I managed to get the donor truck in the shop a few weeks ago. When I closed the outside doors. I realized that I wouldn’t be able to pull the engine out. The hoist was tight against the wall.  My shop was originally designed for working on my Harley not an extended cab truck.

That wall had to be removed. No problem except it was ten feet high by 13 feet wide, and supported a heavy roof.  I spent a few days coming up with a plan. The roof needed support and I needed to be able to lift a new beam in place. A beam that was three heavy 2 x10 ‘s 13 feet long and that was after cutting away the supporting wall.

So I cut three 2x 10’s  to support the roof and sledge hammer them into place. I grab my sawzall and start cutting the wall studs. An hour later the opening is cut. Then of course the wind picks up , just what I needed . I had visions of the heavy roof falling on my head.

I kept working. I built the pillars and now came the fun part. The beam. There was no way I would be able to lift a heavy beam nine feet in the air. So  I chose to build the beam in place. I lifted the boards one at a time then used some long grk screws to hold it together. The roof was now supported.

I trusted my work, well  mostly. I left the extra support boards up for a couple of days.

I noticed that I might be able to shoehorn my 55 frame into the new space I created. I thought I should order some wheel dollies. I looked around to get the best price. These things are dirt cheap in the states insanely expensive in Canada. Best I could do was $159 for four from amazon.

A couple of weeks later I got the dollies and assembled them. I made some measurements and realized my old office was in the way it would have to be shortened.  Another supporting wall. I managed to get through all that and was left with a huge pile of insulation left over from the walls. I built a platform above my old office and stuffed all in there for future use. One more thing, lots of one more things, I had stairs that were in the way no problem only three they had to be moved. That was three hour job.

Now all the stuff I had stored in there needed to go, two trips to the dump and a lot of sweeping I had the area clean enough to bring in the frame. I needed to pick up the pace snow was in the weather forecast.

Next obstacle, the donor was still in my shop. With two flat tires. I put some air in hoping they would hold long enough for the move.

Throw a chain around the bumper and onto my van and I pull the donor out and down the driveway.

Now the 55 frame. I had no way to move that and off course it had two flat tires.  So I pull out a rusty come along that I found buried in the dirt at the back of the property, my tow chain and a chunk of heavy propylene rope. It was only a 60 foot pull. The come along moved everything an inch with every lever pull.  Every 5 feet I would have to coerce the rusty old thing to loosen up the cable so I could shorten the rope and chain as the frame got closer.

After two hours of painful levering the frame was up to the door. That was as close as I could get.  There were no more places to anchor the come along. Now I needed a way to get it inside up a slight incline.  Then I remember my car ramps for oil changes.  I jack up the back up the rolling frame, slide the ramps under the wheels and lower the jack. It works the frame rolls forward six inches up hill. Twenty or thirty more tries and the frame is inside.

Next day I am excited I get to try my new wheel dollies. Intoxicated by visions of pushing the frame into place with one finger. One wheel at a time I jack up each corner and put the dollies in place.

I try pushing the frame it doesn’t budge.  I realize the problem, I opted to save money by not making the garage floor smooth. The dollies don’t move at all. I grab a two by six and stick it under a dollie and use it as a lever. The frame moves six inches but the tire now flat doesn’t hold the dollie and it shoots out at me. Twenty more tries and the frame is on the smooth concrete. This time a little hard push and the frame is moving. I get it into place and now all the work is coming to fruition.

I sweep out the shop and now it’s time to roll the donor back in. The tires now flat again. I can’t steer it, so it means moving the truck a few feet with my van and then jacking it up changing the steering letting the jack down and rinse and repeat until the 1990 Chevy is back in the shop and the doors closed.

It’s all good snow is on its way. Then I realize the box for the 55 is still outside. I forgot it out there. It may stay till spring.

It will take a few days to recover from all the work I did. I forget I am disabled sometimes at least until the pain rolls in.

Now comes the easy part disassemble the donor remove the cab the box and the fenders remove the drive train, do the same on the 55 frame and replace with the donor drive train. No problem hahahahaha. Oh yeah the tranny and engine from the donor both need rebuilding and one more supporting wall has to go so the heat and light can get in. Easy Peasy.

Same song thru the ages