Ugly 61 freebie build

[Cp2steve]

Hey guys thought I would add a build thread on my first bagged truck build. Its a actually my brothers truck hence the title. I'm a fabricator by trade and have built many offroad race cars and am currently working for an EV company and have a few show cars under my belt working for them and my previous employer. I think that is all pertinent info because what I'm doing with the truck this will never be a show truck but the goal is to have a perfectly functioning hell raiser. Heres some pictures of the truck the day my brother bought it for $2,300.

[Cp2steve]

All the parts of this truck have been designed and hand built by me no kits were bought or available the plan was to bag front and rear with a c notch and secretly I was working on a short bed conversion. All fab work will be completed in my garage with exception of the drive shaft and exhaust.Heres a couple pictures of the front after spindle install and stock arms modified for bag mounts the complete kit was hand cut and full bolt on but is now drawn in cad if there are any interested people out there.

[Cp2steve]

The rear is currently being finished. The frame has been shortened notched again templated and drawn in cad and available if any person is interested.I bought a stepside bed that that actually matched the shotty existing red paint.the idea currently is to cut the existing cross member out while still using the front have of the x member and switch back to an own style carrier bearing for packaging purposes. I will be building chromoly trailing arms with bag mounts near the stock mount.

[Cp2steve]

Stocky 6.5 wide wheels were sourced prior to finding out how expensive white wall 16" tires were, so we ended up with a Sierra 225/70/16 thin white wall sourced online for about $100 per tire wheels and craigslist find center caps were blasted and powder coated putting the wheel and tire set in the 1k price range.

[Cp2steve]

Craigslist bed mocked up at rear bump height. Front of bed needs to be brought up but that will come with inner floor fab. Also still trying to source a tailgate if any body has a stepper GMC gate for sale.

[Cp2steve]

Here's the chopped chassis and trailing arm components pre tube install. I used the pre existing bed mounts on the long bed chassis to "fixture" the shortened chassis the two rivit holes were square and only 12" apart the exact amount that needed to be removed. The rear has been chopped off for now I will build bumper brackets to fit.

[Cp2steve]

Current hurdles in this build are relatively small and will be solved with the injection of some cash and time.
1 front upper ball joint limits out and will need to be re positioned or new arm built neither out of my wheel house but open to suggestions
2 bag wiring is complete but needs to be installed
3 battery needs to be moved to the rear (harness complete) need mount.
4 drive shaft
5 cross member fabrication and install
6 completion of trailing arms
7 bed floor fab
8 exhaust
9 bag system mounted ;compressor,tank,relay, (assuming this will be done in the rear of the bed under floor)
10 re-plumb brakes assuming stock dual outlet master will work,any input should I get a vaccume assist booster?

[jcramsey]

Looking good! Are you able to fully stuff the tire and still keep it out of the inner fender? I'm looking for the tallest tire size to run on my truck without have to cut up the fenders when its aired out.

[62 Barnfind]

Looking good! I see that was a green truck. Are you going back to that green?

[Cp2steve]

the smaller tire will fit with stock bump locations aired out but I have removed the fender wells and modified my bump location(still need to either build upper arms or mod the stock ones) so I have removed mine

[Cp2steve]

Originally Posted by 62 Barnfind

Looking good! I see that was a green truck. Are you going back to that green?

not sure as of yet no body work plans for now...

[forestb]

does that bumper have air bags?

[joe dirt]

pie cut the upper arms to add angle to the ball joint...ill post a pic of mine in a few mins

[Cp2steve]

Originally Posted by forestb

does that bumper have air bags?

haha no those were bolted in the stock spring location, but put them back there when I pulled them out.

[Cp2steve]

Originally Posted by joe dirt

pie cut the upper arms to add angle to the ball joint...ill post a pic of mine in a few mins

do you have a build thread? funny my brother lives near Portland!

[Cp2steve]

Finally some progress rolled out of the garage, going to the drive shaft shop this weeknd buttoning up a few last items:
Front brake install
Rear lower shock mounts
Batterry relocation
And some fresh gas lol

Front is aired up in the shot as the cross member acts like a parking brake!

[Cp2steve]

Heres the rear tank and compressor plate im using the switch suspension 4 way valve block a free compressor I got from a friend and a $35 5 gal tank my brother has spent a total of $550 to bag this truck, not including spindles brakes bed and wheel/tires.

[Cp2steve]

Trucks getting close, final weld and reassembly stages had some problems with bag wiring seeking pro help now as well as 40 plus year old brake lines and components, finally seeing the light... at this point it needs: bag switch termination and a drive shaft still (needs to air up to get it on a trailer to get to the shaft shop. Utilk i get the shaft i built a winch plate to pull it in and out of my garage, looking for suggestions on rear bumpers.

[Cp2steve]

Anyone ever run disks upfront with no power brake additions?

[SkinnyG]

I only just saw this now - this is cool! Love the detail shots of the fabrication!

[Android04]

Looks good.

[Cp2steve]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

I only just saw this now - this is cool! Love the detail shots of the fabrication!

Thanks, not sure what your plans are for yours but if have any qustions id be happy to answer.

[Cp2steve]

Originally Posted by Android04

Looks good.

Thanks

[Cp2steve]

hey guys looking for some info on brakes and upper arms still, anyone run front disks with no powerbrake options? Also is there a dimensional difference between the 60-62 and 63 uca, they look identical?

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by Cp2steve

hey guys looking for some info on brakes and upper arms still, anyone run front disks with no powerbrake options? Also is there a dimensional difference between the 60-62 and 63 uca, they look identical?

I've been running front discs without power brakes for the last 4 years or so. Haven't had any issues with it. I don't see myself putting power brakes on unless I need them for towing a trailer