Time for a Canadian build thread
Hello,
Been working on a 65 C10 for a year and a half now. It's pretty tough to find rust free stuff locally so I've been in sheet metal purgatory for the last year. I'm a metal fabricator and can get a bit carried away. I'd like to find a fleet side box instead of the step side. Stats so far are: 65 SWB stepside C notch Z notch LM7 from a 99 pickup T-56 from a 96 F body 4 Link rear Shaved horse collar cross member Shaved firewall pancaked K member Airbags All that's left is everything else.... Here's a youtube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjO9RNF1j_o and a couple pics https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...hqiwlQicyy2B2w https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...qSdu08uJ76r-VQ https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...YaEUkk-HtEMaR- https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...tK4XiMGz4TjQOU I also have a 67 C10 built by my father in law and his brother. 4 inch roof chop, 454 and a 9 inch https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...yjkAHO_yHPKFxA |
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
I'm not sure why the photos aren't showing. it worked in the intro forum. I'll try to figure it out
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
4 Attachment(s)
I think I've figured it out
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
1 Attachment(s)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Go...-no?authuser=0
Well I'm still working on making google photo images work but here's one from the Z notch |
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
I can't see the pics.
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
Looks like you're trying to link to an image from your own google account?
You should be able to upload pics if you use the "advanced mode" in your reply. Below the text area there is a spot to upload. I host my images on my own website, which is easier in a way. |
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
2 Attachment(s)
Little bit of progress in the last few days
Cut the top of the horse collar cross member for driveshaft clearance. Still need to get a driveshaft made but I'm thinking I should make some custom engine mounts and move the engine back as far as I can. And started looking at the steering. The pitman arm is too close to the lower A arm and the front bolt of the steering box doesn't have anywhere to go because of the Z notch. And of course the steering shaft wants to go through the upper A arm. Going to be a bit of head scratching going on here. I could ad a tab for the front bolt on the steering box but I don't actually have the rad I'm going to use so I'm not sure if there is going to be radiator/steering box interference. |
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
You could notch the a-arm to clear the pitman.
You could raise the box and idler to match the pancake. I'd like a better view of the pitman-frame-arm space. |
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
4 Attachment(s)
I hadn't thought about notching the A arm. Thanks for that Idea. I could move the Steering box up, and of course could notch the frame for clearance.
I'm very tempted to switch to a power steering box and I'm not sure how that will change the geometry. The LM7 has a power steering pump already, I assume it's metric so could probably mate that to a 80's truck box fairly easily. Of course the tie rod end angle is terrible when the truck it at full drop. Raising the steering box will help that. Has anyone gone with a larger tie rod end and reamed the steering arms so the tie rod end can be installed on the underside of the steering arm? Or maybe I should just bite the bullet and pull the rack out of my 96 camaro parts car.... I feel like that could turn into another can of worms but would it be worth it? Also fixed a thin spot on the air duct for the footwell while contemplating everything else. |
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
4 Attachment(s)
Working on engine mounts today
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
4 Attachment(s)
I got some cheep e-bay headers to play with. For the price I'm pretty satisfied. The collector flange location ended up perfect for what I need. Only thing I'm not excited about is the first tube on the passenger side sticks out almost an inch further from the engine than on the drivers side. I might see if I can cut a chunk out and massage it into place and reweld it.
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
There is a lot of work there!
Please continue. P. :D |
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
Keep up the good work. Don't get discouraged. Will see you cruising the island next summer
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
3 Attachment(s)
Well I figured I'd do an experiment and find out what would happen if I brought a bottle of rum to a buddies aluminum shop on a Friday night. Turns out a bunch of talented people showed up and with lots of good natured heckling about who was the best welder we ended up with 2 empty bottles of rum and an awesome fuel tank. There were 4 of us cutting and everyone but me took a turn welding and it seemed to go together effortlessly.
