1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning

[Airdirect]

The original color was white, the truck was owned by a distribution company and had a 24' van box on it. It appears the brown color was a "company" color for their fleet of trucks. I think it was originally painted when it was new. The plan is to paint it white and install a rollback bed. I have been trying to buy a used rollback, however the good used beds bring more money that I am willing to pay. I am strongly considering building my own rollback unit using a factory flatbed. Would just have to fab a rollback interface between the truck frame and the flatbed. Noah is very talented and a great help (see thesamba.com link below), so I know he will be very involved. Here are some links to help answer the color of tractor question.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=439103

Link to youtube tractor videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZzyJXSFvYM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RdUcBhWIWE

[Airdirect]

I know this does not pertain to A/C installation, however I will post the truck transformation / restoration here to keep it all in one thread. Got the bumper and lower front grill painted and reinstalled. I will paint the fenders and fender extensions next. My shop is not large enough to allow me to paint the entire truck at once, so I will do it in several stages. The color code is White 12S / White 12P. Not sure the difference between S and P, however both translate to Frost White, more recently called Linen White. I am using single stage DuPont (Nason) Urethane.

[jumpsoffrock]

Great progression, man. Keep it up!

[Airdirect]

Thanks!

[Airdirect]

Found some pictures of the truck prior to the van body being removed. Evers Distributing was the original purchaser of the truck.

[Airdirect]

I made progress on refinishing the truck. Sanded, primed, sanded, primed, sanded, primed, you get the idea, the front fenders and extensions, first with 220 grit wet/dry then the final two passes were with 320 wet/dry. Next will be the hood and drivers step. Hope to be spraying some more paint by the end of the week. Gotta work tomorrow, that kinda gets in the way of playing!

[Airdirect]

Hope to paint these items tomorrow!

[Airdirect]

Fenders and fender extension are painted. My youngest son Micah (pictured) painted both front fenders and the driver side fender extension. I sprayed the passenger side extension. They all turned out great!

[Airdirect]

Started working on the hood and driver side step. The hood had three very small dents and one larger dent on the driver side. They all looked like hail damage. Hope to get these items refinished this weekend.

[Airdirect]

Here is a link to video of Micah spraying the front fender.
https://youtu.be/5Q6jhB-poAA

[bodyman922]

The ac install turned out great! I like the detail in the installation. If you still have the original parts send them my way I am in the process of trying to fix up my heater system after mice damaged everything, and it gets cold in Minnesota so heat is a must. Micah must be pretty new to bodywork but his spraying is looking good.

[Airdirect]

Would be glad to donate my old parts, however we cleaned shop and I think everything got pitched, I will look and make sure.

[Airdirect]

Made some more progress a couple of weeks ago. Did not have a chance to post the update until now. Hood and driver side step are finished and ready for installation.

[Airdirect]

Got some more done, media blasted and primed the mirror brackets, used an etching primer.

[ckfarm]

It looks like you have a new floormat,was wondering where you sourced it from ,or did you just use one for a pickup? The aftermarket company that made mats for the medium duties went out of business about 10 years ago and the supply has dried up.

[Airdirect]

The floor mat is for an earlier truck, doesn't fit perfect but it works.
Classic Truck Parts Item 39-033 (1967-72) Floor mat Small Hump

[Airdirect]

Got started repairing the drivers door, had to weld cracks where mirror attached. Ordered new door channel rubber from LMC.

[smokepole]

Great job on that truck and excellent pictures. If you could, it would be awesome to see a video of that Detroit running in the truck. Detroits are music to my ears!

[Airdirect]

After welding up the door cracks, I was not happy with the results. Got major warping on the door skin which would have required lots of filler. At the end of the day I decided to order new door shells from Auto Metal Direct. Their local dealer, ZBR Enterprises, 3200 Commander Suite 110, Carrolton, TX 75006 was able to order them for me. While I am waiting on the new doors I plan to finish painting the cab roof and back. Pictures of progress will follow.

[Bigasstrux]

If you can find the newer type mirror diagonal brace, it eliminates cracks where the short bracket bolts on right under the vent window.

[Airdirect]

Originally Posted by Bigasstrux

If you can find the newer type mirror diagonal brace, it eliminates cracks where the short bracket bolts on right under the vent window.

Good idea, I will try and fabricate a diagonal brace to eliminate the vent window brace. Should make it much more stable.

[83GMCK2500]

Any updates to report? I took a break from forums for a few months and just remembered this build. I really appreciate your detail and use of OEM parts (particularly in the A/C conversion).

[Airdirect]

Not any progress, waiting to get my shop empty of other work so I can proceed. Hopefully soon.

David

[83GMCK2500]

I can't be the only one interested, but it's about time to check in and see how that shop emptying is going...

[Airdirect]

My shop is getting closer, had a setback, one of my primary tractors broke a cylinder sleeve and locked the engine. I am in the process of a full rebuild, once done the truck is next. Anxious to get it finished!