The GSFMech Build

[GSFMECH]

Almost forgot the headliner. I got this off eBay (I think) and re-dyed it. I got the trim from Wynne

[GSFMECH]

I then got a hankering for a set of bucket seats and found a set on the board that Frank (PICKMUP) had out in Washington State. He gave me a deal on the seats, console and new upholstery so I bought them. It cost a lot to do and a lot to ship but I like them. The only problem was they are 69-70 style and I plan to one day get new buns and upholstery and redo them for 72 style covers. Kevin (65Streetcruiser) liked them so much he bought another set Frank had for his 65. The only problem is only 2 people can ride. We swapped Kevin’s back out for the bench when we went to Cruising the Coast a few months ago so I may go back with the bench and store these back for later. Anyway Wynne (HuggerCST) had a bucket seat brace that goes under the floor board and I plan to put it in soon. That console I got from Frank was perfect except for a few chips on top. I had to dye it blue and it came out OK. I found another console at a swap meet in Houston that had a perfect top and Wynne wound up with the bottom. I'll swap the other top to mine one of these days. Some of these are not a real good shots, it was dark in the shop that day. You can also see the carpeted gas tank cover in one shot which they only offer in one shade of blue and does not match. It's too dark. I think I'll get an upholstery shop to whip something up if I keep the buckets.

[GSFMECH]

Well you can't take the drag racer out of me and after about 4 years of this old 350 I had to have something a little stronger. I had a lot of big block leftovers from my racing days so I whipped up a 454 for it. Ernie (HuggerCST's brother in law) had already bored a spare block .030 over for me a few years ago for a set of LS-6 pistons I had. These are the open chamber style and are about 10.5:1 w/ 781 heads. They are forged TRW's and I had them fly cut years ago for a monster cam. Only problem was I was missing one because I had busted one at the track in Eunice and took them out and re-bored that block and stepped up to some 13:1 pistons. They had only a few passes on them. Ernie had one in a cabinet in his shop and he gave to me. I was lucky because the new style they sell now are a lot different. The rods are re-sized truck rods w/ ARP bolts. Ernie fly cut the piston, balanced it to match and mounted it to the rod. I had a steel crank wrapped up under my bench that I thought was rusted but when I cleaned it I found it was coated with cosmoline and it was perfect. It was a long story how I got this one, some of mine and Kevin's trading. I had several sets of 781 heads around so I cleaned a set up, installed new guides and did a 3 angle valve job (I have my own valve grinding machine, guide cutter f/ PC seals, installers and spring testers and stuff to do big blocks). I bolted this junk together with a mild speed pro cam (about 520 lift). We hit the Pate swap meet again and found an old Torker intake with the canted mounting flange and nice set of the old chrome GM valve covers like the old Chevelles and Camaros ran. I also spotted a set of full length BB truck headers and picked them up for 30 bucks. I've had so many of those old cyclone and blackjack headers on big block trucks I had no trouble spotting them. I had a leftover 850 double pumper Holley from drag racing and rebuilt it. I still have jet kits and a bunch of Holley tuning parts in my shop. I picked up a Pertronix at a swap meet and that's planned for later, I'm still running points. I had a leftover 400 turbo and rebuilt it with a home brewed shift kit. I build it myself and use all the tricks B&M does except for the big sprag. I've had them hold up with some pretty stout big blocks. I don't like them to shift hard and rattle you but I like them to shift fast. I also have it rigged so it won't shift by itself into second, anyone who has ever fooled with a 400 knows what I'm talking about. Mine will stay in first if you hold it down until YOU shift it. Anyway I used the 350 turbo converter for just a touch more stall speed. I also had a one piece drive shaft for a 400 turbo laying around from years back. I scrounged up the detent switch for the gas pedal to make it like stock for the passing gear. I then started hunting up all the rest of the goodies. I already had a set of big block pulleys, and alternator brackets, I even had the correct 72 only upper alternator bracket. I got a complete power steering set up from Wynne with the remote reservoir and he hooked me up with the 72 only big block motor mounts. I had a set of BB 68-71 mounts and sold them on eBay. I got a big block fan shroud from Wynne and I scavenged the AC brackets off eBay. I also fabbed up a new 2 1/2" mandrel bent exhaust system using elbows and pipe from JC Whitney and some Summit turbos. I wanted this build to look like something from the 70's (note the white headers)and everything on it was available when I was in high school except the TT-11 wheels, even the B&F Goodrich TA radials were around then. Anyway it turned out good. The mild combo with that big old honkin carb will fry the tires as long as you want to do it. Next is a posi because I almost ruined my right rear tire. This thing will get with the program.

