LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

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I have been working on cleaning the shop for the last 2 months but I have had some delays. I finally got it cleaned out enough to get this truck inside so I will go ahead and start a thread on it.. This project is for all of the guys and gals that don't need a show truck but want something different to drive. Hence the "Low Budget". "Low Maintenance" part.

I am starting a new project. It won't be a quick assembly and it certainly won't be a show truck. It will be a new adventure for me. I'm usually pretty much by the book, but this build will be completely the opposite. I have this pretty nice '72 GMC 3/4 ton leaf spring frame and '71 cab & bed that I need to use. I didn't want to post anything until I knew I was going to have time to actually work on it over the winter but I started working on it outside last fall. I will still only be posting what I have done bit by bit instead of all at once.

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

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I Pulled the bed off of the truck a day or two ago and I removed the cab today. They were just sitting loose on there so they didn't have to sit on the ground. I removed the Small Block frame brackets, and the bell housing cross member is next.

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

I Am in for the Build:metal:

Are those Vintage Green bean cans on the exhaust?

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Oh boy, I know where this is going and look forward to your updates.

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Man, it would be a great time to go ahead and rebuild the front suspension. And maybe cleanup and paint the frame.

Good luck, Rg

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Nice project Leon. I know you have been waiting for this for a while.

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

One is Green Beans and the other is Sauerkraut...:)

Cheater.

Good Idea. Thanks!

A few years, yes.

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

I like cheap and not as aesthetically pleasing to the eyes:lol:

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

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Got the bell housing cross member out and the new engine frame brackets installed. I need to remove the stock exhaust system and brackets next.

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

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Removed the exhaust system and worked on the rear axle a bit trying to figure out how I want to set it up. I think I can use the stock '72 leaf spring hangers on the front end and just make some rear shackle brackets to get the results I need..

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Love the pics of the big breaker bar and torch! Keep em coming!

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Very kool. In to see what ya do with this one.

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Leon, Job well done!!!
I see 72 big block mounts.....Is it getting a big block or a small block, using the "better" big block mounts? (I plan to do such on my 67).
Jeff

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Do you know how to tell which can was green beans and which can was sauerkraut????







The smell:lol:

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

I remains long after:ito::lol:

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

The answer will be in one of my updates coming up...:)

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

The Kraut comes in a smaller can. They don't think the consumer will notice...:)

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

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Worked on replacing the front spindles today. It was a bolt in deal and worked out great. Disk brake assemblies were off of a '77 truck. Don't make fun of my Rube Goldberg jack setup...:)

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Dually?....

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

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:)

I'm already going to have a little delay because I have some volunteer work to do at the local Historical Society building for the next couple of days. I need to put some display cases together for them.

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

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Worked on cleaning up the frame a little and pressure washed it so I can spray it with Rust -Oleum satin black in a day or so. My heavy duty pressure washer is a gas powered unit and when I wash something like this frame it almost looks like you are sand blasting it. It still has a thin layer of rust but that is what Rust-Oleum paint is for, right? That makes it "Close Enough"....

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Leon, you can buy that POR-15 paint in spray cans. It’s a little pricey, but it’s some awesome stuff!!!

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

I guess I didn't realize it was available in spray cans. Thanks.

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

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I worked on the rear frame spring hangers. The original brackets were hard to cut on an angle so one spacer had to be a 1/16" thicker than the other. I finished them up and bolted them on.

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Leon, you haven't answered my question yet...the suspense is killing me..dually?

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

:lol:

You will get your answer tonight or tomorrow morning..... :)

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

:tim: ok, I'll keep myself entertained for now....:lol:

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Read post 13...........You will HAVE to wait also:lol:

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

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Finished spraying the frame today. I have some touch-up to do on it but it came out pretty good.

Now to get the engine and transmission set down in it.

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Can't wait to see where it goes, Leon. Hope you and Pat are well.

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

My question has been answered...;). Looking good!

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

My guess is you didn’t want the stiffness of a one ton in back, but could you have swapped in one ton hangers and springs using the 3/4 ton mounting holes?

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Thanks Chip, We are doing good. Pat had her right knee replaced a couple of months ago and is doing great.

Yup, 8ft bed C30 dually....:) Thanks Dale.

No, it wouldn't be a direct swap because the frames are different. The C&C frames are straight in the back and the C20 frames have a kickout. I may end up having to narrow the front hangers a little too but I am going to try it this way first. I even thought about going to 1 ton coils & trailing arms on it. I have some off of an ambulance.

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

So you would have had to space out the one ton stuff, interesting.

I had no idea they made trailing arms and coils in one tons.

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

No, the one ton C&C spring hanger brackets need to be made narrower, or new ones need to be made like I did for the rear. I narrowed those up by about 2 inches.

Also, they didn't have trailing arms and coils in any one tons. I was going to convert it to trailing arms and coils. I would have had to add a trailing arm cross member, C20 trailing arms, and weld coil spring pads on the rear end housing. The 1 ton coils I have I removed from the rear of a Chevy ambulance that had the heavy duty coils.

Sorry about the confusion....

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

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Installed the 2003 Chevy engine and transmission this morning. It was originally a 4x4 so I had to source a 2WD transmission for it. I had an ad on CL to buy just the rear tail housing and yoke so I could switch it over. A guy called me and said he had a complete 2WD transmission that he would sell me about as cheap as I could buy the parts and switch mine over..... $500.00. Needless to say, I went and picked it up. I had to make a rear transmission mount because the 2003 mount was too tall. I used a stock TH350 transmission cross member for the rear trans mount. If I had dropped the center of the cross member I could have used the stock Allison rear mount but I think that would have made the engine angle too severe. This is why I installed the '72 big block frame brackets and mounts. (Now 68Gold/white has his answer too.) ..:)

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

That's a beefy looking powertrain!

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Yup, Work truck....:).. Chevy 8.1 496ci with an Allison 1000 5 speed overdrive transmission.

LockDoc

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

Sounds like a great combo!

Re: LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread
 

nice project