1976 3/4ton 4x4 Shortbed

[l79m20]

Ok, I had a nice long weekend to drive down and work on the truck. First on the docket was to clean up the frame rails and get it ready to paint. The frame wasnt all that rusty, just a bit of surface rust. I used an angle grinder with a braided cup disk to do the flat spots while I put my wife on the air die grinder to hit the tight places.

We spent about 2 hours on the grinding to get the inside and outside of the frame rails as rust free as we could. Best part of the 2 hours, it was from 9am to 11am and was about 110 degrees with no wind or clouds. I did a lot of looking about the different types of coatings people had used on their frames and decided to do something that I hadnt seen anyone do. As a primer I bought a quart of Rustoleums Rusty Metal Primer. It has a rust arrestor in it and when brushed on is a nice thick coat. We decided to brush it on because I felt like I could get more paint in tighter places doing it that way. Here is what that looked like when we were done.

The topcoat that I decided to use is a Valspar product called Tractor and Implement Paint which I got at TSC. We have used this product on all sorts of things and it always holds up well. I also got some hardener with it. The paint only comes in gallons so I got a gallon of the low gloss black. I mixed the paint with the hardener and then used my HVLP touch up gun to spray the frame. It turned out very nice and has been baking in the 100 degree heat for the past 4 days. Forgot to get a picture of that.

[l79m20]

My next project was to switch out the bedsides to make my new rust free shortbed. Here is a picture of what the bed looked like when I got it. Both sides had severe rust over the wheel wells and were in overall terrible shape.

I was thinking that this was going to be a huge pain but in reality it wasnt. I sprayed on an ample amount of PB Blaster the night before and let it do its work. I used an air ratchet and those babies popped right off. Very easy process if you have never done it. As I said before I had one perfect NOS bedside that I sold to a member here then used that money to go and buy a set of aftermarket bedsides. I sent my dad after them and when I got to see them I was happy but not everything was the way the guy said they were. When I asked him if they had a round gas hole or square he said square. Which is fine, but he forgot to mention that someone had put about 5 dozen tack welds all around it to weld it shut.

At the end of the day I(my dad) bought them for $125 less than the guy was asking. I paid $250 for the pair. Other than the welded gas door they are perfect. After pulling the old bedsides off I wire wheeled the scaley rust then hit the entire length with the Rusty Metal Primer.

As far as putting them on the bed I had heard horror stories how these made in Taiwan repops like I have fit like a square peg in a round hole. When I started to put them on my wife was still painting so I tried to do it myself. To my surprise these things fit very well and were very easy to align and all bolt holes lined up perfect. It was a super wasy process. First side done

Both sides complete

That puts me up to date on the project. My next venture will be to swap over the axels and put on all new brake lines and fuel lines. Hopefully it wont be so hot out!

[cletis]

Corn looks a little dry (lol) but the truck looks good, great progress as well.

[l79m20]

Thats Kansas farming for ya!

[l79m20]

Went back to work on the truck but got side tracked after I stopped by Bass Pro and picked up a new gun. I went with some friends out to shoot and put about 100 rounds through it. Shoots like a dream. Its a Smith and Wesson 686 Plus .357 magnum. Its a 7 round cylinder that shoots .357 mags and .38 special.

[l79m20]

Whew, finally made it back to KS to get some actual work done, had a really productive weekend. Got a few pictures but nothing too Spectacular. First off the frame is painted primed and shot with valspar black with hardener. I got the front and rear ends pulled and swapped over to the freshly painted frame. What a pain in the arse. I then pulled the cab from the frame and set it aside. With that out of the way we unbolted the motor, tcase and tranny from the frame, left all the cooling system hooked up and pulled the motor, then rolled the frame underneath that and drop it all back in. Just for kicks we threw the bed on it and tarped the motor until my next visit to get something accomplished. Until then................

[str8axle55]

Sounds like some good progress, and a nice weapon.

[l79m20]

Been working on the truck slow and steady for the last several months. I've got the mounted with all new hardware. Got the rear end pulled, cleaned, painted and re-installed with all new grade 8 hardware. Found a big pack rat in the truck after it sat all winter. Killed the bastard with a yummy helping of peanut butter. Finally got it all cleaned up and smelling better. I managed to get all the new brake lines in from the back to the front. Ordered new extended lines from Rough County, unfortunately the fronts dont fit. The hole is too small for the banjo bolt to go through. Ill find out more monday. Did some research, I do have the original motor. Its a 400 built in Tonawanda Ny on November 13th 1975. Hope to get this brake line situation figured out and have the wiring done by this weekend. Truck is really starting to come together. It was nice to sit in the truck and tow it down the driveway and make motor noises. The finish line is in sight! VROOOOM VROOOM

[l79m20]

Here is the screwed up line from rough country. Its about 4 inches longer than stock and to mount it in factory locations it needs to be that size. I bought stock lines from Autozone and sized up the hole for a bit so I could drill out the RC lines. Got that all done and the brake lines on and bled all the way around. Happy to have that portion done!

[l79m20]

After getting the brake lines on, mounted, and bled, I turned my attention to the mirrors. My truck originally came with the monstorous tripod mirrors which is still noticeable from the mounting screws sticking into the truck. I got me a set of mirrors from the local pick n pull for $10. Got those mounted up and they are looking great! I feel like its been a pretty productive weekend!

[l79m20]

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[y5mgisi]

Subscribed!

[l79m20]

Ordered a bunch of parts from LMC last Monday, they arrived at my door Tuesday evening. Got a set of clearance lights, new battery cables, battery tray, and misc nuts and bolts. Goal this weekend was to get all the sheetmetal on, locked down, and cab lights on. Heres to progress pics!

[l79m20]

Drivers side inner and outer fender went on, got all shimmed up and looking great. Took all my nuts and bolts from tear down, soaked them in WD40 rust remover soak, and then painted them. This is the driver side, looking good!

[l79m20]

Not soooo much on the passenger side. I cant seem to get it to line up very well.

[l79m20]

Got tired of messing with the fender so I got to work mounting the clearance lights. Pretty straight forward install, measure measure measure, dill 3 holes per light, mount. Done.

[l79m20]

Better view

[l79m20]

And then some friends came by and wanted to go fishing, so I left and ended any chance of getting it started for the day. Fishing was pretty good, all four of us caught at least a dozen. Here is one monster I hooked into. He put up a fight.......not really.

[l79m20]

Day 2 started with hooking up the battery and then trying to crank it over. When I first got the truck they had the wrong front end...etc etc, plus a spliced in push button start. When I wired everything up I pulled the push button off, cleaned up and repaired the wires and got everything looking correct. I go and turn the key and nothing......well the lights all work, heater fan works, gauges work, but no starter. Replaced the ignition switch and still nothing. But during its switch out I notice this....

[l79m20]

Im not sure why any of this was done, the wires all appear to go to the same color and size. I didnt get to fool with it too much had to take off for the weekend. More progress soon!

[l79m20]

Got some parts for the weekend. New tank straps and sending unit. Am going to only be running 1 tank on the passenger side. Hopefully this baby will be running this weekend!

[l79m20]

Also got me some original 8-lug steelies that take a hubcap. They are the 16.5inch wheels. Now I need to find me some hubcaps!

[y5mgisi]

Sweet! THey can be kinda expensive for a nice set. Just keep an eye for parting trucks on Craigslist.

[l79m20]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Sweet! THey can be kinda expensive for a nice set. Just keep an eye for parting trucks on Craigslist.

Yeah, just got two from the junk yard. They are the solid ones, I will have to find a set with hub holes for the fronts.

[l79m20]

How she was sitting at the end of last weekend.