Project "Never Done"

[blime81]

So I'm building on a 72 Chevy C10, LWB, leafsprings, HD rear, 350, 4 speed.

A little history first:

I bought my Truck when I was 17. I'm now 29. I drove it to high school, hauled wood, gravel and delivered pizzas in it. I spent my first couple years in the Corps using it a DD.

I got into Jeeps and offroad stuff and the truck just sorta lingered. I'd drive it every now and again and do a little fixing on it every now and again but nothing wild.

I spent a lot of time deployed to far off lands so I have plenty of time for reading, researching and generally daydreaming about different things I'd like to do.

Fast forward a bit and it has become project #1.

Thought I outta finally make build thread. (while my post count doesn't agree I first found this site in 2001 when I first got the "internet" lol)

Here goes:
Here is how she looked when I decided to really DO something. This was about Feb 2010. Camaro seats and a stinkbug stance.


Those seats gotta go. 2001 Silverado seats. Pushed the column in a bit and good to go. I freshened up the rest interior a while back.



Time to jack it up and tear off all the old stuff.


Get some new stuff.


Went with SD upper plates and 2600 bags. Then I figured what the heck and decided to get the modular spindles and lower tube arms from CPP as well. While I was at it I went for the HD sway bar too.


Removed inner fenders. Now we are where we should be (short of a drop member )


Needed some air to run those bags and since I was savvy with Yorks from the 4x4 world I figured I might as well fab a bracket. You can see my thread about this here:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=4121226


Well with the front low it made the "stink bug look" even worse. Time for the back. Those rivets are a *****!


Went ahead and did a little POR 15 since my parts aren't here.

[blime81]

So the UPS guy stopped by while I was at work.
Betting he was unhappy since there were 6 boxes and the lightest was 31 lbs.

Those SD guys sure do make some stout stuff!




Started to get dark on me, hopfully with a little bit every evening and this weekend I'll be rolling next week.

[blime81]

I did the electric fan conversion a few weeks back using the Grand Cherokee fan (followed the thread on here for this)



This fan looks like it was made for these trucks and I used weather pack connectors from these guys to make it easily removable and like it was made to be there.
http://www.k-four.net/Product.aspx?pid=196

I am slowly going through the truck and upgrading all the wiring, installing these type connectors and relays for lights etc. Removing the seemingly hundreds of butt connectors, wire nuts and taped connections installed over the years. All connections will be soldered and heatshrunk, properly wrapped and secured.

[jbclassix]

Good luck with the truck! porgress looks great!

[blime81]

So a few late nights and it's in. What you ask? Why the Suicide Doors Super Lift Kit. Went on pretty easy.

One hiccup I found was that my frame had two "lumps" on each side. For the bag mounts to fit flat against the frame I had to grind them down.

Action shot:


Forementioned lumps:


I went ahead and just welded the inside of the frame to the bag mounts in addition the the bolts. Don't want any cracks.


Then it was time to weld in the notches:


Expensive can crusher (you can just see the Bud Light can in front of the arm)

[blime81]

Trimmed the bed and then welded in a bit of angle to bolt my coescalating filter and bit of aluminum angle that I mounted the valves to.

Don't mind the wiring in this shot.


I cleaned it up using the K4 connectors (one 4 pin per side).


Still gotta finish plumbing the rear brakes, passenger side exhaust and some other little stuff before it's first ride.

I think the neighbors are just happy the bed is back on!

[laid_out_70]

looks great man, i put my order in to SD for the notch kit and a wishbone kit made to the same specs as the bolt in kit. if you dont mind when you have time could u get me some measurements?

1. what is the distance from the top of the frame to the eye of the upper link?
2. what is the contact surface length of the notch from front to back, on top of the frame?

thanks in advance, sean

[blime81]

Originally Posted by laid_out_70

looks great man, i put my order in to SD for the notch kit and a wishbone kit made to the same specs as the bolt in kit. if you dont mind when you have time could u get me some measurements?

1. what is the distance from the top of the frame to the eye of the upper link?
2. what is the contact surface length of the notch from front to back, on top of the frame?

thanks in advance, sean

Thanks.
You looking for some measurements like this?


No sweat to break out the tape I just wanna be sure I'm giving you what you need.

