1970 SWB : Porterbuilt to the Extreme "Double E"

[mikeleeshields]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Looking good Mike, you'll be driving in no time

I hope so. I just want to be able to drive it off a trailer into the show and back on the trailer for the time being. Keep in mind this will never be a trailer queen but I do want people to see what I have been working on, lol. I don't think id be able to drive on the street without a windshield anyway, lol.

[Sac]

Great build. Subscribed to see it progress more.

[mikeleeshields]

Originally Posted by Sac

Great build. Subscribed to see it progress more.

Thanks. More to come.

[mikeleeshields]

Worked on the truck for about three days straight. It doesn't look like I got a lot done but I feel like I did accomplish some things.

- final mount of the core support
- modified core support to fit the radiator much better
- mounted the steering wheel and hooked up the rack and pinion to the column
- routed new power cables to the rear and ran all the power wires to a distribution block
- welded up bed floor frames
- buttoned up wiring under the dash
- routed all wiring to the core support through the frame rails

I'm sure I forgot some things

[mikeleeshields]

Sorry on the iPad so I have to load single pics.

[mikeleeshields]

The front and rear lower floor frames.

I will try mounting them tomorrow

Sorry for the crappy pics. My camera on my phone is all scratched.

[mcbassin]

Looking good Mike! I know exactly what you mean. I have had my truck painted for a couple months but it's still not together. Trying to get all the wiring and mechanical done take a super long time.....Keep up the good work.

[Bennett68C10]

Looks great Mike, you definitely got a lot more done then I did this weekend I like the frame you made for your bed, I might have to steal the idea if I ever get back to my bed. Have to finish the bodywork and paint on the front clip and cab while I have warm weather to paint.

[mikeleeshields]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Looking good Mike! I know exactly what you mean. I have had my truck painted for a couple months but it's still not together. Trying to get all the wiring and mechanical done take a super long time.....Keep up the good work.

Thanks Mike. I know I am going against what a ton of people have said but I just want to get this thing thrown together and drive it this summer. I have all winter to tear it back apart and paint it all, lol.

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Looks great Mike, you definitely got a lot more done then I did this weekend I like the frame you made for your bed, I might have to steal the idea if I ever get back to my bed. Have to finish the bodywork and paint on the front clip and cab while I have warm weather to paint.

Were you layed up this weekend still? I have softball games all week for my little girl so it is a lot of late nights till 12 I see in my future. That frame is just the base. I am still trying to determine if I want a lower floor with the air stuff exposed and a notch cover or if I want to raise the entire floor level. Oh well the base has to be made regardless. It ends up fitting pretty good though.

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by mikeleeshields

Were you layed up this weekend still? I have softball games all week for my little girl so it is a lot of late nights till 12 I see in my future. That frame is just the base. I am still trying to determine if I want a lower floor with the air stuff exposed and a notch cover or if I want to raise the entire floor level. Oh well the base has to be made regardless. It ends up fitting pretty good though.

I'm good now, spent Saturday running errands and spent most of yesterday putting my spray booth up. I did manage to bodywork the fenders and spray a couple more coats of epoxy on.

I'm still trying to make the same decision about my bed floor that you are. Check out screamingchevypickups Lucy build thread. I'm thinking about doing a the same to my bed. Basically raise the floor up to the bottom of the wheel tubs so that I don't have to modify the tubs any and build a hinged notch cover.

[mikeleeshields]

I have some more progress to post. I actually feel like I am doing something, haha. I formed up a new radiator mount the other day and it fits pretty good. I spent a freakin long time making a battery mount to hang off the side of the frame, (took way longer than anticipated). Once it is cleaned up with some bracing I think it will turn out pretty good. I also laid the bedfloor frame down so you can get an idea of what I am working with so far. I tried laying out the air stuff to decide how I am going to do that and I am still up in the air. I do think I am going to mount it in the front of the bed and raise the bed floor up about 8" to cover it all with some hinged covers. I will still have to build a small notch cover more than likely but not too bad. I want to show off all the frame work in the end it is just too pretty and expensive to hide, lol. I also mounted the headlights to the core support.

[mikeleeshields]

Here are the headlights.

[builtbyKane]

Looking good

[Bennett68C10]

I really like the frame you built for the Bed, looks good

[mcbassin]

Nice work on the battery box and bed floor. I bet you did rack up some time on those puppys.

[Bhelton]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

I really like the frame you built for the Bed, looks good

I agree, trucks coming along nicely!

[mikeleeshields]

Originally Posted by builtbyKane

Looking good

Thanks. I just looked at yours and you have made some progress too. Looks good.

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

I really like the frame you built for the Bed, looks good

That is the start. Now where to go from there is the question. Unfortunately I have to tear the bed back apart to put cab corners on soon.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Nice work on the battery box and bed floor. I bet you did rack up some time on those puppys.

Yea it was a couple days of work to get it to come out right. I think they turned out pretty good so far, thanks.

Originally Posted by Bhelton

I agree, trucks coming along nicely!

Thanks. Are you driving your daily yet?

[Bhelton]

Originally Posted by mikeleeshields

Thanks. I just looked at yours and you have made some progress too. Looks good.


That is the start. Now where to go from there is the question. Unfortunately I have to tear the bed back apart to put cab corners on soon.


Yea it was a couple days of work to get it to come out right. I think they turned out pretty good so far, thanks.


Thanks. Are you driving your daily yet?

As much as possible, I'm working on another right now to make a daily driver out of

[mikeleeshields]

Originally Posted by Bhelton

As much as possible, I'm working on another right now to make a daily driver out of

Sounds great. Im gonna have a hard time putting real paint or anything on it. I don't want to have a nice paint job hinder me from driving it every day. We will see as time passes. There are so many other things I have in store for the truck. Yours looks good.

[mikeleeshields]

Got some new parts from one of my favorites, summit racing.

I can hook up my new tranny now. I am waiting on a gear shifter from southern classic so i can actually put this thing in gear. The column I had didn't have a shifter.

Oh and a gallon of rust remover for all the bolts that are piled up on my benches.

[mikeleeshields]

I have gotten a few more things complete.
- The transmission linkage is now hooked up.
- The transmission coolant lines are plumbed.
- I have the driver's cab corner welded on.
- I gave the majority of my bolts a rust bath and fresh coat of paint.
- I fully secured the carrier bearing.
- Headlights are wired and ready to go.

[mikeleeshields]

I got the passenger side rocker on last night. I almost have a complete hole free cab again, yippeee

[Bomp]

Your cab corners look real good. You probably mentioned it but where did you get your cab corners from?

You've made some sweet progress.

[mikeleeshields]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Your cab corners look real good. You probably mentioned it but where did you get your cab corners from?

You've made some sweet progress.

Thank you. I get all my sheetmetal from a local place here in Ohio called Restoration World. They are about 40 min from me and have just about everything for older Chevy's.

[mikeleeshields]

I got the first layer of filler on the cab corners and fixed some windshield rust.

I realized I am not going to be able to get this thing done in time for Goodguys in Columbus this weekend which is a big bummer. Too many things to get done in 4 days.

Is anyone going to Gooodguys this weekend?