Project “Learning as I Go”

[gopokes]

Thanks guys, coming along slowly. I decided the lower plate were no good, i mocked up the bags and they looked like they would be bound in between the plates pretty bad. So headed to find some pipe to cup the lca's today. I read through Spray-Bomb's thread about it a few times, he did a great writeup about it. Lowered the jackstands just to take a loook at what the end product would be. Getting lower!!



Upper plate mounted up.

[68GMCCustom]

For "learning as you go"...you're really digging right in. No fear!

Lookin' good.

[gopokes]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

For "learning as you go"...you're really digging right in. No fear!

Lookin' good.

Thanks man, this part of it isn't as much learning as the bodywork stuff. That's the toughest part for me.

[gopokes]

Well I couldn't get any pipe to do the lca's, and I had some issues with one of the caps on the lca shaft, it won't snug all the way down. So I started getting my power steering stuff installed and upper control arms ready to go back on. Starting to get down to crunch time, got the big OKC meet on Saturday, might have to play hookey from work one day this week...

[JohnC]

If it doesn't make it to the meet we'll just have to make your house one of the stops on the cruise route.

[gopokes]

That would work, I don't live far from there.

[paintpyro]

How are you painting the frame as you go? Rattle can? It looks almost like where Im at right now, just disconnected my steering box for my p/s conversion.

[gopokes]

Originally Posted by paintpyro

How are you painting the frame as you go? Rattle can? It looks almost like where Im at right now, just disconnected my steering box for my p/s conversion.

I wire wheeled as much as I could get to then used a spray rust converter on the areas i couldn't reach. I tried to use a metal prep spray on the area's I got cleaned with the wire wheel, then rattle can black. It is just temporary so I'm not too worried about it. at some point down the road everything is coming off so I can sandblast the frame.

[gopokes]

Big brown truck stopped by right when I got home from work.

[JohnC]

Sweet man!

[gopokes]

I got some 8 1/2 inch pipe to cup my lca's. Got the arms and cups cut, didn't get them welded up yet but shouldn't take too long tomorrow. I left a little hole in the lower plate to drain water. Even though I'm making progress it seems slow since I need to get everything buttoned up for the meet on Saturday! Here are some pics of the progress.

[JohnC]

Cool

[bjcaldwe]

I need to venture out on the forum a bit more. Cool building. Someone elses brain to pick about airride!

[gopokes]

Originally Posted by bjcaldwe

I need to venture out on the forum a bit more. Cool building. Someone elses brain to pick about airride!

Don't start picking yet, this is my first airride install. I'm going off of all of the stuff I learned on this site. I can probably only tell you what not to do when i screw up. No if I can be of any help let me know, It will be nice to give back a little.

[sourkraut]

looking good!

[scotts62]

Man i dont know how i missed this thread, build looks like its going great! Keep up the good work

[JohnC]

Because you are like me and don't get in the 67-72 section very much.

[gopokes]

Originally Posted by scotts62

Man i dont know how i missed this thread, build looks like its going great! Keep up the good work

Thanks man, I was up till 1:30 last night trying to get her done for the meet. I am off today so hopefully I will get it buttoned up. I'll post some more pics later.

[scotts62]

Originally Posted by gopokes

Thanks man, I was up till 1:30 last night trying to get her done for the meet. I am off today so hopefully I will get it buttoned up. I'll post some more pics later.

Yeah im off today too but im working on the house

[gopokes]

Got the front end back together, now I just have to run the airlines and a few more odds and ends. I do have to find another rag joint (steering coupler) I've heard them called different things. The one I got at the salvage yard is the exact same thing I have now. I asked the guy like five times that he was FOR SURE it was from a power steering gearbox. He was, I guess he was wrong, my fault i guess, didn't bring my old one with me that day. Here are some pics, got to get back out there.

Cups welded up.









Bags ready and front end done.





Twin rag joints. UUGGHH

[scotts62]

Cool! looking good!

Well you have more time to work on it, check out the Meet thread.

[JohnC]

Man for your first go with this you are doing a knock out job!

[gopokes]

That's a burn on the meet, could have gotten some beauty sleep last night. Oh well it's all good. I think having that deadline helped me get my butt in gear though! Thanks for the compliments John.

[JohnC]

Compliments come with good work man! Get ready for more to come!

[gopokes]

I got the airline ran, went back to the salvage yard and got the correct rag joint, got the front shocks installed and hooked up my valves and guages. It was pretty cool to lift it and lower it for the first time, I've never had anything with air suspension, I was out there messing with it for ever.
I found out that I definately need to rig up some sort of bumpstop in the front, it would go lower but it binds the upper ball joint. I used a scrap piece of 2x4 for now, not to drive with but just to keep from messing up the ball joint. Next up is filling up the powersteering fluid, and take it to the allignment shop. I wish I would have taken the time to clean up the rotors and spindles and stuff a little better, it looks like crap. Our truck meet was postponed till June 12th due to rain, so I guess I will start the long to short conversion next. Should be able to get that done in a month right?