My Quest for Hot Rod Power Tour, Take 2

[mrhurt73]

Ok so i am starting on rebuilding my hot rod truck. This picture was taken this summer at a local car show.

but i really need to start this build story 6 years ago. In 2005 i was reading my Hot Rod mag and i saw that the Power Tour was making a stop in roanoke, va. i was thinking thats really close to me, now i only need something to drive.

[mrhurt73]

Since i didnt have a hot rod, the need arose to find one. A co-worker of mine told when a old chevy truck was sitting, they couldn't get it to run right and wanted to get rid of it.

I went to look at it, and they just wouldn't budge on price. so i left and a week before christmas my wife called and offered them $400.00 bucks saying it was my christmas present. they decided to have the christmas spirt and sold it to her.

here is how it looked the day i dragged it home.

[mrhurt73]

If you look close at the motor photo you might be able to figure out why they couldnt get it running right.

one of the heads had a problem, and just replaced that head with something they had laying around. not exactly the same compression ratio going on each side. ha ha

didnt take long for me to decide original frame was not going to make the trip.
too big for what my picture was in my mind.

[mrhurt73]

ok, so i had a 1979 c-10 frame leftover from another project.
hmmm, a little cutting, little shaping, i think it will fit.

[mrhurt73]

ok, fast forward, lots of cutting, lots of plasma cutter, lots of welding and bought a bed. a F*RD fan had this bed in his yard, he said "i dont want that junk in my yard anymore"
i was more than happy to help him clean his yard.

[mrhurt73]

ok so we did a real quick paint job and then on the road we went. Didnt make the long haul gang in 2006, truck didnt fail me, had to go back to work.

but it was a blast and met a lot of new friends.

[mrhurt73]

ok so a real fast forward. now we are back to 2012.
I was reading Hot Rod mag again and what did it show, but the tour ending in charlotte, nc.
hey thats close to home, know that town pretty good, hit the goodguys shows and the swap meet shows all the time.

so now Quest part 2 has started. but wife had a wish list if we were going to drive to Texas and back.
1. Air Conditioning - ok, yeah understand this one

2. Air Ride system - ok, yeah that would be cool.

3. LS motor install - yeah now we are talking.

As of dec 16th 2012 at 1:00pm this is what the truck looked like.

[mrhurt73]

4 hours later this is what it looked like.

im well on the way to getting the wifes wish list done.

[oldman3]

Hey, you got a plan, AND the wife is on your side, couldn't ask for more....Jim

[mrhurt73]

ok thursday the 20th was the next time i got to work on the truck.

more disassembly, taking parts off is fast, putting parts back is slow.

[mrhurt73]

the front end comes off the C-10 series pretty easy, 7 main bolts on each side, the large bolts are 3/4" and smaller ones are 5/8" with 11/16" nuts. these are all socket sizes not actual thread size. note the bottom 5/8" bolts the nuts are welded on, so no need to remove upper A-arm to hold nuts.

also power steering box is held on with 4 bolts and idler arm held on with 2 bolts. and motor mount plates are held in place with 4 9/16" bolts, you can reach around the lower A-arms to hold the nuts on the back side. take these plates off first makes it much easier to get to other bolts.

dont forget brake hoses are bolted to top A-arms also.

anybody need some stock front end parts ha ha.

[Kim57]

Sounds like a great plan to me.
Kim

[mrhurt73]

next was dismantle rearend. leaf springs are held on with 4 15/16" u-bolts. dont forget the axle vent tube is bolted to the frame on the pass side directly above the axle with 1/2" bolt. also pinion yoke to u-joint bolts 4 of then are 7/16" and then the brake line bolted to top of axle housing. each side line is 3/16" while the hold down bolt is 1/2". also shocks we 3/4" and 13/16" one front of axle one in rear.

[mrhurt73]

now onto many parts in the box.

first up is the rear air-bar system from AirRide.

they really pack the foam stuff around the parts so they dont get hurt, i got several trash bags full, but parts look great.

[mrhurt73]

next up is front end from scotts hot rods.

many many boxes for this kit, but the welds look awesome.

[oldman3]

I know lots of guys would like those parts for Xmas...Jim

[youngrodder]

Nice progress. I have always wanted to try the power tour...
best of luck on your rebuild.

Marc

[mrhurt73]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Hey, you got a plan, AND the wife is on your side, couldn't ask for more....Jim

I have a great wife, she actually comes to the garage with me

Originally Posted by Kim57

Sounds like a great plan to me.
Kim

like the A team used to say "i love it when a plan comes together"

Originally Posted by oldman3

I know lots of guys would like those parts for Xmas...Jim

yes christmas came early, i was great

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Nice progress. I have always wanted to try the power tour...
best of luck on your rebuild.

Marc

Hot Rod Power Tour was lots of fun, see all kinds of new rides and meet new friends.

[Wheelie]

Project looks like a lot of fun. I too want to go on the power tour with my truck. Of course my goal was 2 years ago.

[meter swinger]

Looks awesome. That thing is gonna handle like a slot car and ride like a cadillac when your done.
Posted via Mobile Device

[mrhurt73]

Originally Posted by meter swinger

Looks awesome. That thing is gonna handle like a slot car and ride like a cadillac when your done.
Posted via Mobile Device

i am hoping it will, it rode good before, now im hoping for great.

[_Ogre]

good looking truck
truk long hauled the 2011 and 2012 power tours, i was smiling all the way
for me, ac is a necessity for the southern routes, 2011 it was 104 and up for the first 5 days, last yr it 95+ for the last 3 days.
truk and i will be there next yr, i need to find a new co-pilot. he's going to fix up his 50 buick roadmaster for next yr.

[mrhurt73]

ok,
i cut off the rivets with a 4 1/2" grinder, i found it easier to cut off the rear bracket rivets with the leaf spring flipped over like show in picture.

all four brackets cut off in about 2 hours, gave the grinder a break ever now and then as not to burn it up.

[mrhurt73]

my trailblazer ss manifolds showed up, going to try them soon enough.

5.3L and 4L60E combo been sitting in the corner all summer, its time is getting closer by the minute.

[mrhurt73]

so i used the paper template that airide sends with the kit. held in place with paper clips so i could center punch the holes i had to drill.

then i noticed the template didnt line up with my frame. after call to tech support i find out my truck was considered a heavy half. also this meant the panhard bar bracket for the differential was wrong. kit comes standard with 10 bolt rear bracket and mine has a 12 bolt rear. make note of yours when ordering kits, save yourself a day or two shipping.

also you have to cut off the factory bump stop to make room for the bracket to fit.

if you have a heavy half truck like me the back reference hole will not line up, you have to go off of axle centerline for drilling.