48 Build Pictures
 

I finally decided to post some pictures of the tear down on the 48. I bought the truck with some work done and a lot of new parts. It was blasted to bare metal then repainted, but I did not care for the guys bodywork or lack of. The owner did not want filler used so the shop etched, sealed, base coated and cleared the truck. Some panels looked pretty good, others were too wavy for me. I am blocking the whole truck letting the previous paint help fill some of the low spots, then I am going to seal and do the body work and paint. It is a very solid truck. It is very dirty right now as I am just sanding and fitting a few things before I clean it up. The engine block in the truck is just for mock up, I am putting a 350 from an 88 Suburban converted to carburation. It has a power rack and I bought some drop spindles for the front I have not got on yet. I will try load some pictures from time to time. And I am sure I will have lots of questions for you experts.

Day she came home
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...s_card_148.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...s_card_152.jpg
Here is how it sits now, most parts sanded and piled in the corner
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010213.jpg
Rear end
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010207.jpg
Header and steering worked out
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010205.jpg

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

looked decent before, but we all know she will look better after, what color you planning and drivetrain?

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

350 with 350 tranney most likely. Still deciding on color but thinking maybe a silver. It came with a 350 from an 88 suburban that he had wrecked so I am going to see if that engine is good. If so, I will probably use it. It was a pretty decent truck to begin with and I was going to go more of a rat rod style, but once I got into it, the truck was so solid, I decided to go with more of a street rod.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

I've got a '49 I'm working on, and yours is the first I've seen with a saddle tank.

I've been looking high and low for someone who had done this! So lemme fire of a few questions at ya...

1. What tank is that from?

2. Where is the fill neck located? Body modifications?

3. Can you post some more pics?

I really wanna keep a spare under the bed in the back and get the current tank out of the cab. So any info you could give me would be super appreciated.

Great looking truck btw!

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

The tank was already there, I believe it is the original. It was coated on the inside. In on of my pictures you can see how it comes out the side of the bed. There is a rubber hose that clamps to the tank spout and the fill spout that goes through the side of the bed under the floor area. You can see it in one of the pictures above, but I can try to take something closer or see if I have one when the bed was on the truck.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

Here is a closer picture of the tank. It has a nice rubber grommet that the fill spout goes through.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010043.jpg

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

Thanks for the quick reply.

So is the fill spout visible inside the bed? [edit, just realized you said it went under the bed floor]

Is there any way you might take some measurements for me?

I'm hoping I can find a tank to fit, S10, maybe.

Thanks again!

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

Sure, what measurements do you need? I can take some better pictures as well.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

I just need the WxHxL and the H of the fill neck from the bottom.

Thanks again, I really appreciate it. I didn't mean to hijack your thread :(

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

Here are some pictures that might help you. I measured where the center of the hole would be in the bedside. It is about 3 1/4" from the stake post and about 1 3/4" from the bottom of the bedside. That would be about right to drill your hole. The hole itself is 2 1/2". As you can see there is a piece of hose between the filler neck and the tank neck, so you have some flexibility and there is a rubber grommet that cover the edges of the hole. Let me know if you need anything else. That's whats great about these sites, helping each other out.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010214.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010215.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010216.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010217.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010218.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010219.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010043.jpg

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

Someone with a AD Factory Assembly Manual can probably verify this. IF it is like the TF, the bigger trucks had a saddle tank in that location. Either it was a factory option (larger tank??) or someone along the line did not want the tank in the cab and got one off of a big truck. Just my guess...

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

That is awesome, thanks for all your help.

@OrrieG: Thanks for your input too, my truck came with an original Maint. Manual, so I did some reading and this is what I found:

"If truck is equipped with a standard GMC cab, the fuel tank is mounted inside cab, behind driver's seat. On other trucks, fuel tank is mounted on outer side of right-hand frame side rail, except on truck Series 100-22, 150-22 and 250-22. on these Series, tank is mounted on inner side of right-hand frame side rail."

