Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Excellent fab work

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Great build man. I'm in. Fab work is great.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Been out awhile. Not sure I'd say I've been busy, but occupied. I've been collecting some parts. To pay for said parts I do whatever side work I can find, be it rent houses, plumbing, electrical, remodeling work, etc. But the best (fun) kind of work is the hot rod kind. Here's one I've been working on for a bit...a 56 that's bagged, chopped, and has a 5.3 engine. It just came incomplete. Nothing wired up, leaking bags. no bed floor, glass not installed, etc. I got to build my first ever wood bed floor, and he wanted it to tilt. Think it turned out OK. Next one will be better!

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

I finally got the Eaton in the pumpkin. My dad had the right tools to set it up and I didn't. My wife is happier now that all the boxes of axle parts are out of our bedroom. Also upgraded the pinion yoke. A 6 cylinder truck uses the small 1310 U joint and I wanted the heavier 1350 since I may have a little more horsepower than a 6 holer made back in 69.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Set the cab on the frame. I have to get my doors hung and the front clip set because I can't start cutting / attaching the rear quarters unless the whole front end is locked in place. The GMC fenders were VERY rusted out so I picked up a couple repops. I got one for half price since it was a 68 fender and not a 67 fender like I wanted. I can fill the marker hole. The body gap to the door is bad on these but everything else looks good.

In case anyone else here is building an LS motor...I got the short block assembled and everything looks good but the timing chain. The stock one flapped all over the place and I assumed it was just worn. I kept reading how guys are using an LS2 chain on the stock sprockets as a heavy duty upgrade so I ordered and LS2 chain from Summit. Put it on and it flopped all over the place. It was definitely beefier but I thought a timing chain is supposed to fit pretty tight. Googled "loose LS1 timing chain" and it seems A LOT of people are having this problem. I called the guys at Cloyes and they assured me their racing sets are hand picked to fit correctly. So I ordered one. And it cost a ton. BUT...IT FIT PERFECT. So I guess I'm a Cloyes fan now and thought I would pass on this hard learned lesson.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Nice build. I just shortened mine to regular short bed length but I've always wondered what they'd look like a little shorter so it'll be interesting to see how yours looks

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Engine assembled

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Sweet! :metal:

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Working sporadically, either too busy or just uninspired. But, been trying to sort out some bodywork and trying to trial fit the quarters to see what needs to be done.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Also want to save a free tailgate I got. It was so beat that I just cut the skin off to get to the big nasty bangs. Then when I got it apart I decided to move the handle to the back, fill the indent, and center the gmc logo.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Almost looks like a truck

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Looks good to me. You have made a bunch of progress :metal:

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

A little closer

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Problem with the unibody conversion is that the body lines aren't even so I have to work to make them match up. I even used a level to verify that the bed actually tilts down a bit in relation to the cab. Will have to build my own inner bed panels.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Got tired of the hood hinges and springs going wonky with every hood close so I got new hinges and converted to hood struts. Shuts to the same place every time now.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Just found your build. You've done a bunch of nice work. I like how the engine turned out and the unibody conversion is looking good. I'll be following along now.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Progress

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

More progress

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Raised bed floor. My tailgate isn't working out. It was twisted about 3/4 inch. Tried to untwist it and it bowed out at the bottom. Tried to straighten it and it sunk in at the mid section. Guess it would have worked better with a straight tailgate but it was free. I'm getting a new one and going from there. My wife wants me to make a bench seat out of it by our front door. Also not sure if that tank hangs too low. AND not sure if that dakota rack will turn the truck tight enough. AND not sure if my homemade rear disc conversion is going to work. Lots of trial and error. Might even spend more money trying to save a few bucks. We'll see, for now just keep on welding and grinding and cutting and welding and....

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Driver side outer panel very close.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Did your inspiration come from *****en rides on doing the bed this way? I like it when people think outside the box.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Killer progress! Looks great :metal:

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Thanks! Actually my inspiration comes from being an idiot. The first cab was rotten through and through from top to bottom. The second (and free) cab was only rusted out at the rockers but it had a bunch of damage on the back. I think it was used a flat bed truck and got smacked from things sliding into the back of the cab. I BELIEVED that covering the damage would be easier than repairing it. I also thought that doing a unibody would be more unique. I was half right. I could have had the cab repaired a while back. This is turning out to be more work than I imagined but hopefully the end result will be worth it. I still plan a 1 or 1.5 inch chop to bring the roofline back in proportion to the 3" shorter than normal bed. Still into new territory for me. Had never cut a bed, and have never cut a roof. Have seen some unibody conversions done but as of yet no GMC versions. Still think I need a plate that says IMPOSTR...since my 69 chevy long bed 6 cyl is going to be a 67 gmc short bed v8.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Often look at these for inspiration...

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Today

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Yesterday. Helping swap out a bent frame on a Spitfire.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

I asked a question then get back in here only today to read the answer :)


I admit i must live a sheltered life in the gearhead world because i have never seen any other trucks modded this way except watching that show on the tube, for a first time i think your doing great!

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Looking good.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Next project. Taped the pillars with 3/4 inch tape, little paint, pull the tape and cut between the lines.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Convertible

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Leaning the pillars into each other. Going to flush fit the glass. 3/4 inch isn't a lot but I don't want it to look chopped, I want it to look proportional since I'm already 3 inches shorter than a short bed truck.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Dont know how I missed this build but Im in to see the rest ,very impressive .

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Mr. Green Jeans is coming right along!
I thought for a second, NO.... but as it turns out it's not a super chop top after all. I like the idea of the flush glass too. This puppy just keeps getting cooler.
Keep up the good work. More pictures please :chevy:

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

First fitting of the wheels. They are Vision 143 wheels in 20x8.5 and 20x 9.5. The fronts don't seat over the hubs. I'll get the space I need with 1/4 wheel spacers. Ordered the hub centric ones that billet specialties makes. The rear is off, too. I got the least backspacing I could and my narrow 69 axle pulls them way in. My measuring tells me I need a 1" bolt on spacer to get them where they need to be. Such are the dilemmas of ordering cast wheels. All four of these cost what one custom forged rim goes for.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

REALLY trying to avoid a polished billet street rod look on this one, though chrome is good so no worries, I'm keeping bumpers, door handles, etc. Since I want a modern feel inside I'm planning on some very different techniques and parts to get the look and texture I have in mind. One thing is the MOMO wheel I got. Looks like it belongs in a new camaro. Started out with silver on red in mind on this truck but now looking like red on black.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Also ordered the Dakota Digital VHX guages and a custom panel from Boese engineering. I requested no LED holes for indicator lights and no ball milling marks on the face. If you ever try to order this panel for VHX and the guy tells you they are the same size as VDO... They're not. Had to have the holes machined another .15" to get them in there. No polished aluminum? No problem. Was going to paint the gauge pod but now highly considering hydro dipping in a carbon fiber or machine turned finish.

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Thanks! I'm not sure a lot of people get where I'm going. Sometimes subtle is better than a hammer to the face when it comes to mods. I wonder how many people will walk by this thing and never notice the chop OR the bed. Three new posts in a day enough pics for now?

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Better close up of the wheel

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

Gauges and wheels look great as does the whole truck .

Re: Mr Green Jeans - the 69 (or not) chevy, er gmc, project
 

I just found this thread! Simply amazing....I'm in to watch