Big Bird - 1972 Longhorn K30

[BlueBullet]

This is my first build thread so please bare with me. After seeing Jeff's bowtie's and 7dee2 K30 flatbeds. I have gotten motivated to start my project Big Bird. Plans are to swap axles and drivetrain out of a 1989 K30. I bought a C50 a while back that I am going to use for bed and a few other parts. Here's some pictures of Big Bird and it's donors

[BlueBullet]

Hopefully this works I think I had the pictures to big

[BlueBullet]

A little background. I bought the truck in South Dakota on an online auction at a junkyard in Mobridge. The metal is dented but the cab is almost mint and the front clip isn't bad for the area. Here's what it looked like when I got it home.

[BlueBullet]

A little clean up trying to figure out what direction to go then decided K30 flatbed.

[BlueBullet]

Few progress pictures. Going to probably tear into the C50. A guy is coming to pick up the remains next week sometime.

[BlueBullet]

Got the C50 stripped of what I need and the flatbed ready to pull before having to head to Christmas.

[BlueBullet]

Finished stripping what I am going to keep off the C50. I got all my 4 wheel conversion parts blasted. I kept the section of my donor frame where the rear shackle is. I am going to use that as a template for drilling the holes for the rear mount. I also cut out the holes for the front brake lines and going to use them to hold the rubber lines on the 2wd frame.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very cool project, and nice trucks to start out with. I love converted Longhorns. I'm in to watch yours. Man, the cab on that C50 looked to be in really nice shape.

[BlueBullet]

Yea that C50 was pretty clean I sold what was left on Thursday. Springs and hardware showed up yesterday and pulled the engine cross member from a truck out back. Hopefully get the cab and front wheel cross member removed.

[BlueBullet]

Got the cab off and frame stripped. Started welding holes shut in the frame. Got the parking brake lumps cut out and welded back in. I'm glad we have a plasma cutter it really seemed to speed up the process.

[7dee2]

You are flying, great progress, Longhorn's rule!

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work and nice K20 in the background too!

[BlueBullet]

Thanks guys!! Probably be seeing it in a lot of pictures I feel it serves as a nice back drop. Yesterday wasn't as productive as I would have like. I got the box off the K30 and started hanging the front hangers. Got the right side done then on to the to the left. Then I snapped the special bit for the crappy hole saw kit I bought so that was it for the night. I was to irritated to take pictures of yesterday's shop progress.

[BlueBullet]

Tonight was more productive. Got the rest of the springs and hangers mocked up and most holes drilled. Just have to do the bottom. I had to remove the rear parking brake brackets and take out the rest of the rivets on that cross member.(I am looking forward to being done with rivets even with an air chisel) I left the rear hangers in factory location and was able to line up with one bolt hole in the frame for the front hanger which made doing the other side easier. I wanted to stay with factory measurements so the rear springs are from a P30 van. Right or wrong that's the way I went and we will see how she rides. One nice thing about having the K20 next to Big Bird is it's handy for reference.

[BlueBullet]

Now on to drilling, disassembly, welding, grinding and tearing into the K30 stay tuned.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work! Did you use the 67-72 type front spring shackle hanger or the one from the K30? If you used the 67-72 style, a friend of mine is manufacturing some made from DOM with larger bushings instead of the small ones these have. He should have them ready in a couple more weeks I think.

[BlueBullet]

Here is the setup I got going on with the front shackles. I got everything through Husky Spring in St.Cloud Minnesota and I told him I wanted everything made in the USA. I told them what I was doing and together this is what we came up with. I am not sure what DOM means. I have been slowly reading through your thread and getting lots of useful info. To bad Photobucket pictures don't show up. These threads bring a new meaning to" a picture says a thousand words". I would like to eventually put in a Cummins.

[BlueBullet]

The bolt in the shackle are only hand tight. I will be using grade 8 fine thread hardware. Drilling most everything out to 7/16 and using 7/16 x 1" bolts for most holes some may have to be 1-1/4"

[Dieselwrencher]

DOM is drawn over mandrel tubing with a welded seam and the seam is removed. Here's a link with more info on it.

https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/di...seamless-tube/

Yeah, the PB thing sure put a wrench in the build threads. My thread is really long. Sorry about that. Haha

[collin70k/20]

Awesome truck and build man and nice progress, Im in!

[BlueBullet]

Thanks Collin. I have to keep givener we have a baby coming in May and I am hoping the truck will be mobile. Tonight was fairly productive,. I got all the holes drilled that are for sure so far. Disassembled again, removed box supports and hanger bearing cross member. Also started welding holes shut until I ran out of gas. Figured that was a good stopping point. Thanks to all the guys that have threads on doing this conversion. I has made this build go smoothly so far and enabling me to be quite efficient. I set goals and try not to get too far ahead of myself. One thing I have noticed that when I stop and clean my work area I keep motivated. I guess it would be similar to starting you day by making your bed

[BlueBullet]

Also the last two pictures dont forget to drill the bumper bracket holes and the left hand safety stop holes. I almost did so wanted to put in a reminder. Anyways enough of my wisdom here's some pictures.

[DWilbur]

I'm in this will be a very cool build. The C50 would have made a cool 4X4.

[BlueBullet]

I figured that I should probably give some more detail on the direction I am headed. I am going to try and keep this build budget minded. I have noticed in some of my other projects it is easy to get carried away. I am just going to wire wheel the frame and axles and paint them with a brush. That way it will be reasonably cost effective and durable. More paint will end up on the frame then the floor. Repair and replace what is need to make it nice driver. Once to that point enjoy and who knows what that might lead to next

[BlueBullet]

Now for today's progress. I copped out of work early and got to welding. Finished welding and then on grinding. I got 95% of the grinding done also. I will get back to once I can feel my arms again. That is going to be it until Sunday. Some friends and I are going to hit the hard water and wack back some frosties. And yes that is metal shavings on the ground. I am trying to figure out if I am a Grinder or a Welder.