Looks like I will be looking up LMC truck for a repro tank to put back there! Kick ass! I thought "behind the seat" was the only option back in those days.

Thanks again!

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

That is the original fuel tank for the 48 in the original position.

They were on 47/48 trucks. Back when 50 an up trucks would try to slip into the N.S.R.A. pre 48 events posing as a 48 that was one of the indicators that you had a real 47/8 truck.

I've still got the original tank off mine but haven't used it in years having gone to an aluminum tank under the back of the bed.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

And now for something completely different....

What are your plans for the rear? Looks like you got the truck with a lot of modern mods. What are you planning on changing?

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

I moved the rear end back about an 1 1/2" and put a drop block, still messing with what else might need to be done. This is just going to be a cruiser so I don't plan on any real elaborate setup on the rear of the truck.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

Probably the worse thing about having the stock tank in that location is that it gets in the way of putting a normal set of V8 dual pipes on the truck.
One more thing, from my own experience, and a bad one at that. Never run the truck without a gas cap as it will suck in road dust and dirt in the filler neck real easy. I killed a fuel pump in the big middle of Montana when I left my gas cap on the pump at the gas station at Grand Teton National park's main lodge.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

Making some progress. Got the new bed sides and decided I better install them and fit the fenders, running boards etc before I seal and prime the truck. I did drop the 350 in it to see if it was good, and it sounds really strong, so I plan to use the engine that came with the truck. The truck looks like a calico cat right now after blocking the previous paint work. I am hoping to get it sealed this weekend and start skim coating and blocking some more. I hope to have some paint on this thing by November so I can put it all together over the winter.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010244.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010245.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010246.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010248.jpg

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

Lookin good.

I can't tell from the pictures, but are you doing shaved doors? If so, are you putting in a hidden release?

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

No, not doing shaved doors, just don't have any handles on it right now. I am really debating on what seat to put in the truck. I found a really nice truck at a car show last weekend and he had a nice bench with a fold down armrest that I really liked. The guy was not around and I could not find out what the seat came from. I have plenty of time to figure that out I guess.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

Same here with the seat. I would really like some cup holders/armrest, but have the luxury of fitting one more person in if need be.

So let us know if you find a good candidate for the seat.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

I was able to seal and prime some parts tonight. Hopefully, do a few more tomorrow night.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010262.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010264.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010265.jpg

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

The fenders sitting in the yard look like a form of modern art that we see in the Northwest.

It's looking good, wish I had similar progress photos to post.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

What kind of primer did you use on those fenders, misc parts? Did you mechanically strip the fenders all the way to bare metal or to the level shown a few pictures up above on this page? Looks like a mix of bare metal spots and some of the blue showing, some other colors. If so, how are the finished results? I ask because I intend to mechanically strip as many of my parts on my '46 as I can with 80 grit sandpaper, though I am worried a bit about flat spotting locations and/or can I really get all the old finishes off this way? Enquiring minds want to know!

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

I use Spies Hecker products and normally I would strip parts to the bare metal with a DA or chemical or blasting. But in this case the blue paint was fairly new by the previous owner. The parts had been stripped to the bare metal prior to his painter painting the truck blue. Therefore, I block sanded the blue paint and used it somewhat as a primer to fill the low spots. Then I used the Spies sealer directly over the old paint and a few bare metal spots. The Spies 8590 is a excellent sealer and is designed to seal over old paint, bodywork and some bare metal and keeps anything under it from bleeding through. The sealer also gives you a good base to do any filler work that you might need to do. Any parts I have that I needed to strip to the bare metal will be shot with etch and then sealer. Then I applied a couple coats of Spies 5310 high build primer. That was the final coats last night. Next I will fog the panels as a guide coat and start block sanding looking for any low or high spots that might need filler or attention. Then block sand and block sand some more. That part seems like never ends. The more time you put in on the body prep the better your results will be.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

From a distance last night I could not decide if the yard looked like a cemetary with tombstones or a flower garden with truck part growing out of the ground. I like the modern art idea!

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

Subscribed... Lookin good!!

