dish off the roof that night and knocked one of the rusty helper springs off the frame on Sunday.

[panhandler62]

I'll get the other helper spring off tonight. They are fun bcause the rust has welded the nuts on the bolts. I had to cut every bold head off the right one and punch them through to get it off and I don't expect anything different on the left side.

Once I get that done I can clean her up and paint her up to the second crossmember. (Not counting the smaller brace as a crossmember... lol)

Then I need to finish stripping the rear down so I can cut the rusty frame stiffeners out and make plans for restoration there.

Oh ... I did finaly get the ignition switch out... it's not that hard but it is a three handed job.

[msgross]

I love how the rust "grows" and spreads the metal out. Had a few places like that on mine.....

do you need a PS pump and brackets?

[panhandler62]

do you need a PS pump and brackets?

I will at some point... I have the new steering box but no pump for it yet.

As time goes on some plans change. For the initial restore I have dropped the lowering plans since I can do that later and have decided to 86 the mechanical fan and use electrics.

[msgross]

Let me know, I have brackets that will work for the 68 block and a pump (newer and older style) that i'll throw in for you... YOu would just need to get new lines with connectors on them.

[panhandler62]

It's actually a 74 block, but I don't think there are any external differences.

Dang rain is keeping me from doing anything on her tonight.

[msgross]

duh, you did say that... might interfere with that big'ole ooooooga horn though...

[panhandler62]

lol... The ooooga horn is going on a shelf. :P

[panhandler62]

Little by little --

I got the other helper spring off today and cleaned a bit more of the frame down to metal. I'm going to need to take two of the cross members out to fix the frame stiffener.