Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

looking forward to updates, Richard!!

did you get the s.w. cluster safe and sound?

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

I believe, but could be wrong, that Longhorns came in 3/4 and 1 ton versions. I think that 8 lug was the standard. You might want to check out this site: LINK

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Yes, Doug! I got it fast and safe. Thank you for packing it so well. I already adapted the rear housing to hold a tach as you can see. All of the gauges, with the exception of the speedwarning and vacuum are NOS.

The only problem is that I now have a Nice spare cluster that I created using the remaining gauges, my NOS speedometer gauge, and an NOS bezel. To sell or to keep, that is the rub.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Longhorn trucks are just plain COOL!!! Back in the 70's I had a '71 that I put a 283 in and used it to tow my stock car. I eventually painted it Corvette Rally Red. Sure wish I had it TODAY!!! You are doing a Nice Job!! Keep picking away at it!

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Any updates?

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

HOLY SMOKE, Richard!! That gauge cluster is beautiful. Wow, the woodgrain bezel is so darn nice!!

beeeeeeeautiful!

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

WELCOME !! hey you did a great job on the radio area. I'd be proud too. If you spend that much effort on small areas like that just think what you will do with the rest of your truck. great job! I'll be watching for updates make it fun, ..Pat

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Boy, I wish. The only progress I've been able to make is in purchasing parts. You know, when you think you have everything you need, something else shows up.

I did get more NOS parts.

Inner NOS door fuzzies.
67-70 bullseye backup lenses
NOS shoulder belts
NOS console metal finish plate
NOS door laces
NOS deluxe winshield gasket
NOS defrost ducts
NOS looking windshield deluxe trim
NOS light dimmer
NOS deluxe wiper nob
Other parts:

Front/rear tow hooks
T3 lights
Perfect air vents (black)
Perfect Junction block
Perfect deluxe rearview mirror boot (black)
Speedwarning unit (thanks, Doug!)

There's more...I just can't remember.

I would love to get some physical work done. However, I am teaching a 3rd Grade GATE class and it's taking so much of my time planning and preparing lessons for those students. I also have a 19 month-old child and a wife that needs attention. We are also in the process of purchasing our first home, so the truck is on the back burner.

Soon, though, I will get to her.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

still watching the progress, Richard. you may have the nicest Longhorn on the planet when this is all over!!

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

I'd like to know when you are going to do the bed on your truck here.

I need to do mine in the future here and would like to know any good. bad. and or / ugly that you find as you redo it.

Let me know.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

The body is just about finished, and then I will paint it. After that, I'll do the bed. I am realistically thinking spring time before I can paint it.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

No work, but I got more nos parts:

NOS LH fender.
NOS Locking gas cap
NOS inner RH fender
NOS light buckets w/lights and trim rings
NOS tach circut board
NOS cab mouldings...oops, this is a second set. I will be selling one set.
NOS Brake pedal with trim

there's probably some other items...my memory is not what it used to be.

I will have six weeks off starting mid November to January. I will go at her full steam then. Keeping my fingers crossed. If I can just finish the minor work on the body and get her painted, I can start re-assembly.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Keep posting pics! Lookin Good!

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Richard,

I just came across your thread here, awesome progress. She's coming along great ! :chevy:

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Awesome parts going on this thing! Subscribed so when you get some time I will get notified...

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Following your tread for future info, just got a 71 longhorn and you have answered a lot of questions I had. Keep up the great work, did you ever sell your guage cluster?

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

looking good :metal:

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Congrats on the new addition to your family ;) I did sell that extra cluster. Work updates coming soon. I just rebuilt a pair of chrome vent wings following the advice on this board. This place is GREAT!

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Man o man you have a NOS parts list like no other I have seen on a Longhorn. Can you give us any tips on hunting these parts? I'm just curious. My truck is modified so much NOS parts won't be on my list. But with your truck it will all fit together so nice. Great job on bringing it back to as close to new as you can!

