Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

Score on the u-joint! Makes it all worth the work :cool:
Sometimes the simplest things......

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

Its always something.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

I'm starting to wonder if the new system will go as low as the old. Regardless, I decided to address your concern. I started thinking how close the top of the differential was on the old system, and decided to make some changes.

I used the original bracket but reversed it, and flipped it over. I also cut it shorter so its much smaller. I had to drill and tap a new hole for the through bolt, but I think it looks much cleaner now.

With all that done, I had no choice but to make new brake lines as well. I'm starting to figure this tube bending out. Lets hope I dont have any leaks. :banghead:

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

What was the part # for that u-joint? Just curious because I’m putting a 12 bolt in my 87 so it would be the same for me. Just opposite application from yours. Thanks.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

Here ya go.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

Thanks sir!

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

Sunday morning Chris and I took a road trip to Sculpt Garage to pick up the seat for Elwood. Brent opened the shop early and gave a tour of the facility. Sculpt is a full feature interior shop with the ability to build a project from the ground up.

The original 77 seat was updated with contemporary vinyl from Snowden Upholstry Supply that has a retro grain. The inserts are OEM material from early Squarebody trucks.

I wanted to maintain a OEM look while improving comfort. I believe Brent accomplished that.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

Nice crisp work on the new brake lines...mirror image left and right..looks simple and is hard (at least for me) to do. Looks great!

Love the seat too. Sculpt Garage has some impressive looking work.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

I have been attending the "Learn from Burn" school. I can proudly say my scrap pile is getting smaller each time.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

Sunday afternoon when we got back from Sculpt Garage, we got busy again. Chris had prepped and painted the bottom of the gas tank and let it cure over night. It was time to do the same for top. He had already stripped it, so he wiped it down and masked it off. He sealed and primed it then followed with satin black.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

While Chris worked on the gas tank, I focused on the bottom of the cab. I had previously stripped and painted the floor. Now it was time to top it off with undercoating. We masked the frame, transmission and RideTech valve system.

I crawled under and laid down a few coats of Dupli-Color undercoat. I use this on the floor pan because its much easier to apply an aerosol than use a spray gun in close quarters. By using multiple coats I manage to get a decent build thickness.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

Monday I finished my Christmas shopping. I still managed a bit of shop time too.
The gas tanks straps were stripped and primed. With the cool damp temps the primer is slow so I left them to cure.
To be productive I went on line and ordered parts for the fuel system.
The pressure line between the pump and filter uses push-lok fittings. I had to cut the old line to get it off so I ordered new 3/8" line and clamps.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

Tuesday night I worked on the center of the floor pan. I needed to get the undercoating finished, but there was a heat shield in my way. I removed all of the bolts but one, and it was almost impossible to access. It was on top of the frame and no room to reach from either side.

I noted that it was near a body mount so i loosened the mount bolt and was able to jack the cab up about 1/2". just enough to gain access and declare victory. One bolt, one hour, but I kicked its ass.

With the heat shield out, I was able to gain access to the rest of the floor up to the transmission cross member. I'll do the front half when I get the front of the truck. For now, I have the undercoating done.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

I know exactly what bolt your are talking about on that heat shield. What a PIA...

Your nice work continues!

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

What did you do to get it off? I hated to jack the body up but it was driving me crazy.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

You really don't want to know...:lol:

Since my build goal was quite different, that bolt is still there and part of the heat shield is still bolted to the frame. Let's just say I took out my frustrations on that heat shield :devil: and it was not really useable after that...

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

I was close to that point myself. Unfortunately I couldnt find a way to cleanly cut it free so I resorted to lifting the cab away from the frame.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

I uncovered the frame last night and worked on prepping it for paint. As I progressed over to the drivers side I realized that the heat shield in we have been discussing needed to be mocked up. This shield was originally there to deflect heat from the massive catalytic convertor used in the 70s. Thats no longer a concern, but my exhaust system layout will require me to put a muffler in that area.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

I set the shield in place and determined that it really needed some improvement aesthetically. I decided it would look less obtrusive with some vent holes. Initially I put a few in, then decided if some is good then more is better.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

Once I got it properly ventilated, I added a couple of layers of protection. This should be functional and blend in much better now.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

Tonight I finished up the frame rails under the cab. I scuffed them again to knock off any overspray from the undercoat. After that I wiped it clean and blasted satin black on it.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

That's a great touch on the heat shield...gives it the race inspired look....keep after it! It looks like a million bucks!

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

You do really nice work!!

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

Damn that seat is sweeeeeeet! I that means a lot because I don’t typically like red interior.

Re: "Elwood" the 77_remix
 

Thanks. I'm hoping to get caught up some this weekend:metal: