Not sure what's happening with the pics in here, and it doesn't look like i can go back and edit the posts. WTF. There's a bunch of work gone... Ugh.
Well, here's where we are.
Decided to install a set of drop shackles in the back for this year to level it out while I take some time to decide on a direction to go with it. The shackle bolts needed to be persuaded out with some heavier tools, which required pulling the bed for extra room to work. When I pulled the bed I found two cross braces completely shot, and one in need of patching. Finished that job last night and now I'm waiting on a couple friends to help put the bed back on the frame.
The frame was also HEAVILY scaled with rust. I modified a bit for my air hammer and went to town banging off as much loose scale as I could. I ended up with about 3/4 of a 5 gallon bucket full of rust. Unbelievable. At this point, my plan is to run the truck this year until winter, and then when the snow starts to fly, disassemble the whole mess and have the frame blasted and re-coated. At this point though, it's a job I just don't have the time for, so back together it goes for the summer.
Some pics that I hope don't disappear:
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Did the best I could with the cross rails and the bed itself. I'm not much of a welder but I think I did OK enough. Coated with self-etching primer, then a gray, and then dust coated it with a blue. It's not a perfect job, but no one is going to see it but me. Rebuild in a can on this one.
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Drop shackles went in without a hitch once the box was off and I could utilize a small torch and a 3lb hammer. So much rust.
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Any suggestions on replacing this muffler with something a little more aggressive before I put the bed back on?