71 4X4 Frame off Restoration

[swamp rat]

You have a flatbed trailer correct? can you tell me how high the trailer ball needs to be (top of ball?) to keep your trailer level?

As you know i want to buy a trailer once i get my truck situated and i just mounted my hitch to the frame, now i'm wondering if i may need to do a drop on the hitch if a drop receiver won't be low enough.

Ani insight from your experience would be appreciated.

[DWilbur]

I don't have a flat bed trailer. Typically the ball height is 16 to 18 inches from the ground in most cases.

[DWilbur]

I had some time this afternoon to separate the rear roof parts I salvaged off the back of the suburban. I have the 3 main parts including the back window from my truck to make up the back of the crew cab. Saturday I will start fitting them to gather.

[DWilbur]

Well I did not get much done last week end. struggled with fitting the sheet metal together. I went to HF tonight and finely found some sheet metal clamp. I must have walked by them more time than I can count. so I bought 3 packages of them. they are much bigger than I expected. should make fitting the parts much easer.

[swamp rat]

I have 1 set, the blades are .040 wide which isn't bad.

[DWilbur]

I started fitting the rear roof section I cut off the suburan so far things are working out.

[DWilbur]

Working grave yard sucks I'm not use to this 3 week left to go. I did find a 67 short bed on Craigslist last week I picked it up for $400.00 this is better that cutting down the long bed I have into a short bed. should save 100 man hours. The rear bottom corners are damaged I ordered a patch panel for the right rear to fix it. The left side should be able to clean it up with some body work. I post some pics this week end.

[swamp rat]

Been there done that, one time 3 years the other about 8 months before i gave in and went to 2nd shift, I'll get day shift again one of these days and then start grumbling about there being more people and traffic.

Smart move on the bed, if i ever get to my 67 project i plan on shortening the frame too so i found a short bed step side for it.

Welcome back!

[DWilbur]

Saturday I spent some time installing the Dirty Dingo motor mount in the frame. Sunday I cut loose the rear roof section from the tack welds and cut it in half as it was about 1/4" short from side to side. I fit and tack welded the 2 sections in place with a gap about 1/4" wide in the middle. spent the rest of the day moving part around and cleaning up my garage. I also moved the frame over so I can have more room to work in the drive way.
Not able to upload picture today tried several times

[DWilbur]

I was able to upload pictures on craigslist tonight. still not able to up load picture here.

[DWilbur]

I was able to up load the pictures.

[DWilbur]

My friend Bob helped my install the engine to today. I will have to move the engine forward by 1" to clear the firewall. The Dough Thorley headers I bought don't fit the hit the frame by 1" and the drivers side collector interferes with the hydraulic clutch.

[swamp rat]

Well hell there has to be somebody here that used the same engine, maybe a search will yield a solution on the headers? That engine sure looks pretty in that frame tho.

[Vova]

Looks great...

[cmabolt]

I did the Lq4 SWAP and moved mine 2 inches forward. I tried the Thorley headers as well and got them to fit, but ultimately they hot the cab on
re-assembly. This week I am going to try 2 pairs. The hooker LS manifolds
and the Headman mid-length LS swap for c10'. I'll let ya know which works.
There are not a lot of choices with the 4x4's though depending on which motor mounts/crossmember you use they have headers that will work for that specific
conversion.

Chris

[DWilbur]

I purchased the headers directly from Dough Thorley. I will call them next week and see what can be done. I don't expect much as I bought the headers about 9 months ago.

[DWilbur]

My brother stopped by and helped me set up the back window for the cab. it is starting to fit nicely. I'm thinking about getting some help welding up the rest of the sheet metal and getting the cab in primer. my friend Sky has a hot rod shop in Santa Clara and he said he has room and time to do the work.

[swamp rat]

Looking good! I wrestle with that too, i want to do the work but at the same time i'm sure somebody local could do a better job... (if i found the right place) Then there are days when i wish i could just drive it instead of work on it.

[msgross]

cool build

[DWilbur]

I picked up the SB Thursday from the media blaster and the left side looks like a Bondo bucket was used to fill the dents. the right side has small dents very little Bondo. the bed floor has got heavy rust and I'm thinking about replacing it. the back of the bed is dented a lot. Saturday I built a dolly for the SB. and tack welded the upper part of the back cab on getting it ready to go to the body shop on Thursday next week. I bought a NV4500 from Ebay Saturday I hope to receive it late next week or the fallowing week. With the internal hydraulic clutch I might be able to use the DH headers after I raise the engine up.

[DWilbur]

On Friday I delivered the cab and bed to Sky's Hot Rods. Saturday I delivered the sheet metal patch panels and bed part to Sky's shop. I disassembled the long bed Saturday and Sunday to scavenge parts for the short bed it saved me $550.00 in parts. Today I picked up my NV4500 from my office looks to be in good shape on the out side should be good to rebuild and set up for NP205 T-case. the picture is of the cab before it was loaded on the trailer.

[DWilbur]

I ordered a short bed floor from GMCPaul's today hope it gets delivered by next week.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice project. I'm curious to see how your crew cab roof turns out. Good work so far!

[DWilbur]

I stopped by the body shop this afternoon and the back of the cab and roof are coming together nicely. Based on the work done in the last 2 days by end of next week the cab should be close to completing the welding and grinding around the back and roof. Then the floor will have to be patched in.

[ole dollor]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

I stopped by the body shop this afternoon and the back of the cab and roof are coming together nicely. Based on the work done in the last 2 days by end of next week the cab should be close to completing the welding and grinding around the back and roof. Then the floor will have to be patched in.

looking forward to seeing it done.....kool project .