1970 VA Longbed Project

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by Puropedo

Looking great! Cant wait to see the outcome of that tailgate

Me either!

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

I love the filler panel...

Me too

Originally Posted by PHAT TONY

Once that 'gate's done.......ship 'er to me for my Blazer, pleeeaaase?

Since you asked nicely.....






NO

[Puropedo]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

thanks,

The panel ran around 250 shipped...they sourced and purchased the steel, machined it, and shipped it. Should have it in a few days...

Might have to ask you for that shop's info later on if you dont mind
$250 sound pretty fair.

[VA72C10]

Well, got the panel in today with the spacers and another panel I had made. I have a few other ideas in mind but not sure yet...

Here's the extra panels and spacers how they were packaged and the panel




Here's the other idea I came up with. This panel will be installed where the factory speaker spot is (welded in flush....not overlayed). The defroster holes will be filled and round defrost outlets installed on the edges of the dash.

[VA72C10]

The last pictures above showed approx how the panel will look once welded in. Covered the handle opening with electrical tape since that will be filled as well.

Got a lot done on the truck today. I didn't get over till later in the afternoon but worked late on it. Should have the front end buttoned up and on tires next time over. Got the rear all together and all bolts tightened with Loctite. Also did loctite on the front crossmember. Got the control arms put together with new ball joints pressed in the lower on Jason's shop press. Installed the new upper ball joints and the new cross shafts and bushings in all. Got upper and lower arms installed. Installed the steering box for the final time. Got to get some shorter bolts for my airbags and then will mount those, measure for and drill the holes in the lower control arm plates, and then put the spindles on.

Figured I'd start off by showing how nice the factory brake lines look after being cleaned up


Here's the parts I worked on installing today....


Here's the suspension parts for the passenger front


Here's the calipers taped up ready for paint


And painted with gloss black ceramic caliper paint to match the rear calipers

[VA72C10]

Here are the pictures of the upper A-arms in case anyone is planning to install these. Fairly straightforward and the easiest thing I did today

[VA72C10]

Finished up the rear trailing arms. All that's left on the rear is to drill the bolt and fitting holes for the airbags now that I have their final location set.


Not sure how this will show but trying to show how I put red loctite on all the bolts to make sure they stay put!

Here's the spacers installed. They fit great

[VA72C10]

Here's the front end all together

[VA72C10]

Well, not all together

Here's the front driprail progress



He worked on it some while I was there


Got the entire front welded up. Just needs to be ground down now...



Got the cab back upright as you can see...that was interesting
But no damage and it looks good. Probably won't be quite this low but close....

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

....,
Here's the spacers installed. They fit great

Not a bad idea huh?

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Not a bad idea huh?

Worked like a charm. Thanks

[White Longbed]

i am new to blogging and am not sure how to post an original question. please help. thanks.

[brian69longbed]

not putting down your idea but if you put the panel where the speaker grill is you'll get a backwards "chevrolet" on your windshield. it won't be a bad thing if you don't mind it but i know it would bug me. just a thought.
Tail gate looks great though!

[leddzepp]

Lookin good! That tailgate panel is awesome. I see you got the Western drop spindles. I really like mine, they went in with zero issues on my other truck.

[mcbassin]

Great progress! looks like a hard days work. I like the tailgate insert! Where did you purchase the front suspension parts? Just a local part house? I need all the same components and don't want to shell out a bunch of $$$. Keep up the good work!

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by White Longbed

i am new to blogging and am not sure how to post an original question. please help. thanks.

I'll send a pm to help

Originally Posted by brian69longbed

not putting down your idea but if you put the panel where the speaker grill is you'll get a backwards "chevrolet" on your windshield. it won't be a bad thing if you don't mind it but i know it would bug me. just a thought.
Tail gate looks great though!

I thought about that but my main concern will be those viewing through the windshield. They will see the chevrolet in the right direction. It is a very shallow scribe so won't stand out that much since it will be painted all body color ...just a subtle touch....and I've never noticed the speaker grille when driving and at the angle I'll be at it won't be that noticeable either.

