JHTreyIII's Class 1 Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Got the grill done.

Edit: And I know the turn signals aren't supposed to be amber...I just thought it would look a little better to have some color on the front grill. They're supposed to be clear with an amber bulb.

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Little bit of bondo this morning to fill in some holes. I used some white Milliput super fine white filler putty. Pretty easy stuff to work with.

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

So I started working on the drop bed today. Partially built the interior walls. I need one more layer of styrene on the interior walls because the bed rails look too skinny. Now I've got to figure out the wheel wells and cut them in to the floor and the side walls.

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Yeah man, we're getting there now! Floor isn't attached, just stuck it in there to see how it looks.

 

[Evilsage]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Looks Amazing!, can't wait to see it sitting all pretty!

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Thanks man! Got a ways to go still. I have't done much to it in the last week or so, I'm in the middle of moving to a new house so I haven't had time to work on it. I'll get back to it here before too much longer.

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

So finally after almost a month without touching this thing I got a little bit started. I sanded the body filler down smooth and thanks to a great suggestion from Stang Killa SS I laid a thin layer of styrene over the blower hole and sun roof. Letting the glue set up now. Next thing will be to trim the edges a touch and fill in any gaps with body filler. I've got some half round to do the ridge in the hood.

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Cleaned up the edges a little...

And added some filler to hide the edges of the added sheet. Next, once it's dried, I'll sand it down smooth.

Sorry for the crappy photos.

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Got the inner walls of the drop bed completed, here's a shot from the bottom.

Still need to do the wheel wells in the bed.

Starting to get there! Got the ridge on the hood. Of course there's a lot of body filler to be done still.

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Got the inner wheel wells built. Layered up the styrene to give them a little volume so they don't look so much like boxes. Now to cover them with some body filler. The tailgate turned out better than I expected too. Just used a bunch of little pieces of half round.

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Got the body filler done in the bed...needs a little drying time before sanding and clean up...

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Quick teaser with the body on the chassis. She's diggin' her new ride! Ha.

 

[Modbug]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

That's a nice shot, man.8)

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Ha! Thanks.

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

So it's been a little while since I ran this thing since I had to steal the servo for my wraith while Hitec was repairing it. I also stole the rx for my new E Revo. Both of those items have been replaced and I decided to drive it around in the house last night. This is how it sits:

I ran it up to a step and tried to climb up it. It got in a bit of a bind and bent the driver side rear leaf spring pretty good right in front of the U-Bolt connection. It's simply from the torque twist of the axel. It only weighs 5.5 lbs in this configuration but I was on carpet and pretty much had 100% traction. I'm using Tamiya high lift springs and they didn't come with any sort of helper spring. I don't know for sure if a helper spring would have done much to prevent the bend though since it's below the main spring and the torque twist bends it up.

I'm going to try some chino63 Military Wrap leaf springs:

It appears they're set up where both of the first two leafs connect at the front shackel. Maybe with the two leafs tied together there they'll help prevent bending. A buddy of mine also suggested tying the leafs together with a zip tie or shrink tube so the lower helpers actually do play a part in upward movement as well. I may try that. I've also seen people suggest traction bars but it seems that they'd restrict the horizontal movement of the axel as the leaf compresses.

I tell you one thing...the chino63 springs look sweet if nothing else!

 

[hoyt]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Nice job on the drop bed and the rest of the styrene work. Its coming along nicely.

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Thanks! This is my first time to work with Styrene. It's pretty easy and fun to do. I'm curious to see how it holds up to some abuse.

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

So after some discussion with a couple buddies it sounds like a traction bar similar to this may be something worth doing to help prevent my axle wrap and keep from bending springs. This truck has so much torque with the gearing motor setup that I think this will really help.

trackbar with shackle on chassis side. it worked pretty good on the hilift. i would still be using it if it fit the d40 axles.

I'll have to fabricate a bracket and shackle for the chasis along with a bracket for the rear axle. Then I'll build the trac bar assembly and add some ball ends to it. Sounds easy enough! Ha. I've never brazed before, this may take a couple tries. :shock:

 

[2manyprojects]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

nice buildto read through! love the chassis set-up!

 

[JHTreyIII]

Re: JHTreyIII's Clod Build - 1981 Chevy Pickup

Thanks man, it's always nice to get feedback! Yeah the GCM chassis is slick.