The transformation of the Blue Magoo

[blumagoo]

Hello all, I have got an 85 long bed that we have been working on a lot this year, so I think it's time to start a build thread.
Bought this truck about 6 years ago because I needed a truck to haul stuff and do side jobs, It was rusted out and needed a lot of help.
First things first, New brakes, tune up, rebuild the knuckles and weld the crack in the frame, now it's useable.
Next we cleaned up the interior a bit (sorry don't have pics of that phase) and that was it for a while.



A year ago a friend bought an 84 pickup for the front axle and offered to help swap the cab onto my truck.
It was on from there.


Friday night the cab got lifted off.


The big pile of stuff from the old cab.


On with the new one, we had some body blocks laying around and cut them down to 1.5" then set them in under the cab.
Painted the cab with rattle can bed liner, we ended up changing that later, I wasn't into the flat black truck thing, it wasn't working with my beat up sheet metal.


Mostly done by Sunday afternoon, still needed glass and some interior bits.

[blumagoo]

The next thing we built was a front bumper.
It started as a bumper from a f150 that was given to me by my wife's dad.

cut it up

tacked some pieces together

ended up with this

[blumagoo]

The same time I was doing this my buddy made an extra set of motor mount spacers for me while doing the drive train lift on his runner.

so now I needed to build a crossmember.
This started as a piece of 3/16" plate, bent the sides up to 75 deg or so, welded in the ends, drilled for the trans mount and drain plug
Then bolted it to the transfer case, jacked it up to the right hight and fit the tubes that run out to the frame.

Used some spring bushings to mount it to the frame

Lifted the drive train about 1.75" plus a slimmer crossmember, I like it.
I should mention that this brought up an issue with the rear drive shaft, I have the 2pc drive shaft and it shook like crazy at the center bearing so
I had to raise the horse collar crossmember to correct this, we are still working on this problem, I either need to go to a one piece driveline or do something else with the center bearing cause it shutters when starting off .

[blumagoo]

Now that I have a new cab it's time to get rid of the rusty old blue bed.
I had been wanting to build a flat bed for a while now and have been getting ideas from here and pirate for some time, I knew I wanted to keep my lumber racks, I was also planning on bobbing it, one thing I don't like about flatbeds is that they
leave the frame exposed, so I put some of my own ideas on paper.


sketched these over Pizza and beer

on this one I erased the bed from a photo then printed and drew in my own
These three drawings were tapped to the back window during the entire bed build.

[blumagoo]

Into the shop it went.
I work for a HVAC/sheet metal contractor (for the last 15 years) and he was kind enough to let me use some space in the shop for a month or two.

Off with the bed
Got the whole family helping out.
Cleaned everything up a bit.

Planning on using f-150 rear springs so I set up these mounts while the gas tank was out of the way.

Then lifted the gas tank mounts.

Got off work early and made this muffler out of 18ga sheet metal.
The sound is in the middle of flowmaster and stock.

Then cut the frame, new rear crossmember, 2x2x1/4 tube,

upper shock mounts and a little frame plating.

[twistedtoy92]

sweet! I'm watchin!

[86bobbedtoy]

subscribed

[yoshaleng]

Looking good so far....

[blumagoo]

Time to start the bed

Used the front and back mounts, I'll pick up the middle ones later

Some cardboard to mock up the wheel openings

Got the wheel openings and sides framed out, I used 1.5" x 1/8" sq. tube for most of the structure.

Cut up the old bumper, filled the license plate recess added a receiver that goes through and bolts to the rear crossmember. The shackle eyes are made from 1/2"x2" flat bar and go through the bumper and bolt to the side of the frame.

Wrapped the corners to the wheel wells with 1/8" plate, made the wheel wells from 18ga.

Making rocker panels more 18ga.
It's nice to be able to do your fab work in a metal shop, got lots of tools and scrap to work with.

Rockers done.

lower part of the bed is done, I could probably stop right here and it would look good, but that's not my plan

[4LoRunner]

lovin it so far! and those drawings are killer!

[theslayer85]

That is nice work on the rockers those look sweet! Having access to the right tools is nice. 

[Peterbuilt84]

Looks great! Keep the pics comin' this is a good looking build.

x2 on it must be nice to have access to all those tools.

[unclejpl4x4]

wow can't wait to see how the tail gate comes out

[blumagoo]

I built the rack when I got the truck so it is 7' long and the new bed is about 11" shorter, it's made from the same 1 1/2" square tube that the bed is made from so it matches up perfect

Front corner posts, added some 16ga to match the curve of the cab.

