What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II

[Lees68GMC]

Ready to Start for first time just waiting on the 'puter, any day now

[myyamr7]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

Post a vid of that start up!

Too much to think about during the initial start up, but I did take a short vid during the 25 minute break-in period.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRb6BktWUzc

[Lanman1972]

Ordered the fabric and vinyl to get the seat redone, SMS Fabric carries the orange plaid and scroll work on the vinyl. This pic makes the seat look better than it is, drivers side is mostly gone.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by myyamr7

Too much to think about during the initial start up, but I did take a short vid during the 25 minute break-in period.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRb6BktWUzc

Clean install. Very nice.

[texjake]

I installed my LED bulbs today. Its not as bright as I thought it was going to be, but its a lot better than the old dim yellow/green that it use to be. Plus a camera phone is not the best for night pics. It does look better in person. I also painted both inside gauge cluster panels gloss white to try to help brighten up the lights inside the panel. I know if I would have used the multi directional LED's it would look better. I still need to do some tweaking on it & check to see if all the bulbs are working ok. But for now this will work. I got 20 LED's on eBay for $15 + free shipping. So I'm happy with it.

[TrkEnvy]

Originally Posted by texjake

I installed my LED bulbs today. Its not as bright as I thought it was going to be, but its a lot better than the old dim yellow/green that it use to be. Plus a camera phone is not the best for night pics. It does look better in person. I also painted both inside gauge cluster panels gloss white to try to help brighten up the lights inside the panel. I know if I would have used the multi directional LED's it would look better. I still need to do some tweaking on it & check to see if all the bulbs are working ok. But for now this will work. I got 20 LED's on eBay for $15 + free shipping. So I'm happy with it.

I have done a few of those.. get yourself some HVAC duct tape. the shiny kind that they wrap the actual ducting with. makes for a great reflector. line the inner walls with it and the light will passed around the inside the cluster much better. looks good though

[texjake]

Originally Posted by TrkEnvy

I have done a few of those.. get yourself some HVAC duct tape. the shiny kind that they wrap the actual ducting with. makes for a great reflector. line the inner walls with it and the light will passed around the inside the cluster much better. looks good though

Ok cool, thanks TrkEnvy. I'll try that duct tape thingy later.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by texjake

I installed my LED bulbs today. Its not as bright as I thought it was going to be, but its a lot better than the old dim yellow/green that it use to be.

Putting the lights in my dash was probably the most fun, cheapest, and easiest mod I made on the whole truck.....And I don't even drive much at night.

Go figure!

[BlacklandCamper]

Now that it runs, and more importantly, will idle on its own, I decided to address the brakes today. Got everything torn down on the front, swung by my store to turn my rotors, and pick up some parts, got home, and had enough time to stage everything for tomorrow. Got distracted with a mice issue.

More progress is being made, just a bit more before I can drive it to work, and shake out any bugs that appear.

[texjake]

Originally Posted by magwakeenercew2jh

Putting the lights in my dash was probably the most fun, cheapest, and easiest mod I made on the whole truck.....And I don't even drive much at night.

Go figure!

Which LED bulbs did you use? And did you paint the inside of the cluster panel gloss white?

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by texjake

Which LED bulbs did you use? And did you paint the inside of the cluster panel gloss white?

Not necessarily this seller. But here are the bulbs:

http://tinyurl.com/o5bawcu

The gauge color is made up of those white stickers, http://tinyurl.com/mczwa3r
and I did paint the inside of the cluster panel gloss white.

[texjake]

Originally Posted by magwakeenercew2jh

Not necessarily this seller. But here are the bulbs:

http://tinyurl.com/o5bawcu

The gauge color is made up of those white stickers, http://tinyurl.com/mczwa3r
and I did paint the inside of the cluster panel gloss white.

Thanks magwakeenercew2jh. Those white face gauges really makes a difference.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by texjake

Thanks magwakeenercew2jh. Those white face gauges really makes a difference.

I like 'em. Thanks.

I'm still far*&%g around in the garage with the (extra) motor parts.

Whatever gets built, I'm gonna need a water pump unless I steal the shiny one off of the already running motor that's in the truck now.
Anybody had any experience with the electric ones? If so...good/bad/ugly, what brand?

Next, all I need is a trip to the machine shop, timing gears, revolving assembly, cam, lifters, gaskets, push rods, pan, oil pump.....etc.,
etc., etc....aieeeee!!!!!

[BlacklandCamper]

Finished the front brakes, was going to move on to the rears, but managed to tweak my ribs putting the front wheels back on, and decided the rears could wait. Instead I figured I would see if the radiator from my donor GMC would fit, but I learned that the radiator is too tall to work. Guessing they got taller during the late '80s. Oh well. Put the usable old radiator back in, and need upper and lower hoses, along with a thermostat and gasket.

So...

Hoses, thermostat, coolant, then exhaust flange gaskets, new pipe and mufflers (in hand, just need to be welded up), then rebuild wheel cylinders, bleed brakes, add trans fluid, vac tune carb, and take it on its first drive in almost a decade.

With rain on the forecast, I may not get much done tomorrow, and I work Sunday, so hopefully the weather clears on my days off next week, and I can get as much done as possible.

[In The Ten Ring]

Made arrangements to buy another part I don't really need but really, really want! Brush guards!

[Mike_The_Grad]

Preview... need to replace more bolts. I.e. torque converter bolts, trans to block bolts, fly wheel bolts. Also new chrome water pump shaft output is different from factory, so my existing pulleys are out of alignment...hmm. guess I need to get new ones...

[Econman]

I started putting the bottom end of my engine together today.. After waiting forever on the machine shop, I finally get the crank in and torqued down just to find that the crank has .020" of end play.. There just aren't any machine shops worth their weight in sand in this town anymore.. Ugghhhhhhh!

[Mike_The_Grad]

Just got my package from member tkorinek, Thanx again by the way. This should keep me busy for a while...

[C10Calvin]

Over the last couple days I've replaced upper and lower ball joints, lower A-arm shaft and cut 1 coil off my front springs. Also installed some parts I got from specialtyretail, he always has the parts I need, 4" rear drop springs and adjustable trac bar. Here is a pic before the drop.

[C10Calvin]

Here is pic just after I dropped it down off the jack.

[texjake]

Was in the process of repainting the steering column & putting a smaller steering wheel on when I found out that the upper bearing was in need of some attention so I cleaned everything real good and repacked the bearing full of grease. It's a hard to find item, not located at any local auto parts store so I just repacked it & it all seems to be ok. I also checked the fiber optic cable leading to the shift indicator & it's working great.

[Motoxrrar]

New seats and center console mounted, new carpet kit! Got some door panels to put on soon!!
72 GMC Sierra Grande.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by Motoxrrar

New seats and center console mounted, new carpet kit! Got some door panels to put on soon!!
72 GMC Sierra Grande.

Too nice not to flip.

[Motoxrrar]

Haha thanks they came out of a 2011 2500 they are so comfy!! Here is another look with the console down! I was so amazed how easy they were to fit in just using the factory mounts.

[Grumpus Monkus]

Nothing to exciting, just got the old motor mounts out. If all works out well tomorrow, pressure wash engine bay, continue sanding and painting.