Lurker OrrieG Progress Pics

[bensimmons_05]

Nice, What other stuff did you wash up??? Did she help you dry?

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by bensimmons_05

Nice, What other stuff did you wash up??? Did she help you dry?

Headlights, fleetside script, inside door handles. She lets me get by with dusty and a little dirt (she pots plants in the sink) but no greasie stuff allowed in the house because of her lungs. No help drying, I was on my own there. I have to provide my own towels too.

[OrrieG]

Finally got some truck time. Cleaned, brushed and polished. Misc. stuff on the work bench is down to sanding the glove box lid, head light trim and dash trim that goes across the window. Almost warm enough to think about painting. I am going to trial fit the ac next so I can get the hole grommet holes drilled in the firewall and mounting studs welded to the inside of the firewall.

[yukon ratrod]

your projects looking great! I cant wait until I get to the primer stage!! keep up the good work.

[OrrieG]

Thanks, I can't wait to get started again, temps are just about 10 degrees to cold and I am in the middle of a kitchen cabinet build, wood saw works fine in cold weather and I can glue up in the house.

I did score this for $3.81 on ebay last night. 1L designates one of the back country counties in Idaho. I can run this as a back plate, no front is required when you run year of origin plates in Idaho.

[GRIMSS]

Plate looks to be in great shape and priced cheap.

[OrrieG]

Yeah, I have two others but both needed repainted. If this one is a nice as it looks I'm in good shape.

[renegade6]

Did you ever run your fuel lines from the tank to your fuel pump? I ended up buying the same tank that you did and I'm looking for ideas on how to plumb.

My plan now is to run stainless hard line from the tank to the fuel pump.

[OrrieG]

I used steel 3/8" line from NAPA. I'm used to flaring that type of line. It comes with both ends flared and the fittings so you can do long runs with couplings. I used the low front passenger side fitting for supply. I put an aftermarket hot rod cannister type filter on the frame by the engine. I am running the stock engine mounted fuel pump. I was told that flaring stainless is really hard to get right and takes special (expensive) flaring tools because the material is harder. Looking at my thread I did not take any photos of the fuel lines except for the filter. When I get the winter accumulation off of the frame I can take some photos if you want to see the details.

[OrrieG]

Minor progress this week end. Cleaned up the shop and fabbed the engine restraint bracket. Before I just had a chain bolted to the engine and frame, this time I decided on a different way that looks nicer and I won't have the chain rattling all the time. I'll post pics when I install it. Finished up most of the honey-do kitchen remodel. Can't wait to start painting and assemblying. Also decided on a paint color, Nissan Datona Blue. Just the right shade of vintage blue, I want it to look like a late 60's repaint at first glance. Here it is on a Cobra.

[bensimmons_05]

Excellent choice. I love that color.

[sgtusmc]

Is that the color on the Nissan 350z's? If so, That's a very nice shade.

[BBEEP]

I've believe that GM spent a lot of time & money deciding what looked good on their new vehicles. That said, by chosing the color you chose, you have taken an original color palette, and updated it to a more current status without straying to far off course. Colors way off original can be good, but they tend to end up being 'dated'.
GOOD CHOICE!

[OrrieG]

Thanks, your Chevelle got me close....

[renegade6]

Orie;

Thanks, I would appreciate it if you could snap a few shots of your fuel line connection to your fuel tank.

Thanks

[OrrieG]

Here you go, one from the side and one from the front. Just happened to be out finishing up exhaust work. Where the lines go thru the frame I clamp on about 2" of rubber hose around the line. They are held to the frame using electrical type "p" clamps with hose around the line too.

[OrrieG]

Here is a shot of the engine restraint, it will have about 3/8" slack one it gets settled in. On the street you probably do not need it but up in the hills when you are getting on and off the gas pretty hard the engine torques. The weight of the cast iron transfer case acts as a counter weight and you crack the aluminum trans case.

Also you can see the exhaust pipe. The ones I put in in 85 were in good shape just surface rusted. I knocked off the rust with my trusty DA and 80 grit then painted with dark grey brand F high temp engine paint (Duplicolor) to get close to the exhaust manifolds. Now I just need a couple of mufflers. Going with Dynomax Super Turbo 17736.

[1985-GMC]

Looks great, you've done an awesome job with everything.

[nuke1]

That will be one super nice color on the truck, great choice

[Bigblue29]

Looks great! Do you have a shot of the whole engine bay?

[OrrieG]

These are the best I have so far. Is there anything in particular you are interested in?

[OrrieG]

Cleaned up the shop and my hazardous oil spill area. Also decided to trial fit the hitch I got. Its a pretty hefty DrawTite, paid $3 for it at a yard sale last summer. It is supposed to bolt to the bottom of the frame but tank bolts are in the way for 4 of the 6 locations. Rear most works with a spacer. I made up templates and will add some flat stock to the sides and bolt thru the frame eliminating the bottom points. The receiver tucks right up under the bumper and the main part is up tight against the frame so there is little to get in the way.

UPdate: got it welded up, painted and installed. Looks just like the photo except the cardboard is steel. I changed the front one to a square and made it deeper to get more weld area.

[aerotruk63]

What was mounted to the rear bumper before? Extra holes above the inboard bumper bolts and a concave mark on the bumper?

[OrrieG]

Someone in the past had grafted on some 56 Chevy auto bumper guards. They were pretty shot and didn't match the contour of the bumper. I looked and can't find any shots of the rear of the truck before I tore it apart.

[OrrieG]

Temperature went north of 60 today so I decided to paint. Good news is I got some done. Bad is my million year old gun finally crapped out and started sputtering pretty bad. I didn't even clean it just put it in the trash. The last couple of times I used it it did the same thing, but it was just primer. Good excuse to get a good gun. Here are some shots of the inner fender, radiator, radiator brace and bed supports in chassis black. The seat frame and brackets are in silver. I used them to see what it would look like, don't care for it, too shiney. I'm going to try something with a little more grey and metallic.