LFD's low buck truck build!

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by NTR72GMC

Are you going to keep the wheels that are on the truck now ?

No I am not. I have a line on a set of stock truck ralleys with rings and caps. I am running 8's in the rear and 7's up front.

Originally Posted by Draggn66

Hey Kevin I asked about this paint in the paint forum but what do you think of these colors?

I have never tried those colors before?

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

Maybe on color a two tone without white,just to make it different.Maybe go with a charcoal and do silver between the trim and on the roof.It would be 2 tone but not like any I have seen.

Sorry I like the more factory look with my own custom touches. Even my 71 SWB with the body drop, Z-step, LT1 and tilt front end. Once it is done it will look just like a 68 two tone with every piece of factory SS trim you can get. I used John's as inspiration. I have added the front fender and hood trim as well as al the tailgate trim to mine. I also had a set of vett ralleys built in 17's as well. Here is a pic of John's.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[skchevota]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

No I am not. I have a line on a set of stock truck ralleys with rings and caps. I am running 8's in the rear and 7's up front.



I have never tried those colors before?



Sorry I like the more factory look with my own custom touches. Even my 71 SWB with the body drop, Z-step, LT1 and tilt front end. Once it is done it will look just like a 68 two tone with every piece of factory SS trim you can get. I used John's as inspiration. I have added the front fender and hood trim as well as al the tailgate trim to mine. I also had a set of vett ralleys built in 17's as well. Here is a pic of John's.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Umm, Did you say tilt front end!!! Do you have any pictures. Is It all steel????
I neeeeeddddd more info....Please!
Thanks
Shawn

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by skchevota

Umm, Did you say tilt front end!!! Do you have any pictures. Is It all steel????
I neeeeeddddd more info....Please!
Thanks
Shawn

It is just a forward tilt hood. Check out "project slow build" and it will give all the info.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Rokcrln]

Well I am a big enough man to admit that yes I have a shorty! Acually I have a few

I layed out the frame and some control lines to adjust things by. The factory placed alot of layout holes along the frame and when used for measure points they work great. Their were two right along side the section to be removed so I used those. They are 20" apart and what I did was scribed a line right on the back edge of each one and double checked each one for the 20" dimention at the top and bottom.

Then I layed out the 45* cuts and stabilized the rear of the frame with some scrap steel and clamps.

Then I cut the frame section out and V'd the edges for the fillet weld's. Next I used two pieces of angle to clamp the frame back together and checked my 20" mark and it was now down to 8".

I made sure the frame bottom edge and side was flush and placed a tack weld on the outer corner to hold things in place.

Then I used the braces clamped to the rear of the frame to adjust things up or down (with my free Hammer) ever so slighty to get the 8" lines right at 8" top and bottom and then I tacked the top as well.

Now I will leave it like this untill I put new cab mounts in and place the bed on sor a test fit of everything.

In the next few days I will start on the rear flip kit, shock mounts and hidden hitch.

Kevin
LFD Inc.
$1127.64
68hrs

[IAFF2407]

Kevin if you're looking for a dark green, my truck is in the recent "tonneau cover thread" it's been a couple years, it's a corvette stock color('86 ??) possible called fairway green. If interested let me know, I have it written down somewhere in the bottomless pit file where I put my receipts.

thread; Has anyone seen any box covers

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by IAFF2407

Kevin if you're looking for a dark green, my truck is in the recent "tonneau cover thread" it's been a couple years, it's a corvette stock color('86 ??) possible called fairway green. If interested let me know, I have it written down somewhere in the bottomless pit file where I put my receipts.

thread; Has anyone seen any box covers

Did you mean "box cover" I looked last night and could not find it then today I wanted to see what a "box cover" was and their you are. Yes this color looks very nice. If you can find out just what it is I will add it to the list for my wife to look at! Do you know if it comes in the "short" version

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Rokcrln]

Well I spent 3hrs today working on my frame. I drove it over to the car wash and cleaned teh frame then started getting ready to slice and dice.

I started by setting it up on jack stands on a level area of teh driveway out side my shop. I ended up needing a few more inches in height under the cab so I placed two of my stands up on a 4x6x3/8" tube and welded the stands to it. My big stands are holding up my rock crawler while my buddy barrows my 37"s for some snow runs. Then I removed the extra bed mount and unbolted the rear cab mounts. Then I lifted the rear of the cab about 1/2" above the rear mount and placed a 2x4 between the frame and body. It shouold be far enough forward to be out of the cut and weld area. I then re-layed out the rear cab mounts 12" back so when the frame is welded back together I won't have to do it all under the truck. I drill it all out for 7/16 bolts and added a bolt to the top cross member hole were the bed mount was.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Rokcrln]

Next I cut off the exhaust (welded on unit ), removed the 2 piece drive shaft, pluged the fuel lines and made sure everything was out of the way so I can cut the frame after work Monday. I removed the rear end as well so I can do the flip kit while the truck is down. I have decided to go with the ECE frame chanels and cut the frame at 45* angles instead of the step notch that I mentioned before. The main reason for this is because their is not alot of room to work under the cab and I can do a more accurate job this way. Plus I need new body mounts anyways so I will order it all at once.

