Progress today... windshield installed, drivers side door nearly finished, modified the S10 brake switch bracket, steering column installed/wired.

Here's the modified gauge I'm working on. This is a speedhut 4.5" electronic speedo. My graphics shop created a new decal for the original faceplate with the markings in the correct places for the speedhut gauge. Gauge all finished up. I think it looks kinda slick!

Here is the work on the center grill. Started by carefully cutting and drilling a piano hinge. Then bolt the lower trim directly to the hinge. Before I mount it, I open up the upper holes in the dash to 7/16" so the 10-32 nuts on the grill will sink into the dash. Last pics are mounted, open and closed.

PIC 1, & 2, then removed the ash tray face plate and tack weld it in place (on the back side). The ash try itself has to be removed because it won't clear the dash opening once hinged. After everything was mocked up, I cleaned up the bare steel and shot a coat of clear to keep it from rusting.

PIC 3& 4: Here's where the power window switches will be mounted. Should keep them out of the way, but easily accessible.

Pic 1, Bluetooth microphone installed. Chased the wire up the windshield piller, along with the dome light power.

Pic 2, Power window wiring is chased through the inner/outer cowl panel and then routed down to the door loom.

Pic 3&4, Stainless momentary switches take the place of the original buttons on the door handles.

Lots done on Cecil today. This is the wiring setup for the doors. 5 wires power 3 motors in each door.

This is how I created the fuel filler neck. Started with the original neck and the s10 one. Cit yhem both down and grafted them together, leaving the Patina on the end that is visible outside the truck.

I also solved our speaker issue. These kick panels were advertised as 6.5" speaker opening. When I mocked up the speakers, the opening was only 5.25". I wound up cutting a significant portion of the speaker mount out. Last pic is mocked up in the truck.

PIC 1,2,3 are Cecil's new peepers... had to modify the buckets to get these baby's in. These are tri-bar blue dots with integrated turn signals.

PIC4, This is the under dash heat and air I will be putting in Cecil. I always make a better bracket than what came with the unit. Bracket is made from 1/8" steel.

PIC 1, Trans cooler, condenser, and radiator installed.

PIC 2, 3,4 Talk about tight clearances... Cecils accessories, radiator, and fan...

Here's the trick to using the newer CS130 alternators on non computer controlled charging systems. That's a 47ohm resistor in-line on the exciter wire.

Lokar nostalgia shifter installed for the final time. Second pic is the in progress transmission tunnel. Should have it in tomorrow.

Trans tunnel is complete... damned lot of work to get it to fit right and clear everything! Also working on 6x9 speaker enclosures as well.

PIC 1,2,3 Got the speakers finished up today, amp wired up and operational, headliner in, driveshaft in, cooling system wrapped up and filled, and a bunch of small details attended to. I think I am going to start selling these speaker boxes in the near future.

Pic 3,4 I also drilled the rivets and completely dismantled the courtesy light to get it working correctly. First one I've been froggy enough to take apart.

Here's my repair on the tailgate hinge area. The factory captured nut had been ripped completely out of the stake pocket. I welded a 5/16 nut flush. 2nd pic is the finished repair.

Here is the "Stealth latch" installation. First step was to get rid of the crappy plastic knobs and put some billet ones in thier place. Next I drilled/slotted the tailgate according to the instructions. Last 2 are finished.

Here's the tailight brackets I made. I hate how the factory 54 brackets put the light way out in space. I tucked the lights in and dropped them a little lower on the stake pocket. These are 56 led taillights from Classic Parts of America. I like this look much better than the rectangle lights that were original to this truck!

Here's the seat, Dona from a 98 Astro Van (second row). Pics are of original base, my cut line, and the finished cuts. They are angled on purpose, the Astro floor changed heights, so the buns are WAY to angled. Solution... bevel cut the bases. Tomorrow I'll be mocking it up, trussing the floor (for additional support), and welding on mounting tabs.

Headliner all finished up.

Here's my plan for routing the capillary tubes for the mechanical water/oil pressure gauge. The grommet is a new Ford product, donated by Rico Fluke (my last truck build)