1962 stepside project by realvc

[realvc]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Nice Progress Brother! Bet that was a surprising noise... Will call you later today

I count any progress as another step forward no matter how small.

[realvc]

Not much happening in the shop but today after going into North Little Rock for lunch with my wife for Valentine's day I got the torsion bars loose from the crossmember.
I ended up cutting the adjusting bolts after first trying my 1/2 drive impact.

A few other things have been done but nothing major to report at this time.
Once the old front end is removed I'll be making plans for fitting the 82 front end parts.
A lot of cleanup, mock up/rebuilding to go.

TA2Don has said, "Get an old truck, they are fun." He's right but some things about these old trucks is funner than others.

Not pics. Thanks for stopping by.

[realvc]

Got the front suspension out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a deal, but now it is done and I can move on to the next step.

[Grizz1963]

Making me smile here Vince.

Looking good........

[realvc]

Today I removed the steering sector from the frame and steering shaft from the sector and the column. Next will be some cleaning of the frame getting ready to install the late model cross member, suspension, motor mount towers and power steering sector.

All I lack is finishing up.

[realvc]

Yesterday I was able to get the front cross member and suspension back off the 82.
Which meant I had to move the jeep and the vette outside. I set the 82's parts aside and brought the 62's suspension back in and bolted it under the 82 so it could be moved around.

When I let it down the torsion bars were less than two inches off the floor. It would not go back on the lift with them being that low. When I tried to pull it outside as soon as the front wheels cleared the shop door the torsion bars started gouging into my concrete floor. After pondering the situation for a while I decided to jack up the front of the truck and while it was in the air I stuck a 4X4 chuck in between the lower a frame and the cross member on each side.

When I let it down off the jack it could be moved where ever I wanted it so I put back on the lift and parked the vette back under it with the jeep back inside.
This took the biggest part of the day but now I'm ready to tear down the disc. brake suspension, rebuild it and install it on the 62.

No pics. of this progress. It would be all the same stuff in different locations in the shop and the yard.

The reason I keep everything in shop is because if I set in the yard a clock starts ticking about how long it will be there. It doesn't bother me but my wife doesn't have the same appreciation for this stuff as I do. So for peace in family everything stays in the shop until I'm ready to send down the road.

[realvc]

Last week I got very little done in the shop. I did get the control arms off of the 82 cross member.

This week I have been able to get the ball joints and control arm bushings removed.
I had not done this before so it took me a while to do it.

Now I'm ready to clean up the cross member for installation on the 62 then on with rebuilding the front and reassembly.

[Ta2Don]

Front end Fun!!! You got this Brother!

[realvc]

Small progress but it still feels good.
Got the cross member installed for mock up purposes. I'll mark the frame to drill my holes and then drill the holes, paint it and install it.
The pictures were taken with the lap top at a weird angle.

[Ta2Don]

Progress... Looking good Brother!

[Bomp]

I understand about keeping everything in the shop. Progress looks great.

[realvc]

Originally Posted by Bomp

I understand about keeping everything in the shop. Progress looks great.

Slow and steady is the way I roll. Also I try to stay out of trouble with my projects.

Not very much got done this week. I did do a lot of looking, thinking, planning and some more looking.

One of the lower control arm shafts got damaged when I was removing the bushings. The hammer must have went off when I wasn't looking because the nut and threads needed to have some first aid to able to go back together.
That took a while with a thread die, file and time. In the end it came through all nice and ready for the new bushings.

[62stepside longbox]

Originally Posted by realvc

Not very much got done this week. I did do a lot of looking, thinking, planning and some more looking.

That's half the battle right there! Planning things out so nothing too unexpected happens.

[realvc]

Originally Posted by 62stepside longbox

That's half the battle right there! Planning things out so nothing too unexpected happens.

I just finished getting caught up on your build progress and posting too.

To me any progress that I make feels good makes the effort worth while.
Even if it is cleaning and scrapping grease and rust it all has to be done.

I really like the spot light, mirrors and horn you've found for your truck. The easy rider rifle rack is a nice touch too.

[clemdaddy]

Originally Posted by realvc

To me any progress that I make feels good makes the effort worth while.
Even if it is cleaning and scrapping grease and rust it all has to be done.

