Big Bertha Build thread x2

[_Ogre]

it's just as sexy the 2nd time around

[RINC]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

it's just as sexy the 2nd time around

X2 !

[buggy5872]

Now that I had measurements, I could cut out the firewall and front floor section and make it all work. I wanted to use all the wiring, heat/ac and dash from the GMC. I wanted to use everything in case we have problems out on the road, I can give the vin for the GMC and they could order the correct parts to fix it.




I made the center section of the floor the same width as the engine so it could be removed to work on the engine. The engine ended up completely under the floor



At this point I hoped it would all fit because I had no way of sitting the cab on the chassis to test fit. the first time it was set on the chassis was after it was painted.

[buggy5872]

I needed to change the dash to the 56 GMC dash in order to use the gauge cluster from the newer truck. Changing the dash is no small task in these trucks. drilling out a ton on spot welds was in order. I cut and fit everything in the GMC dash before I welded it into the truck. I even had to french in one AC vent beside the glove box door because I ran out of room.

[buggy5872]

Now that most of the fab work was done on the cab I focused on getting the rear doors finished. I used power window units from Balls power windows. They have some nice units that work well for flat glass. Then it was on to the body work.



and it seemed like it would never end.

[buggy5872]

Shot the first coat of primer on the cab and started making the mounts for the seats. I used 05 suburban leather seats. The back seat gave me some trouble due to how the cab gets narrower as you go up. Had to take an inch out of where the seats joined to get it to fit.

[buggy5872]

Now its March 2012 and I have to pick the camper up from storage by the end of April. I was starting to get nervous but did not panic yet. I focused on getting the door's body work finished next. A friend that owns a body shop suggested I use Z-chrome primer on the doors since there was so much work done on them. I had never heard of the stuff but it is like sprayable body filler with zinc to control any rust. He offered to spray them for me so I dropped them off at his shop. Here is what they looked like after being sprayed.


I block sanded them down and I am hooked on the stuff. I have two brothers, one that owns a body shop and one that works for a body shop, they are both hooked on it too now. I then shot some more primer and cut in the edges so i could assemble the doors.



Somehow I do not have any pics of the other doors but they looked the same.
Check out my alcoa wheels in the background of the one pic. Alcoa had not made the wheels since the 80's and I knew they were out there somewhere. I had been looking since I bought the truck and finally got a set. had to lay down 2 grand for 6 of them but I had to have them.