78 downlow-littledough - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cooperhw · 03-31-2017, 07:56 PM

Well howdy there fellas. Name's Wayne and my new project is a 78 Chevy 1/2 ton, fleet-side, short bed pickup.
By my title 78 downlow-littledough, you have probably already guessed that I am planned on putting her a little closer to terra firma and hopefully do it without buying a bunch of big ticket items
Last year I built (not 100% finished yet) a 72 El Camino that I have in the "Alternate Tinkerings" section. The year before that I built a 68 Chevy 1 ton dually short bed step side in the 68-72 section called "Meet Homer".
Anyhow, I mention these past projects so you will know a couple things about me before looking at this current project.
I have been going back and forth on whether to build a 63 GMC I had or do a square body. Well about a week ago I finally came to terms with this pickups former owner so a deal was struck. I put my 63 on Craigslisssss and on down the road it went. Went and picked up my new to me and brought it home this morning. It is a pretty straight and almost entire rust free truck. The former owner had pulled the rearend out to install new disk brakes along with engine upgrades and that was where the project met a timely death.
I had been trying to buy this truck for about the last 2 years off and on for a one of these days project, but felt he was asking too much money. I finally decided that his asking price was fair, so here she is in all her "glory",,,,,

cooperhw · 03-31-2017, 07:58 PM

A few more of this "clean" interior.

Derek@AccuAir · 03-31-2017, 08:30 PM

Looks like a great start! Congrats!

I'm in for the build.

3drburb · 04-01-2017, 01:21 AM

I am in.
Congrats on finally getting it.

cooperhw · 04-01-2017, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek@AccuAir

Looks like a great start! Congrats!

I'm in for the build.

Thanks Derek.

cooperhw · 04-01-2017, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3drburb

I am in.
Congrats on finally getting it.

Thanks. I appreciate it. Plan is to strip the doghouse, cab, & bed off ASAP so I can get started cleaning the frame & making plans.

flashed · 04-02-2017, 07:50 AM

Wow Coop ,that is a very nice truck to start with ,you know Im going to follow along .

cooperhw · 04-02-2017, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashed

Wow Coop ,that is a very nice truck to start with ,you know Im going to follow along .

Right on. I appreciate the kind words. It is a pretty nice hull to start out on. Not what I'm used to starting with.
Oh well, let the games begin.

cooperhw · 04-02-2017, 03:42 PM

Well, not getting around very good right now as I had a little knee scope operation last week, but, was getting around good enough to help my "helper" Chuck get started tearing this dude apart.

cooperhw · 04-02-2017, 03:45 PM

A few more. I know most of these pics are boring, but for me it is invaluable when it comes time to put it back together and I can go back and look at these pics and see what part bolted together into what hole. Great storage pics.

cooperhw · 04-02-2017, 03:47 PM

last ones today, I promise.

cooperhw · 04-02-2017, 03:48 PM

last ones today, I promise.
Took Chuck 2.5 hours, I paid him for 3, and we all know who got the better end of that deal?

flashed · 04-02-2017, 05:53 PM

Wow ya'll dont waste any time .

cooperhw · 04-02-2017, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashed

Wow ya'll dont waste any time .

Right on. I love the "honeymoon" phase of a build.

cooperhw · 04-02-2017, 06:57 PM

Had a little lunch and sat and watched about 30 minutes of the toob, and had to "go back out in the garage just to check it out".
Well, about an hour later I had the rearend, springs, and e-brake cables out. Inch by inch.
That's it for today. Back to work tomorrow.

daddyjeep · 04-02-2017, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooperhw

last ones today, I promise.

We like pictures, don't worry about it.

cooperhw · 04-03-2017, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

We like pictures, don't worry about it.

Cool.

3drburb · 04-03-2017, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooperhw

Well, not getting around very good right now as I had a little knee scope operation last week, but, was getting around good enough to help my "helper" Chuck get started tearing this dude apart.

We are going up similar roads here with kinda lower bucks low builds and nursing a bum knee. Hats off to you on your builds.

cooperhw · 04-03-2017, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3drburb

We are going up similar roads here with kinda lower bucks low builds and nursing a bum knee. Hats off to you on your builds.

Right on. We just keep plugging along. Keep up the good fight.

rusty76 · 04-03-2017, 07:02 PM

I'm following. Cool truck

cooperhw · 04-03-2017, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty76

I'm following. Cool truck

Glad to have ya. Thanks

rusty76 · 04-04-2017, 09:19 PM

I'm down for lowbuck builds.

cooperhw · 04-04-2017, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty76

I'm down for lowbuck builds.

That makes "MANY" of us. I would only do high buck builds & have nothing but the best parts installed by the best shop, except, (wait for it) hard to teach this old dog that trick.

cooperhw · 04-04-2017, 10:56 PM

How about a total of 9 inch drop in the front after installing 3 inch drop spindles?
Actually thinking about a hybrid rear suspension? I have a 66 1/2 ton frame at my cabin property that was hit pretty hard in the front. It has trailing arms. I am thinking I can do an axle flip with a lowering block & have a good place for my bags to sit?
What do u think?