I agree, sometimes when you're having a tough day, a little truck time is like medicine for the soul… scrapping, cleaning or dreaming. All good.
Keep after it buddy, she's looking fine.

[Ta2Don]

Looking good Brother! Keep after it... He is Risen!!!

[realvc]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Looking good Brother! Keep after it... He is Risen!!!

He is risen indeed!

Thanks Don.

[realvc]

Another update without pics.

I have my new upper and lower ball joints, upper and lower control arm bushings, inner and outer tie rod ends, wheel bearings and disc. brake pads.

After talking with the machine shop owner today I decided not to use the alum. heads.They are set up for a sprint car and have too many mods to be able to run in my truck.

I'll be using the cast iron 882 heads from the donor engine out of the 82. They are at the machine shop now getting freshened up.

I've taken the cam out of the newer short block to take over to the machine shop tomorrow so they can tell me about the lift and if I'll need some additional valve spring work done.

The machine shop is a father and son operation. They are building a 1928 Model A that will be stock. Cool place to work with.

I've been spending money and not seeing much progress but it is getting closer to going back together.

[Bomp]

I always find it a plus when you can learn/have work done and not worry about getting gouged in the process. Machine shop folks sound like good business people.

[realvc]

Originally Posted by Bomp

I always find it a plus when you can learn/have work done and not worry about getting gouged in the process. Machine shop folks sound like good business people.

They are some cool dudes. As I was leaving I thought if I was more like you, Rian or Don and others on this forum I would have taken pictures of the shop and the Model A project. Alas I'm not a techno savvy picture takin' uploadin' downloadin' postin' kinda of a guy. Not yet anyway.

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by realvc

They are some cool dudes. As I was leaving I thought if I was more like you, Rian or Don and others on this forum I would have taken pictures of the shop and the Model A project. Alas I'm not a techno savvy picture takin' uploadin' downloadin' postin' kinda of a guy. Not yet anyway.

You are thinking about the pics and posting... Soon you'll be adding your viewpoint through pics... Have a blessed day brother!!!

[ibrown50]

It sounds like you're making good progress Vince, pictures would be great but I know what you mean about the uploading, downloading stuff (give me a welding torch any day). You need to do what I often have to do, rely on my kids

[realvc]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

You are thinking about the pics and posting... Soon you'll be adding your viewpoint through pics... Have a blessed day brother!!!

Check this multi-quote reply. Yeah, I think about a whole lot of stuff only some of it gets done. I used to feel guilty about not getting things done so I quite thinking about it as much.

Originally Posted by ibrown50

It sounds like you're making good progress Vince, pictures would be great but I know what you mean about the uploading, downloading stuff (give me a welding torch any day). You need to do what I often have to do, rely on my kids

My internet is not very good here so that limits what and when I can do stuff.
I need to find an IT kid to follow me around when I'm in the shop and take pictures and post them for me.

All this computer/internet is still like magic to me. I can't get over how much I am doing with it. Limited as I am it is great fun.

Got my cam identified so the machine shop knows what direction to go with the heads. It is a mild Crane 266H10 cam with a smooth idle and strong low end torque according to their catalog. They said some valve springs like a Z28 would use is what I'll need.

I'll be putting the short block back together soon. When I get the cam reinstalled then the timing cover, oil pump and oil pan can go on and be ready and waiting to the heads.

Picked up some paint for the frame and suspension and some engine paint too.

[realvc]

I just got home from a shop where I took my control arms and coil springs to have them sandblasted. They also do powder coating and made me a deal to sand blast and powder coat my parts . Also if I wanted I could bring the cross member to for a package deal which is cheaper than I could have had them blasted and me paint them. So I made another round trip home and back to the shop with my cross member.

Anyway now I'm looking for more stuff to have powder coated on the truck.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

I just got home from a shop where I took my control arms and coil springs to have them sandblasted. They also do powder coating and made me a deal to sand blast and powder coat my parts . Also if I wanted I could bring the cross member to for a package deal which is cheaper than I could have had them blasted and me paint them. So I made another round trip home and back to the shop with my cross member.

Anyway now I'm looking for more stuff to have powder coated on the truck.

Sounds like a good deal any way you look at it Vince.

I did my stuff by hand and it takes a lot of time, and the pro finishes are so much better.