Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

The plywood was hiding the original bed wood which unfortunately is rotten but the bed strips are in incredible condition, not a single dent, just surface rust.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

And I got all the bed bolts out without breaking any. I should get the bed off tomorrow

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Progress! :metal:

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Got some friends over to help me lift the bed off. Now it's really easy to work on stuff. I think I'll work on the gas tank as well since it's so easy to get to

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Got the gas tank mocked up, much easier without the bed on. I also got the sending unit installed, this was quite a bit of trouble as the tank did not come with a lock ring and I couldn't find one anywhere except the U.S. so I made one out of sheet metal.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Great progress and nice work. :chevy:

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Thank you very much

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Awesome work! Keep at it. I know what you mean about the patch panels, they never fit quite right. I did find that the repo rockers I got fit with only slight modification and look sharpe after install. I'm sure it's hit or miss between the brands

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Thanks! The rockers are the only decent patch panel in my opinion. They save time and only need little modifications. From now on I plan on building all my patch panels.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Did some work on the cab support/cab corner today. Built the section that covers the cab support and gives the cab corner something to attach to. I also did some cleaning on the frame and ran my new aluminum fuel line and the wires for the sending unit

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Nice work bud!

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Thanks tj!

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Great progress.Cool score on the Burb' hood.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Thanks! Yes the 60-61 gmc hoods are my favourite

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Just A thought .When you get the hood make sure you get the latch parts.And the center support that has the catch portion.They are different and can be hard to find.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Looking good Nik. Your "build it yourself" attitude is awesome.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Yes I'm getting the latch

Thanks Dale, when I'm done I'll definitely be able to say "built not bought"

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

No pictures but today I got my sending unit working and did a little wiring to swap my generator for an alternator

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Did some work on the alternator brackets today. Used the bottom bracket from the generator that bolts to the block and drilled two new holes so the alternator could move forward and Line up with the pulleys. Then I welded on a tab in the middle with a hole drilled in it and left a little space so I can shim it to sit in the right spot.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Custom! :metal:

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

For sure! Lol

Finished up with mounting the alternator today. I used some spare steel and cut it then grinded a angle on both peices then welded together and grinded smooth. Then I drill some holes and used a file to make them oblong so it could be adjusted.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

And here it is painted and with the alternator installed and tightened

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Good job... clean and functional!

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Thanks Johnny

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

nice work !!

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Thank you Jim!

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

That's awesome! I ended up cutting all of mine including the bolts for the bed strips. Mine were all rusted so that mixed with breaking the wood out was the easiest solution. Keep up the great work!

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Thanks Scott, I have also been watching your progress on the Facebook group and your truck is coming along nicely. I got the bolts out by heating them up with a torch.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

More great work Nik. Keep checking jobs off your list and you'll soon be cruising.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Thanks Dale, even though the list seems endless I'm sure I'll get through with it eventually.


Did some work on the cab corner today. Instead of buying a new cab corner I'll be repairing the old one.
Here the rust on the old one, about 1-2" of it is completely gone

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

And here's the new patch panel just being held up. I bent it to match the rest of the cab. All bends were made using just a vise and hammer

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Beauty! A break press is ideal, but a hammer or swing wrench, as I like to call it around the shop, will do just fine hahaha. Great job, looking forward to seeing that cab corner come together

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Thanks, yes I enjoy getting creative with making patch panels since I have almost no metalworking tools except a grinder and welder.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Good job on that bracket..

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Thank you randy

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Nice going. Where I live there are not many people here building stuff. Just buying new. I am trying to get my son into building a truck for himself. He is only 13 so we have a few years to get it done. I have an extra short bed truck for him. Nice thing is I have some rust free parts including a cab and doors so it makes it easy.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Thanks, Im not just building everything because it's cheaper but also for the learning experience and just the fun of it. That sounds great with your son, make sure to get him involved with your truck so he gets motivated to build his own. I am forever grateful that my dad started me out young working on his cars, it has made me the person I am today. If I wasn't into old cars I don't know what my life would be like or what I would do with all my time. If your son does start to build a truck make sure that you make a build thread on here so we can all watch his progress.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Made some more progress on the cab corner today. Cut out the rust and got the new panel welded in and took the welds down. Still more to be done on it but it's starting to take shape

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Here he is around 9. I let him put the stickers on my valve covers that day.

Re: A 15 year old's project. Rusty 62 stepside
 

Looks to me like he already has the bug. I can see another project truck in your future :chevy: