78 downlow-littledough
 

Well howdy there fellas. Name's Wayne and my new project is a 78 Chevy 1/2 ton, fleet-side, short bed pickup.
By my title 78 downlow-littledough, you have probably already guessed that I am planned on putting her a little closer to terra firma and hopefully do it without buying a bunch of big ticket items
Last year I built (not 100% finished yet) a 72 El Camino that I have in the "Alternate Tinkerings" section. The year before that I built a 68 Chevy 1 ton dually short bed step side in the 68-72 section called "Meet Homer".
Anyhow, I mention these past projects so you will know a couple things about me before looking at this current project.
I have been going back and forth on whether to build a 63 GMC I had or do a square body. Well about a week ago I finally came to terms with this pickups former owner so a deal was struck. I put my 63 on Craigslisssss and on down the road it went. Went and picked up my new to me and brought it home this morning. It is a pretty straight and almost entire rust free truck. The former owner had pulled the rearend out to install new disk brakes along with engine upgrades and that was where the project met a timely death.
I had been trying to buy this truck for about the last 2 years off and on for a one of these days project, but felt he was asking too much money. I finally decided that his asking price was fair, so here she is in all her "glory",,,,,

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

A few more of this "clean" interior.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Looks like a great start! Congrats!

I'm in for the build.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

I am in.
Congrats on finally getting it.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Thanks Derek.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Thanks. I appreciate it. Plan is to strip the doghouse, cab, & bed off ASAP so I can get started cleaning the frame & making plans.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Wow Coop ,that is a very nice truck to start with ,you know Im going to follow along .

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Right on. I appreciate the kind words. It is a pretty nice hull to start out on. Not what I'm used to starting with.
Oh well, let the games begin.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Well, not getting around very good right now as I had a little knee scope operation last week, but, was getting around good enough to help my "helper" Chuck get started tearing this dude apart.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

A few more. I know most of these pics are boring, but for me it is invaluable when it comes time to put it back together and I can go back and look at these pics and see what part bolted together into what hole. Great storage pics.
:metal:

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

last ones today, I promise.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

last ones today, I promise.
Took Chuck 2.5 hours, I paid him for 3, and we all know who got the better end of that deal?:metal:

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Wow ya'll dont waste any time .

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Right on. I love the "honeymoon" phase of a build.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Had a little lunch and sat and watched about 30 minutes of the toob, and had to "go back out in the garage just to check it out".
Well, about an hour later I had the rearend, springs, and e-brake cables out. Inch by inch.
That's it for today. Back to work tomorrow.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

We like pictures, don't worry about it.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Cool.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

We are going up similar roads here with kinda lower bucks low builds and nursing a bum knee. Hats off to you on your builds.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Right on. We just keep plugging along. Keep up the good fight. :metal:

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

I'm following. Cool truck

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Glad to have ya. Thanks

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

I'm down for lowbuck builds.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

That makes "MANY" of us. I would only do high buck builds & have nothing but the best parts installed by the best shop, except, (wait for it) hard to teach this old dog that trick.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

How about a total of 9 inch drop in the front after installing 3 inch drop spindles?
Actually thinking about a hybrid rear suspension? I have a 66 1/2 ton frame at my cabin property that was hit pretty hard in the front. It has trailing arms. I am thinking I can do an axle flip with a lowering block & have a good place for my bags to sit?
What do u think?

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

lurk:cool:

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Sorry for re-posting these pics. I kinda got hung up in the suspension sub-forum and posted these there when they should be here in my build thread. As you can see from first pic or two I cleaned off the top of my original frame and the bottom of the donor section of frame. Bought it off of Craigs for $50. I wish it was about 6 inches longer towards the cab, but it was much easier than driving 80 miles, loading my donor truck, bringing it home, cutting it apart, etc.
So without further ado;
I sat the donor on top of my frame and spent hours leveling, tacking, head scratching, until I was sure it was right where it needed to be for my plan to work. I dropped the crossmember out and cut only what I had to (for the moment) in order to raise it up 6" and bolt it in place. Sounds way easier than it was.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Following over from the suspension section. Looking forward to see how this will be section together, etc. Nice job so far...Jim

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

more

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

few more.


This reminds me of the first Pro-Street car I built about 20 years ago. Had all the parts in the garage to back half the car and before I started it I went to the Goodguys show in Scottsdale hoping to find someone who had done one already that I could gain some insight from.
Found a guy who just finished the exact same install. I asked him lots of questions but the most important one was "what is the hardest part of the install? Without hesitation he replied FIRST CUT". Once you hack the frame in half, you have no option other that to continue on to the end. Never forgot it.
If all goes as planned and I am able to go get my donor today, I should be able to bolt the control arms back on and sit the front end back on tires. :metal:
We'll see:waah:

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

I was wondering where you were going with this after seeing some of the earlier post then checking out your badass dually.
I will take out my notepad pull up a chair and sit in class for this one, watching you do what you do, build new boxes.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Thanks 3drburb,
I might not be the brightest bulb in the box, but I sure as heck can usually get there from here. Just don't have much quit in me.
I was a carpenter for many years before I became an inspector. I usually just try and follow a logical path on how to cut something apart and put it back together as strong as possible.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Didn't get much done today on "downlow-littledough". Had to drive out to my work (bout 80 miles round trip) and pick up my semi-donor 78 pickup. Just a cab, long bed, and front and rear end. I plan on using the a-arms of it as well as some of the other stuff I need. gonna cut the frame down and make a pickup bed trailer and try to peddle it. It's got a real nice cab too. Probably dump it as well after I get some pieces off it.
Too bad you guys in the rusty world are so far away. Good cabs are pretty plentiful out here.

Anyhow, I was able to get my outer plates in place. Welded on the edges and one side got it's 8- grade 8, 7/16" bolts. Man, that drilling takes it out of your back. I forgot how hard it is. I want to get all the bolts in place and tightened down before I weld in the inner plates.
Few pics for anyone interested;

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

I'm interested to see what differences there are from what I had to do with my 4 inch Z.

Any reason you are bolting and welding it as opposed to just welding it?

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Thanks oldman3.
Just me. Welding would have been fine, & bolting probably ok too. I always like to do both, just cause I can. Love redundancy.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Looking forward to see how you do the trailing arm setup. Really curious to see how much more work it is, if any than what I did.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

In for the build. You are making quick work of that frame. Looking forward to seeing it back on the ground!

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

You and me both Paul. I am not etched in stone on anything yet. I will start looking more serious at that end of the chassis as soon as I get the back side of the crossmember bolted, welded, and plated back together. My plan is to then tackle the rear suspension, Sit the cab back in place bolted tightly. Then I can start making measurements on the front section of frame as to what stays and what goes.

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

Thanks hewittca. Hopefully in the new few weeks I can have it rolling around again. I will pull it apart later to have the chassis powder coated, so I don't need to worry about any of that stuff now.

"Hang on, gonna be a wild ride".


Truth be told this is the part of the builds I love the most. :metal:

Re: 78 downlow-littledough
 

The Camino was cool, this oughta be killer!

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Thanks Low Elco. In my little carpenters brain, it seems like a very easy way to lose some vertical drop. Not free, but a dam sight cheaper. :lol: