Where are you located?
CK5
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I am in California, quite the haul from Ohio
Yep that’s a bit of a drive haha. if you find someone selling those parts a little closer to me could you keep me in mind?
I am trying to remember which member from Wyoming is selling them to point you in the right direction
I appreciate that. There’s a guy in Kentucky that’s about 3 hours away from me selling a 74 for $900 but he won’t part it out and I don’t feel like hauling it that far home on a less than reliable car trailer.
I got the second door completely stripped down:
I would have had it done days ago but I took advantage of the warm weather and did a paint job on a fender and door for another vehicle, so this got put aside. With the door done the only thing I have left is the piece that goes between the body and the rear bumper, and the piece that goes below the grill. I’ll start on one of those tonight it shouldn’t take me too long. I still have to do the body as well but I won’t be stripping paint inside so it won’t be horrible, it’s basically just the bed sides, one rocker (one has to be replaced) and the roof and windshield frame. Although if I end up doing the 73-75 top conversion, the cab part will get cut off so maybe I can find the parts to lock that down before I get to that part of the body.
I would have had it done days ago but I took advantage of the warm weather and did a paint job on a fender and door for another vehicle, so this got put aside. With the door done the only thing I have left is the piece that goes between the body and the rear bumper, and the piece that goes below the grill. I’ll start on one of those tonight it shouldn’t take me too long. I still have to do the body as well but I won’t be stripping paint inside so it won’t be horrible, it’s basically just the bed sides, one rocker (one has to be replaced) and the roof and windshield frame. Although if I end up doing the 73-75 top conversion, the cab part will get cut off so maybe I can find the parts to lock that down before I get to that part of the body.
I’m not sure what this trim piece is called but it goes between the body and the rear bumper, anyway I got it done tonight:
I didn’t even bother with the chemical stripper I just went ahead and did the whole thing with a wire wheel and stripping wheel. Most of these pieces have been first painted with a sealer, and then primer and then paint. The wire wheel struggles with the sealer so I use the stripping wheel for the sealer.
I didn’t even bother with the chemical stripper I just went ahead and did the whole thing with a wire wheel and stripping wheel. Most of these pieces have been first painted with a sealer, and then primer and then paint. The wire wheel struggles with the sealer so I use the stripping wheel for the sealer.
I found a guy selling a full length hard top which appears to be in great shape, plus the windshield frame and the doors. Everything I need for the conversion He wanted $1100 for them but we settled at $800. It’s about a 5 hour drive from southwestern Ohio (where I am) to southwestern Kentucky (where he is). I plan on going down sometime early next week to pick them up. Very excited about this.
This one was a pain:
I still have a couple areas that I’ll need to get with a smaller wire wheel but it’s basically done, next up is the body. Also I should be picking up the top and parts on Tuesday so we’ll see how that goes.
I still have a couple areas that I’ll need to get with a smaller wire wheel but it’s basically done, next up is the body. Also I should be picking up the top and parts on Tuesday so we’ll see how that goes.
So like I said last night, I drove 700 miles yesterday, (over 12 hours including stops) to Kentucky to pick up a full convertible top, windshield frame, and doors. The guy listed the parts on Facebook for $1100 but we settled on $800. I think it’s a pretty good deal especially considering I can recoup some of the money selling the hard top I already have. The doors are shot but I’ll use them as a template when I cut my other set plus I need some of the parts inside. As a bonus the windows are manual which I was going to convert my other doors to so now I have the parts for that. The top is ugly but in great shape. With minimal work and paint it will look like new. I’m really happy about this purchase and I’m excited to get this conversion done.
The tint is obviously in rough shape but I’m going to be swapping these widows out with the sliding windows from my other top. Not only are they in better shape but I prefer the sliding ones.
So the plan from here is to finish stripping the paint off of the body which is essentially the bedsides, the door openings, and the windshield frame. Then swap in the manual transmission and from there start on the metal work which will begin with cutting out the metal roof and welding in the new windshield frame to get the new top fit on.
The tint is obviously in rough shape but I’m going to be swapping these widows out with the sliding windows from my other top. Not only are they in better shape but I prefer the sliding ones.
So the plan from here is to finish stripping the paint off of the body which is essentially the bedsides, the door openings, and the windshield frame. Then swap in the manual transmission and from there start on the metal work which will begin with cutting out the metal roof and welding in the new windshield frame to get the new top fit on.
I got one side completely stripped down, the parts that aren’t stripped (top and rocker) are both getting cut out so I obviously didn’t bother. One down one to go.
As you can see I put the top back on it, since the body is now bare metal I’m putting a waterproof tarp over it instead of the non waterproof cover that had been on it. The top will support the tarp better and I’d like to keep the inside completely dry from this point on so obviously this will help.
As you can see I put the top back on it, since the body is now bare metal I’m putting a waterproof tarp over it instead of the non waterproof cover that had been on it. The top will support the tarp better and I’d like to keep the inside completely dry from this point on so obviously this will help.
The amount of work you are putting into the small details is going to make this truck look awesome when you're done. Keep up the good work!
That’s man I really appreciate it.
Preparing for the 4 speed swap, getting all the parts cleaned up. I wire wheeled pretty much everything metal that relates to the transmission from the crossmember to every piece of the clutch linkage including the pedals. I didn’t want to wirewheel the bell housing seeing as its aluminum so it’s getting a nice warm soak to loosen up 40 years of oil and dirt. Tomorrow is supposed to be 50° so I’ll be painting everything I can.
50° Is painting weather. I got everything related to the clutch linkage painted today so that it’s ready to go when I start the transmission swap. I also painted the shifter, crossmember. And bell housing as you can see. The casting process apparently leaves a lot of aluminum chunks all over so it’s not going to turn out as pretty as I hoped but I think it will look fine from inside the truck. A few more coats and it will be good to go. I’ll be ordering my transmission parts in the next few days. this includes: clutch kit, flywheel, throw out bearing fork, and throw out fork boot. I still need to clean up and paint my transfer case but I’m not sure if I’m going to disassemble it and replace all the seals like I did with the transmission. I most likely will. I’ll have the rest of the paint stripping done early this week which will feel great. I’ll likely start on the transfer case towards the end of this week.
I forgot how useful RockAuto can be. I just ordered all the transmission parts my car will ever need! Seriously though I just got a LUK clutch kit, LUK flywheel, shifter fork, and transmission mount bushings, all for $178.32. Seems like a really good deal to me. By the time the parts arrive I should have all paint stripping finally done.
This is a pretty big milestone, all the paint stripping is done!
I’m sure there will be small places here and there that I’ll want to take paint off of and of corse when I go to weld in new metal I’ll have to take paint off if it’s there but the job of paint stripping as a whole is done and I’m thrilled. This is likely the biggest pain in the butt of the entire build and definitely the most boring so I’m glad to have it over with. All the parts I need for my transmission swap have arrived so as soon as I get my transfer case apart, cleaned and painted, and in fresh gaskets. I’ll be starting that. definitely excited to be part of the stick shift club. That’s all for now. Transfer case stuff coming soon.
I’m sure there will be small places here and there that I’ll want to take paint off of and of corse when I go to weld in new metal I’ll have to take paint off if it’s there but the job of paint stripping as a whole is done and I’m thrilled. This is likely the biggest pain in the butt of the entire build and definitely the most boring so I’m glad to have it over with. All the parts I need for my transmission swap have arrived so as soon as I get my transfer case apart, cleaned and painted, and in fresh gaskets. I’ll be starting that. definitely excited to be part of the stick shift club. That’s all for now. Transfer case stuff coming soon.
