Leadfoots build thread

[DoubleL]

That seat looks awesome! Good find on the Tac cluster those are hard to find. Looks like you are getting a lot done!

[McMurphy]

Nice build so far!
Looks like you have a vision for this build, I like it.
Where did you get your tranny crossmember, I need to find one.

Good to see another manual transmission going in too!

[Leadfoot Lambert]

Tranny cross member is a CCP piece

[Leadfoot Lambert]

So as promised I did something with the grill gap, Some of you may have seen pics of this already because I posted some when I actually did this, remember I am still trying to get this build thread up to current, The grill bar is from a 1955 Buick, and I pounded a horn button from one our trucks in the center, let's say its a perfect press fit, as far as mounting the bar I used the stock GMC letter bracket and only had to oblong 2 holes and it bolted right up!

[Ta2Don]

Nice grill treatment, Markeb01 has one just like it, looks like it was made for the GMC Grill. I really like the Horn Button addition.

[northern 85]

Love it i think it looks great

[Leadfoot Lambert]

I did some pressure washing, scraping and wire wheeling on the rear half of the frame after removing the bed, then I coated everything in POR15 to keep the rust away

[Leadfoot Lambert]

Started pulling some dents, there's only a few hundred to do, also started on the drivers rocker panel replacement and the outer floor as well, I got as far as cutting everything out and spot sand blasting the attaching areas, looking around I said to myself "Man this thing is rusty what am I doing wasting my time on this crap" So the idea was hatched to get the whole truck media blasted, I saved my pennies and got several quotes to have the job done.

[Leadfoot Lambert]

Here's what the pass side looked like after removing the floor patches

[Leadfoot Lambert]

So if it's gonna get blasted it needs to be torn apart, I did all of the tear down over this weekend by myself including removing the cab and loading it on the trailer, I also removed the dash because the one in the truck was hacked up pretty bad, I bought a good dash from a friend. the pics tell the story

[Leadfoot Lambert]

[Leadfoot Lambert]

My motorcycle trailer is all I had available to move the cab to the blaster an hour away. with the cab on it the only way it would fit it had no tongue weight so I had to improvise, Big block Chevy heads are very heavy!

[Leadfoot Lambert]

This puts me up to current, the whole truck less frame is scheduled to be at the media blaster on Friday, pics to follow when it gets back.

[DURG]

If you want to use my utility trailer just let me know. It's an 8x10 with a 3500 pound axle and regular 15" wheels, full diamond plate floor with hold downs and a regular 2" hitch. It has side boards too.

[flips72]

great build, love the big block head how about some pics of the chevelle, looks good from what i could see of it.

[Leadfoot Lambert]

Kevin, thanks for the offer on the trailer, I think its on mine pretty well, only way I can see needing it is if I cant get all of the rest of the parts in the back of the ol Ford.
As for the Chevelle in the background in some of the pics it's actually an elCamino, 1969 454 four speed, 4 wheel disc, big roller cam, aluminum heads 3.73 twelve bolt rear. It's kinda for sale, maybe?

[mark 66]

we just made the same decision. your trucks rust issues are about the same as ours.jsut got the truck back from the blaster, will be alot easier to work on.came back better than I thought it would.our truck had TONS of bondo in it for no apparent reason?definitely feels like were getting somewhere with a clean start.cant wait to try out my new miller 140 auto welder.

[Leadfoot Lambert]

The entire truck body is now at media blast. I cant wait to see what comes back.

[Ta2Don]

Patiently waiting for more progress, keep up the great work!

[Bomp]

I felt the same way about my diamond in the ruff. I blasted and blasted and am glad I did. You'll be so glad too. Great start to a awesome project. The Chevelle ain't bad either.
subscribed.

[allaboutchevelles]

Nice build you have going, Oh and I LOVE that elcamino. I should be getting one in the next couple of years. I have my 69 chevelle and my uncle just finished his 68 elcamino and has decided to sell his 69 elcamino. I told him I want first dibs on it.

[chad64chevy]

leadfoot, is your truck on a 67-72 frame?? your front frame horns look just like mine did before i cut them off!! and i noticed that your radiator support mounting brackets are a lil higher like 1" or so then the 60's frame is!! i only noticed cause my truck is sitting on a 70's frame!! the truck is looking good, great start and cant wait to see what you plan to do to it!!

[Leadfoot Lambert]

Originally Posted by chad64chevy

leadfoot, is your truck on a 67-72 frame?? your front frame horns look just like mine did before i cut them off!!

No and yes sorta, From the firewall forward is a 73 to 87 front frame clip, rear frame is the stock one. This was already done when I bought the truck but the radiator support mounts and bumper mounts weren't done, I finished them. I wish it was done by just swapping the front crossmember but I was too late, oh well at least I was able to tighten up the front bumper to grill support gap like Foose would have.

[Leadfoot Lambert]

I talked to the media blast guy today, he said everything but the cab and hood are done, he will do those tomorrow, so all is on schedule to be picked up Saturday. My primer and other chemicals came in today so I'm all set there. I spent an hour or so tonight throwing together a NO BUCK cab dolly, it's made from old bed frames and scrap metal and some caster wheels that I've almost thrown out several times, I still have to do some bracing and lengthen 2 of the uprights to match the offset on the cab mounts, add some studs to the ends and hope my measurements are accurate. this should make working on the cab a whole lot easier.

[Leadfoot Lambert]

Back from media blast!!!