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Chevy Build......Going Commando!

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186K views 296 replies 112 participants last post by  pennsylvaniaboy  
#1 · (Edited)
As some of you know already, I had a little accident over the winter while working on my truck. I was working on replacing my front suspension. While backing up my trailer to load my front axle on it, I ended up bumping the truck off the jackstands, bending my frame to the point where I didn't feel comfortable continuing the build. Here is a link to my previous build thread.
I decided to scrap the whole project and start over with a new frame, swapping over my parts. Enough talk. On with the pics. :laughing:

I picked this frame up from a freind of mine. It was leaning against the outside wall of his shop, covered with weeds and and almost completely forgotten. It had already been shortened about 20 inches, sandblasted, and painted this nice blue. It was a perfect starting point for my new build. I stripped all the original body mounts and other stuff off that I knew I would not be needing.

I beefed up the frame splice a little.

Then I painted it with POR-15



Front upper shackle hangers from ORD. I moved them forward about 2 1/2" and filled the old hole in.
 

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#2 ·
Between coats I twin sticked my 205 and replaced all the seals. The bearings all looked good.





Then I started mocking up my rear suspension. Rear springs are stock Chevy 64". ORD shackle flip and 6" heavy duty shackles. Here I am trying to determine what my shackle angle will end up like.



 
#4 ·
Next it was time to start on the front suspension. Leaf springs will be stock Chevy 52" from a Blazer. I decided to leave the overloads in for now, but shorten them.



I made my front spring hangers out of 4", .25" wall square tubing.



Cut them with a torch.
 
#6 · (Edited)
I made some recovery points from 1x2x1" bar stock. These will also be holding my front bumper on.





My Dad manning the drill press. My Dad and I have gotten in alot of quality time in the shop this winter.

Checking fit and shackle angle.
 
#9 ·
I took it all apart and brought it to my friends machine shop. He has a large Miller MIG there that he let me use to weld it up. While I was welding he went to work on the recovery points, punched a 1" hole and rounded the ends.









 
#11 ·
Time to slide the axles under it.



Axle specs are as follows.

Rear: Shaved 14 Bolt FF. 4.56 gears, Detroit locker, disc brake conversion from Ruff Stuff. Diff cover from GLO.

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Front: Dana 60. 4.56 gears, welded. 35 spline outers, Poly Performance drive flanges. Heavy duty diff cover from Shawn at GLO. I dont have any pics yet. I'll add some later.
 
#114 ·
Gutter Runner said:
My wife helping me with the beadlocks.

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Did I miss the part where more pics of wife were requested? :flipoff2:


Build looks good. I am glad you went the extra distance to add the body lines back to the body were you cut the wheelwells. That seems to always go missed. What color is it going to be? And more pics of wife please! :homer:
 
#13 ·
Then we dropped in the motor. 454 converted to propane. Engine builder estimated 450+ hp, 500 lb-ft torque. It has never been dyno'd so I'm not sure exactly how much HP it has. It was impressive in my last truck. I built it for low end torque. Comp cam extreme 4x4 cam, Edelbrock Performer intake. 9.5 CR. I originally built this motor for gas. Down the road I may bump the compression up to better compliment the propane.

Got it loaded on my trailer to haul to my friends shop with a lift.
 
B
#14 ·
Awesome build I wish i could do mine over from the frame up like you. Two things. 1. I see your running 15in wheels what backspacing? Im pretty sure you have to grind on the calipers, lets see some pics of that. 2. not sure what terrian your truck will see but if any rocks, while you are this deep in your buildup do a doubler! I dont have one yet but I sure wish I did. Cant wait to see more Happy Building -Ryan
 
#17 ·
Thanks to all for the compliments! I always appreciate comments and suggestions. :beer:



The wheels I'm running have 4.25" backspacing. I didn't want it to be any wider than it needed to be. Here are some pics of how I ground the calipers.

First I put a wheel on to see how far in I needed to start grinding. Then I scored a couple lines like this.

Then I ground in a cross hatch pattern. It seemed to help get an even depth and also speed up the grinding. Cut in, then knock the tops off.

Finished grind.

My truck will see a mix of rocks and mud. A doubler would be nice but it just isn't in the funds right now. I looked into a Lo-max also but couldn't swing it. Next year I plan on lowering the axle gears to 5.38. We'll see how things work.
 
#18 ·
Here is where the fun starts. I spent alot of time looking for a body to put on my frame. I wanted something different than a pickup cab. I wanted a full removeable top so I started looking at Blazers, but then I would have to spend time narrowing the front. I was looking for something different than most people had. Something unique. Then I found this on Craigslist a week and a half ago. Chevy purists are going to hate me for this, and I'm sure the Jeep guys aren't going to like it either, but what do you do?

1972 Jeep Commando
304 V8, 83,000 original miles
Original AM radio with single center dash speaker still works.







The guy I bought it from had started restoring it and had lost interest. It is fairly clean.
 
J
#19 ·
I dunno if I wouldnt just swap everything over to the new frame?? I believe the 72s have a fully boxed frame, Id rather have that than the chevy truck frame. I also think it would be a whole lot easier dealing with motor mounts, leaf spring mounts, and tranny crossmembers than dealing with body mounts, floor mounts, radiators, etc. One cool thing................I HATE the bullnose front, a CJ front end will mount nicely on that 72 (sorry Jeep purists!!!!:flipoff2:) I wanted to do a 1972 for years, but every one I looked at was a basketcase.....nice find
 
#31 ·
jslamerman said:
I also think it would be a whole lot easier dealing with motor mounts, leaf spring mounts, and tranny crossmembers than dealing with body mounts, floor mounts, radiators, etc.
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It is alot easier to fab body mounts than to deal with motor mounts, spring hangers etc. My brother put a 1951 dodge m-37 body on a 80 suburban frame, it was soo much easier then. He just made his body mounts out of rectangular tube, that was then cut on an angle.
Gutter runner, this commando is going to be sweet!
 
T
#32 · (Edited)
isabellaclarke said:
Whats the WB?

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WB X2

As far as the pic is that the stock front end, but with some fender trimming? If so I like it better than a CJ front end, Or a Scout Obviously I am not all that familiar with Cammandos and scout front clip.

Sine you already coated the frame I guess you arent goin to BOX THE FRAME this time so you dont have anymore OOPS!!!! :eek:
 
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