67 cheby's Dropmember build thread (CLOUD 9)

[tubbedII]

Lookin good!

How did you ensure the rear of the frame is positioned correct since it was chopped off? I ask because I need to re-do a shotty c-notch job and I'm looking for some pointers on how to keep everything in the correct position in order for all the bolt holes/bumper to line up correctly.

[67cheby]

the ideal way would be to put it on a frame table and secure everything, we just did alot of measuring and alot more measuring

[67cheby]

a little more progress, notch welding done, set the bed on for the first time , pic of the truck at ride height

[snoopy]

Lookin good

[VA72C10]

nice progress!!! Looking great!

[72BlckButy]

Man that looks good... and with the way you raised the floor it looks fairly stock. What are the plans for the center of the floor where the notch will pass through?

[67cheby]

well the original plans was to not go through the floor at all ... but that was before i found this website and that dang Porterbuilt..... i am going to cover it with a hinged cover and either have the cover airbrushed or wrapped to match the wood on the bed floor .. hopefully that will blend it in a little, i am trying to go with somewhat of a stock look for this truck, everyone laughs when i say that but the engine looks stock, the interior will look stock and i am keeping all of the trim and badges, oh and thanks for the bed compliment alot of effort and cash went into making it look that way

[72BlckButy]

Hey stock and dropped is the only way to go in my opinion... so more power to you.

Any chance you'll have this thing at the Nat's in September? Had hoped you were going to make it this past year.

[67cheby]

me too, i think i have to make it a priority even if i have to show unfinished

[67cheby]

Well its been a toss up to figure out what to use to center the rearend... Just bit the bullet and ordered the KP Components watts link... i hope i like it

[GVizzle]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

Well its been a toss up to figure out what to use to center the rearend... Just bit the bullet and ordered the KP Components watts link... i hope i like it

Hey Cheby,

What made you go with the watts link, instead of the pan hard bar?

Also, how high is your truck for "ride height"?

Thanks for all the updates, looking good.

[nastyc10]

looks awesome man! Keep up the good work!

[Wild83C10]

TRuck is looking good, some nice fab work there.

One comment though. I always see people using levels. A level doesn't do much good unless the truck is sitting on perfectly level ground or you level it before you use a level. If the truck is sitting a degree or two off then the piece you have the level on will be off.

[meltmetal]

Sorry to jump in here but how do you guys get the frame level if the garage floor isn't level.. Would you level out the jack stands by putting shims etc under them?

[67cheby]

with the frame flat on the ground if the pinch welds are setting even on both sides its close enough for me, if someone wants to measure it and tell me i am 1/16 off from side to side , more power to them... if i had endless amounts of money to spend i would have went to a high dollar shop with all of the right frame jigs and all of the cool equipment.... but i dont , so this will work for me , The truck has been in my family for about 30 years it will never get sold so if i do something that is a little off i only have myself to beat up about it

[67cheby]

in the next pics i will hide my levels so it wont bother anyone

[Wild83C10]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

in the next pics i will hide my levels so it wont bother anyone

It wasn't bothering me. I was just making a comment, asking a question. Just wanted to make sure you weren't spending all that time to have to go back and spend more time fixing something. I would agree a 1/16 would probably be negligible, but you would be surprised what a degree or two adds up to over a 4-6 foot distance.

[RunninLo]

Originally Posted by Wild83C10

TRuck is looking good, some nice fab work there.

One comment though. I always see people using levels. A level doesn't do much good unless the truck is sitting on perfectly level ground or you level it before you use a level. If the truck is sitting a degree or two off then the piece you have the level on will be off.

Originally Posted by meltmetal

Sorry to jump in here but how do you guys get the frame level if the garage floor isn't level.. Would you level out the jack stands by putting shims etc under them?

Originally Posted by 67cheby

with the frame flat on the ground if the pinch welds are setting even on both sides its close enough for me, if someone wants to measure it and tell me i am 1/16 off from side to side , more power to them... if i had endless amounts of money to spend i would have went to a high dollar shop with all of the right frame jigs and all of the cool equipment.... but i dont , so this will work for me , The truck has been in my family for about 30 years it will never get sold so if i do something that is a little off i only have myself to beat up about it

Well having been a relatively poor guy all my life but also one that is a stickler for level,plumb, etc I can give away one of my on the cheap methods that I use for getting a good level surface to work on. Every time I found a good scissor jack in the trunk of a car at the salvage I always grabbed it. Yeah I'm the one that everyone is cursing when they can't find a jack. The scissors are great for setting up at the 4 corners of a frame and adjusting the screw until it sits level seven ways to Sunday. For Z's and clips I have used as many as 8 plus scissor jacks to dial things in just right. I have even gone so far as to temporarily weld them to the frame at times to be sure things aren't likely to move around.
They're free, infinately adjustable, and plenty just laying around. That's my kind of low-buck solution.

Josh

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I just ordered that same watts link how do you like it and how long did it take to arrive?

[67cheby]

4-5 day, i thought that was quick, my only complaint is the heim joints were so hard to thread into the arms that i totally messed up the finish on them, other than that it was simple

[kev2809]

^^^ thats a good idea to use scissor jacks. i may have to start doing that lol. i work outside too, in the grass. good thing i havent been doing anything that really requires a level lol

[LEEVON]

To borrow a line from an old painter I once met "He ain't takin' it to the World Fair". Give it a rest lets get back to this cool build.

[67cheby]

Thanks Leevon, and by the way i put the 6 ft level on the floor on all sides of the truck and i know you probably wont believe but the floor is dead on level !!

[GVizzle]

What color you gonna paint your truck Cheby?

[my67chevytruck]

looking good.