the subtle colored bucket is a nice touch Greg.
CK5
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'72 K5 - Greg's @MightAsWellK5 Build
- Thread starter Greg72
- Start date
This is the build description. I will improve this later. (GB)
The early grille grows on me more every time I see one. Truck looks sweet, now that it's truck shaped again and not a tube farm... (not that the tube farm isn't sexy in it's own way)
2017.11.18 - UPDATE! - - !! HELLO TEXAS !!
Man....what a crazy month it has been.
Last time we all spoke, the final preparations were happening with the movers and the house was in chaos. Stress levels were at an all-time-high as everything we owned was being quickly buried in cardboard boxes and packing paper. There was a very real chance that everything that needed to get moved to Texas wouldn't fit into the moving truck..... and that was no joke.
As the final day in NH approached, the truck was bolted together as much as possible (in the limited remaining time) to make it more space efficient. Trying to wrap and pack sheetmetal panels is a huge waste of space and the odds of getting bent/damaged is pretty high. This is one of the final shots of how the K5 looked prior to being loaded-up for the long journey.
One of the hardest parts of the move was simply not having enough time to carefully consider and pack things the way that I wanted. For an OCD-guy, it's not easy to have a handful of strangers in my workspace.....grabbing tools and parts, and throwing them into boxes. Moving things around and dismantling my workshop before my very eyes!
After working through the anxiety for several hours, the end result was clear.... nice clean shop, and a truck that is ready to GO!
The moving company decided that it would be safer and better to pack the K5 into the same truck as all of our household goods. This actually made be feel a lot better than contracting with another 3rd-party transport company to haul the truck away.... no telling where it might go, or end up!! The only catch was the load height... so we called a local towing company with a ramp truck to help us get the K5 up to a perfect deck height
Once the ramp truck was backed-up to the moving truck... it was a perfect and simple process. A gentle push (with me in the "drivers seat" to steer) and it loaded in without a single bit of drama.
When the dust settled, there was a quiet moment to look around the empty shop and reflect on the time spent there and how much was accomplished (and learned)...
It was a bittersweet moment to look around and see how a shop that was always buzzing with activity for close to 10 years, was now just a quiet and empty shell.
I spend a few minutes of quiet reflection considering it all.... but then it was time to cast my eyes on a new destination, and the excitement of a new home and garage space.
The trip went pretty quick. The papers to close on the NH house were signed on a Tuesday morning... and I immediately jumped in the LCA (Land Cruiser Amazing) with Murphy to make the 2000 mile drive.
I folded down the front passenger seat and threw down a moving pad, and he had a nice big spot to hang out and keep me company.
The trip took less than 48 hours of elapsed time. The document signing in TX was on Friday morning so there wasn't any time to waste. Slept at rest stops for a couple of hours at a time and made it to our house in Austin by Thursday!!
Unfortunately, we arrived a bit TOO early and couldn't get the keys until the next day so we checked into a pet-friendly hotel and took a much-needed shower and got to sleep in a real bed for the first time in a couple of days!
The next day we signed papers, got the keys and unpacked the LCA. Actually started doing some painting and cleaning up of the new house... and the moving truck arrived on Saturday morning bright and early.
They wasted no time in getting things unpacked and put into position in the new shop!
The K5 needed to come out, but the movers insisted that "we don't need no stinkin' rolloff towtruck"
.....so they set up the ramps and let me "drive" my truck for the first time since 2008.... it was quite a sight with me balancing on a framerail trying to steer while they all tried (hopelessly) to keep me from rolling away too quickly.... the lack of any braking system added to the fun, and gave me a chance to meet my neighbors as I rolled down the street!!!
Eventually though, they got me stopped and pushed me all the way back to the driveway....up the incline and into the new garage space.
So there it is.... a successful move, a new house... new job and more cardboard boxes to unpack than I could have ever imagined!!!
It's a long process in new city, figuring out every little detail.... grocery stores, dry cleaners... best route for the morning commute, garbage pickup schedules... etc, etc. I'd like to tell you that the garage is all unpacked and configured for the build to continue, but in reality it looks the same as it did 3 weeks ago when the movers first piled it floor-to-ceiling with boxes. It's going to take some time to get settled, and even MORE time to get the new garage space wired with 220V, shelving and all the other things that made it efficient to work in. Stuff that honestly, you take for granted in a well-sorted shop like the one that I'd been working in for the last 10 years.
It will all eventually get there... the new space is a lot bigger and nicer so the end result will be impressive and should be a really enjoyable place to spin wrenches and relax.
-G
Man....what a crazy month it has been.
Last time we all spoke, the final preparations were happening with the movers and the house was in chaos. Stress levels were at an all-time-high as everything we owned was being quickly buried in cardboard boxes and packing paper. There was a very real chance that everything that needed to get moved to Texas wouldn't fit into the moving truck..... and that was no joke.
As the final day in NH approached, the truck was bolted together as much as possible (in the limited remaining time) to make it more space efficient. Trying to wrap and pack sheetmetal panels is a huge waste of space and the odds of getting bent/damaged is pretty high. This is one of the final shots of how the K5 looked prior to being loaded-up for the long journey.
