82 GMC 1500 2WD short bed conversion

[junkmen]

hey guys I'm new this 82 GMC 2WD 1500 LB 6.2l the guy i bought it from rebuilt a 92 engine and 700R4 for it also its straight and rust free.
i have only driven it around my property for last nine years so its time to do something with it
so the plan is a frame up restoration and convert it to a SWB lower it 2 front 4 rear
this will be a low budget build i will do all the fabrication and paint to it .
if i can make it i won't buy it
so i picked up a 73 or 75 GMC SWB parts truck(green) no motor or trans but the beds junk
If i cant find a good used SB box cheap I'm going to shorten my long box

here's some pic's thanks JM

[80chevyshortbox]

looks like a good project. keep use updated.

[junkmen]

hey thanks shortbox
well i started on the rear suspension modified and moved the spring hangers. the SB parts truck has heavy duty rear spring pack I'm going to replace bushings and remove two leafs seven and overload. hope to paint the frame this weekend. thanks JM

[junkmen]

Hey guys the rear spring hangers are done and all new bushings in also got the frame painted .

this weekend dissemble the 82 LB

JM

[junkmen]

hey guys
Well as some of you might know 73-80 frames are different from 81-87 frames the core support mount is in a different location and the body insulators are different so i used the 82 frame horns on the 73-80 frame and connected the rear cab mounts together and opened up all the body mount to fit the 81-87 insulators here's some pics

thanks junkman

[junkmen]

here's some more pics
trimmed trans cross member so i could remove the trans pan with out removing it
also cut one coil off the bottom of the springs then filled a bucket of water and put the spring in it only 1/2 of the coil was above water using a big c clamp and the torch to straiten the bottom coil it sits in there like a stock one

[Da88burban]

Updates?

[junkmen]

Da88 thanks for asking i need to get some pics
the next thing i did was to shorten the bed floor turned out good
I removed 14 1/2 in. off the front over lapped 8 in. and spot welded it together in the rear cut off 5 1/2 in. and removed the cross member and spot welded it back then rolled the lip back over a stock bed side will bolt right on. I'll get a pic of the floor finished

also built the exhaust system two new summit fully welded mufflers and used the stock pipes and hangers off the long bed

next I'm going to reseal the 6.2L and paint it also install shift kit in the 700R4

[franky69c10]

Sweet I just made a thread bout making a Lwb to a Swb just wanna know did u cut the lwb frame 2 a Swb frame and and info on it like where 2 start on cutting the frame ..

The thread I made http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=439960
Posted via Mobile Device

[junkmen]

I used a SWB frame the green truck i bought for parts for the conversion and all the sheet metal is junk so I,m shorting the LWB bed i will be starting on the bed sides next month i will post some pics

well good luck JM

[junkmen]

hey guys any one know what size the stock plastic injected u:joints are 6.2L 700R4 10 bolt diff. My friend got me a one piece shaft and the joints on it fit my parts truck 12 bolt yoke it uses outboard clips so i need a conversion joint
1310 to 1330 or 1310 to 1350 witch one do i need and thanks for any help

thanks JM

[Tx Firefighter]

This picture worries me a bit...



Looking at your rear shackle angle, it seems your spring hangers are too close together. See how it's already angled back ? Once you add the weight on to the suspension of the truck and bed, it's going to angle back even further. The leaf springs will "get longer" when they flatten out under load. Your shackle angle is going to be bound or near bound up.

Just thought I'd add that to give you something to ponder before you get too far into the build. I'd hate to see you get the thing all done up pretty then have to move and redrill a bunch of holes to change the rear hanger angle.

[junkmen]

hey TxFF the SB frame came like that so i moved the mounts back 1 1/4 in. but its still not enough so at this point I'm not sure what I'm going to do? drill more holes.


also started on the engine striped it down to long block and replaced seals and gaskets and some new paint and i don't think its a 6.2L found 1994 on the timing cover and its has a one piece rear main seal could be 6.5L next install B&M shift kit

thanks TxFF

[dropd80s]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Looking at your rear shackle angle, it seems your spring hangers are too close together. See how it's already angled back ? Once you add the weight on to the suspension of the truck and bed, it's going to angle back even further. The leaf springs will "get longer" when they flatten out under load. Your shackle angle is going to be bound or near bound up.

Just thought I'd add that to give you something to ponder before you get too far into the build. I'd hate to see you get the thing all done up pretty then have to move and redrill a bunch of holes to change the rear hanger angle.

I had the same response. Looks like some one swapped in some 56" springs where 52" had been. It also looks like in some of your later pics the rear hanger has been moved back some, as you said. When I cut my C30 down from a LB to a SB the rear hanger on my 56" springs are almost at the end of the frame. I am swapping to 52" springs so the stock sport bumper brackets will mount to the side of the frame. Just something to think about.

[junkmen]

I was thinking of doing that. on the parts truck those springs were on there for ever hand the shackle never left a mark om the main spring after moving the mount 1 1/4 in. it may be ok ?

[dropd80s]

If you could get a pic of the angle the shackle is sitting at now that you have moved the hanger back it'll give us a better idea.

[junkmen]

[QUOTE=dropd80s;4527090]If you could get a pic of the angle the shackle is sitting at now that you have moved the hanger back it'll give us a better idea.[/QUOTE

no pics yet. i think I'll move it back two inch that would place it just right and then shorten the bumper bracket i don't want to use the short springs

I'll get a pic and add it to this reply JM

[dropd80s]

definitly looks a lot better.

[junkmen]

Have to see when some weights on it

thanks

[junkmen]

update cab could be back on this weekend I'll upload more pics
installed a B&M shift kit/ drop in engine & trans/ install fuel tanks and line some of the lines are different LB to SB also had to relocate the water drain lines wouldn't fit in between the front spring mounts because i modified the mount

that's all for now JM

[junkmen]

Hope everyone is having as much fun as i am here's an update and more pics.
Its drivable well maybe not just yet only had one leak so far i left the bottom injector line loose on the pump also started shorting the bed sides

more pics this week JM

[junkmen]

more pics took half the day to lay it out and half hour to cut i up

[spudz]

wow! very cool!

[junkmen]

Thanks spudz
I got the front cap on today more pics I'll see if i can get the back done tomorrow.
Even using a flagging tool man its a lot of work

JM

[junkmen]

Well got the back done the seams a little low in the middle(tail light level) I'm going to start on filler tomorrow hope its not over 1/8 inch thick JM