Re: 72 C10 Build
 

I think it does for several areas, and if you don’t have a rotisserie (which we didn’t at this time) not having to work overhead is a win.



Wasted no time starting to cut, the Sawzall makes short work finding good metal. :devil:

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Same for the other side.

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Looks like you are making some good progress. Keep on it and keep us up to date....

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Thanks Leon! Yeah, we wasted no time getting into the metalwork on this one.




We hit the top of the cab (both inner & outer) with a DA sander. Then we got the cab upright and placed it on a raised diy cab dolly similar to one built for the bed. It’s high enough to make working on the lower part of the cab comfortable. I love stuff on wheels, especially when space is limited.

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Being able to move things around helps a lot!

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Ain’t that the truth, it seems like every weekend we were moving stuff around to make room for workspace or parts or something. :lol:




The bed is in great shape overall, just needs the front panel replaced and minor floor attention. Our doors are fairly nice also, the left one is better than the right. The right door has a spot of rust and some damage to the lower back side of the inner shell. It also looks like it may require a new skin we’ll see.

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Better than the crap I drag home!

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

A lot of the body panels are good, surprisingly good for living in Utah its whole life. :lol:



Took a grinder to the 2-tone cab divider studs, more on this decision to follow later. Nothing too out of the norm on the back of the cab except that same evidence that it was hit on the lower right rear corner. With signs that the cab’s been pounded back out in that area a light bulb came on. I should take a closer look at the right bedside. Yes, it appears to have been replaced with a factory (?) bedside.

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Nice progress! Good decision on having the cab blasted. I stripped mine myself and it was a ton of work.
Double check your door fitment on that R side. It doesn’t take much to move that cab opening around. I thought I had mine good, but a similar hit on my L side had me cutting the door edge to get a nice fit. Luckily it was still in the bodywork stage.

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Thanks, media blast is way more aggressive than stripper but it is a whole lot quicker. ;) Pros and cons to both for sure.



I couldn’t find anything wrong with the left door; there was just a little mud on the outer skin. I think this one is good to go for now. The truck shows it’s had at least one complete exterior repaint in its life.

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

As mentioned earlier the bed is in really good shape. The bed floor has some minor rust pockmarks that will be covered with a bed liner. As well as a few very minor dents to be knocked out and a nickel-sized rust spot. Gave it a new front panel and started going over it with the DA. The tailgate has minor damage where perhaps a trailer tongue poked it. As well as some slight damage to the top rail but is pretty solid overall.

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Here are a few more pics of the cab with a closer look at the roof skin. If you look very closely, you can make out some rust-pock markings and a dent in the forehead. :frog:

The hood is very cherry and like I said the left door is very nice also. In the last pic, you can see part of the large mud puddle in the right door just past the top of the dash.

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

The inner roof skin does have some rust thru starting that doesn’t show in these pics. The worst spot is the left sun visor area.

The non-air dash looked good and the single din radio cut out didn’t bother me much at the time. Confession, I’m guilty of doing this myself to a couple of my earlier cars. A sacrifice to the stereo gods! :eek:

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

It looks great to me, I wish my cab were that good.

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Thanks Roger, I think it’s pretty good and was confident it was worth the time and effort to repair this cab.




Fenders are nice except the right-side replacement fender also had a dent. The left side has just a touch of filler in the front.

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Yep, you guessed it, more sanding. Here’s a bed pic showing all the mud on that right door skin in the background.

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Did I mention the right lower rear cab area is not good? :waah: He's a lumpy baby! :lol:

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

A little more cutting, the floor patches will be pretty big. The goal is to hide the repairs as much as possible, especially the underside. Fingers crossed! :lol:

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Nice work, I'm knee deep in cab floor replacement too! United in misery...

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

JMO but it would be easier to remove the reinforcement plate so you can attach the out rigger part. Under the plate is a tube that is hard to get out b/c of the sides of the outrigger are in the way, so it is easier to cut them out of your way now and you have access to the flanges of the out rigger

Also, I prefer to go to the factory seam at the forward edge as there is a prebent 90 in this area, makes for an easier weld
Also I have a high hump so it was better to cut to that flange to hid the seam

Make sure you don’t get the slip on out riggers as they are junk……

Nice work so far enjoy the build

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...dd117a7a_c.jpgimage by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/202110214@N03

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4f174776_c.jpgimage by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/97391199@N06

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Thanks Roger, so true. If you want to build one of these trucks you will most likely have some rust issues to deal with. Ha, I say that and the very next truck I bought had no rust, just a small hole in the back, my 72 K30 Build.

Thanks Jim, in hindsight we (my boy & I) could have done things differently for sure. I agree with you on taking it to the pinch weld area and the cab mount anti-crush sleeve deals were in good shape. Also, as I mentioned earlier if this was happening today it certainly would’ve gotten a new floor assembly. You know, I did enjoy this time with my son very much.



Same-ol’ just a little more cutting. Working the cab corners and getting after the left rear cab support. Right rear support for some reason is solid (corner of the cab with the most accident damage :confused:).

Dateline update: These pics are dated 12/25/2011 so at this point we’ve had the project about 6 months.

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

The core support is good enough to go again. The only area that needed any attention was right under the battery tray. Got this patch panel from Brothers at the time, and it looks like it’s still available from Holley. It's a pretty straightforward install, cut to fit, clean, and weld. :ito:

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Lots of cab patch panels have arrived. We also scored this nice original automatic high hump and some miscellaneous bits from a fellow forum member. In addition, I grabbed some reproduction fenders as well as some other stuff from a local body supply store. The fenders we have are not bad but these were a very good deal, we’ll see if they make it onto the truck or not.

Re: 72 C10 Build
 

Back to the right door, parts are here and the outer skin is removed. Also, I received a premade patch for the gas tank filler hole and a heater block-off kit. The plan is that the truck will get aftermarket AC at some point. :cool: