Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Hey guys. Just started this build and figure i would document it for others to follow as well as to get some input from you guys. This place is obviously a wealth of knowledge!

Ill give you guys a little background on me since Im new here.
Im 25 years old and live in Coeur d'Alene Idaho. (same as Captainfab)
Im a design Engineer at a rollercoaster company called Rocky Mountain Construction.
My fabrication and build background is almost completely from offroad rock crawler and go fast type rigs.


I wasnt really in the market for another project but my brother came across a 1960 GMC that was incorrectly listed as a 63 Chevy on craigslist. He convinced me to go look at it and he actually ended up buying the truck for me in exchange for building his roll cage in his 66 Nova.
I have always wanted to build one of these trucks so now im gonna get my chance.

Here it is when we picked it up and when we got it home.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...613_105955.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...613_170035.jpg

Its really straight overall and nearly rust free. the only problem area we found was the drivers rocker. It has some kind of filler on it so Im assuming theres some rot in under there.

The 305 was missing a carb but looks as if someone recently pulled it out and painted it up. the paint on the pulleys hasnt even been worn off from the belt so im not sure if they couldnt get it running after putting it back in or what. regardless, it will be getting a sbc and an auto tranny.

Anyone interested in a non-running 305? lol


The plan is to lay it out on 20s or maybe 22s. not going to be a show stopper but a garage paint job and body work will be plenty fancy for me.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Welcome and great looking truck.

Very cool that you've got some fabricators and forum members close by and Captainfab is a wealth of knowledge on these trucks.

Keep us posted on the updates and pictures!!!

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

A guy local to me had a 60 Shortbed frame that had been modified with the X cut out and a later crossmember installed and a 63+ front end with drop springs. I got it and a 12 bolt rear from him for $200. We were already planning on cutting down to a shortbox so this was perfect.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...617_203450.jpg

Saturday my brother and I got the frame in the garage.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...619_161708.jpg

First we cut the bottom of the crossmember and patched it in. I just laid a level across the frame rails and marked the crossmember.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...620_115629.jpg

We added some gussets and some exhaust pass throughs.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...620_123630.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...620_123649.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...620_133810.jpg



Started on the rear notch. The 60-62 frame doesnt have the jog in it like the later frames do so I just drew up a notch and cut it on one of our plasma tables at work.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...618_095329.jpg



Prepping for the notch. Thats my brother grinding.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...620_140108.jpg



Getting everything mocked up and tacked in.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...620_144033.jpg



Pancaked the front crossmember 2" and somehow didnt take a picture of the finished product.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...620_170446.jpg


We set the front end on it just to get a peek at what it was going to look like.
Not bad for a days work.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...620_202332.jpg



we are still about 2.5" from laying frame. Theres no drop blocks in the rear and the upper balljoints were maxed out.
Im planning on building tube trailing arms with integrated blocks similar to the PB ones. The front I think I will Pie cut the upper arms and see where that gets me. Im trying to avoid drop spindles becasue this build is on a very very slim budget.

The tires were deflated in this pic to get it to lay frame.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...620_203132.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...620_202720.jpg

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

great start. welcome.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

I have a foul mouth like sailor, so I have to say Golleeeee Gosh !!

You guys have hit it running.

Amazing progress and vision of where you are going.

I could never get up to all of this sort of thing, but I will be along for the ride.

Ohhh, and welcome to you and your brother.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

:hi2: and Welcome aboard to you and your brother!!!:mm:

I'm in too...;)

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

I'm in for the ride!

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

let the air out to lay frame, why didnt I think of doing it that way?! engineers always work smarter not harder. :D (I am an engineer too)

did you hear about the engineer who got a call at work from his wife? she told him to stop at the store on the way home and pick up a loaf of bread, and if they had eggs to get a dozen. he went home with a dozen loaves of bread, looked her in the eye and said "they had eggs".

looks like a great start! living in coeur d'alene, work for a roller coaster company, and have a slammed 60 gmc, three out of three aint bad!

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

thats a pretty good one Joedoh...

nice beginnings on the Jimmy guys and welcome.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Welcome and nice start! I'm always interested in budget builds. Having a plasma cutter around doesn't hurt either! :metal:

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Thanks for the warm welcome guys! should be a fun project.

Haha thats too damn funny!

Thanks! Plasma cutter is definitely a giant help on this stuff! Im lucky enough to own a 220v welder and a jd2 tube bender as well.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

I didnt do too much last night other than start planning a pie cut on the pper arms to help balljoint angle. so ill show you guys a little bit of where I got my start in fabrication and builds.

Everything I build is done in my 2 car garage and 98% of the work is done by me alone. Im kind of independent that way.

Heres my main offroad jeep that I have owned since i was 18. It has been through many different builds and this is the latest.

One ton axles
full hydraulic steering
2002 yukon 5.3 vortec
built th350
Atlas trasnfercase
42" Pitbull Rocker Tires
20" ATX Alloy beadlocks
etc etc

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...87598213_n.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...48966902_n.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...502_133246.jpg


Heres a 72 Datsun 240Z I built for fun a couple years ago.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...18927290_n.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...17527770_o.jpg

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

I took a bunch of measurements and started drawing up some tubular trailing arms last night and this is what I came up with.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...0%20GMC/ta.jpg

What do you guys think?

They are very similar to the pb arms (more similar than I intended) other than using the built in "block" to achieve the pinion angle rather than a bend in the arm. This makes the block pretty tall but I think i would rather have a tall block than an unsupported bend in the tube. The block is just over 4" tall at the front.

