Project PRPLHAIZ

[motornut]

Hi it's lookin good ,
getting to see more cool trucks laid out around town
been a crazy cold winter eh

[whytry85]

looks killer. not usually a fan of black wheels but those are slick! keep it up!

[C.W]

Hey, nice build! I may have missed it but is the trans crossmember an aftermarket one or did you build it?

[ccrane0044]

Originally Posted by whytry85

looks killer. not usually a fan of black wheels but those are slick! keep it up!

ya, i like how they are half and half pretty much, I'm eventually planning on painting the black part to match the purple I'll be painting the truck.

[ccrane0044]

Originally Posted by C.W

Hey, nice build! I may have missed it but is the trans crossmember an aftermarket one or did you build it?

I ended building the trans crossmember, along with the the shock crossmember and the other crossmember in the centre. Probably could have bought one but only cost about $20 in steel (trying to keep this project cost to a minimum since I've already spent so much on it, didn't know what i was getting into when i started, I was/am young and dumb) and I like being able to say that I built it, even though it may not look as good.

[ccrane0044]

Not to much of an update but figured it's been a little while since I posted anything. Been working on a few of the smaller things lately. Pretty well have the brake lines sorted out, along with fuel lines. Also started on the exhaust. Its going to end up coming out in front of the rear wheels with either a 3" or 4" tips. That will be decided once the body is on. Speaking of the body I finished up the tubs for the floor. Was having some major issues with my welder (Princess Auto special) but I think I got it sorted out the other day so going to try and clean up and redo the welds. Here are a couple pictures of the floor and exhaust.

Underside

Inside

Start of the exhaust

[tinydb84]

If you dont mind me asking, why didnt you notch the rear? Not to lay out but to at least match the front drop when you air out. Looks great either way.

[SkinnyG]

What PA welder are you using? It looks like flux core wire you are using?

[ccrane0044]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

If you dont mind me asking, why didnt you notch the rear? Not to lay out but to at least match the front drop when you air out. Looks great either way.

Don't mind you asking at all, that's why I started the thread, to get feedback whether its good or bad. Main reason I didn't do a deeper notch is because I didn't have confidence or courage to do it. Along with that I lacked experience, knowledge and tools so that didn't help. It is one thing I somewhat regret on this build but I've accepted the fact that this is a backyard build and not a show winning truck. It's also my first build and pretty well all self taught so I'm pretty happy with it. And who knows, maybe a few years down the road I will make some changes, there are a few other things i plan on changing down the road as well so we will see.

[ccrane0044]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

What PA welder are you using? It looks like flux core wire you are using?

It is a flux core one. Wish I had a tank to put on it so I don't need flux core anymore. I hate how dirty it is but it was cheap and I don't have much money so I can't complain. All the big stuff I welded on my frame I was able to do at my brothers with his nice welder (as you can see the welds are A LOT nicer), just not really worth it for the little stuff.

[tinydb84]

Here is my brothers old truck I was fixing for him. Bagged on stock control arms and 4 link with a C notch. Should look similar to your drop:

[ccrane0044]

That's a nice looking truck. That entire truck will look pretty similar to mine. Can't wait to get the body on mine and it start looking like a truck again.

[ccrane0044]

Almost done the exhaust, made up some hangers, just need to get some 60 Degree bends and some tips to finish it off. Pretty happy how it turned out, although I will probably be changing the location of where the rear hangers attache to the exhaust a bit. Also got my welder working better, no more bubble gun welds which is nice.

Front hangers:


Rear hangers:




Should have the floor (minus paint) finished up this weekend.

[tinydb84]

Man you work fast. Nice welds too.

[ccrane0044]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Man you work fast. Nice welds too.

Thanks David, I hardly ever weld so I was pretty impressed with myself for that. And don't work fast enough in my opinion (its never fast enough), doesn't help that I usually only get 1 day a week to go out to work on it. But there's a pretty big (for this area at least) car show in the area on June 21st. That's my goal to have it moving forward, back, up and down on its own so that's what i'm shooting for. I'd like to be able to drive it on and off the trailer under its own power. It might be a long shot but looking more and more doable each day I work on it. Fingers crossed.

[ccrane0044]

Did some work to the truck this weekend. Finished up the rear brake lines, and started transmission cooler lines. also finished the floor, just need a coat of paint on it. Also threw the body on while I had a friend to lend a hand. I wanted to double check the wheels for fitment. They were pretty tight in the wheel wells so will be shaving them down 1/4". should have them by Wednesday. Along with getting those machined today I also ordered in some 60deg. exhaust bends to finish up the exhaust. Hoping to do that on Wednesday. The body was taken off again this weekend as well but hopefully next time it goes on, it stays on, at least for a little while. Here are a few pictures...

Here are the rear brake lines...


Nothing fancy, just bent up some trans cooler lines...




And now for the good stuff...













Here are a few with the steelies...








I regret not throwing a door on really quick for the pictures.

[Gregski]

don't tell me you can weld that good with one of them cheap harbor freight jobbies, LOL I had them and sold them on craigslist, truck coming along nice

[ccrane0044]

lol yes Gregski, I was impressed myself. Really wish I had a real welder though, would save a lot a grinding time. Thanks!

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by ccrane0044

I regret not throwing a door on really quick for the pictures.

Yeah, I'm thinkin' Lambo doors, hee hee

[ccrane0044]

Originally Posted by Gregski

Yeah, I'm thinkin' Lambo doors, hee hee

I don't think I am going to go that far Gregski, for the most part I'm planning on the body looking/functioning mostly original.

[ccrane0044]

A couple more updates. Ended up finishing the exhaust on Wednesday. I was going to wait a while since I didn't have tips but as I was cleaning up the shop, I came across a couple that my brother had that he changed his mind about. Ended up working out a deal with him and they are now mine. Since I ended up getting tips for a good deal I also went out and bought some bends to finish it up. They look a little low (might just be deceiving without the bed on) but waiting to throw the bed on to make the final adjustment.







Also started building my battery tray to relocate my batter to the frame rail under the bed. There wasn't much space with the tank and compressor also being on the frame rail but found a perfect spot right behind the passenger side wheel. Also picked up 20ft of 2/0GA for $60 from a friend. The box still needs work. Going to finish up the welds, drill some vent holes and possibly throw some paint at it on Monday since I have the pleasure of working all weekend.

[ccrane0044]

Another small update after spending a couple hours on the truck today. Finished up the fuel lines along with the battery box, minus the bolt holes, going to mark those when I have the bed on just to make sure I don't screw up since its a tight fit..

Also, I started running my 2/0 GA wire to the front and realized I'm not sure if I should run that only to the starter of if I can splice off of that to get power to the front of the truck... For those who relocated their batteries, did you run the 0/2 GA to the starter then splice off that to get a power cable to the front of the truck? Or did you run a separate wire for that? if you ran a separate wire what thickness did you use? I was thinking of running some 4GA to the front and have some sort of distribution box there to split up the power to what ever needs it but that sounds like a lot of power wire running along the frame rail. Any help would be appreciated. I'm going to be searching around but figure I would ask anyways.





Not looking forward to this...

[ccrane0044]

Just a heads up I ended up making a new thread due to all the pictures disappearing.. the title is "Project PRPLHAIZ: Bagged '80 C15 SWB" If you want to continue following this build please subscribe to that thread. Also I want to say thank you to all who have subscribed for the input and support. It is greatly appreciated.