“Castro” my new 72 build

[61_FL_Apache]

Great metal and paint work Mike.

[Snake72]

Fantastic build, this is a fun one to watch

[LEEVON]

Coming together! I see no problems with door speakers, at least you didn't cut them into the kick panels like I did when I was 16 I'd like to punch myself for that. Dad told me to put them in the doors and I didn't do it just because I knew everything.

[GSFMECH]

Originally Posted by 61_FL_Apache

Great metal and paint work Mike.

Thanks Steve

Originally Posted by Snake72

Fantastic build, this is a fun one to watch

It was a fun build, thanks

Originally Posted by LEEVON

Coming together! I see no problems with door speakers, at least you didn't cut them into the kick panels like I did when I was 16 I'd like to punch myself for that. Dad told me to put them in the doors and I didn't do it just because I knew everything.

Leevon, yeah I said what the heck, I ran a stock am/fm radio for years and missed having sounds. When I was a kid the thing to do was put them in the doors but later on everyone quit doing it.

[GSFMECH]

Masked up in a cocoon. Got the floor scuffed/ Ospho’d and ready to spray lizard skin. I used both the sound control and insulation

[GSFMECH]

Fender body work, priming and blocking done, below shots are after paint. I cut in the inside of the fenders as well.

[GSFMECH]

Unmasked the fenders, they came out ok.

[GSFMECH]

I polished all of the SS window trim on my buffing wheel in the bench grinder. Also cleaned up the glass. I'm using the glass and trim out of the blue truck because it's in better shape. Also installed the Dakota digital GPS antenna, dash pad, speaker and center AC vent while it was easy to get to without glass.

[GSFMECH]

Body and paint done here except for small pieces and parts and the black on the core support, inner fenders and underside of the hood.

[GSFMECH]

Hot rod black done

[GSFMECH]

The glass is in and my buddy Kevin (65StreetCruiser) polished the bed. The shine popped right back out.

[GSFMECH]

Great Scott!! Still a lot do. This is only some of boxes of parts of stuff needed to put this thing back together and more parts on the way.

[GSFMECH]

The dash is coming together, and I have the vintage air in position for the final time.

[GSFMECH]

It doesn't look like I did much, but the AC is done on the inside, stereo done and tested. I added a Detroit speed wiper system, these are really nice and a very good hidden upgrade. The main harness is done, modified to accept all the aftermarket stuff, all circuits go through the original fuses etc. There are no hidden snipped wires. E-brake pedal is in. All that's left in dash is the Dakota digital stuff and hanging the brake pedal.

[GSFMECH]

I fabricated a bracket to mount all my electronics, there’s a lot going on in that dash. I have the Dakota digital "brain" mounted, as well as the GPS BIM, and GV overdrive module. These are all mounted on one plate which bolts to the brake pedal bracket. I have another bracket mounted on the lower right that attaches to it, this plate holds the wide band module and BIM. I needed to get it into a position where I can see it from below because it has a status light for calibrating and troubleshooting. The wide band BIM mounts in the open area of the bracket, it didn’t come in until later so no pic, Covid had it delayed arriving.You can't really see it well but I installed a new firewall pad.

[GSFMECH]

Door handles, side glass along with new weatherstrip etc. and mirrors are on. I scavenged a Hydro boost off a truck in my boneyard as well.

[GSFMECH]

Dakota Digital dash wiring is done. Cruise is wired up, stalk is installed on the column and wires snaked through, all ready to connect. Core support and radiator is mounted

[GSFMECH]

More progress, I have most of the wiring ran. I had to repair the headlight relay circuit off the blue truck because it was crushed in the wreck. I had this relay upgrade on the blue truck. I used the fwd harness off the blue truck because it was in great shape otherwise. Finished up the condenser installation. To help the AC in traffic I went to the bone yard and found a nice 11" electric fan off an OBS 1 ton dually. I had to modify the brackets to fit. I wired the fan through a relay, but the control circuit now comes off the now defunct original AC blower fan switch. With vintage air you don't use that switch. I had thought about using an automatic controller but I'm going to try it like this for a while. Got all the wiring done on the core support as far as I could till the fenders go on, painted the hood latch and brace and got them installed. Battery box and headlights are in.

[GSFMECH]

A sneak preview of how it's going to look with the nice trim off the blue truck, I had to replace a few bent trim pieces. Also got the gas tank in

[GSFMECH]

Cargo lamp, dome lamp and headliner in.

[GSFMECH]

Installed the right front fender and start fitting up the ac and heater hoses, some trim starting to go on as well

[GSFMECH]

Rear bumper and taillights in.

[GSFMECH]

Working on the seat belts. Tore them apart and washed them really good and dyed them with Rit dye. Both retractors were broken so I robbed parts needed out of my stash. Also repainted the buckle covers. They are ready to go.

[GSFMECH]

In the photos below, you can see one belt on the far left which I didn’t clean (this is a center one that I didn’t use), the next is one I cleaned, and the other 2 belts are after the Rit dye.

[GSFMECH]

I also painted the new door panels I bought from Cheyenne pickup parts and new woodgrain inserts. When I restored my blue truck, I hunted for months for good used ones. These are pretty decent repops