gmc interior question(s)

[Spartan]

'69 if it matters
here's a pic of the gauge cluster. its painted flat maroon same as the area in between dash and windshield. I'm new to gmc. I have plenty o chevys. question is... is this stock? thanks in advance for replies.
here's pics of what I'm referring to.

also what is this item on the exhaust?

cheers
Nim

[too much stuff]

Looks correct on the cluster. Gmc was often color matched with the cluster. The item on your exhaust is a heat riser. Factory item to redirect the exhaust to make your choke work better. Looks like you may have a cracked manifold...

[TBONE1964]

Hi Nim,

On the gauge cluster, GMC bezels were typically painted the same as the interior color or main paint code on the truck. I just restored a cluster for a gentlemen with a 67 GMC and I painted his bezel code "507" satin. If it was a Chevrolet truck the bezel would be black with argent silver or chrome trim.

I attached a photo of the one I did for my customer.

The other part you see on the exhaust is a heat riser. This gizmo is there to help heat the choke on the carburetor in cold weather. It has a heat sensitive spring that will open the valve as soon as the engine reaches normal operating temp. If you do not have the rest of the system in place, that part is basically useless.

Hope this helps
Tom

[davepl]

I see the problem. Your truck is upside down.

I don't know about '69 but my '70 GMC is color-matched. This was before redoing the needles, which is why the speedo is still faded in this pic.

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by too much stuff

Looks correct on the cluster. Gmc was often color matched with the cluster. The item on your exhaust is a heat riser. Factory item to redirect the exhaust to make your choke work better. Looks like you may have a cracked manifold...

Well said Eric

[davepl]

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

The other part you see on the exhaust is a heat riser. This gizmo is there to help heat the choke on the carburetor in cold weather. It has a heat sensitive spring that will open the valve as soon as the engine reaches normal operating temp. If you do not have the rest of the system in place, that part is basically useless.

It's not actually to heat the choke - it's to heat the intake and the carb in particular. You're right that the choke responds to it and that it speeds up warning. Maybe I'm just picking on semantics.

So all you really need to derive some benefit from it is a non-blocked crossover in the intake and a correctly adjusted choke. It'd be better with the heat stove, pipe, therm valve in the snorkel and so on.

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by davepl

It's not actually to heat the choke - it's to heat the intake and the carb in particular. You're right that the choke responds to it and that it speeds up warning. Maybe I'm just picking on semantics.

So all you really need to derive some benefit from it is a non-blocked crossover in the intake and a correctly adjusted choke. It'd be better with the heat stove, pipe, therm valve in the snorkel and so on.

Well said Dave

[davepl]

TBONE - I used PPG 2060 (maybe 2160, bad memory) "Fixed N Flat" which is not actually flat but more of a satin. I wasn't sure what sheen they used from the factory (my 44 year old original wasn't glossy, but so old it didn't mean much).

You're the gauge man - did you use satin because it looks nicer, or because it's how they were done originally?

A better question would be were they painted from the factory or injection-modeled in that color of plastic before they plated the chrome parts?

[Spartan]

Thanks folks.
all my chevy's are black clusters. Just thought this was neat. I have been hoarding all the maroon or gold 69 interior parts i can find for a couple of builds I have going.

I haven't taken a good look at this truck yet all in all. I am just going to strip the maroon stuff and take the engine/tranny for later on to maybe salvage.

The cracked manifold doesnt surprise me. From the story I was told by the seller he had fun with this truck. I took that to mean he drove it hard and put it away wet. He cut the exhaust off to make straight pipes for a louder.

Anyways thanks for chiming in guys. The cab roof is shot and all I wanted was a few parts. I figure I'll try tom in JC see if he wants to trade a driver fender for the rest of the truck since all I need for the k20 is the driver door panel, windshield and carb.

Funny thing Inoted a few minutes ago while spraying the PB on some bolts is the front is coil and the rear is leaf...another GMC thing? Oh and heres a pic of the writing on the firewall which really is in pretty good shape.

thanks again

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by davepl

TBONE - I used PPG 2060 (maybe 2160, bad memory) "Fixed N Flat" which is not actually flat but more of a satin. I wasn't sure what sheen they used from the factory (my 44 year old original wasn't glossy, but so old it didn't mean much).

You're the gauge man - did you use satin because it looks nicer, or because it's how they were done originally?

A better question would be were they painted from the factory or injection-modeled in that color of plastic before they plated the chrome parts?

Good questions Dave.

I did a lot of research and looked at a lot of factory GMC bezels. All were sun faded of course but looking under the steering column boot, you could get a little taste for what they were suppose to look like new.

My belief (and I could be wrong) is these were painted satin from the factory or that it was the same paint used on the rest of the interior and just looks satin on the plastic.

I do not believe that GM used a color injection on these. Man would I love to go back and see how these clusters were put together. I have seen a lot of very minor differences in cluster parts and wonder why things are the way there are.

[Spartan]

davepl
NICE! my thought was to put the gmc cluster int he K20. I know its not stock which is what im going for on the K20. I figure only a few around here will know the difference, but its a difference I kinda like. maybe the glove door too. Thats something i like about the gmcs even though im not too hot on the grills. different strokes.. I'll prolly put these buddy buckets in the K20 as well...

[jsprengeler]

Here's mine - 72 GMC.