Mild?? That looks pretty involved to me. Keep at it though. An hour or two a day and you'll be amazed at how fast things progress. Are you going to change the color back to original ? I like that spring green or whatever it's called.
Green '71 Frame Off Mild Build
- Thread starter srgould41
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
MarcoPolo
Mud.. it's a life...
Hey Steve, nice progress on your truck. 
About that fireplace.. It looks like those pieces laying flat are overhung, over the bricks?
Where's the gold inlaid divider...? Don't tell me goin cheap on it....
About that fireplace.. It looks like those pieces laying flat are overhung, over the bricks?
Where's the gold inlaid divider...? Don't tell me goin cheap on it....
Here is what I spent all weekend on. I am refinishing one of two fireplaces in travertine. This morning I finished cutting all the pieces. Next weekend I will mortar them in.
- Thread starter
- #24
Hey Marco. The tile is cemented right over the bricks. It was a bit of a pain because the brick wasn't set very smoothly. The other fireplace I used backer boards over the brick first. Much easier.
Thanks for the comments on the truck
Now come over and help me!
Thanks for the comments on the truck
Now come over and help me!
Hey Steve, nice progress on your truck.
About that fireplace.. It looks like those pieces laying flat are overhung, over the bricks?
Where's the gold inlaid divider...? Don't tell me goin cheap on it....
- Thread starter
- #25
Thanks for the comments.
I was never a big fan of pastels. I was going to use a color other than green, but the green has grown on me. I am going with a forest green from rustoleum and roll it on myself. At least that is the idea right now.
I was never a big fan of pastels. I was going to use a color other than green, but the green has grown on me. I am going with a forest green from rustoleum and roll it on myself. At least that is the idea right now.
- Thread starter
- #26
Here are the corners burned in. A little time with a hammer and some bondo and they will be good as new. Also finished fabbing the new sill out of 2x2 steel and some 3/8 to make up the correct thickness, but no pics.
- Thread starter
- #27
And here is the sill finally burned in and the sheet metal cap attached with construction adhesive, plug welds and welds at the ends.
- Thread starter
- #28
Not a lot of visible progress to report. I pressure washed the frame, tub, etc. Cut out rusted out sections in the rear fender wells where the roll bar frame doublers sat. Will burn them in this weekend.
Purchased a 700R4 mated to a 3-speed T-case via an AA adapter. In another week or two I will start installing the engine/tranny.
Purchased a 700R4 mated to a 3-speed T-case via an AA adapter. In another week or two I will start installing the engine/tranny.
- Thread starter
- #29
More Progress!
I finished all the sheetmetal work in the rear and underneath. Then I painted the bottom and inside the tub with Zero Rust. I will undercoat the bottom and use bed liner inside the tub later on. I still need to work on the firewall and windshield hinge area.
This week I swapped out the rear springs for 60 springs and flipped them. I still need to move the military wrap, but later. I also flipped the front 40 springs, but maybe I'll move them back. Not sure yet. I still need to move the rear shackle mounts backwards.
Last night I temporarily set the tub on the frame to fit the engine. So the engine is in place and the tranny bolted up. I don't like the angle of the engine and the parking brake drum is nearly 8" below the frame rails.
So I cut the tunnel hump so I could get more room to raise the tcase up.
Much better. Only 3" below the frame rail now.
Mounts are tacked in place. Good enough room between the fan and radiator, about 1", maybe a bit over that.
That's it for today.
I finished all the sheetmetal work in the rear and underneath. Then I painted the bottom and inside the tub with Zero Rust. I will undercoat the bottom and use bed liner inside the tub later on. I still need to work on the firewall and windshield hinge area.
This week I swapped out the rear springs for 60 springs and flipped them. I still need to move the military wrap, but later. I also flipped the front 40 springs, but maybe I'll move them back. Not sure yet. I still need to move the rear shackle mounts backwards.
Last night I temporarily set the tub on the frame to fit the engine. So the engine is in place and the tranny bolted up. I don't like the angle of the engine and the parking brake drum is nearly 8" below the frame rails.
So I cut the tunnel hump so I could get more room to raise the tcase up.
Much better. Only 3" below the frame rail now.
Mounts are tacked in place. Good enough room between the fan and radiator, about 1", maybe a bit over that.
That's it for today.
Steve -
Its amazing how similar our builds are. Yours is looking good and looks like you are making really good progress. Keep it comin'!
