1970 VA Longbed Project

[orange71]

Nice progress! Like the look of the firewall also!

[mbgmike]

Damn JR
This is the longest build I have seen in a while. My head hurts now.
It sure is looking good.
I like the red in the photo thingy

[VA72C10]

Thanks...my truck is going to have a lot of parts from you when it's done too

[Slick67]

You have so much more custom work in this than me, it is absolutely going to be worth all the extra work. Are you shaving all the emblems and handles? I love this thread. Keep up the great work!

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by Slick67

You have so much more custom work in this than me, it is absolutely going to be worth all the extra work. Are you shaving all the emblems and handles? I love this thread. Keep up the great work!

Thanks! I appreciate the encouragement. Yes, almost all emblems and handles will be shaved. The only emblems will be the bowtie on the front grille (which will have a color-matched center) and the chevrolet script that's recessed in the rear tailgate...also going to have the script on the interior....

[Slick67]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Thanks! I appreciate the encouragement. Yes, almost all emblems and handles will be shaved. The only emblems will be the bowtie on the front grille (which will have a color-matched center) and the chevrolet script that's recessed in the rear tailgate...also going to have the script on the interior....

That was my plan also, painting the inside of the emblems to match. I really like the skin for the tailgate.

[1sik52]

Looking good!

[mx574]

looking great man. i got to get out and spend more hours in the garage because i will get insanely jealous when your truck is finished before mine. Keep it up and im liking the progress. Saw those headlights on that "sick fish" joe rogans baracuda, they are nice. Tell me about that accuair elevel-ive never seen it how does it work?

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by mx574

looking great man. i got to get out and spend more hours in the garage because i will get insanely jealous when your truck is finished before mine. Keep it up and im liking the progress. Saw those headlights on that "sick fish" joe rogans baracuda, they are nice. Tell me about that accuair elevel-ive never seen it how does it work?

It is a true load leveling (not pressure based...actual height) computer controlled system that monitors your bags, air tank and compressors...
You can pre-set it to a height to raise when you start up, and set three preset heights. Also can manually adjust how you like or dump all...
Check out kevin of LFD (Rockcrln) thread about his 4 door tahoe project...he did an install of the kit with a writeup of the product. If you google it there are several videos of it working...I will put one up when my truck is to that stage...

Originally Posted by 1sik52

Looking good!

Thanks! Gotta stay ahead of you...you're moving on your blazer project!

[phipp13]

Johnathan, you are as methodical as a serial killer! Your truck is one sweet assride!!! subscribed!!!! looks awsome keep us posted. R, The Damn Yankee

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by phipp13

Johnathan, you are as methodical as a serial killer! Your truck is one sweet assride!!! subscribed!!!! looks awsome keep us posted. R, The Damn Yankee

Man, I don't know to take that as a good or bad thing J/K Thanks! Should have some more pics tomorrow...

[70k52wd]

It took me a couple of hours just to get caught up on your build. Awesome build. The amount of thought and hard work are showing. Great work Jonathan.
Hope your feeling better.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 70k52wd

It took me a couple of hours just to get caught up on your build. Awesome build. The amount of thought and hard work are showing. Great work Jonathan.
Hope your feeling better.

Thanks...finally had to get some antibiotics and now I'm doing better. Going to go over and get some more stuff done this week hopefully...

[Slick67]

Peppermint, Honey, Lemon and Jack - mix and drink......that will make you right again!! If there ever was such a thing!!! hahaha Lookin great! Keep it going!!

[70k52wd]

After doing the blocks to center your tires in the wells, and having to remove the rivets, and doing the exhaust pass thru's. Would you think about getting a aftermarket center xmember if you had to do it again? Do the aftermarket ones center the tires? just curious.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by 70k52wd

After doing the blocks to center your tires in the wells, and having to remove the rivets, and doing the exhaust pass thru's. Would you think about getting a aftermarket center xmember if you had to do it again? Do the aftermarket ones center the tires? just curious.

No.
But you can add the spacers just like VA72C10 did.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 70k52wd

After doing the blocks to center your tires in the wells, and having to remove the rivets, and doing the exhaust pass thru's. Would you think about getting a aftermarket center xmember if you had to do it again? Do the aftermarket ones center the tires? just curious.

