chevy wrangler
1/2 ton status
yeah x dos captain
CK5
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TheCaptain's (Re)Build Thread
- Thread starter TheCaptain
- Start date
chevy wrangler
1/2 ton status
updates???
TheCaptain
Registered Member
Hehe...I am working on it. I will post some new pictures very soon. My project is going a little slower than I had hoped, but it should be an interesting machine when it's done. I'll let the pictures explain the rest... 
Sorry for taking so long about getting back to you guys...just had some drama to deal with lately, so I haven't been online as much as used to be.
Sorry for taking so long about getting back to you guys...just had some drama to deal with lately, so I haven't been online as much as used to be.
chevy wrangler
1/2 ton status
no problem , good to know that progress is being made 
TheCaptain
Registered Member
Soooo....about those updates....
Heh...sorry I haven't been around on here too consistently. It's been pretty cool catching up on everyone else's projects though.
As for my own project...well...it's slowly starting to look like a truck again. (More pictures to follow...) We ended up taking it down to a bare frame to really do everything the right way. There were some cracks on the rear of the frame that needed fixing, but at this point it should all be better and stronger than new.
The factory's brilliant solution to mounting the rear shocks doesn't seem to have held up to well. The original frame rail holes for mounting the shocks were welded up for a little more strength beyond just fixing the cracks...so eventually, I have to figure out how I want to mount the rear shocks.
Heh...sorry I haven't been around on here too consistently. It's been pretty cool catching up on everyone else's projects though.
As for my own project...well...it's slowly starting to look like a truck again. (More pictures to follow...) We ended up taking it down to a bare frame to really do everything the right way. There were some cracks on the rear of the frame that needed fixing, but at this point it should all be better and stronger than new.
The factory's brilliant solution to mounting the rear shocks doesn't seem to have held up to well. The original frame rail holes for mounting the shocks were welded up for a little more strength beyond just fixing the cracks...so eventually, I have to figure out how I want to mount the rear shocks.
TheCaptain
Registered Member
Next round...the sheetmetal.
Well...the underside of the body tub cleaned up pretty well. Barely any rust except for a pinhole or two in the floor and a little bit on the driver's side rocker. (Amazingly, the boxes beneath it are totally clean...I still can't quite figure that one out.)
I had to dig up another hood...the one that was on it is perfectly rust free, but it has some dips in it. It gets too hot to use filler there, and it's not really something that a bodyman can work out of it. I was kind of luck though...I had another hood and an almost perfect fender drop into my lap. It's all in primer here.
The doors are getting replaced...I had to go aftermarket, but they are pretty nice for what they are. They are going to get cut and get the original reinforcements put in them, etc.
Well...the underside of the body tub cleaned up pretty well. Barely any rust except for a pinhole or two in the floor and a little bit on the driver's side rocker. (Amazingly, the boxes beneath it are totally clean...I still can't quite figure that one out.)
I had to dig up another hood...the one that was on it is perfectly rust free, but it has some dips in it. It gets too hot to use filler there, and it's not really something that a bodyman can work out of it. I was kind of luck though...I had another hood and an almost perfect fender drop into my lap. It's all in primer here.
The doors are getting replaced...I had to go aftermarket, but they are pretty nice for what they are. They are going to get cut and get the original reinforcements put in them, etc.
TheCaptain
Registered Member
Next set...the body is back on the frame.
The frame was painted chassis black, and a few upgrades were made since some of the original stuff was pretty shot. It has new front shackle hangers and B52's from DIY4X. (Really nice stuff, btw.) It also has the weld-in and bolt in steering box fix, since the frame had some old repaired cracks there too. I've got the engine crossmember from ORD too. (Also really nice stuff.) I wanted to strengthen things up enough so that I won't have to fix that stuff again.
There are still tons of things I have to sort out with this thing...so there will be more updates eventually.
The frame was painted chassis black, and a few upgrades were made since some of the original stuff was pretty shot. It has new front shackle hangers and B52's from DIY4X. (Really nice stuff, btw.) It also has the weld-in and bolt in steering box fix, since the frame had some old repaired cracks there too. I've got the engine crossmember from ORD too. (Also really nice stuff.) I wanted to strengthen things up enough so that I won't have to fix that stuff again.
There are still tons of things I have to sort out with this thing...so there will be more updates eventually.
chevy wrangler
1/2 ton status
awesome !!!keep up the good work
Very nice! 
This thread just got frickin' awesome all of a sudden! 
This thread just got frickin' awesome all of a sudden! 
awsome! what color are you going with?
smalltowncowboy
1/2 ton status
looks like some quality stuff
I like that he's staying with the original '73-'80 front clip.
TheCaptain
Registered Member
Hey all...thanks for all of the encouragement. I wish things were coming along faster...it feels like it's taking forever sometimes. The warm weather is right around the corner, and I don't have my topless K5 on the road yet...or the beach for that matter. 
As for colors...I've been thinking about that one alot. There is a 2002 or 2003-ish looking Chevy Avalanche that is in the parking lot at work in a really nice dark blue. I found out who owns it...I have to find out what the paint code is for it. I like dark blue on older trucks, but I don't think they sold a blue that I really liked in '74 originally. I can still change my mind though...it's been known to happen. Any suggestions?
I am trying to keep the cosmetics pretty original. (Amen brother Artzner...The original front clip is here to stay!) The paint color and maybe the interior color might not be originals...but I am not going to put on a bunch of aftermarket stuff just for the heck of it. I really dig the clean original look on these. I would have gotten one just like Artzner's if I could find one...that is a nice machine.
