Meet Project Red, White, and Blue

[VA72C10]

Nice progress! Looking good! I like a slight texture to the frame. Also ends up being thicker coating that way I'd assume.

[no moa]

Made some progress today, I put the old rearend and leaf springs in there temporarily till i can redo the other rearend and the other heavy duty springs.
Tomorrow will be working on getting the A-Arms apart, cleaned, and painted, then the dreaded reassemble of those. I am concerned, i know they need 250ft of torque or something and i can't find my truck manual.

[RenoKeene]

I've got all the torque specs, let me know what you need or call me.
Brad
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[no moa]

Thank you Brad, i have a 69 chassis manual that is helping, but i'll email you for the final specs when i get to that point. Today is just trying to get them apart, DANG they come apart hard.

[RenoKeene]

E-mail me at armor1535@aol.com
I'm givin mine some serious love today, got to get it ready for when my daughter and her drop dead gorgous friend show up on the 9th. Going to take some real good pics with my short bed.
This truck really is beautiful, even if I did build it myself!
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[no moa]

Isn't beautiful Brad, smoking hot gorgues is more like it!!!! (yea i spelled it wrong)

[RenoKeene]

I think I spelled it wrong too, but I don't know cause I can't spell.
I just figured out my high dollar chrome repop eyebrows don't fit!
Oh well, won't be the first time I blew $100 on a pretty girl, or the last.
Is it too early for a beer?
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[no moa]

Ugh, that sucks on the trim. Been there.

I sent you an email, i have a 69 service manual, it gives me the torque specs, but i still want to check them against what you have.
Thanks
Glen

[RenoKeene]

Didn't get the e-mail, did you send it to the armor1535@aol.com address?
All I have is a Haynes manual so you have better info than I do I think. If your not sure call me and hang up and I'll call you back that way it won't cost you anything (I have a company phone).
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[no moa]

I will send it again, I think I used your other email.
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[RenoKeene]

Hey Glen, did you get your bed panels yesterday?

[no moa]

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

Hey Glen, did you get your bed panels yesterday?

I just opened them this morning. Perfect. Thank you Brad!

[RenoKeene]

Great! Looking forward to seeing them fabbed up.

[no moa]

Shouldn't be to long, i'm waiting for a couple more pieces, the most important one being $. lol I also need a rear crossmember piece, which i think he will have to make. as i'm not spending $150 bucks on a new when, when i only need 4 inches of it.

[crappiewrangler]

AWE the up and downs of a project. Just read through the entire thread. I love where you are going with this and will definitely be watching.

subscribed

[no moa]

^ thanks, its should be semi done in a couple years! lol

[crappiewrangler]

I can relate to that. I have had my 72 stepper for 6 months and all I have done is strip the interior.

[no moa]

Originally Posted by crappiewrangler

I can relate to that. I have had my 72 stepper for 6 months and all I have done is strip the interior.

lol, your slackin!! lol

[1970 custom]

Nice progress no moa u wanta trade frames now lol remember that 72 I bought here about a month back or so well I have had some time to look it over well the hole cowl is rusted out we say the whole cab lol
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[no moa]

lol, i have one of those cabs to! lol

[1970 custom]

More of them then the good ones
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[mcbassin]

Looks like a great project! Too bad about the whole lwb/swb thing. I'm glad to see you are pressing on with the build. Subscribed.

[no moa]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Looks like a great project! Too bad about the whole lwb/swb thing. I'm glad to see you are pressing on with the build. Subscribed.

Thank you, can't cry over cut frames. I'm thinking if i love this truck when its done, i'll find a southern short frame and redo it in 10 years or so, or about the time its done! lol

[Boyd B]

Originally Posted by no moa

Thank you, can't cry over cut frames. I'm thinking if i love this truck when its done, i'll find a southern short frame and redo it in 10 years or so, or about the time its done! lol

I saw you over on my thread, Thanks for the support! I breezed through your pics, I didn't see the cut job (I could have missed it). My thought on the frame is if it is done right, not to worry, it will be stronger than factory.

You have got a great thing going though,, good luck!

[no moa]

Well the frontend is mostly together, just need to get the tierods and stuff put on once i get the steering box on.

I got to say, the pass side went on great. The upper BJ (made in USA) didn't fit real good, but once i got it bolted in place it was ok. It uses a 3/4 nut )tiny) The lower bushing arm i don't think is right, the nuts don't thread in all the way, i went by the book 3 times, and i'm still not sure i did it right. So i tightened it up so it won't fall off.

The drivers side was a PITA!!!!! The upper ball joint (made in taiwan) lower rubber boot holder wouldn't even fit in the hole. I bought all these parts 3 months ago, so there was no going back. I widened the upper a-arm hole a little, got it set in place and wound the s!@t out of the bolts. It uses a 7/8 nut (big) Its in there now. I am sure i'll have to replace it in 500 miles, but i need to get this thing on the ground and back to my garage to put the motor in it.

The lower DS bushing i can tighten both sides up till they bottom out. (WTH) They are all center to the best of my ability.

So at this point, I'm not sure if the bushing/shaft alignment are right, the ball joints are crap (thanks napa for 2 different ball joints with the same part number WTH) The springs went in nice, got the spindles in place. I snugged it all up tight, so it won't fall apart moving it. No torquing though.

The rear leafs have new bushings, and are set in place and mounted to the crap rearend. I'm going to get new grade 8 bolts and find some new U-bolts this week, and that will take care of the rear leafs.

More pics later.