1972 GMC duramax build

[1tonwannabe]

I have a 1972 GMC 2500 that I'm swapping the chassis on. The chassis is from a 2003 Chevrolet 2500HD duramax

[1tonwannabe]

I shortened the frame. I cut the factory weld on the 2003 frame, and removed 16" and slid the frame back together and welded it up. I shortened the brake lines, and fuel lines. I had to drill new crossmember holes, and holes for the torsion bar support bracket. I braced the frame with I-beams before cutting.

[1tonwannabe]

I'm trying to keep all the wiring intact and use the factory switches from the 2003 truck. I needed to find room for a few things.

[1tonwannabe]

I plan on using the gauges of the 2003, but I want the look of the 72 dash.

[1tonwannabe]

My Uncle is a machinist. Lucky for me. He made me a bezel for my 72. I was able to find a very close match of the wood graphic. I polished the outer edge.

[1tonwannabe]

Core support

[kwmech]

Is the engine and allison going to fit the engine compartment and tunnel or is there going to be heavy mods??

[jimer1964]

Originally Posted by kwmech

Is the engine and allison going to fit the engine compartment and tunnel or is there going to be heavy mods??

By looking at his amazing work I think he will make it happen!

[1tonwannabe]

Originally Posted by kwmech

Is the engine and allison going to fit the engine compartment and tunnel or is there going to be heavy mods??

The cab is going to sit about 4" above the frame because of the way the frame kicks up in the rear. So there is no modification needed to the cab at all. Originally I was going to put a 8 ft. bed on the truck, and I didn't want to cut up the floor of the bed too much. That's why I raised the cab up. A factory 2500hd truck shows quit a bit of the frame anyway. So the 72 cab will show about the same amount of frame under it too. I'll post more pics later. I'm pretty far along. I started a thread on this site like 8 or 9 years ago, but photobucket started charging money, and my photos got removed. Now I'm just starting a new thread. I figure I'd just post pics of where I'm at, and if anyone has any questions I can take more detailed pics for them. My plan now is to have a 1972 GMC Sierra Grand dually flatbed. I have what I think is some cool plans for the flatbed. The 2500hd frame is the same frame as the one ton. I just bought a dually 14 bolt. The rearend for the newer trucks are different if you have a dually or single rear wheel. The hubs are different so the dually needs longer axles.

[1tonwannabe]

This is a 10 year build so far. I got caught up in other projects, but I've been hitting this one pretty hard this year. At this point I have a running truck. I plan on getting it painted a Harley Davidson anniversary color they had. It's a cool blue color with some flake in it. When the sun hits it, it looks grey, or dark blue.

[Sheepdip]

Quite the project, not just a drive train swap. Lots of fore thought and planning.

Nice work!

[1tonwannabe]

Originally Posted by Sheepdip

Quite the project, not just a drive train swap. Lots of fore thought and planning.

Nice work!

Thank you

[68 C10 Driver]

I love this project, very interesting interpretation of a 1972 Duramax. You have quite the imagination and obviously the talent to make it happen.

I'm hooked and am excited to see how this pans out.

[chewychevy67]

That is a cool dash concept. This will be nice when it completed. I'll follow along

[1tonwannabe]

I want to use the 2003 wiper motor. I had to make a bracket so I could mount it.

[1tonwannabe]

When I installed the brake pedal it sat off to the left from the factory 1972 one. I made a mock up pedal that I welded to the floor so I knew exactly where it was after I removed the pedal. I simply bent the 2003 brake pedal until it lined up where my old one was.

[yuccales]

Your build is awesome. Dash is very cool!

[1tonwannabe]

I'm trying to thin out the harness. I'm pretty sure 90% of these wires can go.

[1tonwannabe]

Originally Posted by yuccales

Your build is awesome. Dash is very cool!

Thank you

[kev2809]

nice build looks fun!

[1tonwannabe]

I decided to go with new door panels from LMC truck. That was a mistake. They are horrible copies of the originals. It laughable that they would even call them replacement panels. The fake leather tooling design that is on the original panels is just a blur on the LMC ones. The whole panel itself is almost an inch smaller in both height and width. I held my woodgrain insert up to the new panel, and the space where the insert would lay is too small. If you can save your original panels do it. I'm returning the new ones. Now I'm just emailing back and forth because they want me to pay shipping.

[1tonwannabe]

https://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vbo...1&d=1717515357
https://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vbo...1&d=1717515370

[1tonwannabe]

Got my truck back from my paint guy. Looks pretty good. Now I get knuckle and died to death with the small stuff.

[1tonwannabe]

Nickel and dimed. Dang autocorrect

[1970cstblazer]

I love this build. Great engineering and execution!