A '54 named Busty

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by dsraven

Next time use black garbage bags for black paint, red bags for red, green for green etc. What you dont know wont kill you.......

LOL, copy that!

[8man]

The black crossmember looks good, and the ceiling was worth all the work.

[Gregski]

today I set out to do something on the list, but first I just had to take care of something ever since I installed them, ie those Durango lower rear shock plates/brackets

the way they were installed I didn't even have 3" worth of clearance, and there was absolutely no give in the rear suspension given the redneck industry standard jump on the rear bumper test

[Gregski]

so three leafs came off on each side - yes the 1/2" nuts snapped right off whilst gently twisted with the 18" cheater bar (threads on the remaining studs were wire wheeled clean and new grade 9 nuts applicated back on with lock washers)

[Gregski]

may not be much of a difference, only 1" but we'll take it - there's some sort of line that you need to stay above I forget what it is called, I think it's so that when you get a flat tire you don't bottom out - also I realize those studs/bolts stick out but they are still not the lowest point, it's still the shock mount area

[Gregski]

then it was time to install brand new GM 3RL/S44 aka 1344 series U joints in the Camaro? 57 1/2" drive shaft and replace the TH350 yoke with the bit larger TH400

I sacrificed my large C clamp to make it a U Joint presser outter inner jobbie

[Gregski]

a few cuss words later, and job done (asked for MOOG 234s got these NAPA generics, oh well)

[Gregski]

then I plugged the 3 holes behind the bench seat under what would have been the fuel tank

here I am using a washer to cut out a perfect round patch

[8man]

You do nice work, and quick.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by 8man

You do nice work, and quick.

Thanks Robert, you're a kind man, and a terrible liar, ha ha

[Gregski]

and after those, I weldered up the six holes under the seat, here's one of them

[Gregski]

Two Week Notice: to have Busty ronnin' and drivin' by my Birthday - May 25th! keep your fingers crossed

Left Ta Do: (as of Sunday May 17th, 2020 Anno Domini)

1. ☑ Finish driver side tailpipe
2. ☑ Install sending unit & plumb fuel line
3. ☑ Install drive shaft
4. ☑ Bolt down bed floor
5. ☐ Put front clip back on
6. ☐ Wire electric fan
   
7. ☐ Replace ignition switch (Scope Creep!)

[notsolo]

Forward progress good...Surprised your not up yet you've had like 20 min's sleep, what is the wire brush on a stick, homemade?

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Forward progress good...Surprised your not up yet you've had like 20 min's sleep,...

ha ha no doubt I've been running on like 2 to 4 hours of sleep max lately, and seems I'm good with it

Originally Posted by notsolo

....what is the wire brush on a stick, homemade?

hmmm, where? which one?

[texxxan]

Great progress. You will be up and running by your birthday. You got this!!

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by texxxan

Great progress. You will be up and running by your birthday. You got this!!

thanks, fingers crossed

[LT7A]

Clean work on the patches and welding behind the seat. You're getting a lot done. I hope that you're able to get the truck out and drive it on your birthday. However, for what it's worth, if that doesn't happen, grab a comfortable chair, a cold one, sit there and look at your long-wanted rig, and be happy with your progress. If we weren't under lockdown and I was a little more local, I'd join you. Glad you're so motivated, but don't knock your resistance down by not getting enough sleep. You don't need me to big-brother you, but you're no good to us dead. Keep having fun, getting things done, and I'll hoist a brew to you on your birthday.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Clean work on the patches and welding behind the seat. You're getting a lot done. I hope that you're able to get the truck out and drive it on your birthday. However, for what it's worth, if that doesn't happen, grab a comfortable chair, a cold one, sit there and look at your long-wanted rig, and be happy with your progress. If we weren't under lockdown and I was a little more local, I'd join you. Glad you're so motivated, but don't knock your resistance down by not getting enough sleep. You don't need me to big-brother you, but you're no good to us dead. Keep having fun, getting things done, and I'll hoist a brew to you on your birthday.

sounds like sound advice, appreciate it

[joedoh]

hope you have a happy bird day behind the wheel

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by joedoh

hope you have a happy bird day behind the wheel

thanks, that would be epic

[Gregski]

do to the high humidity from the rain yesterday and this morning, I was forced to do something on the list instead of painting the back wall of the cab

so I decidded to install the plastic wood in the bed, for that I needed a jig that would allow me to drill with perfect accuracy and dependability two semi aligned holes in each plank at a time, and repeat that process four times per board for nine boards, that's 473 holes - hee hee

patent... destroyed!

[Gregski]

the process was mundane but rewarding at the same time as you could quickly see results 8 holes at a time

I only encountered one problem when on the very first board, first one on the passenger side I hit the head of another carriage bolt and broke a drill bit, turns out there was a bolt holding the cross sill to the frame, and all I had to do was remove it and run a longer bolt down through the wood and the sill and the frame, so tomorrow I need to pick up two of such bolts one for each side (I did not make the same bonehead mistake on the driver side, there I removed the bottom bolt first, and sure as god's got sandles, the holes lined up)

[Gregski]

I am incredibly pleased with the way it turned out, simple yet effective, can't wait to loan my truck to the first distant relative to have to borrow it to take some junk to the dump

[Gregski]

here it is from a different angle and with some close ups, the boards are not faded they are just dusty and dirty from the grinding and sanding inside the cab et al

[NorCalGal]

That turned out nice.