Big Bird - 1972 Longhorn K30

[BlueBullet]

Alos finished freshening up the outer heater box and got it mounted. Finished hooking up heater controls and duct work. Ran speedo cable and set in instrument panel.

[fishnixon]

Nice Job! Keeping an eye on ‘ya...👍

[BlueBullet]

Been plugging away at odds and ends. Finished instrument panel install and tach wiring. I ordered a new engine harness for an automatic with HEI since I didn't have any good ones saved. Cleaned up a front wiring harness that I had saved from a parts truck. Got harness installed. Also cleaned fuel tank, installed new sending unit and got set back in cab and hooked up. Topped off with new filler cap.

[Dieselwrencher]

The lines turned out pretty nice. It sure is coming along pretty quickly.

[BlueBullet]

Thanks Ryan!! The Big Bird is coming together now. Got the cab squared up and the front fenders and inner fenders hung. Not sure what I am going to do with front passenger fender. I have another one the same color but is borderline in better shape. I used poly cab and radiator support mounts and I like many others had to shim the front of the cab with 4 shims for alignment.

[BlueBullet]

Also fixed a seat spring on a seat I traded for a while back. Cut up 90 off another broken seat spring I had and pinched her back together with some ferrals.

[Vintage Windmills]

Nice progress!

[Dieselwrencher]

Those body lines look really nice! Nice seat spring repair.

[BlueBullet]

Thanks guys!! Things have been going together pretty good. I chased all threads on nuts and bolts and that really speeds up assembly. With a little blood, sweat and swear words I was able to get the passenger fender straightened out better. Mounted back on the truck got the grill installed. Next installed an auxiliary transmission cooler. More blood sweat and swear words.

[BlueBullet]

Next back to the cab. I got the high hump sealed and installed. I ran the kickdown wiring up through the transfer case shifter hole. Then got the tar mat set and then the rubber mat. Will let that sit for a bit to settle in before installing door sill plates.

[El Dorado Jim]

sub'd

[BlueBullet]

Well today was another busy day. The main shop had room so I thought now would be a good time to get the flatbed sectioned down. I started off marking out the areas that needed to be cut. My measurements for outside of tire to outside of tire is 81.5". By taking out the outside boards that brings it in from 94.5" to 87.5". I don't want to much over hanger of the bed width wise so hopefully that will work out. This way I will have some room to go if I want to put on a little wider rear tires. I started off by cutting out the corners. Then cut the back off. Once I got rear section separated from the remaining wood pieces I was off to cutting and sectioning the bed length wise. I was in a groove so I missed a lot of pictures. Meanwhile a buddy swung by and helped me get the seat in the truck. I got the be cut and put the extra section outside to save for possible future rust repairs.

[BlueBullet]

More pictures

[BlueBullet]

Few more. I will be putting a blanket seat cover on the seat. I cut out a stake pocket from the extra section and will add that back in in the back of the bed.

[BlueBullet]

Then was off to bringing in the sides. I took 3.5" off each side. Plasma cutter the cross members and a skill saw and cut down the length of the bed and snapped the side off to get to the bed screws with a sawzall. After cleaning up the sides I temporarily attached them with wood screws and washers. The front corners fit with a little trimming. After getting the rear panel sectioned down I removed the swing down hitch. Thought that was pretty neat so I might reinstall in the future. The back was a little tricky getting back in and aligned but managed to get tacked back in. Somewhere along the way I didn't measure twice and cut once so now the bed will be an inch shorter at 107". All and all today was a good day and I am shot.

[Dieselwrencher]

That stinks about the drive shafts but at least you saved yourself the headaches of fighting it now.

[Vintage Windmills]

Coming along really nicely Nathan, Curious how your hoist setup will look like and hook up.

[BlueBullet]

I am working that through my head right know. I have somewhat of a plan. Where I am hung up on is how to set up front mount. Here is some pictures of some of the pieces. I am basically mount it like the C50 donor. Just with the frames being different the front has to be thought through what is going to be strong enough. A friend of mine has some thoughts on what I can use as a power source. He has something at work that might work. . If that works out I might just put in the hoist right away. Its about the same amount of steps to make happen. The front tube on the hoist assembly is the reservoir. Pretty cool I thought. I am getting pumped.

[BlueBullet]

In the back I am going to make a pillow block similar to the one in the rear shackle of the front springs. That should be stout enough for the rear. For the front so far if it works out where the front angle irons line up with the cross support I will attach there. Today we got Bird chirping and moving. Got the timing dialed in and brakes bled. Has plenty of brakes. Hang on!! Got the hood mounted. Need to dial that in a bit yet. Tried a little and got it close enough for know. Drove over to shop to wash the hood and take a progress picture. Came along ways.

[BlueBullet]

Had an exciting morning also. Thank God I had layers on. Cleaning up the heavy angle iron and the grinder kicked back and I wasn't quite fast enough.

[too much stuff]

Not sure why you would want to grind on your belly! Trucks looking good.

[DWilbur]

The bed looks much better lower. The gap from the front tires to fender looks about the same from the rear tire to the bed.

[BlueBullet]

Thanks for the reply. I also like how the bottom of bed is in line with lower body line and if I keep the sides they flow with the top side of the truck better. The bed needs to be moved a little more forward. I will also be building a headache rack. Now to refigure how to set up the hoist and frame work.

[BlueBullet]

Got the front of the house assembly mounted to the frame. Not sure if it is the right route to go but that is what I have for room without modifying the frame cross member. I would rather not do that we will see how it or if it works. I will be replacing the 2x4's with a heavy piece of angle iron for support in the rear.

[BlueBullet]

Here's a picture of the front bottom mounting plate for the hoist frame. It is being held up by chains. Once the chains were taken off the hangle irons dropped into the position I attached them in so I just went with it.