Dare I say it...Another 72 K5 build! The Bubba build - getting back into it

[Z71paramedic]

Well not much progress has been made of late. Now that the firewall is as done as it can be for a while I moved into the bed. It had a cheapo DIY bedliner rolled/sprayed into the whole interior that I've been removing. The guy who did it didn't prep it all that well (at least in most of the bed) so most of it peeled up pretty easily with a scraper. I used aircraft paint remover on the rest and got it pretty good. A little wire wheel and it'll be all good. Only trouble is I found more bondo. The rear-most section of the floor (~6-8") has heavy pitting/some holes through that the a-hole filled with bondo to make it look like the bed floor. So in trying not to blow too much money on more patch panels I was looking for alternatives. ChuckMoney was over so we checked the bedfloor of his 88 and it's a different pattern. On a whim we checked the bed of my 2000 ram and the pattern matches exactly. So now I should be able to find one of those in a junkyard a lot easier than a 67-72 out here. Unfortunately I also cut the outer skin off my tailgate and found it's pretty much beyond repair with deep pitting/rust through. So I've been getting a big list of things I have to buy that I didn't have on the list previously

We did get the roll bar cut out and found that it's 1.75 OD x .250 wall, so the truck was on a crash diet this weekend! On a brighter note, there is enough straight length of tube from the rollbar to make my anti-wrap bar and outriggers for my sliders.

My plan is now to get the body off the frame this week and tackle any underbody rust and get the frame good to go. I'll worry about the rest of the body work later and hopefully get going again here. Axle swap, crossmembers and frame refinishing pics to come!

 

[NorCal69]

Progress is Progress. I ended up getting 14" of fender lip done throughout the entire weekend.

I loved digging in deeper and finding more stuff fix. I think that is what makes it so fun.

Oh, and post up the pics, man. We're kinda dead in here. I need some 1st gen pron.

 

[Z71paramedic]

As requested: although if these rusty ugly shots are your pron, you really like it dirty!!!!

 

[NorCal69]

Ahhhh, Thanks Bud..

Looks like you got a lot of that bed liner off. I can't imagine that was too much fun. The tailgate looks pretty shot. Think that you can still save it?

 

[Z71paramedic]

Ahhhh, Thanks Bud..

Looks like you got a lot of that bed liner off. I can't imagine that was too much fun. The tailgate looks pretty shot. Think that you can still save it?

My pleasure! As for the tailgate, nope. It's in my ever-growing scrap pile. There's another $350 + freight I get to look forward to. I've been posting WTB's on craigslist out here for a complete shortbed for months to no avail. People have them, in fact they're pretty common but they're the, "I'm gonna fix that one day" type

 

[Z71paramedic]

What a dumbarse, I almost forgot about the best thing that happened all weekend! This showed up Saturday.

I figured since I was going to be running lines and trying to get the frame done up all perty here soon I'd want to nail down where all the new holes would be, and which ones would get closed up. Same story with the firewall here in a bit so it was time to say goodbye to some $$$$$

If anyone is interested atlanticspeed.com seemed to have the best prices I could find anywhere on the stuff.

I also ordered a new poly tank,straps and sending unit, and sent a pretty big list to Kert and the guys at ORD. Buying new parts is like crack!!!!

 

[Z71paramedic]

Well, if I wasn't in deep before I sure am now!!!

I'll be getting started cleaning up the frame tomorrow. I'm going to be moving the drivetrain forward 2" just to help with firewall clearance. That sucker is toight without that 3" BL on there! So I have some holes to drill, holes to fill, some wire-wheeling/sanding, crossmember building and then swap the new 1-tons in there I'm hoping to be ready to put the body back on in 3-4 weeks. I've only got a little bit of work to do on the underside of the body, then paint.

I do have a couple questions:
1. What does everyone recommend for paint on the frame/underside? I was throwing around either this: clicky or just using some rattle can semi-flat black I've been throwing on some stuff. I've heard good things about the KBS stuff, but if it is going to peel like POR-15 does when it gets chipped I'd rather just use something that's easy to touch up...

2. While the body is off can I work the suspension with my engine hoist to measure for my shocks or will the bare frame not weigh enough to flex the springs properly? I'd like to have all drilling done now before I paint is all.

Lemme know guys!