Thoughts?

A plus is that it creates a nice large surface to weld a track bar mount to.


Edit: I should have mentioned that the other side of be "block" is open to allow access to the ubolts.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Other side:

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...%20GMC/ta2.jpg

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Very impressive progress! Nice to have the skills, drive, planning, and work tools available to dive right in on something this substantial. Beautiful welding on the crossmember, and the professional computer drawings certainly must be a benefit. Welcome to the forum!

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

bad ass datsun...

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Thanks!

I have background in design, fabrication, and machining which adds up to being able to build nearly anything I need. Its rare that I buy components rather than build them.

Having access to our cnc plasma tables at work in addition to my hand plasma is a giant plus!

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Super cool project. Keep it rolling along.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

I agaree, love that colour too.

The guys on here would love your builds...... You could register and copy n paste.

The Datsun would sooooo fit in there.

http://retrorides.proboards.com/board/12/readers-rides

I have an almost duplicate of my truck thread on there too.

Copy n paste makes it easier.

I am in awe that you build 98% solo.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Off to a nice start and nice rig. I have a TJ on 35"s with air lockers etc....

A bunch of my buddies are serious into crawling and a few of my other friends have huge 2.5 ton and 5 ton mud trucks.

I'm in for this one

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Thanks! I plan to move through this fairly quickly so it should be a fun ride!

Thanks! I just might have to join over there! I have lots of pics from my Datsun build as well.

Its always nice to meet other offroad guys. We are usually all the same kind of crazy. lol! I have a build thread of the v8 swap of my Jeep over on Pirate4x4 if your ever over there.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

I got the trailing arms built last night!

I cut and tacked on some new brackets for the bushings so they have the correct width and bolt hole size.

The tube is 1.75 x .188 wall so it should be plenty strong to put the bag mounts on.
The rear end now lays frame with tons of room to spare.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...624_212005.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...624_212013.jpg

Does anybody know where I can get ubolts that are really short or have thread that goes almost full length?
They only have to pass through two pieces of 1/4" steel now rather than the 4" or so thick trailing arm so factory ones are way too long!

The only place that makes them around here is an hour away from me.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Looking good! sweet datsun man!

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Here's my current 1960 GMC build. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=653788 .

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Couldn't you just use a dye and make new threads as far down as you need, then cut off the length of the bolts you don't need? Would take a little time, but pretty much no money involved, except if you don't have access to a dye that size.

James

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Thats a great idea is currently one of my options in my head.

I was planning on getting new ubolt anyways so I was hoping there might be some that already meet my needs. If not you can bet I will seeing if I can thread them further.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Its been a crazy busy summer and I finally got a few minutes to work on the truck last night.

I picked up some Slam Specialties ss-7 bags for the front.

Got the front wheels and tires on and the upper arms pie cut and rewelded to keep from maxing out the ball joints.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...722_203948.jpg

Added some quite gussets on the top of the crossmember for some strength and looks.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...722_212014.jpg

Im hoping to pick up my rear tires tonight and I will have all the wheels and tires on.
Ended up with some 285/30r20 on front. they are a little small but my tire sponsor had them laying around so ill give them a try.
The rears im picking up are 295/35r20.



Im hoping to have the frame painted up and the cab back on soon!

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Sweet! Looking good!

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Looks great!


not THAT small, I run a 255/30/22 on the front and turning while low is... exciting because of where the hood/fender meet in relation to the tire. you are within 4% of that size. I run a 285/35/22 rear too and its the perfect look, fills out the wheelwells nicely. yours should be about the same, within 6%

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Thanks for that info. That makes me really happy because I think the fitment on your truck is perfect!

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

I just found this build thread.......Welcome to the forum neighbor :) You're doing some nice work.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Nice work! You're making it look easy.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Thanks guys!

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Did a little more work on the rear of the frame.

I took my time on the trac bar and employed some of my suspension geometry knowledge from the offroad world. I was able to get away with only 1/2" of side shift throughout the suspension travel range. Im happy with that!

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...821_204917.jpg

added a little bit of tube work and some filler plates.
Note: the filler plates are unfinished. they will be received some dimpled holes.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...823_172330.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...823_175719.jpg

Im going to run some tubes down to tie into the lower rear part of the c-notch to add some strength to the trac bar mount as well. Then bag and shock mounts and the rear will be done!

Speaking of which. any shock recommendations??

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Great work, Welcome.
Sub'd

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Very cool. Planning something similar on my 63 whenever I get done with the 68 i'm currently doing.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

Got some shock mounts done last night. went with a "hidden bolt" design on the upper mounts.
Im not happy with the plate on top that connects them. It will be replaced with a curved plate that mounts only to the outer piece of tube.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...824_210503.jpg


Im considering ditching the panhard and building a Watts link. I was looking at the back of the frame and just think it would look really good back there. I really like the uniqueness of the Watts Links and how everyone builds them a little different.

Heres is what i drew up real quick for the center section. :metal:

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...MC/Capture.jpg

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

So much easier to fab using a 9" rear. But it looks like you're up to the challenge either way.

I somehow missed your thread until now. Nice work! You're making good progress.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

I like the Watts link also, but have yet to fab one up. That would be so nice to be able to draw things up in Solidworks. I'm limited to just 2d CAD.

Re: Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build
 

The best Watts link I've ever seen had tabs welded to the axle and was bolted in kinda like a link bar. It made it easy to work on the gears inside the rear end or swap to another axle if needed. I would tell you who makes it but it would get censored out since they aren't paying members of this board.