Boppa's old yeller truck

[Low Elco]

Things is afoot, but I ran outta gas and my back grew a finger and flipped me off! Had to quit. More as events progress.
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[litew8]

[Low Elco]

Pizza! Yum! Updates to come, bought parts tonight. My slow week got real busy in a hurry!

[Low Elco]

Ok, time to update. When we left off, we'd rebuilt the control arms, still had the throb (albeit less), and found an ate up spindle.

So, we decided to go ahead and put in dropped spindles and springs, and Boppa went to LMC and got McGaughy 2" springs and CPP Spindles. Now, we had what were supposed to be 2" springs from a previous truck on Yeller to start. I had cut them a coil. While we had it apart again, we decided to do the steering linkage, as it was literally the only thing we hadn't replaced, and some of the rod ends, while not technically loose, felt notchy, if that makes sense. We also decided to replace the brake hoses.

Ok, so we have parts, and off we go. Got the spindle, shield, and rotor on the pass side on OK. Shield on the drivers wouldn't fit. Wouldn't lay down. Long and short, after 2 1/2 hours of grinding, it finally went together. The lower of the upright had a fat casting, and I had to take out a LOT of meat. I finally got the shield to clear, and I got it to all clear and work. Initially, the rotor wouldn't even turn, it couldn't bottom. I was less than enthusiastic about CPP during this time.

TIP- 73-up brake hoses have formed steel ends on them. When you change to drop spindles, sometimes they clear, sometimes they rub the upper balljoint bolt (pass. side) and sometimes they point directly into the stud (dr.side) necessitating you grind a slot in the ring around the banjo fitting on the caliper to clock the banjo fitting around clockwise to clear. Plus the leaking banjo fittings. Had to replace one new caliper. Have I mentioned I wound up with 20+ hours in this easy pop it together job this weekend? This truck is one repair resistant mother!

TIP- When you put a new steering box and pitman in, be SURE to go back after 200 or so miles and re tighten. That was replaced in 2011, and was a bit loose, I got 1 1/2 turns or so on the nut.
This thing better be one solid truck when we get done! Pics? Why, of course!

Yummy new Hi-quality (ahem) parts!


Boppa cleaning shields and packing bearings-see, elderly to work programs CAN be successful!


CPP grinding- shelf at base of seal ring was high.


The upright was so fat on the bottom of the spud that the casting was proud to the cutter on the outside of the cut!


More shiny grinding!

[Low Elco]

So, I mentioned about springs. We had them on a 71 we had (that I totaled) and we swapped them to this truck. (chain reaction on the freeway! Not my fault!) Ok, so we started at 12" from the front bumper to the ground. I cut the "lowering" springs one round and we were at 9".

Then, we installed the 2" McG spring, which had nearly the same free height as the cut "lowering" spring, and the 2 1/2" CPP spindle. We set it down, and the Jack wouldn't come out! We're now 6" at the plate. Good for me, not good for Boppa. So, we popped the springs out, and Boppa took them back to LMC today and got a matched set of stock 71 Springs from Bob. He measured the survivor stocker 72 in LMC's showroom and it was at 13". So apparently our original "lowering" springs, not so much. We have a funeral tomorrow, and we'll pop it together later in the week. Just more weirdness from the 'ol Yeller truck!

Have a look!

Swing loooow, old yell-er truck....


Yup, it's down there.


Cal Rake, anyone? Just screams air shocks and N50-15's, don't it?


When you've rendered the floorjack useless, that's just about right.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

I was less than enthusiastic about CPP during this time.

I used CPP drop spindles, tubular a-arms, springs, sway bar, steering column and probably a few other things I've forgotten on my build. It was a crapshoot regarding quality and fitment. No problem with the spindles, but the sway bar and column each had issues. Like yours, they weren't insurmountable, but it would've been nice for them to just work as advertised.

That said, Yeller's stance just keeps looking better! I'll reserve final judgement until I see the requisite photo taken at the QT.

[Low Elco]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

I used CPP drop spindles, tubular a-arms, springs, sway bar, steering column and probably a few other things I've forgotten on my build. It was a crapshoot regarding quality and fitment. No problem with the spindles, but the sway bar and column each had issues. Like yours, they weren't insurmountable, but it would've been nice for them to just work as advertised.

That said, Yeller's stance just keeps looking better! I'll reserve final judgement until I see the requisite photo taken at the QT.

Yeah, I would not have wanted to have been a CPP rep within 1/4 mile of my house Sun. AM. Not a happy camper. JS was right, made a HELL of a mess. Twice. Don't get me started on brake lines and calipers that don't seal! Finally got it, though. I fully expect WWE fight night getting the new springs in/out until I get them right.

Pic at the QT, heh! Hopefully soon, very soon!

Thanks for playin' along, guys.

