Orange 68/71/? project

[4byfour]

First time poster here. Figured I would start a thread and post pictures of the build my sons and I are doing since this board has been such a wealth of knowledge to get us started. I was told this was a 68 k20 when I went to look at it, and the frame numbers matched the title, but that's really where the 68 stops. It was clear the cab was not a 68 (headliner, cargo light, foot e-brake) but since the guy who started botching the cab floor and rockers decided to take the VIN plate off (I have the vin plate from the old original cab, just not this one)I can't say for sure what year it really is. If anyone can tell me by looking at the pics, the help is much appreciated. I know the fenders and hood they had on it were 70-72. I did pick up this 71 c10 parts truck in the deal that had a .040 over 350 in it that appears to have never run correctly after rebuild(bottom end looks good, but valve lash was awful and judging my gas varnish all over the intake had a massive vacuum/fuel leak) I have a good title for the c10 which matches door plate and the frame so nothing funny there. I am a little confused on the holes in the door jambs of this orange cab. Anyone know what those are for? Are they even correct? I haven't noticed them on anyone else's trucks so I figured the PO screwed something up there. Thanks for looking and I will try to keep this updated from time to time. Having trouble figuring out loading pictures, will have some added shortly.

[4byfour]

some additional photos.

[4byfour]

Finally started getting after the floor on the truck. It always amazes me how much work people do to cover up rust instead of just removing it and replacing the metal. About 1/4 of the old original rusty rockers were left in place with new flat sheetmetal wasput over the top and welded shut on bottom. No way for the rocker to expand and contract. The inside of the cab corner had this super thin metal glued down with seam sealer. Great. Also have the engine mostly together. Should be almost done tomorrow.

[4byfour]

Got the engine mostly put together today. Just need to order pushrods and rocker arm studs to finish the valvetrain. Also, got the first passenger side floor patch panel mostly fitted up. Need to get some rust encapsulator before welding it in.

[4byfour]

My boys and I built this quick little cart to put the truck bed on. Hopefully tomorrow we will get the bed off the frame and out of the way so we can finish fitting the floor sheet metal at the back of the cab.

[4byfour]

The bed dolly worked out great. Now I can finish the back of the cab and the cab floor.

[notsolo]

Good progress, unique addition on the floor of the cab? Stiffener, coin safe? Annoying obstictal,?..easier working on the drive train with the bed off for sure. I broke mine down to 7 big pieces, straightened front panel, painted all inside and out and reassembled. Take plenty of photos they help later.

[4byfour]

Appreciate the kind words. This is just a fun project for the boys and I. A way to teach how to turn wrenches and drive a manual once it's running. We just want a cool driver, definitely not a show truck. We are challenging ourselves to buy as little for the truck as possible and build it with the multitude of parts that came with the purchase. This cab floor was butchered for sure. Going to take longer than normal undoing all of the mistakes. Not that I am an expert, but I know better than to cover floor rust with thin metal and liquid nails haha.

[4byfour]

Well I finally got back to feeling up to working on the truck again. June 20th I received a phone call that my dad had passed from a sudden heart attack. It staggered me something fierce, but I am slowly healing. This past week I have been trying to refocus on this project and move forward. I have decided to replace the entire floor pan instead of piecing it together. I also have decided to do a disc brake swap on the 74 14 bolt the previous owner put under the truck. This weekend I was able to tear down the hubs, and brace the cab to prepare for floor removal.

[cj847]

Sorry to hear about your Dad. I like your truck story. I think any of these trucks that are not 1-3 owner are a jumbled up mess of parts.

Mine is a 71 GMC cab, frame (i think), and title; 72 driver door, 71 passenger door, 72 glovebox door with of course a SPID that doesn't match the title....

[4byfour]

Mine didn't come with a glovebox door, so I will probably never know the full story.

[cornerstone]

I always love the father and sons builds. If you post a picture with everyone working on the truck it's a great way to reminisce in the future.

Also, I'm sorry to hear that you lost your dad. That's a tough one out of the blue like that...

Keep us posted with lots of pics!

[4byfour]

Just found out this morning that the complete floor pan I ordered may take several months to get, so I guess we will move on to chassis/engine and trans work. Kind of a bummer, I was hoping to get the floor pan swap done this fall.

[1971Stepside]

Just found out this morning that the complete floor pan I ordered may take several months to get

You aren't far from KC. LMC truck or Classic Parts would have I one I would think. Drive down and save the shipping. If you order 24 hours ahead and pick it up LMC will give you 10% off.

[4byfour]

Classic is where I am on the waiting list. LMCs was $200 more, not worth it to me, so didn't inquire to see if they had one. I will just wait. thanks for looking out though, I appreciate it.

[4byfour]

Got valve lash set and the rest of the engine painted. Not sold on these valve covers yet. Did have my son helping wire wheel thermostat housing.

[4byfour]

Not a lot of progress, but some will come soon. I did get the bed disassembled, but the floor is worse than I expected. The under bed supports are good but the floor sheetmetal is heavily pitted and has a ton of pinholes. Was really hoping to avoid paying a grand for something that will just get beat up again. My rear brake disc conversion kit just arrived as I am typing this, so that will go on hopefully next week. I did aquire this nice spot welder from a chevy dealer going out of business near me for cheap. Excited to use it to install my cab floor. Also, I am picking up a 60 gallon 2 stage air compressor for dirt cheap. It was something I was greatly lacking in my garage. More updates soon

[4byfour]

Got a little more done today. 14 bolt rear disc brake conversion is complete. Start on ball joints and front brakes tomorrow.

[May70]

So I assume you don't have an ebrake with that setup?

[4byfour]

Actually, these calipers do have an ebrake. They are the 78-79 Eldorado style. I do not have ebrake cables yet, so have yet to hook those up. I bought as a kit, went together quite nicely.

[May70]

Is that a kit or did you part it together?

Interesting. I knew 5/6 lug conversions frequently used the el dorado calipers but I thought the rotors were pretty light duty and did not have an ebrake. Most kits ive seen do not have an ebrake either.

Would like to know more on how to do that with an 8 lug 3/4 truck, although I think my rear end is an eaton but I haven't got that far... Thanks

[4byfour]

My kit was specifically for the 14 bolt rear end. Not sure what exists for an Eaton.

[May70]

Where did you get it from?

[4byfour]

Finally getting some progress. My grandfather passed in October so been dealing with that.I also had rotator cuff surgery in August so just now getting enough strength back to work on the truck. The junk floor pan is out and the new one is bolted in, ready to weld partially. Found typical rust at the bottom of the A and B pillars that the previous owner covered up with a new rocker panel. Just love redoing shoddy work. Happy with the progress nonetheless.

[4byfour]

Floor pan bolted and self tapped in. Lined it up with the cab mounts, and hung a door to make sure nothing had twisted. Everything lining up really well. I'm impressed with the fitment of this Floor pan. Now ready to weld it along the firewall and rear of the cab. Then. I will tackle the bottoms of the A pillars, B pillars, cab corners and rockers. Hoping to be ready for painting the cab and front end when the weather warms up this spring.