I need to check with the drive shaft shop as to weather I will go with a 2 piece or a 1 piece. I would rather go with a 1 piece but it all depends on what kind of shape my 2 piece is in because it will be alot cheaper to just shorten what I have now. But if the joints are bad or any other peroblem than a 1 piece may come into range.

$5 for easy off, $5 in quarters for the wash and 4hrs work.

Kevin
LFD Inc.
$1127.64
66hrs

[72CSTC5]

Go Go Go Go!!!!!!!! Chop Chop Chop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[milehightoyz]

awesome thread....quick question, is there any special reason to bolt the rear cab mounts back in as opposed to just welding them back on?

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by milehightoyz

awesome thread....quick question, is there any special reason to bolt the rear cab mounts back in as opposed to just welding them back on?

Good question but I don't have a good answer other then it is just real easy to transfer 4 holes back 12" and bolt it up. Also with the leverage placed on these mounts you would need to do a fare amount of welding to make sure they stay were you wanted them as opposed o a few grade 8 bolts

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[lytemup454]

pics of the frame chop please??????????????? lol

[lytemup454]

that was a little confusing but it looks sweet and once agin you make the rest of us feel stupid by dong all this work effortlessly. great job you a real motivator.

[72CSTC5]

Looks good man. Easy fix for a long bed!!!!

[franky69c10]

Originally Posted by 72CSTC5

Looks good man. Easy fix for a long bed!!!!

x2

[watahyahknow]

hmmmmmmmmmmmm the thought keeps popping intoo my head to chop mine too , but i doubt the guys from the roadaproval thingy will accept it

[Ram-Man]

I dont envy you having to work around the cab. It's hard enough to line it all back up when it's just a frame. Nice job!

[Rokcrln]

Another 2 1/2 hours spent. I got the cab mounts on and the bed set into place and all lines up perfectly. So I then welded up the frame cut and had great penitration. The first two pics are of just my one out side weld and the penitration seen on the inside of the frame. I then welded up all sides and ground the out side weld about half way and I will leave it like this. I ground the inside ones flush then put a 3/16" fish plate on the inside of the frame.

I hope to start the flip kit on Wensday and I picked up a 84 blazer gas tank today for the rear of the truck. It is 25gal and will accept eather a carb or efi pick up. I need to figure out my mounts and a new rear cross member.
The only down side is that it fills from the passenger side but for $100 I just could not pass it up. What do you think?

Kevin
LFD Inc.
$61 in welding supplies and hardware
$1188.64
70.5hrs

[Rokcrln]

Last two. But I forgot to add that I plugged welded al holes that the fish plate covered. I first C-clamped the plates to the frame then plug welded it then moved to the inside.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[texanidiot25]

Ive missed so much of this build

Its come a long way since I last saw it, good work.

[Dano69c10]

I think that bronze color is cool, I've never seen a truck that color in person.
How about white top, bronze above and below mouldings and white in between the upper and lower mouldings? Since it is a "low buck build" leave the penny color and two tone with white.
Dano

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by Dano69c10

I think that bronze color is cool, I've never seen a truck that color in person.
How about white top, bronze above and below mouldings and white in between the upper and lower mouldings? Since it is a "low buck build" leave the penny color and two tone with white.
Dano

It is all in bad shape and yes it is a Low Buck but it is still going to be a cool looking truck just for alot less than most. I want to make it nice enough to get it in one of th emags and give a link to this build for more site traffic

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by 72CSTC5

On a side note, Damn you are keeping cost down on that thing.

Yea this is a hard one for me, I am a major car addict and trying to go as Low Buck as posible is like asking a coke head to use flower to save money But it has been fun and sure opens my eye's to what can be done. Shoot I have more in the trim for my 71 (Slow Build) than I do in this entire truck. But I do have a stack of parts waiting to go on that will tip me into the 2k range with the drop spindles, front coils, hitch, gas tank and misc. I hope when it is fully built and ready for the mags ( ) that I will have under 5K into it all together.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[72CSTC5]

Looking good Kevin. Glad to see you always keep safety in mind when doing these jobs so when people copy you they are keeping their safety in mind as well. On a side note, Damn you are keeping cost down on that thing.

[68GMCCustom]

Excellent thread! Since I'm doing a leaf to coil conversion on my '68 GMC...I was kind of hoping you were goin to work that in there!