Originally Posted by lolife99

No.
But you can add the spacers just like VA72C10 did.

Like lolife99 (our resident suspension expert ) said you'd still need the spacers....other than Porterbilt's setup where he lets you change the length of the arms. He's working on one with different mounting points also. That's the only thing I would do differently....go with the Porterbilt crossmember and trailing arms on my next build....but that one will be LOWER

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by Slick67

Peppermint, Honey, Lemon and Jack - mix and drink......that will make you right again!! If there ever was such a thing!!! hahaha Lookin great! Keep it going!!

Sounds.....interesting.... Thanks for the encouragement.

Originally Posted by powerline84

looking good man this thing is gonna be sick ill let you park next to me any day lol

Thanks man

Originally Posted by brian69longbed

Pictures!

Soon

[lolife99]

Just curious,... If you could do it again,... wouldn't it be easier to just "relocate" the complete trailing arm crossmember back,... the require distance?

I believe that's the route Porterbuilt is going.
That way, he can build all his tubular trailing arms are the same length.

And,... I'm just a moderator.
No expert here.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I believe that's the route Porterbuilt is going.
That way, he can build all his tubular trailing arms are the same length.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking from his thread on them. Like I said, if those had come out earlier I'd have them....but I'm extremely happy with how mine turned out both in looks and functionality. Basically this whole build is supposed to be factory did plus a little refinement to make it better. Love the body lines...just smoothing them out....great rear suspension....just lower and tighter....etc....

Originally Posted by lolife99

And,... I'm just a moderator.
No expert here.

Come on, don't sell yourself short. You've helped a ton of us out. Thanks!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Just curious,... If you could do it again,... wouldn't it be easier to just "relocate" the complete trailing arm crossmember back,... the require distance?

I believe that's the route Porterbuilt is going.
That way, he can build all his tubular trailing arms are the same length.

And,... I'm just a moderator.
No expert here.

From what I remember, PB's revised TA mounts will come w/2 sets of holes. One set is OE location; 2nd set is shifted back. I opted for the spacers so I could vary the positioning @ any time* vs. shifting the c.member back.

*pending bag mounting & notch area

[oldblue1968chevy]

I cant believe ive never read your build!!! Going to be a sick truck when your done! Whens the projected done date? You have sold me on a few things for my truck, holes in the crossmember for exhaust. (Could one cut the holes without a plasma cutter easily?) I wanna do mine but not a fab expert but have a welder and access to good welders (actual people lol). And im doing my frame in 'hammererd' it looks awesome! Cant wait to see it done. Keep it up. If i knew I had that much $ in my truck. I wouldnt add it up! I thought I had lots in mine LOL. Not even a fraction.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

I cant believe ive never read your build!!! Going to be a sick truck when your done! Whens the projected done date? You have sold me on a few things for my truck, holes in the crossmember for exhaust. (Could one cut the holes without a plasma cutter easily?) I wanna do mine but not a fab expert but have a welder and access to good welders (actual people lol). And im doing my frame in 'hammererd' it looks awesome! Cant wait to see it done. Keep it up. If i knew I had that much $ in my truck. I wouldnt add it up! I thought I had lots in mine LOL. Not even a fraction.

Welcome aboard...it's never too late to join

I'm sure it could be cut w/out a plasma but it's much easier that way. Thanks...I'm happy with how the hammered finish turned out.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Couldnt possibly do it with a hole saw...to thick Id guess......im running 2" exhaust but would like the option to go bigger 2.5 or something.

Could get a crossmember from junkyard and take it to somebody with plasma cutter...whyd you go oval vs round? I cant wait for warm weather so I can spray paint. 25* with snow tonite isnt appropriate weather for spray bombin'.

Looking forward to your finished truck.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

Couldnt possibly do it with a hole saw...to thick Id guess......im running 2" exhaust but would like the option to go bigger 2.5 or something.

Could get a crossmember from junkyard and take it to somebody with plasma cutter...whyd you go oval vs round? I cant wait for warm weather so I can spray paint. 25* with snow tonite isnt appropriate weather for spray bombin'.

Looking forward to your finished truck.

Getting an extra crossmember sounds like a good idea. I actually went with the oval because the center hole is an oval so I wanted it to match. Also spaced out the pipe we used to line it the same as factory to try to make it look like a factory job.