Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

I was feeling the same itch 56. but I had to set that itch aside and get my 71 painted.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

I have two 56' itches waiting to be scratched just have 2 sons in the way....

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ai...ueUaAhB48P8HAQ
check out this kit I just found from Summit build your own cold air intake.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Nice. So ya gonna do a ram air setup?

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

What is it with these itches? As you can see from my signature, I have my own 50's itch waiting in the wings:lol:

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

You have 2, I have none... Smell what i'm cooking here????
Anyway, with all this itching going on, we may need a forum dermatologist.

How much can I expect to pay for a 56 in need of some love? Kinda deal where all the parts are on the truck, but it just needs some love. Even a lot of love...

Anyway, today is the day the rest of my exhaust parts arrive. Unfortunately, I am slammed with work. This is the way it always works. When I have no work, I have all the time in the world and no parts. When the parts arrive, i have no time to install them. Ugh. So I wait a little while longer and remember that money drives this boat.

As I check and double check the truck for missed small projects I discovered
that I never made filler plates that cover the flywheel openings on the bell housing. The area around the starter and on drivers side just below the oil filter.
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...i4%3Ah99ot1lsi
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...ff85%3B2ot1lsi
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...56%3A%3Bot1lsi

I also need to incorporate an additional spring for the clutch fork into the drivers side plate. The clutch is so easy to press that I can afford to add some drag for the sake of keeping the throwout bearing off the pressure plate diaphragm. The tolerance is so tight between the throwout and diaphragm that a 1/4 inch could be the difference between great clutch action or pre-mature wear.


Cheers

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

yes I'm still checking out options. I found another kit for just over $100. I will let you know when make up my mind.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Awesome! Can't wait to see what ya rig up. After finishing mine, I thought it would have been good to mount the battery under the cab and open up more space under the hood for a dual air feed from left and right into a single 4".
Aesthetically this would have looked better I think and been symmetrical.

Have fun with it.
Chris

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

you don't have cover plate for the front of the tranny.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Well, it's an SM465 with a non-truck GM bell housing bolted to an LS. Nothing very stock about that setup so nothing I had worked and there is no room for a side to side plate. What you see in the pic is literally what I need to cover. The front of the bell housing sits flush with the back of the oil pan with no clearance.

Really, the plates I have to make will not take long and I can build in a spring mount point for the spring that needs to attach to the clutch fork.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

The starter cover you have looks like the one that came with my 4.8/4L60. do you have the one that came with your motor?

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Motor came with no trans. I only have the stock plates that came with both bell housings I had for the 350.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Actually both one templates you have look real close to the originals I can take a picture when I go to my shop if you want. get a part number maybe?

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Well that would be great. Save me some time definitely.

Thanks

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

That explains it all LS and SM465

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Sorry man but I had to work both days this weekend so I didn't get to the shop. I will try tomorrow.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

No worries. I am slammed with work as well so won't be fabricating anything for a couple weeks.

I appreciate the favor.

Chris

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Yup...SM465. A proven performer and with the short throw top cover, should be fun for a while. I really did want to put in a NV4500, but funds and all the chit chat about 5th gear eventually being a problem kinda helped me stick with what I have. I will in the near future upgrade the cam in the motor and will probably do the trans at the same time. I plan to go with whatever the best 5th gear remedy
is out there on the inter web as well so will either buy a new one or rebuild with high end parts.

The main issue is I will have to do the driveshafts again and deal with a host of other mods that you're all to familiar with.

For now though, this setup is pretty nice and will work.

Chris

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Ya it's hard to beat SM465 they have done a great job designing it and it's proven it's self over and aver again. I still have mine and 205.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Howdy all. Well in my quest to find someone that could do REAL wood dash pieces, I found this guy in Texas. Very nice, semi-retired and based on conversation with him he seems like a good guy to deal with. For those of you that might want to go the real wood route on your cheyenne's, here is a link to the product he is making. Every dash is custom made to your specifications. The company name is Wabbit's wood works and here's a link:

http://www.hotrodhotline.com/pr/2009/09wabbitsmay2/

I have not decided if I am going to go this route based on the types of wood he uses, but will update this if I indeed use him. Hope this helps someone... out there... searching...
and searching....and searching... :)

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Nice look'n wood work. I bet they cost a few bucks

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Well, considering the craftsmanship, I didn't think it was bad at all at $175.00 Unfortunately, due to the wood I wanted to use, I am gonna have to do this myself. After searching for a bit I sourced a nice piece of wood to do the glove box and ashtray covers. I would also like to do something with the center console, but that may require re-molding the hinged top piece so the wood can inlay somehow. That will be phase 2 I guess.
http://images2.snapfish.com/23232323...%3C25%3Aot1lsi
This is heavily figured curly maple. It looks almost pearl. I am going with an amber stain to match interior accents. Gonna plane it down to about a 1/4 inch and the rest will be by hand. I will do this step by step and take my time. Will be nice to do something that isn't metal for a change. If all goes well, the finished piece should be coated with glossy UV resistant crystal clear bar top epoxy resin and adhered with 3m trim tape.

