1970 VA Longbed Project

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 70k52wd

Kak...I don't remember what I paid, but I'm sure it wasn't that much.
You may have to order them, but even my po dunk parts store had one set, I had to order the other set.
They are real nice, and very heavy duty.
I forgot to do this, but when you get them, post a pic so that other folks can be aware that not everything has to come from a suspension supplier.

The BC/CC will be the same thing on the exterior.quote.

I learn something everyday on here.

I'll post up part numbers when i get them.

I learned about the BC/CC working on an engine on here as well...this site is a wealth of information!

[VA72C10]

Finished tearing down the engine and got it prepped up for cleaning and painting. The only other thing I will be doing is taking off the intake, replacing the gasket to be safe, and putting temp. bolts in....the PO used some of the nice stainless bowtie bolts and I'm not going to paint over them....


Took the valve covers off for a peak and was pleasantly surprised how clean the heads look. The PO hid a lot but had receipts for the engine and obviously put in new rockers, springs, and pushrods. Heads were cleaned up as well. Looked up the part numbers on MorTec. 333882.....74-80...350/400......76cc chambers

[VA72C10]

So here's how the engine sits now waiting to be cleaned and painted....and then have a couple of large boxes full of parts bolted onto it.

[VA72C10]

I started working on the disassembly of the front suspension. Got the remainder of the brake lines off, the tie rods (inner and outer) and the idler arm off and separated. Will be getting all new parts including the tie rod adjuster sleeve.

Got the U-bolts off the lower arms. Put a jack under the center of the LCA and jacked it up...loosened the U-bolts till they dropped out and then SLOWLY lowered down the jack. The lower arms simply dropped down with only the ball joint holding them on. The springs were shot and even broken but I still played it safe with the jack.

Had to leave quickly to meet a local guy buying parts so I didn't get nearly as much done as I wanted....oh well.

[VA72C10]

I'm excited because Thursday I will be working on the truck and meeting a guy who's gonna help with the paint. He heads up one of the largest body shops in our area and is going to try to help me get a deal on the paint...

[my67chevytruck]

progres.... cant wait to see how the paint turns out.

[VA72C10]

Got my tubular tranny crossmember, tranny mount, tubular engine stands and mounts, and my front shocks today. Also picked up a nice pair of leather seats for a pretty good deal...

[brian69longbed]

i've got the same impact gun. love that thing. i just recently retired my harbor freight (3/8) for the IR 3/8 also a great buy

[kernalklink]

looks like your truck is coming along nicely - makes me miss my 2wd pickups.... one lost to fire the other to rust. neither were very nice but i think everyone reading this could understand the love i felt.

hey i have the same heads on the motor i just installed in my truck - from what i read its a nice piece of stock power

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by kernalklink

looks like your truck is coming along nicely - makes me miss my 2wd pickups.... one lost to fire the other to rust. neither were very nice but i think everyone reading this could understand the love i felt.

hey i have the same heads on the motor i just installed in my truck - from what i read its a nice piece of stock power

I understand the love. Most will say I'm crazy because I chose to do this project instead of an all original 69 shortbed I had. But I just really like Longbeds and this was the first truck I owned...

The three times I've driven the truck It seemed to have PLENTY of power for me. Not a drag truck but more than enough for a cruiser....

[kernalklink]

the truck i got the motor from would only drive in reverse so i never really got to feel the power

my 69 lwb was my first car - it was in my brothers garage when it burned to the ground - also lost my dads 69 bel air wagon

i just sold my 68 lwb 2wd because i needed funds for the 67 - it was one of those that was rusted so bad it hurt to even look at! got $800 for it still ran like a champ and drove pretty nicely - i was just always worried about hitting a bump and losing my cab..... not that it would happen so easily but damn there was a lot of rust!

[brn agn]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

I understand the love. Most will say I'm crazy because I chose to do this project instead of an all original 69 shortbed I had. But I just really like Longbeds and this was the first truck I owned...

The three times I've driven the truck It seemed to have PLENTY of power for me. Not a drag truck but more than enough for a cruiser....

Don't worry...someone will fix up that old 69 shortbed too.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by brn agn

Don't worry...someone will fix up that old 69 shortbed too.

I'm glad it's in good hands and really looking forward to when you post a build thread. Like I said, everyone I've talked to said I am crazy for picking my longbed over the 69 short fleet you now have.

[70k52wd]

I'm kickin myself right now for not buying that swb.

[brn agn]

I think it is cool that you are doing a long bed...besides when you see the build thread, you may have second thoughts on whether it was worth the work!!!!

[brian69longbed]

good thing i live in the sun shine state. there is NO rust on my truck not even in the areas where you would typically find it! ok maybe a tiny bit inside the cab but THATS IT!

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by brn agn

I think it is cool that you are doing a long bed...besides when you see the build thread, you may have second thoughts on whether it was worth the work!!!!

I know that had more firewall and floorpan rust than my longbed...and what my longbed has is more than I want to deal with

Originally Posted by brian69longbed

good thing i live in the sun shine state. there is NO rust on my truck not even in the areas where you would typically find it! ok maybe a tiny bit inside the cab but THATS IT!

That's just not fair

Wait till you see the pictures of the rust on mine....working on getting those posted tonight.

[VA72C10]

First picture is of the new seats I got...going to take a little work to fit and they will stick up past the bottom of the rear window, but they are a couple inches shorter than the late model chevy truck seats I originally got for the truck. Also have a lot more padding, shape, and they are power. They came out of a 2000 something model Cadillac Deville of all vehicles...

[VA72C10]

Next I took pictures of my recent part purchases....First are the POL tranny crossmember and mount and tubular engine towers with mounts. Also shown are the Monroe shocks for the front. The plan is to paint the motor towers and shocks body color...the tranny crossmember will be scuffed and painted to match the frame.

[VA72C10]

Then there are the Powered bear claw latches and install kit

[VA72C10]

Here are the tools of the evening and a picture of the cab tipped on its' back and the reason I needed those tools.....

[VA72C10]

And here is the reason I need to grind down all of the junk off the bottom....going to have to do some patching...



Here's the underside of the rear passenger corner patch. Still have a ways to go on this but no gaping hole in the corner any more

[VA72C10]

Progress...


A little more....getting dusty in there...glad I had a high quality respirator


A little before and after...


Cleaning up pretty well

[VA72C10]

I started with a twisted wire cup to knock the majority of the dirt/undercoating off and finished it off with the grinder and a 36 grit pad.



The underside of the cab will be undercoated again but I wanted to get it to metal to know what I was working with. Found a couple more small parts we will patch but nothing too bad. It's looking good...one more half to go....hopefully will finish it up tomorrow.

[VA72C10]

Good news was the fender supports are in good shape. I test fit the new cab supports and they will make a major improvement

Fender support


New cab support....will need a little trim to fit...