[GSFMECH]

I was going to put some exhaust pictures on here as well. I fabbed this system up with mandrel bent bends from JC Whitney and used Summit turbo mufflers. The bottom of the bed will painted body color so I don't want to soot it up. I'm going to extend them out and put tailpipes on it but I don't want them hanging out where they can be seen. I'll tuck them up high and 45 them down somehow rear of the tires. These photos show what I have now.

[GSFMECH]

All this time I was buying parts to do the body. I can't thank Wynne (HuggerCST) enough for all the parts. I got 2 doors, 2 fenders, a hood and a tailgate from him. I went through a couple of tailgates till I got this last one and it's real nice. I didn't want any repop sheet metal so good used was my only option. I did buy 2 repop inner fenders though. I found a real good core support at the Pate swap meet one year. I searched and collected for just about every piece of trim at swap meets and eBay and bought a lot back from a guy I sold my restored 71 to. He stripped the trim off to shave and customize my old truck and I had all new GM trim on it. I bought a new GM grill. I'm still looking for a couple of better pieces but all my trim, grill, bumpers etc. are all GM. I bought repop patch panels, cab corners, rockers, kick panels, inner rockers and the lower A-pillars.This is just a few of the parts, most are stashed in the attic.

[GSFMECH]

In April of 06 Kevin and I went to a car show and after that I decided to dive into this thing. We had already done the repairs and bodywork to the new doors and they were pretty much ready to go. The bed had rust bubbling from between the wheel wells but other than that it was good. I cut the welds at the rear and totally disassembled it. I then sandblasted the inside and stripped the out side with chemical stripper and a DA with 80 grit. We did the minor body work and coated it with DuPont epoxy. You can see the rust pits left after blasting in these photos. This is all hidden when it's bolted back together

[GSFMECH]

A couple more shots.

[milled]

Originally Posted by GSFMECH

All this time I was buying parts to do the body. I can't thank Wynne (HuggerCST) enough for all the parts. I got 2 doors, 2 fenders, a hood and a tailgate from him. I went through a couple of tailgates till I got this last one and it's real nice. I didn't want any repop sheet metal so good used was my only option. I did buy 2 repop inner fenders though. I found a real good core support at the Pate swap meet one year. I searched and collected for just about every piece of trim at swap meets and eBay and bought a lot back from a guy I sold my restored 71 to. He stripped the trim off to shave and customize my old truck and I had all new GM trim on it. I bought a new GM grill. I'm still looking for a couple of better pieces but all my trim, grill, bumpers etc. are all GM. I bought repop patch panels, cab corners, rockers, kick panels, inner rockers and the lower A-pillars.This is just a few of the parts, most are stashed in the attic.

Looks like my parts pile Burn that mig up son!!!!!!!!!

[GSFMECH]

Thanks everyone. It sure feels good to make progress.

Hey Bill,
I'm hoping to have it ready for cruising the coast but it looks like I will have to work this year if my schedule stays the same so I won't make it. That's too bad I had fun hanging out with you guys last year.The rest of our bunch should make it though. Look out next year I will definitely have it there. Maybe you'll have yours done by then too. I'm hoping Wynne, Chris, Eric, Keith and a few more of us Louisiana guys have our trucks finished by then.