my 77 4x4 rebuild

[winky]

ok well i guess i can go ahead and start a build thread since im starting on my blue truck.. haven't done very much body work.. fixed dents and shaved antenna holes on cars that's about it.. any information or suggestions you would like to make please do. i love to learn and if someone is willing to offer advice im always willing to listen.
Plans so far...
fix the body rust, add another fuel tank, build new engine (in progress), swap in a granny low (in progress), custom dash gauges, front and rear end swap, and who knows what else..
the build is going to be slow because im constantly using my truck for stuff (my truck is one of the bigger ones around so i tend to get called to help stuck people), sooo i have to do little bits at a time so it not down too long.
starting on the rocker panels and cab corners tonight.. ill post pics as often as i can. thanks for looking.

truck cleaned up getting ready to start working on it

[beastie_3]

First thing that came to mind was getting both thanks working properly as well as ensuring the gauge reads correctly before you put the bed on. MUCH easier!

[Engineer]

Looks like you have a good starting point.

[bake74]

  i love to learn and if someone is willing to offer advice im always willing to listen.

     That statement right there ( if honestly true on your part ) will be the biggest asset you will have in your life and will make you successful at whatever you put your mind to.
      In my experience, a person who is honestly willing to take advice and opinions wherever they may come from and then decide if they are worth anything are the ones who always get the job done and come out on top.  It never hurts to get advice, you just don't always have to act on it.
     I am with beastie, fix the tanks, sending units and make sure they work before installing bed again.

[winky]

well one of my friends came over last night and three hours later this is whats left



only engine left in, thats coming out tonight hopefully and the frame is going to get cleaned up friday (hopefully)


one last little bit of play time in the truck before we tear it down

yeah bake im that way. there's always someone that's going to know a little bit more than you do no matter what it is. i tend to ask a lot of questions and most the time i already have an idea on how i want to do something. but there's always a catch some where or a trick that someone knows that can make the task shorter and possibly easier

[firefighter]

Ummmm.... in your first post you said "the build is going to be slow because im constantly using my truck for stuff, sooo i have to do little bits at a time so it not down too long"

If having it down to the frame is "doing little bits at a time", I'd hate to see one of your big projects. Ha Ha !! 

I'll tell ya one thing, you're jumping in with both feet and at a full run. I'm looking forward to following your rebuild.
I love the tearing apart process. It all happens so fast and you feel like you're getting so much done.
Then.... comes..... the ..... putting..... back...... together..........

[thirsty]

I'll tell ya one thing, you're jumping in with both feet and at a full run. I'm looking forward to following your rebuild.

^What he said! ^

I agree with what Bale74 said also.
There isn't a part on these trucks that one of the forum members hasn't touched before. We've got you covered if you need anything. Looks like you got a lot to work with there already!

[winky]

lol, thanks everyone. the frame has very little surface rust (someone before me painted it and looks like they did a decent job) so hopefully i can get by with washing it real good the sanding a few spots and re painting. tonight it looks like im gonna be working on the cab. got a few rust spots to fix and then im gonna start prepping it for paint.

[jaredts]

Did you already work on the rockers and cab corners?  I doesn't look like it in the pics.  I'd be concerned about doing rockers with the cab off, although I'm sure it can be done.

[bake74]

(someone before me painted it and looks like they did a decent job) so hopefully i can get by with washing it real good the sanding a few spots and re painting. 

     My suggestion is to use either chassis saver or por-15 on the frame, it will last you a lot longer than paint will.

[winky]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, and I have a new cab I just got

[winky]

blaaaahhhhh..... ran into problems... the new cab i have someone started to cut the cab corners off so i figured i could just spot weld them back.. WRONG.. it was going fine at first then i ground it all down and half the welds weren't actually welded... so finally got the welder adjusted and went to start back and now its just blowing holes threw it all and made a huugggeeee mess.. it only blows holes threw were Ive already welded and ground so i guess the metal was just too thin?? basically need a new driver-side cab corner now.. another problem was the gap between the two. i couldn't but them together cause it was still attached to the cab.. guess  should have cut some out and came in with a piece to make it flush.. any input on my problems would be great. guess ill be ordering a new cab corner today. on top of everything apparently my auto shade welding helmet wasn't working right cause i have welders burn... only have one eye lol so it really sucks...

[thirsty]

i ground it all down and half the welds weren't actually welded... so finally got the welder adjusted and went to start back and now its just blowing holes threw it all and made a huugggeeee mess.. it only blows holes threw were Ive already welded and ground so i guess the metal was just too thin??

I would be willing to bet that the metal is too thin where you ground it. Try and use an abrasive disc instead of a grinder. When you get your new cab corners try and only use what you need to not the whole thing unless it is unavoidable.
Be patient...and remember that it is only metal and people weld it everyday. You will get it.

Do something about that welding helmet first though...You can't read the forum unless you can see!

[winky]

thanks for the advice and yeah i have a few more helmets hiding somewhere just gotta go find them. when i get home (if it isnt raining) i plan on stripping everything off the fire wall and seeing how much rust is there, ill upload pics when i can.

[jaredts]

What size weld wire are you using?  .03" and .035" are a little tricky to use as they are a little big for the job, and have caused me similar trouble before.  I've found the main thing is to make sure the two pieces are clamped very tightly together before you start to plug weld so the two both absorb the heat.  Screw it together and hammer the outer piece to meet the inner if you have to.  I was surprised when I first started all this welding body panels how a small gap between panels can make you blow through easily.  When it comes to butt welding, it takes a very careful touch not to blow through.  With a plug weld you should be able to lay into it until its full as opposed to short bursts.