 

[Z71paramedic]

I got a call from our landlord last night saying that they have had 3 complaints about the noise and "condition" of the property... Odd considering I clean up every night and only work until 5 and not at all on Sundays due to a previous request. Anyways, I have been informed that I can't work on the truck at the house anymore (that we pay $2,700/month to rent). So I informed them that it's not going to be a simple "no more work" thing unless they would like to buy my approximately $16,000 worth of truck, parts and tools that I have been buying over the last year (not including all of the tools I already had). So I've been told that I'm 'allowed' to put it back together as is with no more big work to be done. So now that I'm roughly 5/8 done with the project or maybe a little more, I get to stop the forward progress and throw a bunch of unfinished $hit back onto the frame just to get it driveable so we can take it with us next June. The old engine will go back in, but tomorrow the new 1 tons are going in, front springs, brake and fuel lines and the engine/tranny/tcase. I have to run a new brake line to the rear considering I cut the old one out. Fuel lines are ok but need new rubber in a few spots. New fuel tank will go in. I still need to order my radiator due to the fact that my old one is wasted and I need electric fans after moving the drivetrain forward. Still need a wiring harness and driveshafts as well.

So long story short I've worked my a$$ off the past 10 months to take a running/driving truck and turn it into a multi-colored, missing pieces, incomplete pile of crap that I still have to drop @ $2,500 into just to get it to be able to drive itself to the shipyard. Then I get to tear it all back apart when we get to wherever we're going next. I've felt like I'm going to vomit since about 7 pm last night...

Rant over. Don't expect any updates until next year, if ever. I may just sell the damn thing. I'm gonna lose my a$$ though. So glad I just bought 2K worth of fuel injection stuff that I can't use now.

 

[K85 Octane]

city living sucks doesn't it
and you live in HI, WTF, you are simply removing all the rust that damn island weather provides. Sorry about your frustrations man, try to work something out if possible, but don't sell the truck. (like I have any answers as to HOW ur going to work on it now, but hate to see it go)

PS> I'm in the market for a FAST system, if you decide to sell, I give you purchase price instead of Atlantic.

 

[tRustyK5]

Any reason you can't do the "quiet" work on it anytime you like? I own the place we're in, have good neighbors, but still break down the planned work into what is gonna be noisy, and what I call quiet work. I save the quiet work for evenings, and only do stuff that can be noisy mid day.

Rene

 

[Z71paramedic]

Any reason you can't do the "quiet" work on it anytime you like? I own the place we're in, have good neighbors, but still break down the planned work into what is gonna be noisy, and what I call quiet work. I save the quiet work for evenings, and only do stuff that can be noisy mid day.

Rene

I was told no more work, and at this point I'm so disgusted that I'm just going to get it back together and wait. Plus I was already going to be cutting it a little close on the deadline, so with that type of setback I won't be able to get it done the way I want it and would just end up redoing it all anyways. Add that to the insane cost of shipping things + materials (a small tank of argon/co2 75/25 is $149 here...and I'm on my third at the moment) and it's just not worth it anymore.

 

[Z71paramedic]

city living sucks doesn't it
and you live in HI, WTF, you are simply removing all the rust that damn island weather provides. Sorry about your frustrations man, try to work something out if possible, but don't sell the truck. (like I have any answers as to HOW ur going to work on it now, but hate to see it go)

PS> I'm in the market for a FAST system, if you decide to sell, I give you purchase price instead of Atlantic.

I'm gonna hold on to everything, but I'm just frustrated. Lot's of blood, sweat and tears have gone into this to just end up looking like a POS.

As for the city living, I told my wife NEVER AGAIN and she's all for it. Damn I've got it good in that department. Too bad everything else is so shaky...

 

[Greg72]

Based on what was said (and not said) about the complaints I'm willing to bet that the neighbors are more irritated by the tarps draped over the truck and the ones hung up in the carport to make "walls".... It looks like you might also be storing truck parts outside the carport...maybe alongside the driveway or common fence area?

Tarps are useful and cheap, but I could certainly sympathize with neighbors who get tired of seeing big blue sheets of plastic hanging all over your carport and blowing in the breeze every time they drive past.

That may create an opportunity for you. If you clean up all the visible exterior areas around the garage space (so that no take-off parts are showing) and could close-in the garage area with some other material (ie. Wood) for a more conservative and neighbor-friendly appearance?

I have a feeling that the landlord is just trying to take the path of least resistance to keep the neighbors happy. If you were to offer to do a little construction work to help hide all the truck parts he probably wouldn't be getting any more complaints and he can get back to collecting your rent checks..... Which is what he wants to focus on instead, not playing "peacekeeper" with the neighbors.

It something to think about....if your landlord is a reasonable person, he may be willing to give it a try.