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

haha i wish primed truck parts grew out of my yard, it would save me some serious time! i would be out there watering them every day. :haha:

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

Thanks for the detail. I've got plenty of dumb questions. What pops out to me from your explanation is how do you "block sand" things like those curvy fenders? I'd love to see pictures of your fog coating and how you go about sanding/knowing when to lay on more high build primer and when its "good enough" to move on to paint.

Do you agree to the general rule of thumb to stay with one manufacturer's line of products or will you change for your final paint?

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

I use Durablocks, you can get them at your auto paint stores. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Buy a nice kit for $60-80 and you will probably be set. Some are bendable which is what I use on curved areas sanding from various directions. After I fog the panel I block sand to see if there are any low spots. The low spots will be obvious as the fog will still be in the low spot just as if you sand through to the sealer or to metal you will know that spot is high. I will post some pictures once I fog the parts. I just get some cheap Wallyworld spray paint, usually gloss black. Something that will contrast with your primer color. I have been told to use gloss so your eye will pick it up better than flat. I am not really an expert at painting. A good friend of mine is however and he taught me what I know. I have always had real good results. I will try to post a couple of my past cars sometime.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

I do agree with staying with one manufacture product. This stuff costs too much to take a chance on it not laying down and staying down. There are some chemical reactions built into this paint that makes it happy when another familiy member product is used. You don't want unhappy sealer, primer, color or clear.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

did you use epoxy primer? looks like maybe you did because of the gloss. I learned the hard way about leaving some of the original paint on my corvette and not sealing it with epoxy. after a few months small bubbles started to show. the urethane in the new paint activated the solvents in the original lacquer on the car. now I have to strip it all back down from finished paint back to bare glass, epoxy would have sealed it.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

No the sealer is not expoxy that I use. The sealer does have a little satin gloss to it, once you put the high build primer over the sealer it is very dull. Personally, I would never try to even seal over laquer. I would strip laquer. This particular truck was base coat clear coat so it should not be an issue.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

Got most of the rest of the parts sealed and primed tonight. It is not looking like I will get any color on the truck until next spring. I will block and work on the body this winter and shoot it in the spring. It gets too cold here in MO and the heat in my shop will not keep up with the ventilation to pull out the fumes in the winter. I could still paint probably through about mid November, but I doubt I am ready for color by then. I have also about decided to try to find an original seat instead of using buckets. I have seen several of the truck with the original seats upholstered nicely and I like that look. Here are the latest shots:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010029.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010030.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...P1010031-2.jpghttp://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...P1010032-5.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...P1010033-1.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...P1010034-1.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...P1010035-1.jpg

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

looking good, looks like it was a perfect day to spray also.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

It was a good day, about 75 and low humidity and very little wind. I had everything layed out the day before and decided it was a little too windy and put it all back. I bought some new stock painted steel valve covers at a local swap meet and sand blasted them today. I am thinking I may go with a silver for the truck, but want to find some neat modifications. So after I blasted the valve covers, I hit them with an aggressive scotchbrite pad, then put 3 coats of clear on the bare metal. They really look nice. The clear made them a couple shades darker than the original bare steel, that looks pretty good. I will get some pictures posted. Don't know what will happen over time, but I think I will use them on the engine.

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

I got in an air cleaner I ordered that I thought went with the stock valve covers nicely. I sandblasted the stock valve covers then hit them with a scotchbright pad and clear coated them on the raw metal. I was amazed how dark they turned, but they look pretty cool in person. I would like to blast the chrome off the air cleaner and do the same thing, but not sure it would work. You can see the scotchbright scuff under the clear. Not sure how well the chrome cleaner goes with the valve cover color. Whacha Thank?

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...P1010036-1.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...5/P1010037.jpg

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

idk about removing chrome, but they would look better together if the air cleaner wasn't so shiney, but the lines do match up nicely

Re: 48 Build Pictures
 

Been a while since i checked in, truck is looking great, love the primer booth.lol, any bugs in that finish?