Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[jlsanborn]

Edge of my seat Vic. Anxious to see how you do up an LS! Props to you for keeping an eye on your Pa too.

[Low Elco]

Good to hear. AS always, you need anything, pick up the phone.

[Vic1947]

Looky, looky, looky!

Lucky Tow came by this morning and after some finagling was barely able to pick up the front end on CRLS. (Yours truly failed to run the AccuAir and lift the suspension prior to their arrival.) But we managed anyway and as you can see, we're now resting comfortably in the workshop. I'm going to yank the tires and wheels this afternoon in order to take them to the Shriner's swap meet this weekend along with some other stuff and see if I can find them a new home. We're underway.

[snipescastle2]

Good to see you back on track Vic! Hoping to get mine inspected tomorrow then maybe plates... I still have a number of small things to do before I drive it a lot.
Ben

[jeh]

Good deal Vic, ready for more!!!!

[sduckworth13]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Looky, looky, looky!

Lucky Tow came by this morning and after some finagling was barely able to pick up the front end on CRLS. (Yours truly failed to run the AccuAir and lift the suspension prior to their arrival.) But we managed anyway and as you can see, we're now resting comfortably in the workshop. I'm going to yank the tires and wheels this afternoon in order to take them to the Shriner's swap meet this weekend along with some other stuff and see if I can find them a new home. We're underway.

Nice to see it back down stairs. I'm available this weekend if you need any help.

[jaros44sr]

Nice to see it back in the shop

[Ol Blue K20]

Awesome! I'm still watching this one

[swamp rat]

Welcome back Vic!

[Xeen]

Nice!
I've been anxiously anticipating the continuation of CRLS.

[Low Elco]

It's on! Gonna Yank the motor tonight?

[jlsanborn]

Awesome! Whatchya got in mind for new rollers?

[Vic1947]

Thanks for encouragement, everyone! We've been busy with the Shriner's swap meet the last couple of days and with that out of the way, I'm ready to get organized. We did pretty good at the swap meet... netted a little over $1500 from junk and/or extraneous parts. I view it as trading out dust catchers for something I need - like new wheels and tires.

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Awesome! Whatchya got in mind for new rollers?

I currently have my eye on the Rocket Booster wheels in 18x8 and 18x9 wrapped with Hankook or Sumitomo performance tires... but that could change. Just looking at what's out there and coming up with wheel/tire combo that satisfies my dimensional tastes has been a challenge. Wheels especially are tough, because the ones that are reasonably priced have fewer options for diameter, width and backspacing. If you're willing to spend $800 - $1000 per wheel, you can pretty much get whatever you want. I'm entirely too penny-pinching to go that route.

[mcbassin]

Looking forward to progress Vic!

[Possmguts]

Well, its been 2 days since you moved that back down stairs.... so.... are you done yet? Jeeze..... talk about taking your time

Glad you are able to get back on it and look forward to following along here.

[roOstersan]

I'm loving this build Vic! High quality everywhere you look. Thanx for sharing!

I have to say this was my favorite part so far... After being stumped and going inside for a beer, you had a solution figured out in your head 6 minutes later! LoL. Sometimes all you have to do is walk away!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by roOstersan

... Sometimes all you have to do is walk away!

Ain't that the truth! Although this time I may have walked away a little more than I originally planned. However, I'm working to get back on track. I've got the cab and bed completely emptied of parts, boxes and junk so it won't be long before I'm back to the rolling chassis. In the middle of everything, I placed an order with CPP for their 12" four wheel disc conversion kit. I kinda wanted the 13" kit, but it only comes with a modular 2" drop spindle. I needed to keep the stock height spindle to work with the front airbag setup already in place. I also ordered their show stopper hydra-stop booster, tubular upper a-arms and 5 lug axles. And I get a free t-shirt out of the deal.

I sourced an Eaton posi-trac unit off eBay to replace the gov-lock I'd previously installed. I'll switch out the gear to a 3.73 while I'm at it which will work better with the other major purchase I made this morning... I bit the bullet and bought the LS3 Connect and Cruise package from Radley Chevrolet in Fredericksburg, VA. They had it on sale and with free shipping, no sales tax and a $500 rebate I figured the time was right.

