1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

So after thinking about what to do for little over 2 years finally started tearing down my 83 GMC. I have had some success in some areas and not so much in others. So here it goes. SO now i am at a stopping point trying to take the bed apart. It is removed and all the bolts have been removed, the wheel tubs, seam sealer, but i can not get it to come apart at the tail gate. I am wondering if there are some pinch welds that i need to drill out any help wouold be appreciated.

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

I am shortening the lower control arms and moving them forward and hopefully this weekend installing cups. I am trying to get as low as possible with 22s without loosing my a/c going ot be close. Pictured below is what I hope the end state to be.

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

rear crossmember is welded at corners of floor just inside tailgate. If you use cutoff wheel and just cut weld it will come apart. Right where boxside meets floor. Don't know if that clear.

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

What kit is that you are using?

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

The 4 link is from Chris Alstons chassisworks I also got the panhard bar from him as well. The valves, dual pack compressors, bags, bag mounts (front and back), lines, 8 inch c nothch, and some fittings from BC Fabrication.

Thanks for the quick response? I cant seem to find that notch for the driveshaft on the website
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

I don't know if you can buy it by itself, it came with the 4 link kit.

Do you have a link or part #? Thanks for all your help.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

After I installed the front lower air bag mounts that just sit in the old spring pocket they did not get the truck nearly low enough. So I got on BC Fabrication again and ordered some front cups and the got the truck almost 3 inches lower.

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

Any before and after pics?
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

Good looking truck and great start!

One thing, your lower control arms might cause some problems with the cups. You don't need to have them hang below the arm. They might get caught up driving low or when you lay out the cup might hit the ground first. You may want to check it out before final assembly.

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

Here it is all aired out. The truck sits the front upper spring mounts on the a-arm. The a-arms and spring cups do not touch the ground. I have 22" in the front which is why nothing touches the ground if i only had 15"s I am sure it would be a different case.

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

Glad it didnt get caught up. You can flip your nuts and bolts around on that upper plate and get a hair more drop. I had to do the same thing on mine.

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

Been working on raising the bed floor.

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

Looks good
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

I like the way you are sectioning the inside. It looks much cleaner but man that is a lot of work!

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

Truck looks good man.

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

Finally started making the bed mounts. I didn't want to have to crawl under the truck to remove the bed bolts so now i don't have to with my new bolts.

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

Made my custom transmission cross member. Got it outside to check the body lines after I mounted the bed. I still have to figure out some way to straighten the bent "New Bumper".

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

That looks like a 73-80 rear bumper....true?

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

truck looks good!! can u post some pics of the inside of the bed...an that does look like 73-80 bumper....u should get 81-87 bumper

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

I will get some more bed pictures for you later today. It took me a long time sitting arolund thinking how I was going to tackle the floor raising.
I ended up just cutting the inner bedsides just above where the wheel well met. Ended up at about 7 1/2 inches. I then removes that much from the front and was still able to bolt all the panels togeher like factory. The only problem I had was with the fitment of the tailgate. In the photo from behind you can see the braces that i installed that go from the bed bolts stands to the lower portion of the bedside. It was the only thing i found to be able to hold the bedsides securily enough fo the tailgate to close properly. After finsishing the bed off the truck I leveled the truck frame on blocks then placed the bed on top. With the truck frame level i just leveled the bed and aligned the body lines, then made the bed stands that are pictured previously. I am by no means a professional welder or hot rod builder so I think it came out pretty good.

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

Inside bed pictures. The last one shows the bottom of the bed runners that I had to trim to get the bed to sit a little lower.

Re: 1983 GMC " Getting Grounded"
 

Do you have any pics of the truck at ride height and max height? Truck looks damn good