1970 VA Longbed Project

[lolife99]

Keep up the good work.
I wish I had your barter skills!

I see alot of people selling items on here, (and I have done so also),... sometimes I wonder if it's worth all the effort. You make it look easy.

Now,... where are those updates?

[VA72C10]

Well, my brother in law's basement project is nearing completion, my wife is through an operation she had and is recovering, and the holidays are over. Other than work still being busy, I should get some time to work on the truck soon.

[0331grunt]

Wish your wife a speedy recovery and hope the new year holds many new parts and blessings for you and your family (and your truck )

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 0331grunt

Wish your wife a speedy recovery and hope the new year holds many new parts and blessings for you and your family (and your truck )

Thanks! Best wishes to you and your family and I can't remember if I've said this to you but thank you for your service and sacrifice

[VA72C10]

Going to finally start having some time to work on the truck. Going tomorrow or Thursday to do some more grinding on the cab, mock up the seats, and see what else I need for the front suspension to be back on the ground.

[my67chevytruck]

we are waiting for updates.....

[Puropedo]

Originally Posted by my67chevytruck

we are waiting for updates.....

Meaning:....More money/time involved......But youre already in to it, so we would love some updates!...Keep up the great work!

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by my67chevytruck

we are waiting for updates.....

Originally Posted by Puropedo

Meaning:....More money/time involved......But youre already in to it, so we would love some updates!...Keep up the great work!

I know, I know, it's been hard not being able to get to the shop to work on it. But now that things are in order on the home front I will have more time. Updates and pictures by the end of the week.

[VA72C10]

I was looking up some wood bed info on google tonight and low and behold...what link came in on the first page....but this thread about my project....

It's amazing how big this board's online presence is. I'm always finding posts linking me here when searching truck stuff on google. My thread came in at #7.

Going over to work on the truck tomorrow and also on Saturday. Also should be selling some parts on Saturday to fund some more purchases...

[Slick67]

Starting another page with no pics.............

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by Slick67

Starting another page with no pics.............

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Going over to work on the truck tomorrow and also on Saturday....

I can't take pics if I'm not where my truck is now can I???
I will be sure to take lots while I'm there and I will get back on it...

[VA72C10]

Well, I'll start off with pictures of some parts I got.

Headlights with integral turn signals/parking lights so I can clean up the 67 front end


And the accuair elevel electronic leveling kit with the nice touchpad controller that will be integrated into my center console

[VA72C10]

FINALLY got to work on the truck tonight. Got about 3 hours...spent about an hour of that talking to Jason about upcoming plans/changes/ and mocking up the seats. Decided against the cadillac leather seats as they stick up too far in the rear window. I knew they would but didn't like the way they looked from out back and they were also too large looking for me for the truck. They have nice thick bolsters and I'm wanting something smaller to open up the cab when you look into it.

Basically spent most of tonight grinding. Tried a 40 grit flap wheel out and was very happy other than that it wore out fast. Went online tonight and ordered 7 more and some pads to remove the paint so I'll be stocked up well now...

Used 20 grit pads when the flap wheel wore out and they work fine but not nearly as fast as the flap wheel.

Jason has finished welding the angled wire gutter cap, the rest of the firewall (three smal holes left to go) and welded in custom panels to fill in where the stock door latches go since I'm doing bear claws. Also got the driver's side driprail cut and welded. Still some more to do there but getting there....
Finally....some pictures....not very good ones as I used an old digital I had but wanted to make sure I got you guys something

Cab looked lonely


Firewall


Driver's side


Driver's drip rail progress


Door latch area filled

[VA72C10]

Passenger latch area smoothed...wish I had a better picture because it looked like there was never a hole there...Jason did a great job flushing out and welding in the panels and once ground smooth it looks like one continuous door jamb w/out any seams.





Driver's side...still have to grind some more but I had to leave to stop by my brother in law's again

[VA72C10]

Firewall grinding progress...

Here's the center. Most people just keep the hump in here because it's tucked in behind the engine...but I want it to all be smooth so Jason made a panel for this area also. Still going to make a square panel for that indented area and two small circle patches...



Overall views

[royo]

Dang dude looks bad. If ya want we can swap cabs. That way you can start over an do it right. lol

[VA72C10]

And the driprail...

Front...just need to work the leading edge and underneath and it's done...


Driver's side....Jason's going to add a second bead above the first to bevel it and match the passenger side. There is a 90 degree "step" from the factory and I wanted to bevel the edge so that sharp line continues from the front of the truck, around the side, and then dies to nothing on the back right at the rear cab seam leaving the back side of the door completely flush...


I love how smooth this came out




Passenger side. still have to grind a little on the back to have it perfectly flush but Jason's going to add some welds to some areas that opened up slightly during grinding.


You can see the 45 degree angle look I'm going for in this picture...needs some edge refinement but almost ready for a light skim coat and sealer

[VA72C10]

Yeah, did you see that one dent we have to pull on the corner of the cab? I need to ditch this thing

[mcbassin]

Nice progress on the cab and congrats on getting the new parts. I have just about talked myself out of copying the angled detail on the front wire channel. I have tried 2 times to cut the metal and both times it came out crappy. I think I will either go with a flat strip or get some thicker metal. That 22 gauge dents so easy when I try to tap it back straight. I got so frustrated with it last night I just cut it off and quit after only about an hour. Your guy Jason must have some patients to weld all that area! keep the updates coming (with pictures).

[PHAT TONY]

Were those headlights an easy find? I want to smooth a '70 frt bumper for my '72 Blazer and been wondering about different frt signal/park lights.

[0331grunt]

Man, that looks awesome! Keep it up and you'll be cruisin in no time!

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 0331grunt

Man, that looks awesome! Keep it up and you'll be cruisin in no time!

Thanks! Hopefully will be done by the first spring shows

[0331grunt]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Thanks! Hopefully will be done by the first spring shows

I guess I better get busy if I am gonna make it by Spring... 2020!

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Nice progress on the cab and congrats on getting the new parts. I have just about talked myself out of copying the angled detail on the front wire channel. I have tried 2 times to cut the metal and both times it came out crappy. I think I will either go with a flat strip or get some thicker metal. That 22 gauge dents so easy when I try to tap it back straight. I got so frustrated with it last night I just cut it off and quit after only about an hour. Your guy Jason must have some patients to weld all that area! keep the updates coming (with pictures).

Thanks. He bought a new shrinker/stretcher which helps makes the bends. got it from Harbour freight on sale if I remember correctly. It did take him a while to do the welds and a while for me to grind but the end result is soooooo worth it

Originally Posted by PHAT TONY

Were those headlights an easy find? I want to smooth a '70 frt bumper for my '72 Blazer and been wondering about different frt signal/park lights.

I actually got them on here from an abandoned project...but they are from It's a snap....here's the link....
http://www.itsasnapwireandcable.com/...headlights.htm

[VA72C10]

Well, went over with the intention of getting a lot done. But felt really sick and needed to do some things with the family so didn't get much done. Did another test fit of the doors with everything final welded and looks good. Jason was working on some final welds needed on the firewall and added weld on the shaved driprail which I promptly ground down. Started mocking up a center console in cardboard. Went over my front end parts again and will tackle that as soon as I get my final airbag fittings. Don't want to take it back apart once I assemble the front end (if I can help it) so I want to have everything together when I do it.


Now I'm home with a temperature feeling miserable....hope to do some internet hunting to find some more parts while I'm laid up in bed.