72 K30 Build

[7dee2]

Used Mrs. 7dee2’s blow dryer on the lowest setting, could’ve used the shop heat gun but was concerned about too much heat on that old part, delamination etc.


Freshened up a nice set of correctly dated seat belts using the best buckle covers and buttons we have. Some 45-year-old crud right there and man you should have seen Mrs. 7dee2’s sink! Uh, Oh!

[rgunlock]

Looks like you have some very nice interior parts to work with. They're cleaning up great!

[7dee2]

Thank’s Rick, some soda pop, grease, hugger orange paint and 45 years of various yuck does make a great preservative! The red background just gives a wowza factor!

This stuff is mainly donated from our C10 project that’s slowly getting a red interior. Most of the RV’s interior except for the dash pad (same one pictured earlier) was sold and replaced before we’d acquired it. Previous forum member sharpie72 (Dennis) told me that it had a parchment (also on the SPID) interior that was in fantastic shape and sold shortly after he got the truck.


After a very thorough cleaning and really light coat of paint to match our console from earlier. Installed some trim and inserts, this stuff is now ready to join the rest of the interior.

[7dee2]

Decided we needed a set of these speaker brackets from forum member bigblock73 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=476976 they’ll be body color when done. Here’s a pic of a test fit with them just mounted up top, we’ll wait till we have the carpet and sound deadening to finish the install.

[swamp rat]

Cool! I also bought a set.

[twistedchevy]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

I’m very pleased, he is just killing it! Thanks, Mike. That round of pics is from early last week and when we spoke yesterday he told me it’s gone through 2 more rounds of guide coat & primer. Headed over later today to check it out.


Core support is back on the frame for the last time (I hope), it’s starting to get heavy. Picked up this VSR style battery isolator. Wanted to try one of these rather than the factory style relay and Ford solenoid setup the donor RV came with. The plan is to make the cables a little long just in case this thing is totally el crap-po.

I have a VSR in my k10 different company, but it works perfectly.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Cool! I also bought a set.

Had my eye on these for a while, pretty slick idea for our trucks.

Originally Posted by twistedchevy

I have a VSR in my k10 different company, but it works perfectly.

That’s really good to hear as I don’t have any experience with these VSR’s.



Installing a high output alternator to help with the high draw cooling fan setup. This should be plenty of juice for our purposes. Also in the process of added a new smaller Hayden trans cooler to act as power steering cooler.

[7dee2]

While we’re jones’n to get the cab back I mocked up our tunes. Thinking about maybe adding a RetroSound self-contained 8” sub to finish this off. The tuner picks up the radio frequencies better than our shop radio.

First time trying this stuff we usually do all Kenwood but I didn't want to cut the dash and that ended up leading us to try new products. The center speaker is a Custom Autosound dual channel 5x7 made to go in the factory location.

[First c10]

nice. I ordered a under seat 10" powered sub woofer for my son for Christmas. also I thought the center speaker was 4x10? did they change to 5x7 in 1972?

[7dee2]

Ugh Oh, your right it was a 4x10! New speaker has a bracket that's been attached to mate to the factory cowl mount.


Everything is smaller these days you know (not a bad thing). Don’t think even a modern 4x10 could completely cover the dash opening, anyone have suggestions on filling the rest of the opening? Don’t really want any hardware showing up through the dash grill but also would prefer not to have the sun shine throught the dash either.

[swamp rat]

I believe that's the front speaker I bought, don't expect a lot out of it, altho I admit I didn't put an amp on it yet. I have read some other posters here that installed dual round speakers by making a mount plate and had better sound, check this link out.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=dash+speaker

[First c10]

Brett so the 5x7 work?

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Don’t think even a modern 4x10 could completely cover the dash opening, anyone have suggestions on filling the rest of the opening? Don’t really want any hardware showing up through the dash grill but also would prefer not to have the sun shine throught the dash either.

I have that Retrosound radio in the '50, the little I've used it I was quite impressed.

To the speaker question, I made a thin plywood spacer (I think it was 3/8"??) for my '69 K10, sized to fill the speaker grate and then drilled for two 4" speakers. Then I sprayed it with matte black Rustoleum, you'd never know it was there

[First c10]

I did a little investigation. I guess the 4x10 is for the NON a/c cabs and the 5x7 is for the a/c cabs.... anyone confirm?

