Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

That's going to be one speedy gator! I suppose it might make your C10 scoot pretty good too. Have fun with the engine swap. I'm considering transplanting an LS in my '65 too.

John

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Initial drop in to see whats up. I will be moving it rearward from where it is in the pictures. I want a bit more room between the accessories and the radiator. I will need to clearance the firewall for what I am trying to do.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

The Speed Engineering headers fit well.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Started putting together the front suspension bits.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Dug the wheels out of my buddies attic. I bought them in early 2000. They were still in the origional boxes. American Eagles, they are no longer in business. Got their new shoes mounted on them too.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Had to see what the fit was like. It'll work.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

The rear trailing arms were rusted enough from sitting in the dirt for all those years that it was time to do something else.

Got these from TinWorks. Very nice quality and they have great customer service.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Nice looking pieces there! Keep the pics and updates coming.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Prepping the crossmemebers from Tinworks. Needed a to do something for a transmission mount for the new automatic as a 4 speed was coming out. We also have here a new trailing arm cross member. Both have passages for the exhaust to go through.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Got the cab moved to make it easier to work on. Stock crossmembers removed. Frame cleaned up and painted from the front to the back of the cab. Here is the Nolimit crossmember installed.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

I would like to run an X pipe. But there are some challenges...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/i...ilies/sumo.gif

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Hmm. Looks pretty good, but could use a little something...

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Well...I did it now.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Good progress. The cut is made.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

The ol hydraulic lift table came in very handy for this part. Both the first and second cuts were opened up 1 3/8". A plate was tacked in the gap of the horizontal flange of the frame. In the second picture you can see the beveled filler plate next to the protractor soon to be welded in.

Use jackstands and scissor jacks to level the frame in all directions. Essentially the frame is sitting on them at the radiator core support and the front and rear cab mounts. The hydaulic table is supporting the rear of the frame and is kept level side to side. Taking your time with this part pays off with the whole job.

The engine/trans and cab are all in place to provide some weight on the frame for stabiltiy.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Thank you, Harald. I love how your '62 finished up. That was an incredible amount of work.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

The next two cuts and filler pieces tacked in to stabilize before final measuring.

Ideally the cut for the turndown after the axle should be a little further aft but that would have begun to complicate the mounting of the rear tank. If I do it over I would place that cut 3/4"-1" rearward. I still have good clearance for the axle at full compression as it is. Visually it would look better with that extra inch.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Next we make good fitting filler plates and burn them in from both sides. On the top flange of the frame, holes were drilled at then end of the grinder cut to help relieve a stress riser that could develop in that area.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Welds cleaned up, next stop, paint.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

That looks so much better than the huge step notch. Does this method end up moving the fore/aft location of the upper spring mount very much?

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

It did move the upper mount toward the front minimally. I am using air bags and will show them installed later. I am also centering the wheel in the fender opening. The bag alignment looks pretty good although I can move the top mount as required.

Now the bigger change is the frame is shorter from this. Approximately one inch. In addition to needing to fabricate the two front mounts for the bed the last mounting location on the bed crossmember under the tailgate is past the end of the bed. I will need to fab something there also.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

Just some rattle can until fab is finished.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

You have a plan, things are going well, I'm curious.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

A little before and after picture.

Re: 65 C10 Family Connection
 

I like your way of making room for the axle a lot better than the typical step notch.

On the extension needed for the rear of the frame, if you're trying to stay with a mostly stock looking frame, maybe you could get the rear section of rails from a long bed frame to get the length needed?