Project “Learning as I Go”

[gopokes]

Got a little more done, as I go I seem to find that I need to do something else before I can finish what I started with. I realized that the rear floor pan going down to the cab corner needs some patching. I looked into a repalcement but since they are $60 bucks a piece I decided I'm going to make my own peice. I'm not too worried about it being "perfect" in other people's eyes, this isn't going to be a show winner.

I got the gas tank out and am ready to cut out the cab corner and floor pan peice. This would be much easier with the bed off, unfortunately I don't have room to put it if I took it off. I am going to use some tall jack stands we used for working on irigation pipe back in the day to raise it up enough to work under. The ADD started kicking in lately and I think I have decided to start cutting the bed and frame down after I get this side of the cab finished. This will help with the garage space, sucks working in a two car garage. I finally got my brothers welder to my house so hopefully I can pick up the pace.

[sourkraut]

nice, welder that will make it easier! your brother has good taste!

[gopokes]

Thanks, it is an awesome welder. I'm really lucky that he started a project before I did, he got to buy all the expensive tools. We have been working on his 68 Camero for about a year, basically put a 05 Corvette drivetrain under it. That's why I haven't done much on my truck.

[gopokes]

Got the bed raised a little last night, only had a couple hours to work on it. Still needs to come up a little more so I can work on the cab corner a little easier. My brother stopped by on his new bike.

[JohnC]

Wow that's a sharp bike!

[gopokes]

Haven't gotten much done lately, been really busy. I have been saving up for suspension upgrades, ordering some stuff here and there. These were waiting on the front porch today after work!









Dominator 2600's found a really good deal on them. My plans are for a manual valve setup, 5 gallon airtank and viair compressor. I'm not worried about bouncing up and down all the time, I just want to have a nice adjustable ride. I ordered my valves and guages from suicidedoors today. Those guys are great, talked to them on the phone for quite some time and they also sent me a awesome pdf showing the entire setup with all necesary fittings and components. Hopefully I will be able to get all the peices I need in the next month or so. Here is a pic of the valves.

[JohnC]

Sweet!

[gopokes]

Originally Posted by JohnC

Sweet!

Thanks John, I swear this forum helps so much to stay motivated on this project. When I know I have some time to work on the truck I want to get as much done as possible so I have some decent pics to post. I did have some time tonight, got more done on the drivers rocker. Got far enought to hang the door back on and cross my fingers that I hadn't screwed up too bad. After I got the door back on I realized I would have to make a releif cut on the front of the rocker so it would fit right. Not too much of a suprise from what I've read about the aftermarket sheetmetal. After I made the cut I needed, it fit up really well. It was a huge confidence boost for me because I've really been afraid something would end up way wrong. Anyway, here are the pics, the rocker isn't welded in yet just tacked for fit. Thanks for looking!

[VA72C10]

looks good!

[JohnC]

Looks good man. Your confidence will grow as the project continues. The important thing is if you start getting frustrated, or nervous just take a step back and breathe. Start working on something else on the truck to take your mind off it, then come back to it. You're doing a great job so far so I think you'll be ok!

[sourkraut]

hey very good job! keep up the good work!

[oldblue1968chevy]

rust repair lookin' good! man how're you working in the lil garage cant you move it outside!!

so ya makin it a swb huh,, ya gotta pull the bed to make the cut or move the cab? keep it up!

[gopokes]

Originally Posted by JohnC

Looks good man. Your confidence will grow as the project continues. The important thing is if you start getting frustrated, or nervous just take a step back and breathe. Start working on something else on the truck to take your mind off it, then come back to it. You're doing a great job so far so I think you'll be ok!

The rocker repair did get a little frusterating, I'm glad I have it almost buttoned up now. I think I am going to work on the suspension next before I start the other side of the cab. It will be nice to have the experience from this side when I start the other one. I bought all the stuff I need to convert over to power steering last year, I'm kind of glad I never got a chance to do the swap because it is going to be better to tear it all down once for the ps and airride at the same time.

[gopokes]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

rust repair lookin' good! man how're you working in the lil garage cant you move it outside!!

so ya makin it a swb huh,, ya gotta pull the bed to make the cut or move the cab? keep it up!

My driveway is on a pretty good slope, plus my homeowners association frowns on stuff like that. I had my moms old Dodge Coronet parked out in the road in front for a few days and some of my neighbors call the cops. I need to move back to the country. I will have to raise the cab, luckily I have this website, I think I've read every lb to sb conversion thread like 20 times. I am going to pull the bed soon to clean up the frame, install my airbags, and maybe a c-notch. My wife won't like that because she will lose her spot in the garage for a while.

[JohnC]

Originally Posted by gopokes

My driveway is on a pretty good slope, plus my homeowners association frowns on stuff like that. I had my moms old Dodge Coronet parked out in the road in front for a few days and some of my neighbors call the cops. I need to move back to the country. I will have to raise the cab, luckily I have this website, I think I've read every lb to sb conversion thread like 20 times. I am going to pull the bed soon to clean up the frame, install my airbags, and maybe a c-notch. My wife won't like that because she will lose her spot in the garage for a while.

That will be the worst part of your project right there. I hope you make it through ok.

[gopokes]

I actually got some work done this weekend. I took Johnc's advice and worked on something else. I have the drivers rocker almost done but needs some tweaking to fit perfect, so I decided to get the bags in. I also have all of my power steering swap stuff to put in, bought it last year just never was able to get time or space to tear it down to install it all. I also have all my front end rebuild stuff too, it's all been sitting in the corner for almost six months. I got the rear bags in and started tearing down the front end, it's amazing how fast I can get some of this stuff done compared to that dang bodywork. Oh yea, my wife did lose her spot in the garage for a while, but she is cool with it. I'm lucky to have such an awesome wife, it would really be tough if she wasn't understanding. Enjoy the pics.







I have some work to put in with the wire wheel!

[IMG]http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/done...

[gopokes]

[VA72C10]

Good progress! moving right along!

[sourkraut]

looking good, keep at it! if need be take a break from it for awhile. i find i appreciate it more after a few days away.

[gopokes]

Got all the passenger side torn down today, took everything to the car wash with some oven cleaner to get almost 40 years of grease off. Then hit them with the wire wheel to get the rest off. Cut off the bumpstops and hit them with some rustoleum. Going to be the only shiny thing on my truck so far.

[19723DR]

Good work. That's the first of many more.

[JohnC]

Looking good man!

[gopokes]

Thanks guys. I've only had a little time to work on my truck this week. I got the front of the frame and part of the crossmember cleaned up and painted. It's a little more gloss than I'd like but it's only temporary, at some point it's all coming apart to get the frame blasted. I called suicidedoors the other day and they are backed up on the bag plates cups, said it would be at least three weeks, so I picked up some 1/4 plate and made some! I know the lower plates aren't going to let me get as low as the cups but I will get some cups down the road. We have a truck meet here in OKC on the 15th and I need to get the old girl back together. The did tell me that the manual valves and guages I ordered would be here by tomorrow so that's good. Hopefully I will have some time this weekend to start getting parts back on. Hey at least my engine is nice and clean. As always thanks for looking!

[JohnC]

Nice work!

[VA72C10]

Good progress!!!