[litew8]

[bigguy69]

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[litew8]

Time to invest in another floor jack Got this for my brother/Christmas.
Not bad for the price. Read lots of positive reviews.

Arcan XL35


Comes in red (XL35R) also, but the local Northern Tools didn't carry. Try Costco.
Old yell-er truck looking

[Low Elco]

The funny part is, I have a new one in the box, got the wrong one for Xmas, just gotta return it! That one looks cool! Any jack woulda been useless under the member, tho. No handle swing under the bumper a-tall!
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[jlsanborn]

Air shocks are rad!
Great post and thanks for all the pictures. I can't remember exactly where I got my drop spindles but it was a similar deal. I had to do quite a bit of clearancing to get it all together but NOTHING as substantial as your ordeal, what a drag! That cast iron makes a damn mess too when you put a grinding rock on it. So your target height will be that 9" to the bumper? Is that where you were before the latest tear-down?

[Low Elco]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Air shocks are rad!
Great post and thanks for all the pictures. I can't remember exactly where I got my drop spindles but it was a similar deal. I had to do quite a bit of clearancing to get it all together but NOTHING as substantial as your ordeal, what a drag! That cast iron makes a damn mess too when you put a grinding rock on it. So your target height will be that 9" to the bumper? Is that where you were before the latest tear-down?

Thanks for picking up on that. Yup, we decided we liked it at roughly 9", so that's where we're aiming. Told Boppa, I've never lowered a truck to a target before! That's a good height for him, though. Got the springs in hand yesterday, so maybe through this week we'll get something done.

[Low Elco]

Ha, I hope 2 is all!

[Low Elco]

PS-Niiiiiiice!
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[Xeen]

Have you had a chance to take it for a spin yet to find out if the vibration is gone?

[Low Elco]

Nope, never got out of the shop. It's on stands with no springs at the moment. Then straight to the alignment shop, then we gotta do axle seals and recheck pinion angle. Then maybe.
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[litew8]

Any updates? We're waiting for the trip, "ain't that right Lamar!"

[Low Elco]

Ha, Lamar. You as old school as I am!

Well, had a crazy busy weekend, with bidness and family and whatnot, but did git up on yeller on Sunday. Neighbor Jay and Boppa came over and gave my ol' azz a big shot in the arm. We got the spring out that didn't wanna seat and opened it up with my NEW TORCH (looka me! looka me!) Sorry, I'm really stoked, I've wanted one for years.

Annnnnyway, we fought the spring back in, put on a THIRD set of shocks, as the short new ones were now too short, but we'll use them on LBT when it goes down. I had another new set from some swappin', so we popped them on. Fought the swaybar into place, and got her on the ground. Neither Boppa or I would drive it at this point. Jay couldn't take it, so Boppa threw him the keys and told him to take it! He says he wishes his Vette rolled out that smooth. Says it's as smooth as Big Blue. I'm not driving it till it comes back from alignment. We'll see.

[bigguy69]

There you go. Get jay to ride boppa around. Problem solved.
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[Low Elco]

Originally Posted by bigguy69

There you go. Get jay to ride boppa around. Problem solved.
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See, this man is an innovator! I'm reserving judgement until after alignment.
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[jlsanborn]

Glad to hear you've got it all back together! When's alignment?

[Low Elco]

First thing Wed. Guy at the Chevy dealer that does them for the local custom truck shop. He's done several lowered trucks/cars for me, always eatin' burgers at 90 on the freeway straight. Hope he has the same luck here.
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[Bomp]

Whew,,,,,,,,,, sounds great that the trucks back on all 4 and is as smooth as a vet.
Can't wait for a quick vid of you smokin' those tires.
Did I read that right?!??!???? You gotta TORCH? That was the second real toy I ever bought. Still have it today. Love it and won't ever get rid of it.
Smokin' tires while eatin burgers....... I'm gonna give that a try,.

[Low Elco]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Whew,,,,,,,,,, sounds great that the trucks back on all 4 and is as smooth as a vet.
Can't wait for a quick vid of you smokin' those tires.
Did I read that right?!??!???? You gotta TORCH? That was the second real toy I ever bought. Still have it today. Love it and won't ever get rid of it.
Smokin' tires while eatin burgers....... I'm gonna give that a try,.

Well... not Jay's Vette. His is an 86, and has been having similar issues to Boppa's truck with Vibration and a CEL that won't die. His actual words were, " If the Vette ran that smooth, there'd be a for sale sign in it tomorrow!"

Yep, you did! Did kind of a trade deal for some sales labor for a buddy that's cleaning out a hoarder's place and had some success, so to pay me off, he gave me a brand new set of Victor torches in the shrinkwrap and a pair of brand new mid size bottles. Cost me $150 for a new cart and bottle fill. Still need to get a rosebud. Super stoked, because I've been wanting one for a looong time and was just about ready to go to the weld supply and pull the trigger. Ta-da! Mine now!