1978 GMC Sierra C35 "Project Second Life"

[bayou boy]

napa has them

[Kerlijah]

Wow, sweet truck, what a find! Good luck on the build, I'll be following the thread for sure! Btw, love the way you did the exhaust out through the bumper, looks sweet

[tc4x4]

Thanks Kerlijah, I can't wait to see the out come. The build is going to take awhile because i can't do a TON at a time with my schedule but I want things done right so I'm going slowly one step at a time.

Also another thing driving this build is the help of other members. I don't know a whole lot but want to learn a whole lot along the way! Ill keep the up updates coming.

Right now I'm just trying to get he leaf springs off. The lower shackle bolt is giving me a heck of a time getting off.

[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?

[JRANGER]

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

[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?

[SCOTI]

To lift the bed off when working solo, I've used tie down straps or tethers attached to each corner of the bed & lifted from the center w/my engine hoist. I've also set up a frame/jig w/some 2x4's & 4x4's & use my hoist for lifting.

It's very shaky so you definitely need to tape some cardboard to the back of the cab for protection. Once it's separated from the chassis, roll the truck out from under if possible. If that's not possible, roll the hoist out from under the chassis. Moving the engine hoist w/the bed dangling from it is tricky so it's better to either have help or work very carefully.

Resist the temptation to store the bed on end. Temporarily is ok for cleaning & detail paint but for storage set it on some jack stands (1ea under each corner of the support beams under the floor).

[tc4x4]

Think its fine to stand it on the front end long enough to clean and POR 15 it?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by tc4x4

Think its fine to stand it on the front end long enough to clean and POR 15 it?

Yes.

[tc4x4]

One more questing to go off of that...

I want to paint the under carriage black but I hear talk of glossy black, satin black. What shades is normal for what I'm doing. Is the frame glossy and everything else satin, like axle, leaf spring, under side of bed. I'm looking at using por 15.

[tc4x4]

I got the bed off and for now have it sitting flat on some tires. For anyone who wants to lift it off with "man power" only, it took me four guys to do it. I would not use less than four with a long bed to do it safely.




With the bed off I am now able to get to all the hard to place undercarriage parts that I need to remove. Finally got my hands on a cutting torch and was able to get that pain in the butt shackle bolt out. Inside the shackle where I removed the bolt there is a metal sleeve. Is it replaceable when I do the bushings?

[JRANGER]

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

[tc4x4]

The rear flip it is ordered and hopefully all the POR 15 and topcoat I need are ordered.

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

[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?

[SCOTI]

The sleeves for the bushings will prob depend on what bushings you're using for replacement. Many poly type bushings don't require the shell to be removed as the poly simply replaces the rubber bushing (I know the 67-72 truck arm bushings are this way). Verify w/the manufacturer.

Try Eaton Spring for the 'leaf clamps'. You might be able to just make them w/some steel strap too....

[85chevy383]

When i put the prothane bushings in mine the sleeves had to come out