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

I believe that's the front speaker I bought, don't expect a lot out of it, altho I admit I didn't put an amp on it yet. I have read some other posters here that installed dual round speakers by making a mount plate and had better sound, check this link out.http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=dash+speaker

Thanks for the link Mike, that’s a good thread. One reason for mocking up the system, was to get an idea of how it sounds together. Not really so much about quality (better than factory) as nothing is mounted and spread out but an idea of volume the head unit and speakers can do without the use of an external amp. Plenty for a regular truck cab IMO, still thinking a little sub couldn't hurt right?

Originally Posted by First c10

Brett so the 5x7 work?

Originally Posted by First c10

I did a little investigation. I guess the 4x10 is for the NON a/c cabs and the 5x7 is for the a/c cabs.... anyone confirm?

Oh yes, it’s gonna work great! Pretty sure you are correct Scott on the 4x10 speaker for all but it had a unique frame to cover the very large grill area. The 5x7 speaker only comes closer to covering the entire area. Thinking there will be more about the center speaker as we get closer to installing it.

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

I have that Retrosound radio in the '50, the little I've used it I was quite impressed.

To the speaker question, I made a thin plywood spacer (I think it was 3/8"??) for my '69 K10, sized to fill the speaker grate and then drilled for two 4" speakers. Then I sprayed it with matte black Rustoleum, you'd never know it was there

Me too Jim, I can’t believe all the features they get off two knobs!



Prior to the final wet sand?

[7dee2]

Some new products showed up for the cab. A couple of tubes of seam sealer and some mousse souple (WTF? ). This is the foamy stuff that is similar to what GM used in some cowl areas and to seal the high hump cover to the floor. The cab exterior is another step closer with just a little more work on the interior, jambs & firewall.

[7dee2]

Seam sealer applied.

[notchbackgta]

I bought the heavy bodied sealer too, is that the black stuff in the pictures? I have't used mine yet and am curious

[7dee2]

Yep, that black goop is the 3M 8308 Heavy-Bodied Seam Sealer. It went fairly well and wasn’t too bad to work with, masked just a few areas like the back of the roof and some small sections above the windshield just below the drip rail.


Plenty still to do, this particular headlight harness has already been converted to an internal regulated type alternator and wired as per the schematic below. Funny thing is that original lighter gauge blue wire is connected to a 12-gauge red on both ends it will be replaced with 12 gauge. Here’s a very helpful write up from forum member VetteVet on the correct way to upgrade to a 12SI. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...25&postcount=9

In addition to the factory harness we will also be running some heavier gauge cable to support the high amp alternator and dual battery setup.

[First c10]

Looking good Brett.
When I installed the serpentine system on Jr I changed the wiring as you did. I went all the way back to the firewall plug assembly. I installed relays for the headlights. I also added a few extra wires in the fuse block and firewall plug so I won't have to run any wires in another hole which is handy when I install the LED bar switch. I am installing relays for it also. I plan to use a wiper switch to trigger the LED relay.

[7dee2]

Thank’s, Scott that’s a really good idea, very clean. We probably won’t do a light bar for this truck but I am leaning towards adding relays for the headlights.

Got some more colour happening!

[First c10]

Looking good.
The relays will keep the big power draw from going in the cab to the light switch and back to the lights. Source of many cab fires I was told.
I can't wait to get cab pictures of my cab paint like yours. Rock on!

[rgunlock]

Exciting times! Cab is looking great Brett. At the rate you are moving on this project, you'll be driving it in no time - probably before I'm driving mine

[7dee2]

Thank’s, Scott that and the brighter headlights is a good reason to do this upgrade. We’ll be carrying spare relays and fuses for the fans anyway so might as well. Really looking forward to seeing the beautiful paint on your truck!

Thank’s, Rick I’m pushing for this Spring sometime and the bed on and done this Summer. Your truck is super close you’ll be taking it out fishing in no time!


And the rest of the cab.

[7dee2]

Broke out the Eastwood polishing kit and had at some old window trim. Here’s some before and during pics, we do have a replacement for the dented center clip. Thoughts are to try and bring the cab home with the front and rear glass installed.