1985 Short Bed

[portrodder]

Started working on cleaning up the frame and got a offer on sandblasting and power coating that I couldn't resist, a little less than 300 dollars, so getting it loaded on the trailer and off it goes.

While the frame is being power coated I'll clean and paint the rear end and replace the bushing in the leaf springs and paint them. Received my paint gun kit since my last post.

[SatisTraction]

PM sent. nice color combo

[portrodder]

Took the rear springs apart to clean, replace the bushings and paint. Taking the springs apart didn't take much effort but getting the bushings out was a bit more involved. To get the bushing out I used a small propane bottle with a burner tip to heat the end of the spring until the rubber started melting and it and the inner sleeve slid out. Next I took a air hammer and chisel to get the outer sleeve out, because my air hammer isn't the greatest it took a little while, but it worked.

The next step is to clean everything up, install the bushing, then paint things up. Will also be getting the frame back from the power coat one day next week.

[Gordonr1973]

Looks like it was in pretty good shape before the tear-down. You are making good progress, keep it up!!!

[portrodder]

Originally Posted by Gordonr1973

Looks like it was in pretty good shape before the tear-down. You are making good progress, keep it up!!!

Just looking at the truck from a distance it did look to be in good shape and for a truck it's age it was, but there were a lot of little things that needed to be done and a lot of things that I wanted to to do it. Started working on some of the little things and wound up just tearing the whole thing down, that way I'll get all the little thing done on the build.

[portrodder]

Installing the bushing in the rear springs wasn't that hard, but I did find out that there are two different sizes listed. I hit a lucky lick and came up 50/50, two right and two wrong so I had to send the two back that were to large and reorder the two correct ones. To install the bushing all I used was a little wheel bearing grease to grease up the bushing and the spring housing, a hammer and socket to start the bushing, and a 4 inch bench vice to press it in as far as the vice would allow. After that I used the hammer and socket to tap them in the rest of the way. After installing all the bushing the next step is the final clean up and paint.

[73Super8]

Great job! Subscribed.

[portrodder]

Update ... Not much to update since the last post with Thanksgiving and being out of town for that. Did however get the frame from the powder coater but its still sitting on the trailer while I finish up the springs and rear end.

[rusty76]

Killer work.

[SatisTraction]

looks good

[portrodder]

A little update...Got the cab turned up to clean up the underside and get it ready for paint. Got it power washed and scrubbed off the grease and oil that was on it, then came the rain and cold, so I haven't done much to it since. Still waiting on some nice weather so that I can repair the hole on the right side that the PO cut to run a cb cable and to treat some minor surface rust. In the mean time I've ordered a engine stand from HF to put the motor on to replace some leaking gaskets and then clean and paint it. Also ordered a set of white gauge overlay and led bulbs from whitegauges.net so I'll be working on the gauge cluster when they come in. The cluster has a clock that works sometime but most of the time not, how do I check it or who repairs them. Not much going on just doing what I can when I can.

[ECU PIRATE]

Damn son..... Putting in work on that thing!!! I will have to stop by when I am in town in Sept. for my family reunion.

[portrodder]

Originally Posted by ECU PIRATE

Damn son..... Putting in work on that thing!!! I will have to stop by when I am in town in Sept. for my family reunion.

Trying to get her done but the weather is putting a damper on it now. My door is always open so when you get down this way stop on by.

[portrodder]

Can't do much with the truck because of the big cold front rolling through but the big brown truck did bring a couple of package. My on sale motor stand from HF and intake came. Manage to get the engine stand together after a trip to tractor supply to get some grade 8 replacement bolts, the ones that come with it didn't look to good, made in china. Still working on the parts list so all is not lost.

[portrodder]

Still working on the truck whenever possible. With the weather being what it is I took a few small parts to my power coater. Picked them up today and must say they came out nice.

[ECU PIRATE]

Powder coat looks great. Do you have a guy in West Monroe with great prices? I need to get (5) steelies and (5) dog dish hub caps powder coated. I am still trying to decide on whether to do them white or Matte or Gloss Black

[portrodder]

Originally Posted by ECU PIRATE

Powder coat looks great. Do you have a guy in West Monroe with great prices? I need to get (5) steelies and (5) dog dish hub caps powder coated. I am still trying to decide on whether to do them white or Matte or Gloss Black

Thanks ECU PIRATE. The guy that I use is on the same street as your truck, Washington St. He does great work and is a good guy to deal with.

[LSX408]

Nice build! What is the name of the place doing your powder coating? I from Ruston and have a few things i would like to get coated on my build.

[portrodder]

PM sent

[portrodder]

Had a few days of good weather last week so I got a chance to do a little work on the truck like getting the bottom of the cab painted. The weather was so nice out and I wanted to try that brand new never used still in the box paint gun kit that I forgot to plug the holes in the floor that the PO used to mount his cb, will get that done then try the touch up gun that came in the kit .

[ECU PIRATE]

Looking good Quincy

[portrodder]

Originally Posted by ECU PIRATE

Looking good Quincy

Thanks man, trying to get as much done as possible so that when the next stretch of nice weather comes in I can get to work on putting the frame back together.

[portrodder]

Ordered a set of replacement gas tank straps to replace the ones on the tank support that broke when taken the fuel tank off. After looking over how the old straps were connected to the tank support and the rivets don't go all the way through what would be the best way to install the new straps, if it can be done with this type of support .

[83swb]

I would grind the rivets out and drill all the way through, then install some hardware. Would probably be the only option.

[C.W]

I ground and punched out the rivets and used carriage bolts that I picked up at a hardware store. Think I used an old wore out philips head as a punch to add the squared corners for the carriage head to seat in and used lock nuts with lock washers on the bottom.
Chose the carriage bolts to avoid the possibility of a bolt head rubbing the tank, although it may not either way.
Hope all that makes sense.