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Thanks for the kind words. I have hunted high and low for the past three to four years for parts. eBay, on here, and even word of mouth. I have paid some crazy high prices for some of my parts, and some ridiculously low prices for others. All I can say is if one is determined you can get almost anything you seek. I must say, I am chomping at the bit for the day that I can start hanging my parts.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

I'm sure you are. I had a thought a while back of building by truck with NOS parts but I knew the price I'd have to pay and knew that I would just use what I could afford and find. Maybe some day in the future I will do what you have. But by that time NOS parts will be unheard of! :lol: Keep up the great work. I'm anxious to see how this transforms in the next few months!

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

To add to the list:

NOS RH fender
NOS RH door lock relay
NOS LH door lock relay

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

More parts:

NOS ventshades
NOS door edge protectors
NOS door window channels
NOS rear deluxe window mouldings
NOS black Dash Pad
NOS or Near NOS tissue box dispenser

You know, when I think I have found everything, something else pops up for sale.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Looking forward to the next update. Have you ever considered doing a complete list of the NOS parts with the part numbers? Think it would be a help for you IF you ever decided to sell and would be a HUGE help for all those guys out there wanting to do the same thing and build a truck with lots of NOS parts...

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Thanks!

I will be getting busy starting the week of the 22nd. I am a school teacher and we will be out of school until January 3rd. So, that's my time to get the final bodywork and painting done.

I think that an NOS list with part numbers would be a great idea. Some boxes have been discarded, but I still have most of them. I will start an NOS list with part numbers once I start hanging them.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

This build is just awesome :metal: Can't wait to see the finished product !

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Well, I am off of work for the next 6 weeks. Let the work begin!

Here is the first thing that I did to get me pumped up and back into the groove: I recently found a Perfect upper console trim ring to add to my console. This console has an NOS lid, NOS ashtray, NOS plate and NOS emblem.

I need to wait for the rain to stop, then I will start in on fine tunning the body work.

Stay Tuned! :metal:

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

That right there is downright PURDY! ;) :chevy:

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Very nice! This should be a cool 6 weeks! :lol:

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Well, I was a little late getting started. Last week I got the Christmas shopping done and then Thanksgiving and familiy took the rest of my week. First things first. I had a dead battery so I had to go get one. Since I have gone NOS and only OEM parts on everything else, I went to the Chevy dealership to pick up an AC Delco battery.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Very nice. What are your build plans this week? :lol:

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

I decided to start on my wheel tubs. This were pretty straight with some minor dings. These also had some surface rust that wound up pitting some of the metal in places. My first task was to remove the rust.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

I also had to weld up a hole that was drilled in each tub. Afterwards, I sprayed the tub with Duplicolor Rust Fix to inhibit any little specks of rust that I may have missed in the pits so that when I fill these in and smooth them out nothing comes back to haunt me.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

More pics of my progress. Fixed the dings and removed all the rust and paint. I treated both tubs and they are drying tonight. I will smooth them out tomorrow and spray them with metal etching primer tomorrow.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

that looks nice i hope i can get mine clean like that

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

They look good!

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Nice progress!

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Started out early this morning. It was cold and foggy, but that didn't stop me from getting to work on my inner fender. I have one passenger inner fender that is NOS, and this one that I found at Pick-N-Pull for $35. It is rust free with only a couple of small dings and it had 5 small holes that the PO drilled for some reason. Overall, a super nice piece to work with. It was very greasy in the areas that normall collect dirt/rust, which is why I think it is so nice: the grease helped to preserve the metal.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

Using hot water and degreaser, I gave this baby a good bath.

Re: 1970 Chevy Longhorn Restoration progress
 

After a nice cup of hot coffee, and giving the fender time to dry off, I worked out any dings, and filled the 5 holes. It is amazing much thinner the inner fenders are than the rear wheel tubs. I had to lower the speed of the wire on the welder...it would have blown holes though this sheetmetal without any effort.

Next, I removed all of the paint/primer so I could remove any surface rust hiding below. After it was nice, clean, and shiny, I shot it with metal etching primer and skimmed any slight imperfections with a thin layer of filler. I will sand most of it off tomorrow after it is cured completely.