Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Nice Build! I was looking for a thread were someone Z'ed the front of a 73-87 frame and I came along yours. I will hopefully be doing the same to a frame I have. I really like the color combo too.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Very interesting build. I enjoy seeing the progess. You seem to be very matter-of-fact and it seems to keep you progressing steadily.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Thanks

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Thanks. If you have any questions just give a holler and I'll gladly share any info I have.

Thanks. I try to just keep putting one foot in front of the other or more like a chess match, just keep advancing when I can and retreat when I have to.

Here are a few pics taken this past weekend when I was finally able to put the bed back on and fabricate mounts for my fuel cell.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

couple more pics for you pic junkies

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Nice, looks like a truck again. How much do you think you will have into just the suspension work with bags etc. Trying to figure out about how much I need to save up going with the Zeed frame like you did. Can't wait to see it finished.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Truck is looking wicked cool.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

I think all in around $1000. That's including plating steel, welding wire/gas, etc.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Thanks Rusty76. That's the look I was after. I think it is heading in the right direction for the vision I had in my head this whole time.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

What did you decide to do with the rear suspension? It looks like you have the 4 link bars welded to the pumpkin? I know you talked about changing it but it looks like you haven't yet? Thanks

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

No, I didn't change them. I hired a welder to weld em up. He says he has welded many over the years with no problems. We'll see. Looks fine to me.

"I've had guys tell me on just about every decision I've made (front, back, middle) that you can't do that". Well, my answer is no, "YOU CAN'T DO THAT". Me, I'll do it my way, and if it needs some adjustment or heaven forbid, fixing at some point in time I will do that as well.
I march to the beat of my own drummer. We'll see if "he is mentally unstable". :metal:

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Looking good. I think other than the 6 inch Z (I would have went a few inches less) your build is great.

For welding to the pumpkin, did he mig or tig it? What filler did he use if he tigged it?

Im doing a 3 link this weekend. It would make it way easier to weld it to the pumpkin rather than build a bridge over it to weld to. Not sure which way I want to go.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

he pre-heated it and mig welded it.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Little progress today on my console. Trying to blend it in so you can't tell it's multi piece and also install a tray to hold my cell phone and sunglasses. The tray will lift in and out so it can sit on top of the upholstery work. Not much, but i'll take it. Actually worked on my El Camino most of the day buy finally got on my love for a couple hours

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Well shoot Wayne, I always enjoy your builds and just found this one. Enjoyed catching up with what you have going here. Very cool and creative! Will be tagging along for the rest.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Hey Doug. Welcome aboard. How you been?
Actually got the console finished up yesterday (good enough for my interior guy to polish it up. Had to finish welding on my roll pan today & get the filler work roughed in. All these things were always "on the list" just finally made it to the top.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Well, been busy. Finally got the bodywork done and decided it deserved a better paint job than what I am capable of putting out, so I flew my buddy in from PA. to handle the gun.
Best decision I made so far on this project.
Rented a booth (instead of my usual backyard trick) in town and about 35 hours this past weekend it's in color.
Had to start out with a silver band so we could have that as a separation between the body color (buckskin tan), and the white side stripe. Not a big fan of the bulky side trim the factory used.
Here it is,

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Next came clear coat to all colors and haul it home.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

killer colors

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

I like it, came out real nice. Keep up the good work thanks for the pics.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Very nice! Your hard work and thinking outside the box is paying off well for you. That color combination is very classy.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Looks really good. Rad.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Wow, truck has a great look with the color combo. Nice!

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

I too love the color combination. Great work!!! Mike

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

. Thanks truckfan. I really dig em too.

51chevyman, I appreciate it.

3drburb. thanks for the kind words.

rusty76. Thanks man.

A.D. thank you. I appreciate all the kind words. I know being down on the ground is not very popular with the majority of this group. I get that. that's cool.
I just go from one project to the next "building what my brain tells me is cool". built by me, for me,

This pic is of this truck Last April on the day I hauled it home. Had to stop at the tire shop & fix a flat before I could even push it off the trailer. Been a very busy year. Hopefully by June 1st "El Chapo" (the shorty) will be finished and cruising. Wanting a couple months to sort it out before I drive it to Bonneville salt flats racing and to the "C-10's in the park show in Texas. Gotta get busy again now that it's painted. :metal:

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

The paint on that looks really really good. Really enjoying how this is coming together. Good job, and quick work.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Been a busy 13 months. Couple pics showing how low can it go

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

That’s pretty low there.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Very low...don’t scrape the paint! :)

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Better put some all wheels on there!! :)

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Looking good.
That ride height is going to be sweet.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Yep. When I was doing the fabrication I wanted it to drop plenty so that when I put a bigger wheel on it'll still drop down

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Awesome

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Got my side glass and windshields in place in the last two weekends. Thought i would share a couple recent pics of El Chapo. Even the engine bay is coming out a lot cleaner than the past couple builds i have done. Moved the computer behind the drivers seat helped a lot.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

I forgot you were doing the LS. Lol. Everything is really looking great.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Well, i don't go on here much anymore, but wanted to take just a minute and share a little bit of good news.
I was finally able to get my systems up and running and have since driven it to two local (about 25 miles each way) little shows. Got to visit with my friends there who i only see at that show.
Still got a bit of work to do (mainly bed floor and interior), but it is done enough that i will be taking it to the C10's in the park show east of Dallas Texas in about 10 days. For those of you who don't know it's a really nice show held in a park with over 850 C-10's from all over. (Google C10's in the park)
Been trying real hard to get it finished, but it will just have to be done enough for now. When i get back home I will have about 60 days to button up my loose ends before Dino's Git Down and Goodguys show.
So, even though most of you don't really dig the lowered trucks, I wanted to share my truck (I call it LCHAPO OR the shorty) pics taken over the weekend.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

I love the way it came out and color combo. What rim size/ wheel combo are you running?

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Been following your build, glad you posted up some pics of it done, came out great. Have a great time at the show...Jim

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Very well done. Looks great.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Thanks 51Chevyman. Rims are 20 inch Detroit Steel "Del Rays".

Thanks oldman3. Wish it was done. bit of work left to do and some things i am gonna re-do, just don't want to take the time now and lose my forward momentum. Wanted to keep pushing forward to make it a runner, so i can go to C-10's in the park. Hoping to have a great time, see some friends, and hopefully make some new friends. I love going to these things and surrounding myself with folks who also love these old trucks. 850 C10's. Can't hardly wait.

3drburb. Thanks you sir. I am pretty happy with how it is coming out so far. bit of re-do, to do, but, that's what happens when you are a backyard builder. I tell my friends "I do my best, and re-do the rest". :metal: