Project Ol' Blue

[wayfastwhitey]

I'm definitely diggin' the truck, but couldn't you have turned the axle around (left becomes right, right becomes left) to save the extra cutting and welding whilst placing the axle on top of the leafs?

And I saw something about a chop top, I say go for it, I'm contemplating a 5/7 drop with a flipped axle and a 7” chop on my truck with a power rear window (up/down) in my truck, I think that a chopped top would really look good if done right on any 88-98.

And a wood bed floor would really set it off... But that's just me...
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[wayfastwhitey]

Scratch that axle thing, its had me confused all night, finally wrapped my head around that one.
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[bulldog2513]

Originally Posted by wayfastwhitey

Scratch that axle thing, its had me confused all night, finally wrapped my head around that one.
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lol been a few months since I been on here. I was trying to figure out where you were going with that for a sec.

[dragonwrecker]

Originally Posted by bulldog2513

lol been a few months since I been on here. I was trying to figure out where you were going with that for a sec.

lol jj hey go check out this thread

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=563056

[bulldog2513]

Well its been a while since I have been on here. Not a lot of progress due to life issues and finances. I did get the frame finished, the bed back on and the roll pan installed. Also got some tunes back in the dash. I got a new ignition switch installed and got all new shocks from Summit, the rears are on. Still have to drop the front about another 2 or 3 inches since the axle flip. Dont really have the money for drop spindles right now so I'm thinking about taking a couple rounds off the springs. Here's a few pics.

[Shrub006]

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[bulldog2513]

Well my tranny decided to take a dump Friday morning. Thank God I had a spare! Me and my brother (dragonwrecker) worked till 1:30 in the morning swapping it out. He had a fairly new torque converter lying in the shop so we put that in also. Then while we had her on the rack we decided to finish the drop on the front end. 'Ol Blue is sittin right now even though I still need to get a lower sway bar for her. But...on the way home from Super Summit 2013 at Summit Racing yesterday, the rear end was hitting the cross member I added in. So now we will be removing the bed again, notching the member and replacing destroyed brake lines today. It never ends does it? LOL heres a few pics.

[bulldog2513]

Here is the 'Ol Blue sporting her new stance. I'm loving the look!

[Shrub006]

I really like the build. Nothing fancy or expensive. Just the old hot rod way of taking what you have available and making something cool from it with your own hands and a little help from your friends. Looks great keep at it!
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[dragonwrecker]

Originally Posted by bulldog2513

Well my tranny decided to take a dump Friday morning. Thank God I had a spare! Me and my brother (dragonwrecker) worked till 1:30 in the morning swapping it out. He had a fairly new torque converter lying in the shop so we put that in also. Then while we had her on the rack we decided to finish the drop on the front end. 'Ol Blue is sittin right now even though I still need to get a lower sway bar for her. But...on the way home from Super Summit 2013 at Summit Racing yesterday, the rear end was hitting the cross member I added in. So now we will be removing the bed again, notching the member and replacing destroyed brake lines today. It never ends does it? LOL heres a few pics.

And being able to do it in the shop on the lift made it SOOO much easier doesn't it lol
Posted via Mobile Device btw something you couldn't see yesterday is how good she looks riding down the road

[bulldog2513]

Originally Posted by Shrub006

I really like the build. Nothing fancy or expensive. Just the old hot rod way of taking what you have available and making something cool from it with your own hands and a little help from your friends. Looks great keep at it!
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Thanks! yep...low budget with a LOT of love and hard work. I want her to have that old school hot rod look with a flair of modern ingenuity. And being an 88 she is getting close to being an antique, so I want to do her right. Not to mention BOTH of my children came home from the hospital in her when they were born. She is a part of the family and will never leave. My 8 year old calls it his truck and is beginning to work on it with me. Life is good!

[bulldog2513]

AMEN to that Dragonwrecker! I should have gotten you to video her so I could see it from that view lol btw as soon as I eat some viddles I will be heading that way.

[bulldog2513]

Today was a busy day. Got the truck up on the lift and discovered that the rubber hose and a metal line had been destroyed. I cut the cross-member in half and welded the cutout piece back in to make it half the thickness it was. a few fillers welded in, some paint and it looked good. I installed the new brake lines, rerouting the metal one a bit, and we got the system bled out. I also was having issues with the tranny not shifting correctly. While looking at the one we pulled out I realized that when we did the motor/tranny swap to the Camaro set up a few years back, that we changed the throttle valve cable to the one originally on the truck. We did not change it the other night. So I swapped them out. Everything seemed great. No slamming noises from the bed, even with two grown men jumping in it, and me watching, and the tranny shifts perfect. When I left Dragonwrecker's house I nailed it. The burnout lasted into the shift from 1st to 2nd and then continued in second. Old girl raises the front end up a bit now. Well I got home and just for ****z and giggles I looked underneath. The pumpkin had been hitting the cross-member again and my brand new rubber brake hose was torn. Here's where my temper came in LOL. Me and my trusty sawzall took out the center of the cross-member. That puppy wont hit anymore. Hopefully the brake line will hold up until I can get a new one next weekend. I will have to remove the two outer sections of the now defunct cross-member when I get her back on the lift. I dont believe I will need to replace it, as I added it for extra strength. Axle seals and a new differential cover will be next on the list.