 

[K85 Octane]

What Greg said is a good idea, but the hammer may have already fallen on this decision, sometimes it's hard to reverse that. Considering you take it in the asz for 2700 a month, I'd hope he could be a little flexible. Not sure how many people would be lined up around the corner to take the house over if you left, prolly not at that price anyway.

 

[bp71k5]

You might also consider cleaning up like Greg mentioned and see where things are at. If the truck "looks" like it's getting assembled rather than taken apart, and the yard is up to the standards of liberal-hippyville types in Hawaii (they all came from CA so I know how they think), you may be able to reduce the neighbor complaints and be able to subtly work on it a bit.

In CA, neighbors see car parts and hear noise and then think instantly about their property value going down. I bet Hawaii is just about as bad as Cali with home values dropping like rocks. Once people look at a neighbors place and see anything that doesn't fit in with their notion of "paradise", they openly resent you for ruining their home value even if they don't ever plan on selling the home. Some of them have "lost" several hundred thousand dollars in their mind so by making your place look like it fits in perfectly with the surroundings, maybe you can avoid more complaints.

It sucks, but maybe you can reduce the impact of this event.

-Brian

 

[Z71paramedic]

Yeah, I got the "the neighborhood has spoken" talk. So like I said before, if I can't finish it right then I'm just going to get it mobile and let it sit until we move. We'll buy in the next place and then I can have exactly the man space I want/need. Oh, I only have the one tarp covering the back of the truck where it sticks out of the garage/carport enough to get rained in. Hardly any houses have garage doors out here. Definitely a no go on putting up wood/etc. I don't have time for projects to finish the project anyways. The sad thing is most areas on the island are filled with NASTY looking properties with rusty wrecked vehicles and a bunch of trash all over. In comparison mine looks pristine. Figures we moved into one of the only neighborhoods that doesn't like someone working on their truck.

I did get the axles swapped today with help from my buddy Chuck (Chuckmoney) and got the frame in a quick spiff of rattle can black (not prepped great but it's covered). Did find a ton of slop in the passenger side axle shaft so now I get to screw around with that. Also spent $165 on gear lube/trans fluid for the axles and tranny/case. I can't wait to not live here anymore!!! Hawaii is a great place to vacation but unless you're filthy rich and can live in a less traveled area on the north shore of Oahu or one of the other islands it sucks to live here!!!

I should be able to get the motor/trans in tomorrow then Monday get the frame back under the body and clean up from there.

 

[NorCal69]

Hey Z, I might have found you that windshield frame that you are needing. I was at the bone yard, looking at some seat ideas and they had a 71 there. The blazer is pretty beat up, but the windshield frame doesn't look that bad.

I know that you said that you would give $300.00 bones for one. How bout this, I went in and asked how much, they said bring your saw-zall and $45 bucks and it's yours. I know that they are worth a pile more, but I'm not worried about that, just would like to help a rust brother out.

$45.00 + shipping and I'll go cut it out and ship it to ya. Here are the pics. I'll delete all of this if you don't want it. I don't want to screw up your build thread.

Let me know, Bud.

 

[Greg72]

Boy do I miss CA junkyards......

Half the "junk" in there looks better than what most people are restoring.

:facepalm:

 

[NorCal69]

I know that you're pretty much done with all of this kind of stuff, Greg. But if there is ever anything that I can do on my end, let me know. Take it as payback for the "edjumication" that you have helped us all with.

 

[Z71paramedic]

Hey Z, I might have found you that windshield frame that you are needing. I was at the bone yard, looking at some seat ideas and they had a 71 there. The blazer is pretty beat up, but the windshield frame doesn't look that bad.

I know that you said that you would give $300.00 bones for one. How bout this, I went in and asked how much, they said bring your saw-zall and $45 bucks and it's yours. I know that they are worth a pile more, but I'm not worried about that, just would like to help a rust brother out.

$45.00 + shipping and I'll go cut it out and ship it to ya. Here are the pics. I'll delete all of this if you don't want it. I don't want to screw up your build thread.

Let me know, Bud.

I love the ck5 brotherhood! I would be SO indebted to you if you'd be willing to do that for me! The windshiled frame was the one total facepalm that I was still having about where this build has turned. I was very worried i was going to be putting new glass in my crusty windshield frame. I cant't thank you enough! PM me for paypal info and I'll getcha squared away.


BTW, by the looks of that yard I'd like to spend some time there!

I'll post up some progress stuff when I get home, I'm over being salty aboit putting it back together before it's "done" and have made some progress lately.