41DegreesSouth Build Thread

[Billhilly]

Spent a few more nights in the shop. Cowl was the next job. I've learnt two things over the last two nights. Cowls are pretty thin, and my tig welding skills (and vision) aren't improving! Anyway, I'm well on the way with it now-

[swamp rat]

That looked like a pita! I don't know if i could have done that at all. For what its worth i have been schooled on this body welding myself, easy to get frustrated and in a hurry.

[Billhilly]

Sure is a pain Swamp rat. I don't plan on doing another RHD conversion anytime soon!
Been doing a few nights again. Got the hood hinges painted and reassembled Thursday night. Who knew you had to dismantle and rebuild hood hinges?!! I wish one of you guys woulda said something! Anyway they went together really well. I used Willie Wilson's rivets. Cleaned up the hood latch and added my version of a locking latch, then had it zinc plated.
Had my auto electrician out this morning just to have a look at how my planing is going. He's pretty happy with things so that's great. Finished up tonight by finishing the welding on the cowl conversion.
Hood and tailgate are etch primed so will hopefully get them back and installed this week so we can start on final panel alignment.

[swamp rat]

I had no idea you could rebuild hood hinges, found them on line.. Thanks!

[Billhilly]

There isn't alot of parts for these trucks that can't be found somewhere or other! Willie was super helpful. Sent down spare rivets, but didn't end up needing any. 'Old truck syndrome' my panel guy tells me. Every part worn out!!
Another couple of pieces of the puzzle done...

[1985-GMC]

It's good to see you're still going at it, everything looks great as usual!

[Billhilly]

Been working towards final panel alignment, ready for dismantling, sand blasting and paint. Got into my friends panel shop and spent three days last week working with Rowen on all the final details. Personally, I think we had a great run. Worked on all sorts of issues (including panel alignment) and am now ready to tear it apart!
Big fat girl was nearly to big for the roll back! Couldn't get the ramps back up properly. Near enough!

Was battling hood to guard alignment issues, and the cowl fit was just ugly. Kept working away at it and am really pleased with how things came out. (No I didn't do the patch on the antenna hole!).

[Billhilly]

One of the interesting bits was this 'factory finish' of the windscreen to bottom of the A pillar deal. It was sitting nearly a full 1/2" out of alignment, and the cowl was hard up against it as well. With some cutting and persuasion the window rubber will fit good, and the gap to the cowl was recreated. Win win. The whole right side of the cowl basically didn't fit or line up anywhere, but we persevered and got it looking pretty good.

[Billhilly]

The last (and worst fit) bit we did was grill and eyebrows. The guards are both reproductions, so I don't know if this is part of the problem or not. Anywho, this is as good as we could get the the gap where they join. We've got a real nice line between the back edge of the eyebrow and the guard. The fenders are stuffed inwards as far as the radiator support will allow. We've severely talked to the grill mounts to narrow them up as well. I wanted a chrome grill, but this one is just too beat up, so I'll have to clean it back and paint it silver.
You GMC guy's, how do your's look? Did mine get hit with the ugly stick? Pretty much at this stage, it's done. Gotta draw the line somewhere. Time and money. Tempted to brush a coat of paint on it and drive the wheels off it! A big part of me still wants a flat grey (primer look) finish, but I know I should finish it off properly!

[swamp rat]

I am assuming you have a GMC (K2500) MY 72 doesn't have the grill seams you have pictured so I'm of no help to you on that but the truck is taking shape nicely!

[1985-GMC]

Wow you're almost there, nice work! I bet you can't wait to be driving it!

[sharpmark]

looking good mate.
you are spending way more time on your gaps then I did and it looks better for it.
I just didn't have the patience !!
shame about the grille gap - can't help you with a solution.


.

[DeadheadNM]

Late to the party but subscribed. Strong work!

