76 GMC CCLB Dually, The Blue Ox

[64chevtruck]

Hi guys, Ive been wanting a huge long dually truck to lower since I first saw one, I finally picked one up in trade last week that a guy put a large notch in the back and gave up on, Nothing was done up front but the guy cut the springs in half.......

I have been searching build threads for info...

I have one major question for the masses...

Do people pancake the crossmembers on their dually trucks like Ive done in the past on my half tons>? Please direct me to a thread if anyone knows of one.

Anyway I took the CM out. Patient is prepped and ready for surgery so I hope to hear back soon.

Take care

[DblTrbl]

There's no need to pancake or modify the crossmembers on these trucks unless you intend to bodydrop. The crossmember should be even with the bottom of your frame rails. I Z'd my frame up 4" only because I cut 4" off the bottom of my rails. Before the bodydrop, I planted the crossmember at the same time as the rails...

[64chevtruck]

Hi, thank you for that info and your time. It is HIGHLY possible Ill end up trimming the bottom of the frame off like you did. I had no idea they hung down so low on these. I just need to figure out if I want to Z or pancake now, I like the way the Z moves the motor Steering/ front end and trans upward all at once.

and with a pancake I have to notch the frame and move the steering up,,,,, Cant decide right now,,,need more info and to sleep on it,

Thank you

[64chevtruck]

Got the farmer mirrors off first thing,,,

Heres the truck sitting like I got it, flip kit in back, Springs removed in the front,


Demons ouuuut....

[64chevtruck]

Howdy, So I picked up a 454 that was rebuilt and came with paperwork for 1500. Supposedly has around 60k on it. I also picked up a T400 and a T350 for 50 dollars.

Also picked up a set of Alcoas!!. >

Got started and marked out the CM and started cutting it.

[DblTrbl]

Nice score on the Alcoas. The real deal in 16" is hard to find now since they apparently don't make that size anymore. If you're interested in swapping the lug covers over to spikes, iowa80.com has the correct size. Make sure that when you're mounting those wheels, you mount each with two acorn lugs to center the hub, then tighten up the flat lugs. If you don't, you'll feel it.

[64chevtruck]

Howdy, thanks for the tip I will center with acorns for sure, I found the center caps mounted up by being pinched under a few of the lug nuts on these, this cant be the way they are supposed to be mounted though, I'm guessing these are the wrong center caps for these rims, they don't fit in the holes on the rims, anyone have info on these>?

I polished them up and they came out nice though.

also go the CM sectioned and back in the truck BUT..........

also found the drivers frame rail to be bent on the front horn by the steering box, you can see it in the top right pic, Ill have to figure out how to adjust this, May just weld a new horn on the front,

[DblTrbl]

Originally Posted by 64chevtruck

Howdy, thanks for the tip I will center with acorns for sure, I found the center caps mounted up by being pinched under a few of the lug nuts on these, this cant be the way they are supposed to be mounted though, I'm guessing these are the wrong center caps for these rims, they don't fit in the holes on the rims, anyone have info on these>?

Yep, that's exactly how they work. I've had to explain it to tire shops for years...Alcoas are a different animal.

I've got the exact same wheels.

[TrailerTrash]

cant wait to see pics of this thing outside with those wheels

[ruffrida2005]

If you plan on body dropping the truck your still gonna have to Z it even though you pancaked the crossmember. It wont be as much of a Z now, but still gonna have to do it since the frame is so tall.

[64chevtruck]

Thank you for the info Dt. Keep up the good work on your truck.

Me too Trailertrash!

Ruffrida. The plan at this time is to get the frame straight, all put together and drivable. My 64 is down to the frame and i need to focus on it.

[64chevtruck]

My friend Barry came over and helped me put the motor and trans in, It was like throwing a hot dog down the hallway.


This was last week, Front end is on now and almost ready to start, More pics later today,


Take care,

[54earl]

I really like the color combo.

[64chevtruck]

So I got the motor and transmission in, core support painted and the rest of the stuff put on the front end, then I noticed the carrier bearing needed raised up alot, So I removed the crossmember it was mounted on and mounted it to the bottom of the cab with a few thick washers on top, It made my driveline pretty straight,

Then I ran the exhaust back to the rear end for now, I got it all tucked up tight above the frame line, I cut apart 2 exhaust systems that were fairly new, and pieced it together, Had a set of new Thrush mufflers I used at the back. Ill run em over the rear end later, Im just glad it goes back past the cab for now,

My steering column was trashed so I replaced the switch the rod moves, and got the starter hooked up right.

The key area is missing still but I can engage the starter with a nail in the switch instead of the rod for now,

Last thing last night I dumped some gas in the carb and fired it off, she popped but I still need to get it consistent fuel, That is todays mission, Hope to drive this very soon,

Have a good week.

[64chevtruck]

this was exhausting,,,,,

[DblTrbl]

Mounting the carrier bearing to floor with no additional support to the frame seems like you might be asking for trouble. There's a lot of forces at work there. Driveline vibration or any friction in that bearing will be disastrous. Just an observation...

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by DblTrbl

Mounting the carrier bearing to floor with no additional support to the frame seems like you might be asking for trouble. There's a lot of forces at work there. Driveline vibration or any friction in that bearing will be disastrous. Just an observation...

x2

I'd build a crossmember to mount it. It looks like you can flip the bearing and make a pretty easy mount running across the frame.

[75Dually]

Can't wait to see more of this build! Please do me a favor before you drive that. You are going to need a support member for that carrier bearing. It will rip the floor right out from under you. Just not enough strength there to hold the large rotating forces on that drive shaft.

I've been around these trucks for a long time and just don't want you to tear anything up, or possibly get hurt.

My truck below for reference.

[64chevtruck]

I agree the carrier could use a CM. Ill build one later on for it, Goal is to get this running and moving and out of the shop,

I have too many trucks at this point and need to focus on my 64.


Fixed the fuel problem, starts and runs now.

Need to mount the grill and back seat.

Have a good week.

[64chevtruck]

I got it out of the shop and took it for a drive the other day,

I pulled a few hole shots by my house and the carrier bearing did fine, If it didnt blow out of there with my foot on the floor through 2 gears I figured an easy cruise would be ok so I went up to the store. Ill build a cm for it when I get back on this truck but its fine for now.

The trans wouldnt shift without running the rpms up pretty high for some reason, seemed like a large stall converter but I may not have everything hooked up right.

the rear tires rubbed but the rest worked out pretty good.

I packed a bike for the maiden voyage but ended up not needing it.

Seems more like a truck now than a dead horse.

All my focus at this time needs to go towards my 64 so Ill be on that build thread for a while.

Have a good week.

[64chevtruck]

PS I looked at the title the other day and the truck is a 73, Not a 76 as I was told.

[ruffrida2005]

Truck looks really good.

[TrailerTrash]

nice to hear its up and driving

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by 64chevtruck

I packed a bike for the maiden voyage but ended up not needing it.

That cracked me up. My "trial runs" are always in a circle near my house so I can get home on foot if need be. I've had to do the walk once. Maybe I should air up my tires and throw the bike in.

Cool truck. I like the colors, as a child I rode many miles right/middle seat in our Suburban with those paint colors. Howdy from a fellow Washingtonian.

[64chevtruck]

So I finished ironing out some wiring issues, found some air leaks and added an angle iron crossmember back near the carrier bearing to hold the bottom of the frame rails together, I bolted it in so I can remove it later. Thanks for the feedback guys.