"FRAME OFF" Has Begun - Wish Me Luck! - Pics

[msgross]

I would put it together to make sure it all fits, then take it apart and paint... then put it back together for a final install...

[msgross]

Originally Posted by Rack Man

No real updates lately....I'm kinda stalled....Body has been in "body shop jail" and I'm a little low on funds right now...so It's all good!....However, all the body work is indeed complete and everything is now in urethane primer....

Now I'm trying to figure out the correct sequence to completing the wood bed conversion as far as paint is concerned??..

With the bed being fully dissambled, I'm wondering now, when should I do the actual assembly....after painting the loose bed panels ?.....or partial asssembly of the bed with rear cross sill and front panel only and then paint?....do I paint the intermediate sills loose ?....Or should I fully assemble everything now and just tape all the wood off ?...or maybe I can have the panels "Jammed" with paint, do the full asssembly and then paint the outside skins after the bed is back on the truck?

I originaly purchased everything except the wood and hardware thinking I could reassemble the entire bed and then simply add the wood later...but I soon realized that you can do that as all of the intermediate cross sills sandwich the wood to the bed....!

If anyone has any advise on this subject I would love to hear it!


Dan

I used some pieces of 1" board to mount the bed together pending final bed wood. There are actually 3x3x1 pieces of wood with a hole drilled in them on top of each cross sill in this pic.

I just ordered my inline tube set so hopefully it works.. Since a 68 K-10 with discs and booster never existed we'll see. The guy told me that I should run the stock distro block and use a prop valve for the rear brakes..

thoughts?

[estig70]

Jealously subscribing. Great work, and attention to detail, I likes.

Eric

[Hart_Rod]

Rack Man, say it aint so.....!!!!!!

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/1113600346.html

You're almost there....

[msgross]

wow, didn't see that coming...

[Rack Man]

Well...I did list it but not really expecting to sell it.....More or less just trying to apease the wife as we are getting hit pretty bad with this economy...

I'm a straight commission sales guy for industrial warehouse equipment and our industry is really in the toilet right now....No capitol money available companies to expand & grow right now...and most of the companies who are in a position to do so are having a very hard time getting financed for equipment purchases or even leases....

So, it pretty much sucks right now for us....but I'm still working on the truck and have all intentions of finishing it....Actually started re-assembling the bed and test fitting the new wood....I really need the body painted but I don't think thats gonna happen for awhile!

Dan

[msgross]

hope things get better for you..

[Jtrux]

Wow, my stomach sank when I saw the craigslist add. Sorry to hear about the tough times for you. I was laid off recently so I definitely know how you feel.

[sdailey]

Dan,

Sorry to hear about your job. I hope things pick up for you soon. Like everyone else, I'd hate to see you sell your truck.

[Rack Man]

Thanks guys for the well wishes...Hopefully things turn around before too long!

Well, I have made a tiny bit progress anyways....Assembled the bed...test fit the new bed wood and drilled the necessary holes...also located the correct location of the cross sill mounting plates and welded them in place....

I think the bed is now ready to go back to the painters....In the meantime I will begin sanding and finishing the bed wood...

Oh yea....I did have to pull out some of my secret "rat hole" money to buy these buddy buckets that I got off of a member....after a good cleaning, they look damn near new....I wasn't going to go with a blue interior....but I might have to now!

[msgross]

nice seats... glad to see this back on track..

[SCOTTMO]

Love the build rack man,keep up the great work.look forward to seeing this
one done
scott

[drivethechevy]

good to see you making some progress again!
i hope things turn out for the better for you, it would be a real shape to have to let your truck go
i may have missed it but i really like the look for your rim and tire combo and would like to run something similar on my 68k10, what size are the tires youve got?
great work so far!
nate

[Rack Man]

Thanks guys!

The tires are 30x9.5x15 BFG Mud Terrains....I was planning on going with a 31x10.5x15 All Terrain...but when I went to have them installed the place I got em said that I could not put them on a 15" x 6" rim.....that the biggest I could go was the 30x9.5 .....Though I have seen others do it, they said no....so I chose to go with mud-terrain instead.

We'll see how it looks after the body is back on...I think it will have a nice aggressive stock look!

[Jtrux]

Originally Posted by Rack Man

Thanks guys!

The tires are 30x9.5x15 BFG Mud Terrains....I was planning on going with a 31x10.5x15 All Terrain...but when I went to have them installed the place I got em said that I could not put them on a 15" x 6" rim.....that the biggest I could go was the 30x9.5 .....Though I have seen others do it, they said no....so I chose to go with mud-terrain instead.

We'll see how it looks after the body is back on...I think it will have a nice aggressive stock look!

Personally I would of gone somewhere else. I've got several friends with the 10.50's on stock rims. I'm not dogging you, they look good but i'm one of those guys that once I decide I want something a certain way, I have to have it like that.

[Rack Man]

Originally Posted by Jtrux

Personally I would of gone somewhere else. I've got several friends with the 10.50's on stock rims. I'm not dogging you, they look good but i'm one of those guys that once I decide I want something a certain way, I have to have it like that.

It was only for the fact that they were 6" wide...not 7" wide like a lot of stock wheels are....The 7 inchers could of handled the tire no problem...

Based on the research I did on the net....the consenses was that even though you can physically install a 10.5" tire on a 6" wide rim....it is really not recommended....tire manufactures guide is no more than 4" wider than the rim width..

So no biggie.....I'd rather be safe...I can always find some 7" wide wheels later if I don't like the look!

[Mt Man Chad]

Sweeeeet!

[3quartertime]

Your build is impressive!!! Almost looks like an assembly manual from a custom GM factory!

No matter how much I wish I could have a truck that clean I sure hope you get to be the one to finish it!!!

Thanks for the build thread...

[steelhorse]

Nice looking truck!

[sdailey]

Any updates Dan?

[Rack Man]

Originally Posted by sdailey

Any updates Dan?

Not much to report...got the bed wood finishing done thats about it...Really still waiting on the painter....Got together enough dough from my tax return to complete the paintjob....but it's still in paint jail...My buddy (the painter) is starting to really piss me off.....should never of done business with a friend..good way to ruin a friendship...and were well on our way!

Dan

[dammitmitchell]

what are those seats out of?
nice truck...
wow....
im jealous!

[msgross]

those seats are buddy buckets and come from 67-68 trucks. They usually run $400 used (hard that is) and around $1,000+ restored.

[dammitmitchell]

:choke: :die:
OMG! but they are soo beautiful...
dang...

[Rack Man]

WE HAVE COLOR......Bed Is complete with Clear....Cab is getting its clear coat as I type this.....More pics to follow....For those of you wondering...Yes, I did switch colors....I went with something that was a little more period correct than that 75 Corvette color...I just couldn't do it!....This is 69 Lemans Blue / White.....