On another front, my last round of jobs is almost wrapped up so will be able to get the truck finished up in July. I insured her yesterday so no turning back now.

Cheers
__________________

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

If the material is 3/4" thick re-saw it so you end up with 2 pieces 3/8" thick and plane them down to 1/4" double you material. if you don't have a band saw to re-saw you can have a lumber yard do it for you. I made a water ski that way back in high school skied on it for almost 15 years.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

That's a good idea, I will inquire about that. Would save time as well.

Today I was able to get the dust shield for the bell housing done and installed. Turned out pretty good I guess. They'll stop dust anyway.
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...4f%3Ae66ot1lsi
The drivers side also serves as a spring point for the second clutch fork spring
http://images2.snapfish.com/23232323...%3A25%3Aot1lsi
Passengers side was a little more work and had to weld tangs on the upper right to keep it from pushing into the flywheel.
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...%3C5%3Bgot1lsi

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Can you tell me more about the "Push to Start" button? I'd love that.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

I sourced my system from Advanced keys. They are a company in Canada. Unfortunately,
It was an afterthought and had I known the required hole in the dash was much smaller then
what exists in that location for stock ignition, I could have welded the hole up. They were eager to help and had a larger button, but it too was too small for the hole. I returned the system and was bummed not to be able to use it.

Instead I used the neutral safety switch wired into a toggle switch under the dash somewhere to shut off the ignition in an effort to add a theft deterrent feature. I have also heard of people that hide a push button switch into and behind the lighter. Pretty cool.

Anyway, check out the website if interested. The whole advanced keys system is slick. It enables the ignition as you approach the car. Has the ability to unlock doors, start the car etc.

http://www.advancedkeys.com/Prod_AK104B.html

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Thank you,. This might just make it into my 85 C-20 .

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Wood work
Well, had a day to get some of the trim work done. A friend of a friend planed the wood down to 3/16" and that gave me a good base to fine tune the wood. I was able to template the glove box and ashtray and transfer that to the curly maple. Today I cut, shaped and sanded the wood to a thickness I liked. A few woodworkers I know recommended Watco Danish oil as the finish.
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...79874%3Bot1lsi
I did some tests and determined that a combo of two oils in several coats got me the look I wanted.
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...h8ie6%3Aot1lsi
This is the initial coat with just golden oak. As I had hoped, the grain popped right out with some color.
http://images2.snapfish.com/23232323...%3A25%3Aot1lsi
I next added a few coats of the light walnut. This deepened the grain and richened the color. It will match the interior accents and be slightly lighter than the truck's paint.
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...9%3B3595ot1lsi
In three days I will coat with bar top epoxy to give it a smooth glassy hard finish.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Looks like a good stain combination..

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Me Likey!

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Very cool can't wait to see the wood installed

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Thanks guys. I can't wait to epoxy this stuff and add some depth/gloss. Next week should be a productive week. I hope to get the exhaust finished and wood trim installed.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

I got a quick question for you. As you had suggested, I ended up with the American Autowire harness. My question is how did you mount your fuse panel? Just using the two studs punching through the firewall? I really like how clean yours turned out! I found the picture, but couldn't quite tell.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

I used 2 stainless alen head or button head bolts that were inserted from the firewall side through the fuse panel and used nylon stainless lock nuts with a touch of anti seize. I drilled my firewall using the template provided in the kit. The kit comes with 2 long screws for the fuse panel which I did not use.

Glad you went with AAW. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Awesome! Thank you! I just went through everything, and I don't see a template. I'll have to see if I can get it online. Mine also didn't come with any screws, but I'm going the same route you did anyway. Thanks again!

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

I think the template and screws were in a baggy with the fuse panel block.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

She's out in the sun!!!!
Well today, I actually pulled her out of the garage under her own power, washed her up and put some temporary tags on her for the voyage to the exhaust shop.
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...3A747637ot1lsi
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...h%3B%3Chot1lsi
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...e8f9ech7ot1lsi
I also picked up my A/C lines and installed them. I was able to find a company nearby named http://www.colliflower.com that crimped them for me. They actually make the parker hoses in the vintage ac system, but mostly do industrial hoses and crimping. Very nice to deal with.
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...C%3Be865ot1lsi
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...3A%3Bcdhot1lsi
I also received my epoxy for the wood trim components.
http://images1.snapfish.com/23232323...5964gh98ot1lsi
I am gonna wait for the hot temps to go down before doing that. Probably later in the week.

And....for the most fun of the day... the half hour drive to the exhaust shop. It drove like a dream, brakes worked well, Steered easily and shifted smooth. I did hear a loud rubbing noise on the drivers front wheel so will have to investigate that when I get her home. I also have some gauge issues that need to be investigated. Probably a bad ground. Who knows. Anyway, what a joy to drive the truck after three years in the garage and 6 years of ownership.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

What an absolute beauty! I know that drive to the exhaust shop was fun, probably grinning the whole way.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

That's great you got to drive your truck today. I have been dreaming of that day for a while now. So how does it sound with the new exhaust.

Re: Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild
 

Thanks Jarrod. It was an ear to ear grin for sure.