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Lookin good! That tailgate panel is awesome. I see you got the Western drop spindles. I really like mine, they went in with zero issues on my other truck.

Thanks. Yeah, I heard good things about western chassis spindles. They were part of the CPP kit

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Great progress! looks like a hard days work. I like the tailgate insert! Where did you purchase the front suspension parts? Just a local part house? I need all the same components and don't want to shell out a bunch of $$$. Keep up the good work!

It was all CPP stuff. Saw a kit on sale on ebay and added the cross shaft kits and the custom pedals, braided brake hoses, and adjustable prop valve to it and made me a package deal. Couldn't pass it up...even though next time I'd check with ECE first to see if they could price match because it took a month to get the parts. (backordered even though they told me it was in stock when I called the order in)

[0331grunt]

You have some very nice ideas. I like the filler panel on the dash.. kinda what I had in mind, well, your idea is MUCH cooler than mine ... The front suspension looks great! Keep up the work..

[gcburdic]

I was gonna say, front suspension not complete, but you beat me to it!!!....Lots of progress there Jonathan!!!....Keep up the great work

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 0331grunt

You have some very nice ideas. I like the filler panel on the dash.. kinda what I had in mind, well, your idea is MUCH cooler than mine ... The front suspension looks great! Keep up the work..

Hey, don't sell yourself short. I'm looking forward to following your build and see your ideas too

Originally Posted by gcburdic

I was gonna say, front suspension not complete, but you beat me to it!!!....Lots of progress there Jonathan!!!....Keep up the great work

Thanks....yeah, a weeee bit more to do on the front ..... outer tie rods, inner tie rods, idler arm, final install of bag brackets including holes in lower brackets once mocked up, spindles, rotors, bearings, dust caps, calipers, brake lines, calipers, sway bar, zerk fittings, grease, wheels,......I'm probably missing a few things there....

[Puropedo]

Looking good! How thick are those spacers for the trailing arms?

[VA72C10]

They are 1/2" thick aluminum. Centers the rear nicely in the notch and the rear fenderwells when fully dropped.

[Richard H.]

Sorry I'm late joining in on your fun and first thing is ...This is great the way you keep up with it and the truck. I'm in the process now of putting my bear claw latches and plan on putting the claws in the the pillar ,wasn't sure if you had come up with a plan on this or not. I think this will give me more space and less hassle in the door. I,m going to shave the door and jam and put it a little lower than the stock position. HTH

[my67chevytruck]

looking good Jonathan!

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by Richard H.

Sorry I'm late joining in on your fun and first thing is ...This is great the way you keep up with it and the truck. I'm in the process now of putting my bear claw latches and plan on putting the claws in the the pillar ,wasn't sure if you had come up with a plan on this or not. I think this will give me more space and less hassle in the door. I,m going to shave the door and jam and put it a little lower than the stock position. HTH

Welcome to the build

I'm going with mine in the doors just for the smooth look on the pillar. I'm shaving everything on the pillar including the recess for the spring that I believe was for the jack originally and of course the stock latch area. Probably will be going lower than the stock position. Getting polished stainless striker to go on the jamb.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by my67chevytruck

looking good Jonathan!

Thanks!

Went over tonight and piddled around for a bit. Had no energy for some reason. Got the driver's bag mocked up and marked the drilling spot (had to search for shorter bolts since I forgot to bring that bag with me) Got the sway bar brackets painted, had to touch up the calipers as I missed an area Saturday.

Also torqued down the upper and lower control arm shafts. Played with the rear brake lines, and mocked up the shocks to see what I need to buy to install them which is just the lower bolts. Going to paint the shocks to match the body. The engine, tranny, driveshaft, and shocks will be body color. Think it will be a nice pop of color with the otherwise silver and black theme going on w/ the chassis.

Mainly though tonight I made a list of airbag fittings and bolts I need still, and watched Jason finish a motor swap in a sebring. Just not a motivated evening, but as I left to help my brother in law move 180 studs off a truck and into his basement I got a second wind and wanted to start working on the truck so I'm raring to go tomorrow

[es67chevy]

can't believe I haven't subscribed to this one yet. going a few steps beyond sane I see. Hahaha. I love it!