[bulldog2513]

Originally Posted by dragginmetal

Drop coils alone are not gonna get him low enough. Even if he cut them enough, more than likely he'll never get the wheels aligned right. Keep in mind, i'm not saying it cant be done, just IMO he's not gonna like the outcome.

Just a follow up.... I ended up cutting 1 full coil out of my drop springs. Put her right on the money. As far as I can tell at this time, no alignment issues. Rides like a cloud unless I hit a large bump, then I bottom out just a little bit. I guess I got lucky on this one.

[bulldog2513]

Well I think I have made a decision on the looks of Ol Blue. She might not be blue for much longer. I am leaning very seriously towards doing her rat rod style. Flat black, maybe flat blue if I can find one I like, and paint my truck ralleys red with the chrome beauty rings. Might do the center cap in body color, havent decided. She has the stance now and the attitude to match a rat rod and that way at least she is one color for now and all the primed metal is coated to prevent rust. I have been looking and as of yet have not seen another 88-98 body style done in this classic hot rod style. I seriously doubt I will go all into the crazy stuff of a monster rat rod but just give her the flavor. Any thoughts or comments??? Have any of you seen an 88-98 rat rod?

[dragginmetal]

Originally Posted by bulldog2513

Just a follow up.... I ended up cutting 1 full coil out of my drop springs. Put her right on the money. As far as I can tell at this time, no alignment issues. Rides like a cloud unless I hit a large bump, then I bottom out just a little bit. I guess I got lucky on this one.

I'm glad it worked out for you. Maybe my alignment guy isn't as good as i thought. He has told me any drop over around 3" with just springs is pushing the alignment to the max. I guess next time he says he can't align something, I'm going to try someone else.

[bulldog2513]

Originally Posted by dragginmetal

I'm glad it worked out for you. Maybe my alignment guy isn't as good as i thought. He has told me any drop over around 3" with just springs is pushing the alignment to the max. I guess next time he says he can't align something, I'm going to try someone else.

LOL Im not saying I WONT have issues. But after about a week now, I can let go of the wheel and she keeps rolling straight. If I do have any issues in the near future I will update you so the poor guy doesn't lose any work.

[bulldog2513]

Well I was gonna shoot some flat back on her this coming Friday and put her in her first show as a Rat Rod........FedEx decided I should not do that. One of their talented drivers decided he would knock the **** out the front end this morning in the parking lot at my work. Hit her so hard that it knocked the parking space stop up from the re-bar that secures it and pushed her about 2 feet. The damage doesn't look like much but the first repair estimate is about 5 bucks short of 4,000.00. The parts alone estimated at 2,700.00 and some change. Ol Blue is not having very good luck lately. Maybe I can turn this into a positive though, as long as the owner doesn't want to turn it in on his insurance and pays me direct, because if he does my truck will be totaled. I WILL NOT let go of her! So y'all say a little prayer for me that all goes well.

[Shrub006]

Ouch! Dude that sucks. Well hopefully they won't turn it into their insurance.
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[bulldog2513]

Originally Posted by Shrub006

Ouch! Dude that sucks. Well hopefully they won't turn it into their insurance.
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Yeah I hinted to the dude that I wouldnt be opposed to letting him handle it without going through the insurance company. If they do, its totaled. I will have one helluva fight on my hands to make them fix it. As long as the owner will agree to enough to cover my parts and a little extra for labor, I will do it myself.

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Hey my truck is totaled but i fixed it for 30 bucks

[Shrub006]

I'm glad to hear you are keeping it. My DD 1995 c1500 RCLB I bought rebuilt from salvage and was totaled again when a tree fell on it. I still wouldn't trade it for the world.

Thirty bucks now that is the way to fix it. All in all the FedEx truck got a lot of damage from your chevy. They were built like a rock.
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[bulldog2513]

Well I got all the insurance crap handled. I refused to let them total it. I have ordered all the parts and have installed some of them. Being careful with my money I managed to get some extras too. As of right now, the new cowl hood is on, drop spindles and lowering coils on, tailgate installed, new battery under the hood, left headlight assembly and drivers side fender is on. Waiting for the grill, turn signals, marker lights, fillers and valance to get here. Next I will get the front end back on then work on installing the tailgate handle relocate kit to smooth the back out. I will try to get some pics up shortly.
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[bulldog2513]

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Also installed new sway bar bushings and had to trim the lowrr a arms for clearance issues with the wheels.
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