Featured 79 frame off!

[Ghostryder]

Today was all about dismantling all of the little parts that ill be sending for blasting with the frame. Slavaging as much original gear as i go so i can spend more on building vs. Replacing salvagable components.

I have a ton of stuff on the way, offset trailing arms and a 1 1/4 swaybar kit are on back order.

For anyone drilling original rotors. Center punch, hit with a 1/4 bit for about 1/2 " and then change up to a larger one. I used a 5/8 cobalt tip and it destroyed the rivet heads fast. 1/4 punch and a few wacks with a hammer and they were seperated!

More going down tomorrow!

 

[Ghostryder]

The frame and the everything else bound for blasting is off to the shop for blasting, welding and epoxy coating. So, using the time wisely to start the mechanical. Today was getting the engine onto its stand, cleaning up all the unecessary crap and preparing to build the top end.

Stripping the control arms was a nightmare and no luck with the bushings in the diff crossmember!

More tomorrow!

 

[Ghostryder]

Frame resto not going smoothly at all! But, still progressing. Pictures are upside down as it is on their welding table right now. Some expected, some surprises. Not happy with the level of repair required, but what can you do! More progress coming!!

 

[Ghostryder]

Waiting for the frame an a ton of parts, so i thought i would take a little deep dive into the engine!

 

[Ghostryder]

Deep dive = 350 HO short block crate motor, comp cam, holly 750 cfm and a laundry list of engine toolery to come. Frame should be back from fabrication soon. Designed a corner gusset and weld at the kick up that will stop dirt and water accumulation, as well as a series of fins on the bottom to deflect road debris.

Transmissiom should be ready by friday and i havent sorted exhaust out yet.

Lots of things happening!!!

 

[Ghostryder]

Progress has been a bit slow. Waiting for the frame and a ton of parts to arrive. Just received all new stainless steel lines and brake equipment. Major pieces still on the way.

My welder finished up this aft on the heavy welding and fabrication part of the frame abd it will be back on my garage tomorrow for some power book webbing! Transmission may be ready tomorrow

More pics tomorrow!

 

[Ghostryder]

Frame is back from the welder. If anyone in the edmonton area needs welding on their frame, i highly reccomend Craigs welding in Morinville. The did an excellent job blasting the frame, fabricating all new trailing arm pockets and reinforcements for both kick ups out of steel actually strong enough for the task, as well as repairing the rust damage and welding in all 8 body mount points.

Welding phase 2 is underway with the GM powerbook gusseting and then it wi be epoxy time!!

The time to build is meow!

 

[Ghostryder]

Just in parts collection mode and looking for frame paint! Ill post an update later today

 

[nascar03]

@Ghostryder
I’m following along and enjoying the trip.
Keep moving forward and thank you for posting your adventure.
Well done.

graham

 

[Ghostryder]

Still moving along! Frame is now 100% welded, new body mounts, weak spots have been cut out and repaired, blasted, disked and now prepping for paint!

New crate engine, custom build 700R4 transmission and new rear hubs have all arrived.

Turning the garage into a paint booth tomorrow so I can get this frame painted and get busy building.

 

[taylorsk8]

Looking good. You are cruising along at a nice pace!

T

 

[Ghostryder]

The frame is done!! 100% welded, power book welding complete, primed, sealed and coated in KBS Blacktop. Letting things rest for a day or two and it will be time to build!

 

[Rruuff Day]

The frame is done!! 100% welded, power book welding complete, primed, sealed and coated in KBS Blacktop. Letting things rest for a day or two and it will be time to build!

Looking great.Now the progress will really start to show.

 

[Ghostryder]

Cleaning and painting parts is underway! New 1 1/4" sway bar kit arrived and i outsourced the removal and replacement of the u joints and control arm bushings. Full day of sandblasting and painting tomorrow.

Where possible, im replacing hardware with stainless steel or chromed finish to shut down rust!

 

[taylorsk8]

Word of warning....Make sure you are anti-seizing all stainless fasteners. They will friction weld together when pressure is applied without it and you will have to cut them to removes them.

T

 

[Ghostryder]

A little more progress! Brake lines installed pretty easily. Still waiting for quite a few parts to arrive to really start making some progress, but ill just keep plugging away at it until they arrive!

A note on the stainless lines, the fit is not exact, but pretty darn close! Also a good idea to tighten and loosen a few times to ensure a good seal on the flares. Just something ive always done, neve had a leak yet... lol

 

[Ghostryder]

Today was all about blasting and coating! More suspension parts cleaned up and painted while I wait for more new parts to arrive and for my local shop to finish up with a few others!

Used my dump bound tent to blast in, since i do not have a new blasting box just yet.

Moving along well now!

 

[Ghostryder]

While waiting for parts to arrive, I decided to take a lil peak inside the diff. Not good! It would appear that a full rebuild will happen! What models of carrier are interchangeable to the 79 diff? Say, different vehicles? Everything else seems pretty solid, no gear damage, case is good. Everything is within spec. just the carrier housing.

A little setback, but it would appear that i am going to learn how to rebuild a diff! Lol

 

[Rruuff Day]

Man....Ghost... Can't say how impressed I am with the members that take on these rebuild projects.Head and shoulders above my mechanical knowledge and ambition... Good on ya... Love seeing the pics and hearing the build stories though...

 

[Ghostryder]

Man....Ghost... Can't say how impressed I am with the members that take on these rebuild projects.Head and shoulders above my mechanical knowledge and ambition... Good on ya... Love seeing the pics and hearing the build stories though...

Lots more to come!!!!