**truckfan** · 04-05-2017, 06:32 PM

lurk

03-31-2017, 07:56 PM	#1
cooperhw Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mesa AZ (Near Phoenix) Posts: 2,302	78 downlow-littledough Well howdy there fellas. Name's Wayne and my new project is a 78 Chevy 1/2 ton, fleet-side, short bed pickup. By my title 78 downlow-littledough, you have probably already guessed that I am planned on putting her a little closer to terra firma and hopefully do it without buying a bunch of big ticket items Last year I built (not 100% finished yet) a 72 El Camino that I have in the "Alternate Tinkerings" section. The year before that I built a 68 Chevy 1 ton dually short bed step side in the 68-72 section called "Meet Homer". Anyhow, I mention these past projects so you will know a couple things about me before looking at this current project. I have been going back and forth on whether to build a 63 GMC I had or do a square body. Well about a week ago I finally came to terms with this pickups former owner so a deal was struck. I put my 63 on Craigslisssss and on down the road it went. Went and picked up my new to me and brought it home this morning. It is a pretty straight and almost entire rust free truck. The former owner had pulled the rearend out to install new disk brakes along with engine upgrades and that was where the project met a timely death. I had been trying to buy this truck for about the last 2 years off and on for a one of these days project, but felt he was asking too much money. I finally decided that his asking price was fair, so here she is in all her "glory",,,,, Attached Images __________________ "Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle". Later, Wayne

03-31-2017, 07:58 PM	#2
cooperhw Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mesa AZ (Near Phoenix) Posts: 2,302	Re: 78 downlow-littledough A few more of this "clean" interior. Attached Images __________________ "Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle". Later, Wayne

03-31-2017, 08:30 PM	#3
Derek@AccuAir Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Luis Obispo Posts: 62	Re: 78 downlow-littledough Looks like a great start! Congrats! I'm in for the build. __________________ BUILD IT! DRIVE IT! My Build Thread - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=734098

04-01-2017, 01:21 AM	#4
3drburb Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Kent, WA. Posts: 858	Re: 78 downlow-littledough I am in. Congrats on finally getting it.

04-02-2017, 07:50 AM	#7
flashed Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: canton ga Posts: 12,724	Re: 78 downlow-littledough Wow Coop ,that is a very nice truck to start with ,you know Im going to follow along .

04-02-2017, 03:42 PM	#9
cooperhw Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mesa AZ (Near Phoenix) Posts: 2,302	Re: 78 downlow-littledough Well, not getting around very good right now as I had a little knee scope operation last week, but, was getting around good enough to help my "helper" Chuck get started tearing this dude apart. Attached Images __________________ "Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle". Later, Wayne

04-02-2017, 03:45 PM	#10
cooperhw Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mesa AZ (Near Phoenix) Posts: 2,302	Re: 78 downlow-littledough A few more. I know most of these pics are boring, but for me it is invaluable when it comes time to put it back together and I can go back and look at these pics and see what part bolted together into what hole. Great storage pics. Attached Images __________________ "Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle". Later, Wayne

04-02-2017, 03:47 PM	#11
cooperhw Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mesa AZ (Near Phoenix) Posts: 2,302	Re: 78 downlow-littledough last ones today, I promise. Attached Images __________________ "Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle". Later, Wayne

04-02-2017, 03:48 PM	#12
cooperhw Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mesa AZ (Near Phoenix) Posts: 2,302	Re: 78 downlow-littledough last ones today, I promise. Took Chuck 2.5 hours, I paid him for 3, and we all know who got the better end of that deal? __________________ "Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle". Later, Wayne

04-02-2017, 05:53 PM	#13
flashed Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: canton ga Posts: 12,724	Re: 78 downlow-littledough Wow ya'll dont waste any time .

04-02-2017, 06:57 PM	#15
cooperhw Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mesa AZ (Near Phoenix) Posts: 2,302	Re: 78 downlow-littledough Had a little lunch and sat and watched about 30 minutes of the toob, and had to "go back out in the garage just to check it out". Well, about an hour later I had the rearend, springs, and e-brake cables out. Inch by inch. That's it for today. Back to work tomorrow. Attached Images __________________ "Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle". Later, Wayne

04-03-2017, 07:02 PM	#20
rusty76 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Midway, NC Posts: 3,275	Re: 78 downlow-littledough I'm following. Cool truck __________________ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=581873 The low buck build threads. Check'em out! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=666022 My build thread Crossmembers CC

04-04-2017, 09:19 PM	#22
rusty76 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Midway, NC Posts: 3,275	Re: 78 downlow-littledough I'm down for lowbuck builds. __________________ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=581873 The low buck build threads. Check'em out! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=666022 My build thread Crossmembers CC

04-04-2017, 10:56 PM	#24
cooperhw Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mesa AZ (Near Phoenix) Posts: 2,302	Re: 78 downlow-littledough How about a total of 9 inch drop in the front after installing 3 inch drop spindles? Actually thinking about a hybrid rear suspension? I have a 66 1/2 ton frame at my cabin property that was hit pretty hard in the front. It has trailing arms. I am thinking I can do an axle flip with a lowering block & have a good place for my bags to sit? What do u think? __________________ "Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle". Later, Wayne

04-05-2017, 06:32 PM	#25
truckfan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lawrence KS Posts: 821	Re: 78 downlow-littledough lurk __________________ 1981 Chevy C30 440 Holmes 42K one owner miles



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