So all that talk early on of building a rat truck is officially over and done with, if you hadn't figured that out by now.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Ain't that the truth! Although this time I may have walked away a little more than I originally planned. However, I'm working to get back on track. I've got the cab and bed completely emptied of parts, boxes and junk so it won't be long before I'm back to the rolling chassis. In the middle of everything, I placed an order with CPP for their 12" four wheel disc conversion kit. I kinda wanted the 13" kit, but it only comes with a modular 2" drop spindle. I needed to keep the stock height spindle to work with the front airbag setup already in place. I also ordered their show stopper hydra-stop booster, tubular upper a-arms and 5 lug axles. And I get a free t-shirt out of the deal.

I sourced an Eaton posi-trac unit off eBay to replace the gov-lock I'd previously installed. I'll switch out the gear to a 3.73 while I'm at it which will work better with the other major purchase I made this morning... I bit the bullet and bought the LS3 Connect and Cruise package from Radley Chevrolet in Fredericksburg, VA. They had it on sale and with free shipping, no sales tax and a $500 rebate I figured the time was right.

So all that talk early on of building a rat truck is officially over and done with, if you hadn't figured that out by now.

[jlsanborn]

What, no gravel hauling or trips to the dump?

This is going to be a great ride Vic!

[jlsanborn]

Sooo still living in the two-piece main seal era like I am, I had to go looking for that kit you bought. Are you kidding me!? Which did you get, the 430hp or 525hp? No wonder you got the disk brake kit

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Ain't that the truth! Although this time I may have walked away a little more than I originally planned. However, I'm working to get back on track. I've got the cab and bed completely emptied of parts, boxes and junk so it won't be long before I'm back to the rolling chassis. In the middle of everything, I placed an order with CPP for their 12" four wheel disc conversion kit. I kinda wanted the 13" kit, but it only comes with a modular 2" drop spindle. I needed to keep the stock height spindle to work with the front airbag setup already in place. I also ordered their show stopper hydra-stop booster, tubular upper a-arms and 5 lug axles. And I get a free t-shirt out of the deal.

I sourced an Eaton posi-trac unit off eBay to replace the gov-lock I'd previously installed. I'll switch out the gear to a 3.73 while I'm at it which will work better with the other major purchase I made this morning... I bit the bullet and bought the LS3 Connect and Cruise package from Radley Chevrolet in Fredericksburg, VA. They had it on sale and with free shipping, no sales tax and a $500 rebate I figured the time was right.

So all that talk early on of building a rat truck is officially over and done with, if you hadn't figured that out by now.

Great choice!

[AKC]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

So all that talk early on of building a rat truck is officially over and done with, if you hadn't figured that out by now.

Therrre's a surprise.

Good luck with the build up, looking forward to more super-sano Vic-work...

[Possmguts]

Man-Oh-Man... This guy...

I think the posi unit I put in mine might be the thing I'm most excited about. Besides the new engine, new trans, new suspension, New wheels and tires, custom hood and all that body and frame work you have done Im willing to bet it will be yours too....

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Possmguts

Man-Oh-Man... This guy...

I think the posi unit I put in mine might be the thing I'm most excited about. Besides the new engine, new trans, new suspension, New wheels and tires, custom hood and all that body and frame work you have done Im willing to bet it will be yours too....

The gov-lock I previously installed was at best a compromise so I'm sure this new one will remove any worries about shelling the center section. I love watching RoadKill, but I don't want to BE roadkill.

Scott came over yesterday and helped me lift the body back off of the frame. After he left I got the exhaust and the drivetrain out of the chassis. Doesn't take long to fill up the workshop. I have a couple of guys that have expressed an interest in the engine/trans, so I need to follow up with them. If they take a pass, it's going on Craigslist. The tracking info for the LS package is a bit confusing. It shows it departing the same terminal twice, on the 16th and the 18th. it's estimated to arrive at the destination terminal on Tuesday so that's what I'm planning for.

On another note, the more I look at the cab, the bed and the frame the less I believe the problem is with the frame. I just can't see an obvious place where the frame could be bent. Looking at the bed and the cab with a fresh set of eyes, however, I see some places that when added together, may be contributing to the problem with the gap. To eliminate the frame as the cause, I'll still need to have it checked, but I'm thinking it may be a time/money waster. It's supposed to rain for the next few days, so it will be awhile before I have any answers.

[knomadd]

Nice!!! I like where this is headed.