[Billhilly]

Sorry it's taken a while to get back here guys. Thank you for the positive comments! I've just finished the busiest, most stressful period at work in the last twelve years.... interesting days. Any who, I always work through the Christmas/New Year period and it was probably the quietest it has been for years so I enjoyed that! Got a couple of days last week on the truck. Sandblaster is booked to do the bed tomorrow so I've dismantled, removed underseal, straightened some of the dents, filled a few holes, and removed one patch of bondo. I'm loaded and ready! Not going to blast the outer skin. Will do the inner skin, edges etc, but will paint strip the rest. We'll see how we go! So blast, strip, remove dents, then prime. Rolls off the tongue anyway.
Spoilt much having a tractor and hoist at my shop? I think so!

Oh, PS. Thanks for the comment Deadhead. MT is on my short list of places to visit in the U.S. Actually been to Creston a few times, Porthill once, must venture further South next time!

[sharpmark]

good to see progress -I see on the news you guys are getting pretty dry down there.
summer finally here?.

[Billhilly]

Yeah, pretty warm. 33 in the shop yesterday. More of the same today! Just starting to really warm up....

[DeadheadNM]

Please visit - I'll buy the first round!

[Billhilly]

Deal!

[Billhilly]

Well that was an interesting month! Went to the sandblasters the day after I posted those last pictures, and was meant to be at the panel shop the next week to get a few small dent's sorted before primer and filler. Well the next day (the 6th) I had to proper work and had a good go at chopping the end of my thumb off! Through the nail, shattered the bone, but stopped short of taking it right off! Very thankful for that! It's appears to be healing really well at this stage. So I completely missed that window of opportunity to get in the panel shop, but hope to be in in a couple of weeks. So yesterday I got to paint strip the outer panels on the bedsides. Went well, and revealed completely rust free bedsides as well. You are meant to scuff the paint with 40 grit, and when I started the baby blue came straight off so I figured I may as well take it off so the stripper could work on the original paint. The plastic sheeting over the stripper speeds the process up apparently, and the 'chalky' finish on the finished product is phosphoric acid to hold the rust till paint day.
I also mocked up some bull bars....they are a work in progress. I want it sorted so I can pull the front clip and get the guards primed as well.
So barring any more attempted digit removal I should be in the panel shop within a fortnight, and making progress again!
Oh, you can just see in the third photo two drilled holes by each stake pocket....one of the PO's musta wanted to bolt something down so drilled two holes into each stake pocket, from the outside! Then proceeded to to tighten each bolt down and dent the outer skin. Nice! So I do have a dozen holes to pull/fill etc!

[ryanroo]

Excellent! i really want to build another GMC. the front end is just so nice!

a few years ago, i tried to remove the end of my left index finger, but it works fine now! hope yours heals up well and just becomes a fun scar to talk about.

[Billhilly]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

Excellent! i really want to build another GMC. the front end is just so nice!

a few years ago, i tried to remove the end of my left index finger, but it works fine now! hope yours heals up well and just becomes a fun scar to talk about.

Hey Ryan, the four eyed front end is growing on me! Thumb has healed I guess but is pretty ugly. Hoping it will improve a little more given more time!
Anyway another month goes by. Been picking away at getting everything ready for paint. Bedsides have had any dents pulled. Hood and tailgate have been bogged up (by professionals), and are looking a treat. Did final work on rad support. Got AC lines plumbed up temporarily so holes could be drilled. All ready for dismantling now.
Sorting paint has been a bit of an adventure....long story, but should be here tomorrow! Workshop looks ready....either for painting or butchering! Plan on doing all bed components over the next couple of days. Paint. Actual paint!

[Billhilly]

Good progress on paint day one with clean up and etch prime. Friend who has been a painter all his life sold his business a couple months ago and is still in the valley. I figure I'm time and money ahead getting him involved and me not trying to learn on the fly! Tomorrow morning we'll bog the small amount that needs doing on the outside of the bedsides, and front panel, then prime and shoot some colour. Progress though! Goal is to get all bed panels finished by Saturday. Then next we'll do hood, tailgate, cowl, and front guards. I'll do inner guards and rad support in satin black, which will leave cab and doors for a final run. Rolls off the tongue!.

[1985-GMC]

Wow looking good, I bet that's a great feeling!

[Billhilly]

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

Wow looking good, I bet that's a great feeling!

Yeah! Finally paint. And tomorrow colour! Who knew.

[swamp rat]

Looking forward to the results!