No Regrets - The Rebuild post

[Captkaos]

The 73-80 bushing will want to sit in that hole though...

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

The 73-80 bushing will want to sit in that hole though...

ok, I checked it out the other day... the earlier mounts will work but not very well. Will everything be fine if I just get the new style bushings?

[Captkaos]

Yep.

[hAetWagon]

I have learned SO much from this thread alone. Thanks Brother.

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by hAetWagon

I have learned SO much from this thread alone. Thanks Brother.

cool. and no problem.

[smashingchuck]

I had big plans for this weekend, but since Summit decided to ship me an empty box instead of my sway bar, it kinda put me in a foul mood. It didn't take much convincing to get me out of the shop with all the rain out side... so I just said the hell with it and took the week end off.

I did get a chance to snap a few pics of the four link being put back together. None of the bolts are tight yet. And yes, the fresh paint already has dust on it in the crevices from grinding in the shop without covering it up.... I wiped it down but noticed in the pics it showed up in the hard to reach ares.

[smashingchuck]

A few updates...

My first attempt at adding a sway bar to the front has failed. I bought one for my application (78 chevy 2wd c10) from summit. It is way to wide and my spindles hit it when turning. I understand that I have a "custom" application, but I don't see how it would even work on a stock truck with the width they sent me. So now I have to send it back to them after I called them and told me they shipped me an empty box the first time. Sounds fishy, but it's the truth!

What's even more frustrating is that it's going to set me back at least another two weeks,because I can't do final assembly on the front suspension until I weld the sway bar mounts to the control arms. I can't paint them either, and I prefer to do all my welding on the bench... so it's back to the drawing board on that one.

So to keep busy, I started installing the motor and trans today.... in went in easy as pie. Probably because the typical things that hold up an engine install were out of the way. Nothing like sitting on the frame rail to tighten the bell housing bolts! I was also finally able to make sure the drive shaft cleared the new hoop for the first time. Luckily, it does.

However, as my projects always go, I did find another problem upon dropping in the motor and trans... The new headers I have muck up the "z" bar for the clutch linkage. Although I think I already have the problem figured out... it's just another one of those things that I have to modify.

[smashingchuck]

I'm at the point now where I have been gathering parts (and waiting for the right ones to get here) that I can start moving forward again. I spent the entire week last week planning out the air management and working on some small items. I just today finally got a sway bar that looks like is going to work. Yesterday I got the twin to my air tank that I couldn't find anywhere, and I *think* I've got all the fittings I need to redo all the plumbing. So the objectives for the week end are:

1. Get second tank mounted
2. Get all valves mounted
3. Wrap up entire front end (build sway bar mounts, paint lower control arms, and do final assembly on everything)
4. Start bending air lines.

I bought 60' of 3/8 stainless line to do all the plumbing. It may take a little longer to run it, but I'm positive it will look great.

I snapped a few pics of the different things this morning...

[smashingchuck]

I've got the z bar, shocks, sway bar, and twin tanks mounted in the last few days. Still haiting on my flaring tool to get here from Parker.

Here's some pics got to get back out to the shop.

[joe231]

Originally Posted by smashingchuck

Excellent Thread
I'm very impressed!!

quick question about your driveshaft hoop, is it the camera angle or is you hoop not centered? looks like your driveshaft is about to hit. just curious

[smashingchuck]

The panhard bar isn't adjusted yet.

[joe231]

oh

[smashingchuck]

I'm getting to the point where I am able to start bending my air lines now. It is not the easiest thing to do, but what is? Snapped some pics of it in midstream (ran out of fasteners to tie it to the frame). Also throwing up a pic of how I incorporated my air drier into the set up. Enjoy....

[AceX]

I love hard air lines. Rubber just doesn't do it for me...

Can you post a link to where I can get some good line like that?

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by AceX

I love hard air lines. Rubber just doesn't do it for me...

Can you post a link to where I can get some good line like that?

The place I got it from does not have a website, but it is simply 3/8 stainless, and the fittings are JIC. Anyplace that deals with hydrolic hoses should have the fittings and line in stock. You will also need a flaring tool (about $400 for one that is capable of doing stainless). I would also recommend a quality bender.

here is a link to some I found online, but you should be able to do much better on price. I believe Grainger stocks it as well.

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...90752&PMT4NO=0

[smashingchuck]

Just realized I hadn't updated in almost two months. I've been busy on other projects taking up my time and money (CHRISTMAS, other truck) but I got back on track this week and should have some parts here later today to start moving forward again. I got a good sized Atlas Lathe for Christmas that needs some elbow grease, too.

I spent the Thanksgiving weekend putting the new motor and transmission in the '87 Silverado, so that took up my Money and time for a while, but I've got a dependable 4x4 with new motor and trans in it, 4.56 3/4 ton axles, and 4" lift for under $2500 total cost involved.



Here's some pics I snapped the other day... not much has changed.

[smashingchuck]

OK, I only got one thing today. Apparently Jegs has slower shipping times because of the New Years Holiday. So here's what I got done. Picked up the soft lines for the front today, and got them put in, bags bolted down top and bottom. Still have to build brackets to capture them but it's a start anyway. I decided to use the soft lines in this particular spot because it just easier.


new 3/8" lines on bench.



I super glued and hose clamped 1/2 heater hose to them for where they cross through the cross member.




And with the bags installed. Like I said still need to build brackets to hold these in place and finish the hard line run to the front.



more to come....

[smashingchuck]

one more for today and I'm done. I've got all the bends done on the passenger side front air line coming from the valve. I still need to build a bracket to hold the lines at the union, clamp it all the way down the frame, and flare the line at the valve.

[Dinos63]

nice work looks good

[justpball]

looking good bro!

[willett]

please tell me that your running thsoe mud terrains on it when its done! :P

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by justpball

looking good bro!

thanks!

Originally Posted by willett

please tell me that your running those mud terrains on it when its done! :P

hadn't planned on it. In the past I have run those on the back of my 'burb for snow tires.

[WELD4DAYS]

Looks awesome.Your motor is so clean it looks fake. Nice detail work.

[silvereagle07]

Looks good man. Nice progress.

[youngrodder]

Looking good chuck. Do you ever go to Fastnal in TR? I think we passed each other as I was leaving the store. I drive a red 2000 Z71 Tahoe. I reconized your mint green burb.

What shop is doing the body work on your truck? Mine is at a body shop in Mendon.

When will you have color on the truck?

Keep up the good work.
Marc