Chevy Cowboy

iTrader: (5)

I got a little bit of work done until it started to rain. Going to clean the frame up and paint it before the new bed goes on. Surprisingly the only real rust on the truck is the spare tire crossmember which is completely rotted out and the hitch....scary to think the farmer was hauling a 20,000lbs cattle trailer up until the injectors **** the bed, which was a week before I bought it. Pics

All 6 bed bolts came out fairly easily, except the hitch bolts I had to cut off with the torch

Bed off, managed to tip it off and stand it up on my own haha, sold it on kijiji (basically Canada's version of craigslist) and had it loaded and cash in my hand within 45 minutes of posting it!

Rotted out crossmember, the rest of the truck frame is mint, going to replace this with some rectangle tube to keep the rigidity. Hoping to continue work on it tomorrow.

sam5300

iTrader: (1)

I like the manual duramax trucks, and cutting down the 2500 is the way I would do it too, allot easier to cut and weld than to have to beef up a half ton and try and fit it all. There's a rcsb Cummins in my town and they did this, its pretty cool.

Chevy Cowboy

iTrader: (5)

Some more updates! Been going slower then I hoped just because I have a lot of grinding on the frame to do before I paint it with por15. Anyways here it is at this point in time. Shortened driveshaft isn't pictured
Tank, exhaust, wiring harness, fuel lines, all removed


Location of the cut


Frame cut!


Axle, blocks, and one leaf pack painted in por15, the other leaf pack is being replaced.

Part of the back half of the frame that needs some modification to shorten it up.


Pretty much all the prep work is done, frame looks really rusty but its mainly mud and dirt stuck to the factory wax undercoating, which is a bitch to get off! Anyways tomorrow Im going to be painting stuff most of the morning, then assembly should begin mid afternoon along with the fabrication of my 5" exhaust and downpipe install.

Chevy Cowboy

iTrader: (5)

Got my shortened driveshaft back, new u-joints, shortened 13.75", and balanced for 220+ taxes. Also my magnaflow downpipe came in, might return it for some custom made units I seen with a larger diameter, this one is only 3"


Had to cut the outer box portion of the rear of the frame to allow it to slide into the front section of the frame, also grinded down any rust and dirt and wax coating and you guessed it....por15 it.


Rear frame and front frame are now one unit, still have to move the furthest back bed mount ahead 2 3/8" of inch on both sides.

Thought my fuel level sensor **** the bed, bud I found the wires going to the sending unit were broken, must of happened over time as the body mounts sagged and the cab chopped them off. Easy free fix!


119" Wheel base


That's all until tomorrow!

Spoolin

iTrader: (8)

Awesome progress!!

Make sure you prepped that POR15 well, that stuff flaked off on parts of my frame. It wasn't a product malfunction I don't think but an applications issue on my behalf.

Chevy Cowboy

iTrader: (5)

Yeah i know what you mean, theres a few places I might grind back down then reapply it! But wow a little bit goes a long way!

thunder550

iTrader: (70)

Looking good man! Going a lot faster than mine did, lol.

Chevy Cowboy

iTrader: (5)

8 days since I started, 6.5 days of work. Its been a long week lol, i think your project is more involved and I dont have to deal with emmisions or changing anythig on the registration like you did!

thunder550

iTrader: (70)

Can you weigh it when it's finished? Curious to see if I even saved anything, lol.

Chevy Cowboy

iTrader: (5)

Oh im sure you did, so far ive removed maybe 30lbs of metal, bed might be another 30-40lbs lighter, drive shaft 5lbs lighter. Biggest weight savings is going from the 130 litre tank to the 98 litre tank. Ill get a weight for you at the scales at my work