I am trying to put on all the good stuff...it's freaking killing my wallet though! That is part of why I'm not moving faster with it...I am really trying not to cut corners. I keep telling myself it'll all be worthwhile when she's done.
As for colors...I've been thinking about that one alot. There is a 2002 or 2003-ish looking Chevy Avalanche that is in the parking lot at work in a really nice dark blue. I found out who owns it...I have to find out what the paint code is for it. I like dark blue on older trucks, but I don't think they sold a blue that I really liked in '74 originally. I can still change my mind though...it's been known to happen. Any suggestions?
I am trying to keep the cosmetics pretty original. (Amen brother Artzner...The original front clip is here to stay!) The paint color and maybe the interior color might not be originals...but I am not going to put on a bunch of aftermarket stuff just for the heck of it. I really dig the clean original look on these. I would have gotten one just like Artzner's if I could find one...that is a nice machine.
I am trying to put on all the good stuff...it's freaking killing my wallet though! That is part of why I'm not moving faster with it...I am really trying not to cut corners. I keep telling myself it'll all be worthwhile when she's done.
smalltowncowboy
1/2 ton status
yah I know where your coming from. my stepside has been torn apart for over a year
TheCaptain
Registered Member
Yeah...it's been awhile since I've made any updates here. The truck is...well...starting to look like a truck again. 
We've been through quite a bit over the last few months...the entire rear section was taken apart and redone. The new rear bedside/quarters are installed and welded and bolted in place. The seams were treated with some good modern seam sealer, so it should cut down on any noise and vibration a bit.
The doors were cut, and the original reinforcement brackets are ready to be brazed in.
The body is getting checked over with a fine toothed comb...a good polyester skim coat is filling in any little imperfections and die marks in the parts...both old and new.
It's on the home stretch with the sheet metal work...most of the truck is in primer now. The rest will be done soon...and then we are going to try to find any highs or lows that got missed the first time through. After that...we paint her up, and see how she looks.
I might have to post a poll for the paint colors though...I am curious to see what everyone thinks would look the best on there. I'm thinking blue...I have a few different shades in mind though. Indigo blue metallic looks pretty nice to me...and it was actually used on Blazers. (About 30 years after mine was born...but at least it's a Blazer color.
)
After that...the real fun starts...
We've been through quite a bit over the last few months...the entire rear section was taken apart and redone. The new rear bedside/quarters are installed and welded and bolted in place. The seams were treated with some good modern seam sealer, so it should cut down on any noise and vibration a bit.
The doors were cut, and the original reinforcement brackets are ready to be brazed in.
The body is getting checked over with a fine toothed comb...a good polyester skim coat is filling in any little imperfections and die marks in the parts...both old and new.
It's on the home stretch with the sheet metal work...most of the truck is in primer now. The rest will be done soon...and then we are going to try to find any highs or lows that got missed the first time through. After that...we paint her up, and see how she looks.
I might have to post a poll for the paint colors though...I am curious to see what everyone thinks would look the best on there. I'm thinking blue...I have a few different shades in mind though. Indigo blue metallic looks pretty nice to me...and it was actually used on Blazers. (About 30 years after mine was born...but at least it's a Blazer color.
)After that...the real fun starts...
Awesome progress! And I agree, that blue would be a great choice.
Subscribed. Nice work so far.
If you are looking for suggestions on what shade of blue. This is that Arrival Blue Chevy had just a few years ago. Just my .02 worth but I've always liked this color.
Nice build by the way.
Nice build by the way.
rufusbooth
1/2 ton status
Sweet restoration! you are doing some phenomenal work with this vehicle and thanks for sharing with us!
I do have a humble request if they are available. Do you have any photos of the rocker box area while you were cleaning up the area? Also, do you have pictures of the rear quarters and wheelhouse area where they meet?
I am in the process of restoring my 73 and any pictures of those areas would be most appreciated. My rocker boxes were cut out long ago to fit propane tanks so I don't know what they "should" look like and I need to put them back
Once again thanks for sharing your progress, it inspires me to get mine back on the road.
Cheers,
Rufus
I do have a humble request if they are available. Do you have any photos of the rocker box area while you were cleaning up the area? Also, do you have pictures of the rear quarters and wheelhouse area where they meet?
I am in the process of restoring my 73 and any pictures of those areas would be most appreciated. My rocker boxes were cut out long ago to fit propane tanks so I don't know what they "should" look like and I need to put them back
Once again thanks for sharing your progress, it inspires me to get mine back on the road.
Cheers,
Rufus
TheCaptain
Registered Member
Hey Rufus,
Thanks for the encouragement.
Here are a few rocker pictures...before and after. I have more of them...I'd just need to sift through the folders a bit more. They were dirty and caked with years of gunk, but they cleaned up pretty nicely.
As for the rear quarters and wheel housings...the wheel housings are just a bolt-in affair. The rear quarters are actually mostly bolt in too...it's pretty straightforward. I might have some decent pictures of those laying around too, if you really needed them though.
Hope these help, and good luck with your project. I haven't see another full 'vert 73-75 in casual passing in a few years now...it's good to hear another one is coming back.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Here are a few rocker pictures...before and after. I have more of them...I'd just need to sift through the folders a bit more. They were dirty and caked with years of gunk, but they cleaned up pretty nicely.
As for the rear quarters and wheel housings...the wheel housings are just a bolt-in affair. The rear quarters are actually mostly bolt in too...it's pretty straightforward. I might have some decent pictures of those laying around too, if you really needed them though.
Hope these help, and good luck with your project. I haven't see another full 'vert 73-75 in casual passing in a few years now...it's good to hear another one is coming back.