Nick
Its amazing how similar our builds are. Yours is looking good and looks like you are making really good progress. Keep it comin'!
Nick
- Thread starter
- #31
Thanks Nick. I actually looked at YOUR build this morning to see what you did with your mid frame crossmember before I decided to cut mine out. I just wish you would come over and paint mine for me 
Now if I only had some money to spend on it I might get more done
Now if I only had some money to spend on it I might get more done
It's coming along nicely Steve. How much clearance do you have between the fan clutch and the radiator? It looks a bit close, but could be the angle the picture was taken.
- Thread starter
- #33
David, the clearance is about 1 1/2 " at the clutch. The fan blades come about 1" from the lower edge of the radiator. However, I can still move the radiator forward a bit by elongating the lower frame mount holes so I'm not worried.
- Thread starter
- #34
Engine mounts burned in. I scabbed the tranny mount area. Soon as I can find some isolators I'll make the mount brackets and get them burned in.
The plates on either end of the tranny mount backing plates are for my rock sliders.
Please ignore all the crap in the pics, I shoved everything inside so I could close up the garage.
The plates on either end of the tranny mount backing plates are for my rock sliders.
Please ignore all the crap in the pics, I shoved everything inside so I could close up the garage.
- Thread starter
- #35
The frame welding work is complete, the frame is wire wheeled and I am almost ready for paint. I just need to remove some sheared bolts from the rear where the bumperettes used to be.
Added flipped 60 springs in the rear and reversed the shackle mounts.
Added bolts for the upper shock mounts.
My transfercase/trans mounts.
Saginaw mount plate. The mount plate bolt holes didn't line up well. Had to doctor the holes. If I were to do it again I would make my own plates.
Other frame horn supprt plate. Notice I drilled a hole to access the hook mount bolt nuts.
Next weekend I will drop the axles and springs then flip the frame to clean up around the spring mounts, then a coat of Zero Rust followed by rattle can black.
Added flipped 60 springs in the rear and reversed the shackle mounts.
Added bolts for the upper shock mounts.
My transfercase/trans mounts.
Saginaw mount plate. The mount plate bolt holes didn't line up well. Had to doctor the holes. If I were to do it again I would make my own plates.
Other frame horn supprt plate. Notice I drilled a hole to access the hook mount bolt nuts.
Next weekend I will drop the axles and springs then flip the frame to clean up around the spring mounts, then a coat of Zero Rust followed by rattle can black.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #36
Lots of work has been done since my last post, I just have not had time to take pics or post. I will get some pics this weekend and get them posted.
finished all the welding and prep on the frame, then stripped and painted. I used zero rust then spray paint over that. Looks nice.
I reworked my spring packs. Flipped 60 springs in the rear and the stock 40 front springs. Got them mounted with new bushings.
I went through my rear axle. The bearings were all nice and tight so I just replaced the axle and pinion seals. I have brackets and rotors (thanks to Poser for the rotors), but I am waiting for the calipers to arrive. Couldn't get any calipers locally so ordered a set from autozone.
Have a front axle out of a '75 that had a mini truck disc conversion. I am starting to tear it down to inspect it. Depending on the condition of the wheel bearings I might have to replace them, but I plan to order a knuckle kit from Marlin Crawler as soon as they are in stock again.
finished all the welding and prep on the frame, then stripped and painted. I used zero rust then spray paint over that. Looks nice.
I reworked my spring packs. Flipped 60 springs in the rear and the stock 40 front springs. Got them mounted with new bushings.
I went through my rear axle. The bearings were all nice and tight so I just replaced the axle and pinion seals. I have brackets and rotors (thanks to Poser for the rotors), but I am waiting for the calipers to arrive. Couldn't get any calipers locally so ordered a set from autozone.
Have a front axle out of a '75 that had a mini truck disc conversion. I am starting to tear it down to inspect it. Depending on the condition of the wheel bearings I might have to replace them, but I plan to order a knuckle kit from Marlin Crawler as soon as they are in stock again.
Dude,
Looks sweet, cannot wait to see it at a meeting!
Looks sweet, cannot wait to see it at a meeting!
More pics Steve! Your catching up to me. Looking good. I wish I would have done my Sag conv when I had it all torn down, would have been a lot easier.
Nick
Nick
torfab
Supporting Vendor
Wow Steve - your build looks awesome - you have done a LOT of good work. I'm glad you built angled engine mounts using stock GM mounts. I can't wait to see it on the trail!
