Tried to get something done today.

Well today I was going to try to get as much done as possible but then I ran out of oxygen with my cutting torch and that kind of stopped me in my tracks.  And there's no places open on Saturday to exchange.  But I do have a pic of what I have done to modify my rear shock mounts, remember this is a budget build. I also got all of the front end off my other frame and into the shop so I can start putting it on the new frame. I also took the old transmission cross member out today.  I was also going to get the welds cleaned up on the frame today but I also am out of grinding wheels so I had to run to the store. So I guess there's always Monday to get something done. 

Cutting The Frame

So I have a few Photos of my frame. I really should have taken one while it was in half.  But I have some of the process of fitting and welding it up if you can make it out, they probably all look the same.  I will say that this time around cutting down the frame has gone about ten times faster. The frame off square 1/16" which I would say is pretty good. It seems to have straightened out some in the rear where it use to have a height difference of about 1/4" but now I am glad to report that is almost exactly the same. So far I am super excited about it. If I can get this done I can get the bed and eventually The motor and cab since I am planning on driving it around this spring and summer. 

Still plugging away on the frame

So since I last posted there has been a few changes. I decided to get rid of the re enforcement plate that I was originally trying to keep. It was just too many plates to bolt together. I did have to cut the one down to make a shim so to say for the brace just behind the rear diff.  I also snagged the bracket off my half ton frame so that the track bar would work right as the one on the C20 was different and at a different angle. So enjoy the pics. 


Oh I should say that I picked up some gently used tires for the back for 80 bucks. I thought it was a good score. 

C-Notch Kit

So I got my C-Notch kit from CPP the other day so I thought that I would try to install it today.  I thought that maybe I could install both sides today.  Yeah right.  After realizing all of the holes that I had to weld up and then drill new ones so that I could get these on the frame, it took quite some time.  I decided to try and save the reinforcement plate that was put there by GM so that it would be that much stronger.  So I had twice as many cuts and welds to make.  I would advise anyone who is going to do a 3/4 ton to just not do it. Well I guess I don't want to go that far but it is a lot more work than I had anticipated, so give it a long think before you do it. Maybe I just did it all wrong and there is an easier way. After it was all said and done I got most of one side done. 

Enjoy the Pics

A Few Things Happening

The first thing is that I actually spent some time on the truck this last weekend.  Actually a lot of time grinding and drilling out studs on my frame.  I never want to do this again, what a pain.  I took out the frame reinforcements that were in the way of  where the c-notch kit is going to go. I am going to put some of it back in but I will decide how much when I actually get the notch kit.  I also think that I am going to take the rest of the frame apart and paint it all separately and then reassemble it using stainless bolts. I think that will look really nice. Here are some photos of the frame progress.  I should also add that I went ahead and installed the dropped cross member too.

Another update is that I have been looking for a set of headers for the truck. I even had some ceramic coated headers all lined up and the guy came over and we tried to fit them. Well they did fit but the were also to close to the ground for my comfort, especially with the trucks current ride height.  So then I was looking on the local classifieds and well found a set I think will work for 50 bucks (a third of the cost of the others). I would say they are a good score.  So here are the pics of what they look like.  Drivers side then passenger side.  Thanks for looking.

Wow! Its been a while.

Well not a whole lot of stuff going on in the truck department. I have managed to work on a few things. I have started to strip down the frame a little and I also got a cross member from CPP. Sometimes you can get a real good deal from them on their eBay page.

I have also decided recently that I am going to try and get the truck going by spring, but it will be far from perfect. The body will not be done and the motor will not be built. But you know sometimes you just want to drive it. That and it is going to take a fair amount more in the funds department than I seem to have. So I figure if I drive it for a few years and try to get parts and then do some little things here and there, I will enjoy it more than I am right now.  So I have a list of things that I am going to have to do before then so stay tuned. If I can ever find some time. 

Here are some pics of recent progress

Rolled it Out Today!

Well although not to much looks different I managed to do quite a bit today.  I Put the doors back on and then mounted the front clip.  I had bought some new hood hinges a while before I bought this truck and decided to use them thinking that I remembered them working well on my old truck. I was wrong. I could not get the hood lined up one bit. It just kept getting worse and worse. So I put the GM ones back on and well you can see the photos of how well it went off. I also rolled the truck out of the garage and the C20 frame into the garage which is pretty hard by your self. I then had to cover up the bare metal from the chop down. The close up photo is of the best seam and has no filler on it. I think it looks good.

Thanks for looking.