Gas filler

Tail light mock up
Found these tail light lenses at a trailer supply online site, they were less than 4 bucks so I got 2 extra.
I originally thought I would cut them down but ended up using the whole thing, they are 7" round.
I recently found out they are school bus tail light lenses.

Got the corner/post tail housing made, 1/8" plate all around, they should be stout.

Got the rack shortened, welded on and checking the fit on the tail lights.
Added some gussets and tie downs, and thats about it.

[blumagoo]

Time for paint
Pulled it outside and did 2 different lines for the black and 4 different colors.


We went with the black pattern and the fender color in the first pic but added a pin stripe,
it was the best color for my old beat up body it's an off white satin.
I did very little body work, hammered out a few dents and welded all the extra holes in the doors from the mirrors.

painted the white, Most of the paint is rattle can but I bought 2 quarts of white rustolium for the body.

Masking the pin stripe

Ready for black paint

Then we sprayed 6 cans of satin clear

finished bed

Dropped the bed on and took it outside rubbed the paint a little.
Looks good from a distance but it doesn't need to be perfect, I intend to use and wheel this truck.
Just needs working tail lights then I can take it home and work on it there. My Shop is a 30 min drive from my house and we have been spending every weekend there for the last 2 months plus a few hours after work here and there

These are the tail lights, made them from 24ga sheet metal there are 2 1157 bulbs in the center for stop and
running lights then there are 6 small bulbs around the outside for turn signals.

and were outta here.

Time for some recreation, camping at Loon lake, me and the boys on the rubicon trail

[Blingn]

looks good !!!!

[twistedtoy92]

very nice work! Thing looks really good!

[AaronB]

looks great, nice sheet metal work.

[4LoRunner]

amazing fab work! i love how you match the body lines! looking forward to see more!

[blumagoo]

Thanks' for all the great comments everyone.
It seems that we have been putting a lot of time into this thing and not using it.
But now we get to drive it, however I think It's gonna need a timing chain soon.

Got the inside mostly back together, I have got to do something about the seat, I want to keep the bench for the ability to carry 3 but it is the most uncomfortable seat ever, I was thinking about re padding it, any ideas?

Made these, I think they'll work with the wood we are gonna put on the bed.

[yota4x4sc]

nice bed! thats sick

[blumagoo]

Finally got some new tires, 35s
and some wood to move along with the bed

It was raining when I was fitting the wood so I broke out the ez-up.


Cut and fit all the wood, drilled and tapped the flat bed and used these stainless bolts to hold it all down.

Now pull it all off and put a finish on it. we still need to do the sides and tailgate, but this will do for now
We used 2 coats of west systems epoxy then 4 coats of polyurethane clear, it took about 4 weeks to finish

Got it all back on then went and got it muddy

[Blingn]

Did I miss something or where are your tie downs going to be for your gear?  When I had a flatbed I had side rails.  Are you going to use cleats or something?  Looks very nice.  I like that it is original and not the same everyday yota. 

[blumagoo]

Did I miss something or where are your tie downs going to be for your gear?  When I had a flatbed I had side rails.  Are you going to use cleats or something?  Looks very nice.  I like that it is original and not the same everyday yota.  

I made 6 of these and welded them low in the corners and at the wheel wells


then I drilled a 5/8" hole in all my rack gussets
I've got plenty of tie downs, and I will still do bedsides and tail gate eventually.

[SamuelEngelking]

 I wasn't into the flat black truck thing.

[blumagoo]

I wasn't into the flat black truck thing.

There's a ton of bondo on that rig, it's gonna all fall off if it ever gets in the rocks

[87hillbillyoter]

I wasn't into the flat black truck thing.

yea wow! that is one of the best looking trucks ive ever seen!

[87hillbillyoter]

Finally got some new tires, 35s
and some wood to start the bed

looks real good with the 35s man, and a very unique bed sets it apart. looks real good

[blumagoo]

Got my windshield done

The chrome trim that I had for the windshield was all bent up and clips were missing, so my buddy told me about this guy who can replace the metal with a rubber trim and this is it, I think it looks 1000 times better
Cost me 200 bucks with a new windshield.

[blumagoo]

Timing chain time, Collected all the parts, timing set, water pump, oil pump plus I got a new radiator and a comp cams 268 grind cam.
My motor was starting to make a lot of noise so it's time to get to work.
Pulled it all apart and the chain guide was missing, so pulled the oil pan and found it

Now I been through the whole motor except the crank and pistons.
Did the head, valves, fuel injectors and intake a year ago before we started the cab swap.
I'm not sure if I notice the cam much but it does run well and I was able to run to Hollister and back mostly in 5th gear on the freeway at about 70mph.
I should mention that I'm running 4.88s with 35s and the spedo reads correct when I pass those speed reading signs.