Project “Learning as I Go”

[gopokes]

Those jeans just keep getting worse. My wife keeps telling me that she is going to sew them up, if I wait much longer they will be shorts. One of my other pairs has the bottoms all frayed out, I have only caught them on fire a couple times.

[gopokes]

I decided to go ahead and notch the frame. I got some four and a half inch pipe a while back, but wasn't sure if I wanted to do it or now. I finally pulled the trigger tonight and went ahead and did it. I won't ever be towing with this truck, or even hauling much in the bed so I figured the pipe will be sufficient. It is finally a turning point because I have finished all of the mods to the frame and am ready to get it blasted and painted. So from here on in I should be able to start actually putting parts on instead of taking them off. Here are a couple pics.

[scotts62]

Heck yeah looks good!

[JohnC]

I agree man that looks good. It's better to do it now, and not need it later. Than to realize that you should have done it down the road.

[gopokes]

Nothing major done tonight, just wanted to post a pic with the rearend out from under it. Getting the frame blasted and painted Friday. Can't wait to start putting her back together.

[my67chevytruck]

nice work, great progress! keep at it.

[gopokes]

Originally Posted by scotts62

Heck yeah looks good!

Originally Posted by JohnC

I agree man that looks good. It's better to do it now, and not need it later. Than to realize that you should have done it down the road.

Originally Posted by my67chevytruck

nice work, great progress! keep at it.

Thanks for the kind words guys! Today was a good day, I got my frame to the blaster, got my engine mounts in the mail, and am ready to get to painting. I found a guy that will blast the frame and rearend for $100. After I got it back I realized that you get what you pay for. There are a few areas that he missed, nothing too big, I am going to hit them with a wire wheel and start painting. The other blasting companies in town wanted triple what this guy did so i figure it's all good. Here are some pics.

[scotts62]

Nice!!!! Coming along nicely!!

[gopokes]

I got the top of the frame painted, did two coats last night. Now I just need to flip it and do the bottom. I am totaly amazed how well this paint lays down and levels out. It almost looks like it was powder coated. The pics don't really do it justice. It's going to be a shame to cover this thing up with the rusty old body.

[67cheby]

looks great

[spike38]

Chassis is looking sharp!!

Spike

[VA72C10]

looks good

[gopokes]

Thanks guys, I ended up getting two coats on the frame and one on the rearend. I still need to paint the trailing arms, but will have to buy some more paint. As soon as the last coat gets dry I will flip the frame and get the engine mounted.

[gopokes]

I got my engine mounting plates, mounts, and towers installed. I had to take a little notch out of the AC compressor bracket to get it back in past the plate. Should be able to get the engine in tomorrow night.

[bjcaldwe]

Looking good man.

[jasonhall]

Another great oklahoma truck! Looks great

[JohnC]

Looks good man. You've been a busy man!

[gopokes]

Thanks, guys! I have been trying to work on it every chance I get. This weekend was really productive. My wife has been super cool about the garage looking the way it does, and I promised her I would at least have her side cleared out before the snow and ice gets here. Looks like I should be able to keep my word. It is kind of frustrating to think about putting the body back on just to have to take it off a couple more times at least. But it's all good, I'm just glad to be able to have such a great wife and a fun project to work on.

[JohnC]

I think it's probably worth the work of putting the cab on and off to keep the wife happy!

[67cheby]

i did the same for my wife summer and fall are ok for me to use the whole garage Spring and Winter NO, you have to choose your battles, i make sure when it is raining and snowing she is in out of the weather !!!

[68GMCCustom]

Originally Posted by gopokes

Thanks, guys! I have been trying to work on it every chance I get. This weekend was really productive. My wife has been super cool about the garage looking the way it does, and I promised her I would at least have her side cleared out before the snow and ice gets here. Looks like I should be able to keep my word. It is kind of frustrating to think about putting the body back on just to have to take it off a couple more times at least. But it's all good, I'm just glad to be able to have such a great wife and a fun project to work on.

I'm going thru the same scenario....the wife's ready for her TBSS to be back in the garage.

[gopokes]

You guys feel my pain! I got the engine in last night, kind of mad at myself because I completely spaced the fact that I was going to have to do some trimming on the frame, and had to butcher up my shiny paint job. It fits like a glove, it's good to see things going the other direction, back together instead of apart. Oh, and my new trans crossmember is AWESOME.

[67cheby]

i have a patent on that tranny crossmember... be expecting a call from my lawyer

[VA72C10]

cool. Love the custom renewable resource crossmember

[scotts62]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

i have a patent on that tranny crossmember... be expecting a call from my lawyer

if thats the case have him call me too i have one and it works good!