I also ground out the welds on the header tube that was close to the frame and pushed it further into the flange so I have good clearance on the frame now. |
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
You must letter that gas tank "The Rum Tank"
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
Your just having all kinds of fun with that unit. :)
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
Quote:
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
Awesome build! Can't wait to see more.
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
2 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Just finished up a work project that demanded all of my attention for the last 6 weeks. A buddy managed to find me a descent fleet-side box to work with. |
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
1 Attachment(s)
So after some introspective soul searching this nice 56 year old fleetside longbox has decided that it actually identifies as a shortbox. So the surgeries start.
And a question. Pretty much all the longbox to shortbox conversions I've seen people take out a section of the box side where it's straight and then buttweld the ends back on. My question is why don't people split the end pieces from the front and back and then cut the box side down and redo the fold where the front and back pieces attach? That would mean a lot less welding and potential for warping in my mind. I was imagining tracing the rear corner onto some 1/4 plate and making a buck that I could tack onto the bedside to hold the shape while I tapped the folded part over. Has anyone tried this? Is it too hard to gather the extra material without distorting the box side? |
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
I dont know, I think this guy did that - https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...0&postcount=39
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
Quote:
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
Quote:
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
5 Attachment(s)
Well I started cutting the longbed apart. Carefully dissecting with the hopes of putting it back together something like stock. I haven't gotten to tipping the new flanges yet. I'm going to bring the rear passenger corner to work tomorrow to trace for a buck. Anyway, here's some progress pics from the weekend. I couldn't hep myself and I had to hang the panels just for fun.
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
3 Attachment(s)
Playing
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
4 Attachment(s)
OK, I made an attempt at folding over the rear corner of the shortened box side. First step is to trace the box corner and make a 1/4" plate form. Second step is to draw your bend line and tack the form into the bed. Then start lightly tapping the edge over. Lots of small light taps and try to bring it over evenly tapping the high spots.
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
Yeah - the wrinkles and taps are how you can shrink the curves.
Looks awesome. We should go do smoke shows together when they're both done, eh?! |
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
Looks like the tapping over of that bedside flange is working nicely over the 1/4 inch plate. Is the plate staying in place OK while tapping?
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
Quote:
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
3 Attachment(s)
Fit the back corner on and I'm not disappointed. One thing is that I couldn't tack the flange for the top 2/3 because there is no access with the stake pocket there so I had to put the tacks on the outside. I'm tempted to tack all the way on the outside and hide the seam...
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
5 Attachment(s)
The front is a bit different. The flange that's tipped over is 3/4" instead of 3/8" and it's past 90 degrees. I made the template 1/4" undersized and wrapped a 1 x 1/4 flat bar around it. Then I put a bevel on the flatbar so that I could tip the flange past 90 like original. I also had to cut a couple of the tight bends so that I didn't loose the crispness of the shape on the box side.
|
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
Quote:
My understanding is that guys will pull apart the rear cap from the stake pocket to get access to tack everything together from the inside of the box sides. It looks like there are spot spot welds along the edge that mates up with the tailgate. After doing all the work to tip that edge it would be a shame to weld that seam up solid... |
Re: Time for a Canadian build thread
4 Attachment(s)
As suggested I pulled the stake pocket and rear cap apart for the drivers side. The drivers side had some damage so pulling it apart had the added benefit of letting me straighten out the cap. I got the drivers side shortened up but haven't finished welding and stuff because I have to spend the time shimming and aligning all the body panels before I totally commit.
I had to loose the braces that attach above the wheel arches because of tire clearance so now the drivers box side isn't as straight as I would like. I guess I'll have to design some other kind of brace to try to remedy that. And then because the 96 Camaro already donated it's transmission to this truck I figured I'd see if the steering rack would be usable as well. Still some figuring to do but it looks like I might be able to shorten the inner tie rod ends and flip the outers to the underside of the steering arms it might work. I'm on the search for some disk brake spindles that I can use to mock up the steering. |
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:35 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com