Bad Idea
 

Exactly as it says....BAD IDEA.
Ohwell, it's too late to turn back now.
Bought in '10. I redid drivetrain and some other things that I didn't like or were wrong. I'll kinda try to be careful what I say or don't say given there could be the chance the previous owner is watching all this happenin. Anyways, about a month ago I tore out the homemade bed floor and was aiming at installing new wood bed kit only to figure out that crossmembers, rear sill, and bed header panel were all for or set up for a ?"flat type"? or steel floor. So, I decided I wanted a color change because I'd be changing front bed header panel and a perfect color match sure wasn't happenin. So, after talking to a painter in my area I decided that if I was gonna do this right I'd fix and/or make EVERYTHING the way that I would want it. This ain't gonna be a world record turn around and hopefully not take me the rest of my life to complete. I'll try to post as much as I can. Please feel free to make comments or ask me questions on anything you want cuz I'm gonna need the help and opinions of all on this site to support me from losing my god damned mind. Thanks to all in advance.

Re: Bad Idea
 

This was about a week or so ago. Taggin and baggin so I'm goin slow. Bed came off good with what looks to be aftermarket bedsides, rear sill, and maybe tailgate. The makeshift crossmembers had to be cut out here and there. My buddies and I think it's kinda weird the back of the cab was still roughed up.

Re: Bad Idea
 

Most of the front removed. No real big surprises. Newer outer fenders, inner fenders, core support, and maybe hood. The cab had a new one piece full floor put in it with cab corners and rockers. Cowl area seemed to be in real good shape. Hardest part of this step was getting damn wiper arms off.

Re: Bad Idea
 

Most of the main wiring removed revealed that I mighta been close to a fire or at least burnin a couple of useful wires up. Wiring was not bad at all but kinda old and some spots pretty brittle so I'm gonna be replacing all of it I guess.

Re: Bad Idea
 

Those wiper arms are a ***** for sure.. good thing Im doing the new paint because I tore up what was around them. My PO had painted the splines and the arms did NOT want to come off without a life or death battle.
Good luck on the build.

Re: Bad Idea
 

Little work from today got a pic from glove box area to see the filler panels made to smooth the factory center dash openings. Previous owner filled quite a bit on the truck....dash, door key holes (damnit), gas filler, and bed stake pockets. That's all I can remember for now. Oh also got most of interior out. All that remains is steering column and gauge cluster. Ya, I know I go slow.

Re: Bad Idea
 

This guy did pretty much same thing. Thanks I'm gonna need it.

Re: Bad Idea
 

Check out my build thread you'll see the tear down Im into right now.. Solid but has some spots around the lower windshield and the cab corners and a little bit of the floor around the doors. My biggest problem is getting through the 500 layers of different colors on it.

Re: Bad Idea
 

I just noticed your in Y-town.. Im right down the road if you need help

Re: Bad Idea
 

Ya man much appreciated. I'm following your build on here too.

Re: Bad Idea
 

Finished stripping rest of cab last night. No surprises yet. All that's left is doors and glass. Even with those still on and in cab didn't seem that heavy at all just pickin up the one side. Have to wait on my buddy to get cab on dolly. Then it's on to the chassis.
That's all for now off to pull my buddies engine in '69 Nova...pics may follow.

Re: Bad Idea
 

Yesterdays work. Pulling buddies engine for a winter refresh. Everyone's winter projects seem to be getting into full swing.

Re: Bad Idea
 

Got some work done today. Glass out, doors off, and cab on stand. Found some measurements on here somewhere for a cab stand and kinda built around those...so thanks for those!

Re: Bad Idea
 

Pic kinda sucks but you get the jist.

Re: Bad Idea
 

Got exhaust off and engine ready to come out. Maybe next couple days.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Re: Bad Idea
 

1) Any pictures of the bed?
2) wiper removal sucks
3) sweet progress

Re: Bad Idea
 

I can get ya a pic of the old bed that started this whole mess...but not till tomorrow. The pics are on my home computer.

Re: Bad Idea
 

Damn.. slow down there speedy.. your already smoking me. Man....
talk about Get-R-Done.

How did you get the cab off? Friends... hoist?

Oh yeah.. and now Im missing my 70 Nova... thanks

Re: Bad Idea
 

Not fast at all. I only got about 5 partial days in this tear apart so far.
Gettin cab off?......Just me and the neighbor. Wasn't bad at all just akward.

Re: Bad Idea
 

Im too old and fragile to be lifting it without a hoist.. My buddy who is also over the hill is bringing a hoist over this weekend. Ive been waiting on him for a couple weeks now....

Re: Bad Idea
 

This is what started all this mess. Previous owner "made" up some crossmembers and shimmed everything perfect for this wooden fiberglass reinforced bed floor to sit level. Bed floor was floating....never mounted to anything. I wanted to put a nice new wood bed in but quickly realized that I had a steel floor bed header panel and rear sill. It worked for what it was...what I wanted to do something had to be done.

Re: Bad Idea
 

Pic didn't post in last post.

Re: Bad Idea
 

All I got done in the 3 hours I decided to work today. It'll be a nonroller before long.

Re: Bad Idea
 

It's officially a NONroller!
I think I may have been bitten by the AIR RIDE bug. Now that I've said that I'm just waiting for the vendors to chime in here. HINT.

Re: Bad Idea
 

So here's one interesting part of this truck.
These where/are the trailing arms that came on the truck. Where said to be homemade by the previous owner. The truck always rode true down the road and the drop springs(CPP 5") and u bolts and drop blocks(2") and adjustable trac bar(seems homemade) all seemed to worked as if they were stock. So, should I keep em or favor a different set. Keeping in mind I'm leaning to baggin this thing.