Front-end progress pics... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**COBALT** · 10-07-2002, 04:05 AM

After 4 weeks of work (taking it apart, painting the new parts, wire brushing the old parts, and soaking them in solvent, and brushing some more, and 2 coats of paint) I finally have the front-end back together and looking kick-a$$.

Those coils are original. I wire brushed the crap out of them to make them look that good. So are the control arms. Even the sway bar (jostrans68 supplied that by the way).

I've got some details to work out, but now I can bust out the trailing arms, replace the bushings, and then focus attention on the transmission that needs resealing (see the puddle in the background? That's the front seal after 4 weeks of sitting with 1 inch of slope downwards on the front-end). Needs a main seal badly.

the-wreck · 10-07-2002, 07:01 AM

Great job Cobalt. Looks outstanding.

meathead95 · 10-07-2002, 07:47 AM

Looks good Bud!

70 Jimmy · 10-07-2002, 01:48 PM

You could hide a disc brake set up behind those OLD drums and no one would know the difference! LOL. Looks great! Did you paint (if so, with what brand) or powder coat the A arms?

**COBALT** · 10-07-2002, 02:15 PM

No powder coating sadly enough. I tried looking for a local Sandblaster/Powder coater that would let me drop my parts off after business hours, but no go. All of them close at 4:30 and forget about weekends. That committed me to wire brushing and painting myself.

I wire brushed everthing clean that was stock off the truck:

-idler support
-upper/lower control arms
-springs
-pitman arm hardware
-steering box
-front-end cross member and shoulders

I masked everything with masking tape and cardboard. Then I used Rust-o-leum gloss black on everything frame related. I also painted all of the parts I got from Early Classic Entereprises. Went through 5 cans, plus a 1 qt. can of brush-on. I didn't paint the cross member because I've got an oil leak, and I didn't want to disconnect the brakes or grind off the rivets, so I'll wait until I do the frame-off later, but it would have been nice to do it all. I was seriously tempted to just tear the truck apart and get serious, but I need the truck for my building project that's up and coming.

Then for the springs I used the Rust-o-leum Metalic. It's impregnated with very fine silver glitter. I tested it out and it seemed to adhere very well. A trick I learned when wirebrushing springs. I had a 3/8" drill with a 3" cupped wheel with coarse wire. I used a 12" extension and chucked that to the drill, and put the wheel inside the spring, and then chucked the extension to the wheel. Then I simply worked in a circle and brushed the inside. Pretty slick.

Everything got at least 2 coats. The lower control arms were a ***** because there's lots of little spots that won't take paint very well, so they had to get extra attention. I broke the sponge off one of those little sponge brushes and swabbed the inside of the towers with paint. That sucked.

10-07-2002, 04:05 AM	#1
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	Front-end progress pics... After 4 weeks of work (taking it apart, painting the new parts, wire brushing the old parts, and soaking them in solvent, and brushing some more, and 2 coats of paint) I finally have the front-end back together and looking kick-a$$. Those coils are original. I wire brushed the crap out of them to make them look that good. So are the control arms. Even the sway bar (jostrans68 supplied that by the way). I've got some details to work out, but now I can bust out the trailing arms, replace the bushings, and then focus attention on the transmission that needs resealing (see the puddle in the background? That's the front seal after 4 weeks of sitting with 1 inch of slope downwards on the front-end). Needs a main seal badly. Attached Images __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA. Last edited by COBALT; 10-07-2002 at 04:08 AM.

10-07-2002, 07:47 AM	#3
meathead95 computer illiterate Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 6,440	Looks good Bud! __________________ 72 2wd blazer 72 swb 4x4

10-07-2002, 01:48 PM	#4
70 Jimmy aka Crusher, Crushergmc Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,834	You could hide a disc brake set up behind those OLD drums and no one would know the difference! LOL. Looks great! Did you paint (if so, with what brand) or powder coat the A arms? __________________ "KEEP IT DOWN!" 70 Jimmy 454 2wd 56 GMC Big Window "It's funny till someone gets hurt, then it's freakin' hilarious"

10-07-2002, 02:15 PM	#5
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	No powder coating sadly enough. I tried looking for a local Sandblaster/Powder coater that would let me drop my parts off after business hours, but no go. All of them close at 4:30 and forget about weekends. That committed me to wire brushing and painting myself. I wire brushed everthing clean that was stock off the truck: -idler support -upper/lower control arms -springs -pitman arm hardware -steering box -front-end cross member and shoulders I masked everything with masking tape and cardboard. Then I used Rust-o-leum gloss black on everything frame related. I also painted all of the parts I got from Early Classic Entereprises. Went through 5 cans, plus a 1 qt. can of brush-on. I didn't paint the cross member because I've got an oil leak, and I didn't want to disconnect the brakes or grind off the rivets, so I'll wait until I do the frame-off later, but it would have been nice to do it all. I was seriously tempted to just tear the truck apart and get serious, but I need the truck for my building project that's up and coming. Then for the springs I used the Rust-o-leum Metalic. It's impregnated with very fine silver glitter. I tested it out and it seemed to adhere very well. A trick I learned when wirebrushing springs. I had a 3/8" drill with a 3" cupped wheel with coarse wire. I used a 12" extension and chucked that to the drill, and put the wheel inside the spring, and then chucked the extension to the wheel. Then I simply worked in a circle and brushed the inside. Pretty slick. Everything got at least 2 coats. The lower control arms were a ***** because there's lots of little spots that won't take paint very well, so they had to get extra attention. I broke the sponge off one of those little sponge brushes and swabbed the inside of the towers with paint. That sucked. Attached Images __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

10-07-2002, 07:01 AM	#2
the-wreck Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: LI New York Posts: 159	Great job Cobalt. Looks outstanding.



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