[laid_out_70]

Originally Posted by blime81

Thanks.
You looking for some measurements like this?


No sweat to break out the tape I just wanna be sure I'm giving you what you need.

yup, perfect

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by blime81

Expensive can crusher (you can just see the Bud Light can in front of the arm)

Yeah but just think of how many you can do at once. Just line them up and crush them down.

Nice work!

[blime81]

Originally Posted by laid_out_70

yup, perfect

Ok I get
1: 4 3/8" This is from the frame straight up to the center of the cross piece (in line with the bolt hole)
2: 19" though you can make this less by not using the whole notch. I actually have a bit of room when laid out.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

Yeah but just think of how many you can do at once. Just line them up and crush them down.

Nice work!

Thanks Mike! Maybe this will ease the $ sting with the wife!

[laid_out_70]

sweet, thanks man. just waiting on my parts from them.

[OARNGESI]

Looks would a smaller front tire let you go lower

[blime81]

Originally Posted by OARNGESI

Looks would a smaller front tire let you go lower

Yeah I'm running about an inch lower and and inch narrower rubber up front now. Gotta post up some more pics.

[oldblue1968chevy]

cool man im in for the build!!!! any new updates?

[blime81]

Yeah I shaved the doors, prepped them for paint and finally got my timing just right only to develop an exhaust leak! Otherwise been DDing it just because!

I'm headed to Afghanistan in less than a week so progress has sort of ground to a halt. Hence the name "never done".

[kyull67]

Looks good!

[gixxerpymp]

Lookin good man...

You have to run a 2-piece drive shaft with this kit?

[Sonicman]

Thank you for your service to our country. Stay safe.

[c10layinlow]

With that Sd kit out back dose your truck lay frame?? Thanks bro
Posted via Mobile Device

[blime81]

Thanks for the compliments guys!

I'm back from Afghanistan, knee deep in moving to a bigger house (bigger garage ) but figured I'd give an update.

Truck fired right up when I got back (thanks to the wife taking it for a drive every so often), but it looks like hell! We live on the coast so primer + salt air = rust. Gotta do some body work and get some kinda paint on this thing.

I picked up a TBI 5.7 and a 700r4. Overdrive here we come!
I'm thinking CPP motor mounts and a tubular crossmember to hang them off.

Debating whether I should drill my Performer RPM and stick with a carb (Edle 1406 I've got now) or buy a harness and computer and go for the TBI. Got some time with the move and finishing my sand car so I'm still chewing it over. Tempting to get it going with a carb and then swap to TBI.

Originally Posted by gixxerpymp

Lookin good man... You have to run a 2-piece drive shaft with this kit?

Thanks! I know there was some other talk about this at the C10 forum a long while back, sure seems to me like a one piece wouldn't clear but you might give SD a call. They are pretty cool guys.

Originally Posted by c10layinlow7

With that Sd kit out back dose your truck lay frame?? Thanks bro

It does, with all the air out it sits a bit higher in the front because of the front crossmember. Need to either Z the frame, buy a drop member or section my cross member.

Too many projects and not enough time...

[68steppsidee]

it being 4 speed and bagged are you running manifolds or headers

[litew8]

Originally Posted by blime81

I did the electric fan conversion a few weeks back using the Grand Cherokee fan (followed the thread on here for this)



This fan looks like it was made for these trucks and I used weather pack connectors from these guys to make it easily removable and like it was made to be there.
http://www.k-four.net/Product.aspx?pid=196

We just did this to mine. Nice. How do you like it so far?

Semper Fi

[blime81]

Originally Posted by litew8

We just did this to mine. Nice. How do you like it so far?

Semper Fi

Been working great for quite some time. I can't complain!

[blime81]

Originally Posted by 68steppsidee

it being 4 speed and bagged are you running manifolds or headers

Long tube headers and I hate them! I drag the collectors on EVERYTHING!

Exhaust is actually next on the list along with paint. Trying to decide whether to do mid length headers (my guy has some Doug Thorleys he swears will fit) or just go back to manifolds.

I've got a 700r4 in the garage now and need to stick that in so I'm thinking of going with the headers but the old wallet is tight right now since dezert season is here and my buggy is always in need of something...