Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

On a side note, what do you guys think about smoothing out these pinches in the factory support? They all have it and I saw someone cut that area out and put a nice radius patch in there but I don’t wanna take away from the originality.

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

I've always thought the same about rounding off the rad support , but not on this truck , to original.

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

I agree. If this was your other truck I'd say yes definitely do it, but not on this one.

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Yea that’s kinda what I was thinking, it’ll stay factory. What about the dents in the grill?

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

I usually don't mind a few dents if it's consistent over the whole truck. From what I can see in the pics though, your truck looks really clean and straight so I probably would try and knock out at least that big dent in the grill.

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Finally got her turned around to start on the drivers side

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

...

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

It’s amazing how much crap can fit it one rocker

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Wow that was fast! 6 minutes to cut all that out? :lol: Good work

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Finally I soaked everything down in ospho to kill the rust. I did find some unexpected rust spots hidden under the bed liner paint and some bondo on the cab floor. I took a da to the floor to hopefully find all of it, I think we are clear now.

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

I haven’t had a chance to spend too much time on this girl lately, the orange truck is taking up all of my extra time. I did however do a little dent work on the B pillar the other night. I have also decided to get some paint stripper and clean the entire can floor down to bare metal to make sure there aren’t any other secrets hiding under that black paint. I hope to start on that next week.

Before and after

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Looking much better. What method was used to work those dents out without damaging the paint?

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

I ended up taking a piece of 1x2 hardwood and stuck it up in the B pillar on the inside of the cab. I took the plug out of the shoulder belt bolt hole and took a 1/4" punch and a hammer and tapped through the bolt hole on the wood to push it towards the outside of the cab. My original plan was to deflate a football and stick it up in the hole and pump it up inside the B pillar but the hole wasn't big enough to cram a ball up far enough to reach my dent so I ended up reverting to the wood and hammer method.

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Also another slight development in the game plan, I am doing a v8 and 700r4 conversion on this old girl. I found a period correct 327 with all of the factory accessories thanks to Rusbuilt and I have listed the old 250 and 3 speed on the parts forum. A slight variance from original but way more power and drivability which is the whole point. I want to be able to drive this thing and enjoy it when she is done and I know with the inline 6 and 3 speed she would end up sitting there or getting sold to someone who would LS it or do a v8 swap. Wasn't it Sammy Hagar who said "I can't Drive 55"?? Should be cool and look fairly correct. Stay tuned :smoke:

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Graham, missed this one somehow. Are you coming to Good-guys show in Raleigh this month?

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Heck yeah! Love the 327/700r4 idea.

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Hey Anthony, I will not be a Good Guys this year unfortunately. I will be at the Rod Run later this month and then the power tour deal at my Dad's in June.
Yea I'm pretty excited. I think it'll look right at home in there. I am hoping to get back to work on this girl this week, now that the orange truck is in a good place I can focus on Pearl again. Finishing the inner rocker and drivers door are first in order

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Where is the Rod Run going to be?

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Pigeon Forge weekend of the 21st

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Slow and steady, got the inners fit and tacked in last night

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Rocker looks great. My '68 GMC needs almost the exact same metal replaced on driver rocker.

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Drive her on up the mountain, we can knock it out in a weekend!

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

May have to do just that! I need you to show some of your skills. Especially since we're working on identical trucks. :metal:

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

I’m at a standstill on the cab currently waiting on some tools to help prep the floor for paint and kill all rust. While waiting on that to come together I started on the tailgate patch. Sucker was rusty but luckily the bottom lip is solid

Re: 1968 GMC Shorty - Pearl
 

Can’t figure out what caused all of the rust :lol: