Project: Hot Rod Hauler (HRH) Build Up

[VA72C10]

Looks good. Glad you got it. great shipping time!

[LOW DOUGH]

WOW! lucky steel on the carb. That's what I'm running

[ChevLoRay]

Well, I'm impressed with all I saw. I wish I had something to report on my build but, it is what it is...

[mcbassin]

Sweet engine!

[chevy_mike]

It's been a little while since my last update. I have been doing some work on the truck but also getting a ton of other projects that had been put on hold since I started working on the truck project. Nice to have them out of the way.

I finished sealing up the engine having replace the oil pump and adding a one piece pan gasket. Cleaned and painted the pan, added the Edelbrock fuel pump and installing the new balancer. I finally decided on the air cleaner I wanted and that came in.

I then worked on resealing the TH400. Almost all the seals were old and leaking so I got a full kit and went about replacing all the seals. I have never done this before but overall it went fairly smoothly. Every external type seal has now been replaced. I also got a new pan with the cooling tubes to help fluid cooling.

I hope to get started on the cab next. Here are some pics to hold you over for now. Enjoy.

Basically finished up engine until it gets put back in the frame.


Always wanted one of these type air cleaner. Look perfect to me.


Inside of the tranny, resealed and new filter.


Front pump was removed, gasket, o-ring and input seal replaced.


New pan just setting in place.


Here is what the cooling tube look like inside.

[wp silverado]

seeing that air cleaner scoop makes me want one. where did you get it from?

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by wp silverado

seeing that air cleaner scoop makes me want one. where did you get it from?

From Summit Racing,

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G3021/

[chevy_mike]

Just a quick update. Engine and tranny are all done at this point. I checked out underneith the cab to see how bad things were. Overall in very good shape and should not need any rust fixing. The center area over where the tranny sits is a greasy mess so I need to figure out how to get the cab on it's back and into my driveway to power wash it. Might actually have to build a cab dolly.

I did get in my set of Thorley headers. Can't wait to see them on the engine, they are sweet looking!

[Overdrive]

How well does the fuel tank clear the bed floor? What kind of floor is in your bed? What are you using for a filler neck? I'm interested in a similar tank setup for my 1967 GMC with wood floor.

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by Overdrive

How well does the fuel tank clear the bed floor? What kind of floor is in your bed? What are you using for a filler neck? I'm interested in a similar tank setup for my 1967 GMC with wood floor.

The way I built things, nothing is above the frame regarding the tank. The fill neck, I am going to do a slight notch in the frame (boxing it) if I need it. I haven't put the floor of the bed on, which is steel. Originally the truck was a wood bed but I am changing it out. It should need no mods, which is what I was trying to do.

As for the filler setup, top secret at this point. I may not be the first to do it the way I am but I haven't seen anyone post up doing it the way I will. You'll have to stay tooned for that.

[chevy_mike]

Well due to bad weather and other commitments, I haven't been able to get much work done until this weekend. I actually had 4 days off and three of them were mine.

I had been slowly working on a cab dolly but a little different then the others I have seen. I used 1.5" .120 wall tubing as my main legs. I used my bender to make them into an L shape, that could allow the cab to be rolled on it's back. I used telescoping tubing for the cross bars so I can break it down into a small unit for storage. I finally got the uprights builts and gussetted and then the cab bolted to the dolly. All four wheels swivel so I can turn it easily.

I was able to get the cab out of the garage, first time in over a year. I cleaned and reorginized things to make more room. Yesterday we rolled the cab on it's back, which worked perfectly. I was able to power wash the underside and start cleaning things up. I still need to finish that and then prime and Raptor line it. Feel like I did more in three days then the last three months.

Though I didn't take pics, I got the steering column out, power brake unit and gas tank removed. Only the stuff in the dash is still in there.

Here are some pics of the dolly in use.

[kyull67]

Cool dolly!

[chevy_mike]

Well, the time has come to start in on the body. I knew from day one the drip rail was going to be my problem spot. It didn't look too bad but some rust was bubbling up and the drip rail was almost filled level. I wasn't going to know how bad things were until I started stripping the rails clean.

Wasn't as bad as I feared but not as good as I hoped. Luckily nothing is larger than a dime size hole. Here is my rust.

[mcbassin]

That cab dolly is awesome! Great idea! It looks like you have your work cut out for you on the cab repair....keep the pics coming! great build!

[67chevy1series]

this might be a little lait but what are your plans with those cross sills and 67 68 steering wheel i would need some of those parts

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by 67chevy1series

this might be a little lait but what are your plans with those cross sills and 67 68 steering wheel i would need some of those parts

The cross sills were sold a while ago to another member. As for the steering wheel, not sure what I am doing yet so it will hang around for now.

[chevy_mike]

Well, it's been a little while since I posted up any progress. I have been making some but it's been slow. I have had two out of town trips over the last two months so time has been short. Here is what I have gotten done.

Stripped crud off bottom of the cab and welded some holes up that are not needed. (no pics of what I welded... doh!)



Eastwood Rust Encapsulator primer put down



Sprayed Raptor bed liner, just like I used for the bed floor.





That's it for now...

[chevy_mike]

Got a little more done this past weekend. Pulled the front and rear glass, cleaned up the drip rail some more and welded in the gas filler plate.

Just a little bit of rust, mostly surface, so I welded up the seam



Actually did this to both sides



Now you have a hole...



Now you don't...



Just need a little skim coat of filler and all will be good




I am hoping to do some spot priming this weekend with epoxy primer. Be my first time spraying epoxy.

[jgh64pkup]

lookin good
what color is that on the engine?

[mcbassin]

Nice work on the cab!

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by jgh64pkup

lookin good
what color is that on the engine?

Just standard Chevy Orange engine paint, nothing special.

[chevy_mike]

Well my long weekend didn't quite go as planned. I bought a stud welder/puller from Harbor Freight with the hopes of pulling a few of the dents out, mainly the lower driver cab corner. The welder part worked great but the POS slide hammer was crap. It would not hang onto the studs because it never really locks onto them. I gave up and ordered a twist lock style slide hammer from Eastwood (it's made in the USA too) so I am waiting for that to arrive.

Decided to strip the rest of the cab, mainly the dash parts and wiring. That went fairly well but I sure hope I can remember how this all goes together. LOL I also pulled the doors off too. One item I was a little worried about was the stainless steel (though painted over) "door protectors" at the bottom of the doors. I had no idea what I would find under them so I drilled out the rivits and pulled them off. More rust than I hoped for but less than expected. Still need to do some repair work in the corners. I also started sanding one door to see if there was any hidden damage and so far one is good. Ran out of time before doing the other one. Also removed the big mirrors, handle and key lock off the door. Here's the pics of this weekend's progress.

Need to fill these old mirror mount holes



Dash stripped down



Pass. door under the "protector"



Driver door after some cleaning and stripping





Cab minus doors...

[chevy_mike]

This past week I got a few hours during the week and spent 16 hours over the weekend working on the truck. I got the lower corners cut out of the doors, both outer skins stripped of paint, used my new stud welder and puller to remove a crease from the door and dents from the cab. I also welded up a bunch of unneeded holes in the firewall and finish removing parts from the interior. Ended up working more and forgot to take as many pics along the way but here is what I got.

Cutting away the outer skin



Going to need to fix these area but not as bad as I feared they would be



There was a crease in the pass. door. Now it's basically gone and will need minimal filler



Other door corner after some spot media blasting



Door stripped down. Eastwood twist lock slide hammer which is awesome!



Also decided to weld up these cab seams to prevent rust down the road





Upper dent in cab, driver corner, just about gone



Lower dent in cab, needs some more work but much better then what it was





Still making progress...

[chevy_mike]

Got some more work done on Saturday. Slow process but making some.

Made a filler for the clutch linkage hole



Getting the firewall stripped



Using some rust stop product the paint shop recommended. Plan is to sand off the surface which should leave this in the pits. Epoxy prime, fill the pits and prime again. Should work out.



Also did the drip rails. Need to epoxy prime and seam seal it, then prime again.



Clutch linkage hole all gone



I also finish stripping all the hardware off the doors and cab. They are bare now.

[68GMCCustom]

nice work.