We know return to our regularly scheduled programming!
The truck sat in my driveway for several months as a crappy camper shell storage stand
I decided to give it my main wrenching attention before I start messing with the Cadillac so Alison can enjoy driving it around. I pushed it into the garage and cleaned it up and put it on jack stands
First task was to make new shock mounts because the old ones had a broken stud and were to large for the new 1/2" bore shocks. I thought I had a picture of the new ones, but I just cut off the old studs and welded some half inch bolts in their place. I thought about putting them on the lathe at work and getting them bored and trued to get rid of potential failure of a butt weld, but I got them pretty straight and welded well in the vise with some garage fixturing. I'll go the extra step if they fail.
Next was the battery box. The fender was rotted out, so I patched it up and I put in a Barnes Optima box and fresh Yellow Top. Need to finish flushing out the homebrew wiring and get new battery cables as the old ones were garbage.
Put the interior fully back together. The Walmart dickies seat cover is terrible. I am going to get a Carhartt or wool blanket one for it because I don't want to reupholster the seat yet.
New gas tank straps I bent up out of some aluminum because weight savings.
Other misc items done;
Rear drums cut off and severed ebrake cables out
Front dshaft out waiting for new joints (apparently they are 1310 not 1330
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
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Old frame brake line and fuel line out, frame cleaned up and painted
New rear brake hose installed
A lot of run of the mill wrenching for this project but fun to work on something new to me and old to the world
Stock bumper and Reese hitch came off yesterday and I started drawing up the plans for the flatbed. More updates and pictures as I make more progress.