One of the hardest parts of the move was simply not having enough time to carefully consider and pack things the way that I wanted. For an OCD-guy, it's not easy to have a handful of strangers in my workspace.....grabbing tools and parts, and throwing them into boxes. Moving things around and dismantling my workshop before my very eyes!
After working through the anxiety for several hours, the end result was clear.... nice clean shop, and a truck that is ready to GO!
The moving company decided that it would be safer and better to pack the K5 into the same truck as all of our household goods. This actually made be feel a lot better than contracting with another 3rd-party transport company to haul the truck away.... no telling where it might go, or end up!! The only catch was the load height... so we called a local towing company with a ramp truck to help us get the K5 up to a perfect deck height
Once the ramp truck was backed-up to the moving truck... it was a perfect and simple process. A gentle push (with me in the "drivers seat" to steer) and it loaded in without a single bit of drama.
When the dust settled, there was a quiet moment to look around the empty shop and reflect on the time spent there and how much was accomplished (and learned)...
It was a bittersweet moment to look around and see how a shop that was always buzzing with activity for close to 10 years, was now just a quiet and empty shell.
I spend a few minutes of quiet reflection considering it all.... but then it was time to cast my eyes on a new destination, and the excitement of a new home and garage space.
The trip went pretty quick. The papers to close on the NH house were signed on a Tuesday morning... and I immediately jumped in the LCA (Land Cruiser Amazing) with Murphy to make the 2000 mile drive.
I folded down the front passenger seat and threw down a moving pad, and he had a nice big spot to hang out and keep me company.
The trip took less than 48 hours of elapsed time. The document signing in TX was on Friday morning so there wasn't any time to waste. Slept at rest stops for a couple of hours at a time and made it to our house in Austin by Thursday!!
Unfortunately, we arrived a bit TOO early and couldn't get the keys until the next day so we checked into a pet-friendly hotel and took a much-needed shower and got to sleep in a real bed for the first time in a couple of days!
The next day we signed papers, got the keys and unpacked the LCA. Actually started doing some painting and cleaning up of the new house... and the moving truck arrived on Saturday morning bright and early.
They wasted no time in getting things unpacked and put into position in the new shop!
The K5 needed to come out, but the movers insisted that "we don't need no stinkin' rolloff towtruck"
.....so they set up the ramps and let me "drive" my truck for the first time since 2008.... it was quite a sight with me balancing on a framerail trying to steer while they all tried (hopelessly) to keep me from rolling away too quickly.... the lack of any braking system added to the fun, and gave me a chance to meet my neighbors as I rolled down the street!!!
Eventually though, they got me stopped and pushed me all the way back to the driveway....up the incline and into the new garage space.
So there it is.... a successful move, a new house... new job and more cardboard boxes to unpack than I could have ever imagined!!!
It's a long process in new city, figuring out every little detail.... grocery stores, dry cleaners... best route for the morning commute, garbage pickup schedules... etc, etc. I'd like to tell you that the garage is all unpacked and configured for the build to continue, but in reality it looks the same as it did 3 weeks ago when the movers first piled it floor-to-ceiling with boxes. It's going to take some time to get settled, and even MORE time to get the new garage space wired with 220V, shelving and all the other things that made it efficient to work in. Stuff that honestly, you take for granted in a well-sorted shop like the one that I'd been working in for the last 10 years.
It will all eventually get there... the new space is a lot bigger and nicer so the end result will be impressive and should be a really enjoyable place to spin wrenches and relax.
-G
damn thats crazy! I cannot imagine all that going that far in one move. Nice job and goodluck!
Seeing pics of the empty old garage almost made me sad!? Lol
Get many comments on the Blazer from the movers?
Get many comments on the Blazer from the movers?
I’ve been wondering how you been doing.
You picked a nice time of year to land in Tejas.
I’m glad you made it safe and of relativity sound mind.
If you need anything i’m A quick 5 hr trip down the road.
You picked a nice time of year to land in Tejas.
I’m glad you made it safe and of relativity sound mind.
If you need anything i’m A quick 5 hr trip down the road.
Welcome to Texas bud! Got your first howdy yet?
Welcome to amateur hour! We do this crap every 2-3 years 
Glad everything and everyone made it down safely. Once you get the house all ready to go you'll ramp back up on the blazer, er bronco in no time.
Glad everything and everyone made it down safely. Once you get the house all ready to go you'll ramp back up on the blazer, er bronco in no time.
I want video of you driving out of that trailer!
Great job on the move. The new place looks nice.
Great job on the move. The new place looks nice.
yeah....." Hey, Nice Bronco!"
-G
Baahahaha!
Welcome to TX!!!
Hopefully one day I will be able to meet up with you and check out the build in person
Hopefully one day I will be able to meet up with you and check out the build in person
chulisohombre
1/2 ton status
Good it went smooth. Now time to get it all setup again.
You left your MAGIC CARPETS behind???
Maybe that what I need in my shop!
MAGIC CARPETS!!
MAGIC CARPETS!!
chulisohombre
1/2 ton status
That’s how that crazy fab happens. I guess I need one as well. LolMaybe that what I need in my shop!
MAGIC CARPETS!!
cool write up!! and welcome to TEXAS!!!!
looking at the map, you are up the road. the road being I-35!!
(unless you planned on going to Austin)
Welcome to Texas! I'm glad to see you got it all packed and transported to your beautiful new home. Congratulations!
