project orange crush 76 crewcab build

[1774btcrew]

You cut up a 73 Bezel? There are a lot of guys looking for those!

[520-k5]

Originally Posted by 1774btcrew

You cut up a 73 Bezel? There are a lot of guys looking for those!

74 actually but I had it listed on Craigslist for 20 bucks for months and no interest so...

[1774btcrew]

I knew 2 guys here in Phoenix looking for one. I guess they should have looked at Tucson CL.!

[520-k5]

Well it's been a little while. Haven't got a whole lot done but did paint my headlight bezals and finally found a nice 75,76 grill!!! Just been driving and enjoying it. Also been busy parting out a 94 suburban so we can start building the parts truck. Going to use the 454, 4l80 and keep it tbi. May start a build thread on that not sure yet?

[520-k5]

Saw a post on Facebook about 20" dodge spares and just happen to have one at the moment. Hmmm think I'll stick with the HD wheels for now.

[520-k5]

I also decided on color it's going blue and white. Price on the paint was a big factor! Picked up a new gallon on Craigslist for 40 bucks of the exact color I want! What are the chances of the happening? So I jumped on it. Also was trying to find an app to change colors with this is the best I could do with what's available in the Google apps. But gives me a good idea of the outcome.

[520-k5]

Here's some mirror bases and gas door from my old c10 that I sprayed with some leftover waterbase I had from years ago. Same color code from dupont. This stuff really pops depending on sunlight!

[520-k5]

It's been a while since I last posted haven't done much to the crewcab other than just drive it daily. I did have to do a semi rear brake rebuild this past weekend. Had a wheel cylinder. Go bad and discovered a leaking axle seal aswell. So here's some pics. Also been working on a 77 Cheyenne that we bought to part out but ended up deciding to fix it. More progress pics to come on the Cheyenne it will be going ebay when we're finished with it.

[520-k5]

Here's the 77 Cheyenne we bought it had an engine bay fire so we got it cheap!. Mostly original paint,pretty decent interior,305,TH400 and it has almost brand new mcgaughys drop spindles, drop springs and shocks along with belltech rear flip kit. plans are to cut it down to a shortbed, i already disassembled it fixed the rust on the firewall, degreased and painted the motor and its just about ready for reassembly. Will update progress pics on this one aswell.

[520-k5]

After a good cleaning and pressure wash,new hei,plug wires and put an edlebrock back on it fired right up! Also bought a new ez wire 21 circut harness for it. And picked up all the underdash ac stuff from a parts truck. Luckily the fire didn't destroy the interior just melted the plastic duct work for the ac,heater box.

[520-k5]

The firewall all welded in and ready to bodywork. I'm also going to degrease the front frame and suspension and get it all shot in black before the motor gets reinstalled. Also going to spray the firewall in gloss black before reassembly. Still waiting on a new firewall insulation pad and brake master cyl,booster to arrive. Most likely going to rebuild the front suspension and brakes aswell. Also the parts suburban we cut the firewall out of for patches. Was a factory 4x4,4 speed suburban from the factory, then it had a cummins swap and Dana 60 swap before being abandoned for a 60s dodge crewcab so all the good stuff was pulled for the new dodge crewcab project and we ended parting it out for several other projects.

[Super_Dave]

Following your build. What are your plans for doing the 4/6 drop and keep the C20 8 Lug suspension?

[520-k5]

Originally Posted by Super_Dave

Following your build. What are your plans for doing the 4/6 drop and keep the C20 8 Lug suspension?

For the drop I'm planning on using drop spindles, lowering springs and a flip kit and c notch out back. But lately I've thinking about converting to 5 lug. The more I price out the c20 drop parts compared to the cost of c10 stuff it seems like a no brainer. Also the fact that I really haven't found any 8 lug wheels that I absolutely must have and for the moment I've pretty much decided that I want to run detroit steel wheels "mobsteel" wheels. I think they would look good on my truck once lowered with some police caps and powder coated white. Here's a few pics I've gotten off the net

[Super_Dave]

I am with you on the 5 lug conversion. I followed a thread where the member converted his C20 to 5 Lug using C10 parts. I will find it and post back. I have a full '79 C10 front end and 12 Bolt rear for my '74 C20.

I also looked into just doing the 2" drop spindle and 2" springs in front and then having new axle shafts made by Dutchman and drilled for the 5 lug pattern. The only other work would be cutting a few inches off both ends of the axle housing and removing the overload springs in the back and flip kit the axle. It was going to run around $650 for the new axles, but I get to keep my HD 14 bolt rear end and 3.73 gears for future mating to a 200r4 or 700r4, making them 2.90 gears on the highway.

Still on the fence a bit, as the funds for working on the truck will be a few months out as I wait for shop projects that are slated for end of the year and middle of next year. Once they hit, it will be a flurry of activity, hopefully!

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work on your trucks. Your crew will look great that color of blue too!

[520-k5]

Dave have you thought about looking for a 14 bolt axle out of a 1500hd? There 6 lug from the factory 90s and 2000s trucks. Then you could easily have axles and drums redrilled. Just a thought. I wanted to keep it 8 lug for towing but the reality is its more of a daily driver/street truck then it'll ever be a work truck and for what I need to tow 5 lug will be fine. I skimmed through your build real quick and nice truck! looks like your truck was similarly optioned. I'll have to go back through and read it this evening

[520-k5]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice work on your trucks. Your crew will look great that color of blue too!

Thanks

[Super_Dave]

520-k5
Here is the thread on C20 to C10 swap... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=670094

Dave

[520-k5]

I read threw the post dave. What I've read about before is Being able to keep the lower a arm and just install a new c10 balljoint,c10 spindles and c10 upper arms. Haven't heard off having to use c10 outer tie rods though. I'm also curious as to whether or not the c20 calipers fit the c10 spindles? Guess I need to do some more research on swapping. Hopefully some others will chime in.

[520-k5]

Dave I forgot to mention that the c20 and c30 crossmembers only have one locating ball for the lower a arm shaft while c10 crossmembers have 2 locating balls for the lower a arm shafts.

[520-k5]

Made some more progress on the 77 Cheyenne got the firewall painted,ac box back on and the ac harness wrapped in loom,got the doghouse back on and the motor in over the past few weeks. Time for final reassembly and to install the new wiring harness.

[520-k5]

I forgot to take motor pics but I'll get some soon.

[520-k5]

As for the crewcab I picked up a nice set of power doors this past weekend. One of the local u pull it yards had a 50% off black Friday sale so we went shopping! Hopefully I'll have them on during Christmas break. Also picked up a early 90s steering wheel and got that installed. It sure beats the sticky old one that's for sure!

[1774btcrew]

I saw you pull into the Shriner's auto swap in the crewcab but didn't get a chance to meet you. Maybe next time I am in Tucson.

[520-k5]

Dang should have stopped me lol. Wasn't much of a swapmeet but I did pick up a couple of goodies. Maybe you'll see me at the next Pomona to az swapmeet will be taking the crewcab to Phoenix shows starting next year. Also forgot to mention that I picked up a 700r4 trans at the junkyard too so I'm really looking forward to getting that installed.