68 Second Chance

[landarts]

Got up early on Thanksgiving and started to knock off a few items from the To-Do list before throwing the turkey in the smoker.

Items left to do on truck (items in RED done):

• Get marker light and headlight installed
• Get seat tore down and ready for the replacement seat cover
• Remove gauge bezel, touchup needles with fresh paint and install new bezel
• Remove heater controls and install new sliders, while it is out I will soak all cables, clean out heater and replace vent tubing if needed
• Remove bed bolts so I can slide back bed and repair passenger side cab corner
• Once that is done I will use the color match paint to shoot the cab corner and fender repairs
• Install hood hinge and hood
• Finish CLR treatment on hood and driver side of body
• Finish buffing hood and drivers side
• Get wheels cleaned up and source one more hubcap
• Remount front bumper
• Go through brakes, make sure all is good and safe

While I was pulling out the gauge bezel and disconnecting the light switch I thought this would be a good time to see if I have lights. Pulled the switch on and off and no light. Lucky me I have another brand new switch in one of my American Auto wire kits for the K10. Grabbed it out of the box and plugged it in, we have lights. So I moved on to pulling the heater control panel to fix the broken slide levers. Then pulled out the old cassette player radio and speakers mounted to the kick panels.

Once I had the heater controls, gauge cluster and radio out, I removed the glove box lid and glove box. This gives me access to the dash pad that was in really bad shape. This time I tried a different method of removal. I used a small air reciprocating saw to cut the metal band on each sides of where it is bolted on. This allowed me to spin it lose from the top and ended up being the quickest dash pad removal I have ever done. All in all it took about 10 minutes to get it out of the truck.

With everything removed it was time for another round of cleaning, cleaning items that have never seen daylight in over fifty years. I mixed up so window cleaner from concentrate in a spray bottle and hose it down to soak for a few minutes. After about three to five minutes I soaked it down one more time. Filled a bucket full of hot water and a few microfiber towels and starting scrubbing it down. Now the truck is ready for the interior to go back together.

Pict 1 - Interior before tear down
Pict 2 - Close up of dash area
Pict 3 - Dash area all cleaned up and radio delete plate installed
Pict 4 - Door all scrubbed down