72 GMC Short Step Build

[Z10]

Thanks Super Tex. I thought I saw you drive by in that Black Beauty of yours. We still need to grab a cup and catch up.

Z

[SuperC10Tex]

Originally Posted by Z10

Thanks Super Tex. I thought I saw you drive by in that Black Beauty of yours. We still need to grab a cup and catch up.

Z

First test drive after getting her all put back together. First cup is on me.....soon! I lost the "GMC" soft touch horn cap link you sent me, can you send it again.....

[Z10]

ST,
I think your truck looks great, and you could certainly park it next to mine at any show. I didn't build mine to show either, it's truly driven every chance I get.

Here's a link to the GMC stick on center cap that I used on my steering wheel.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4x-GMC-56mm-...6992ca&vxp=mtr

Here's are the same ones which are more expensive if you can't wait.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GMC-WHEEL-CE...1e7f5f&vxp=mtr

[Z10]

Wilwoods are here!

Thanks to Travis at Pro Performance for getting my Wilwoods shipped out quickly. Just in case anyone is interested, this was the only place I found a complete front and rear kit, and it's priced fairly.



http://www.azproperformance.com/Pro1...Brake-Kit.html

Now, just need to schedule some shop time with Car Boss and Double E to get these and some other toys installed.

[Z10]

Fuel Injector Testing

I just ran across some photos of the fuel injector test rig that Double E and Car Boss built to test the fuel injectors in the FIRST TPI. We found when testing the supplied injectors, they did not flow to spec. Although they would have worked sufficiently to run the engine, they would not provide peak performance. So, these were returned for credit and another set was purchased, retested and we were able to confirm that we had a set that performed to spec.

How many builders would have the test equipment or know how to do this? Probably not many. I am blessed to have these guys on my team!

[Average Joe]

Originally Posted by Z10

Fuel Injector Testing

I just ran across some photos of the fuel injector test rig that Double E and Car Boss built to test the fuel injectors in the FIRST TPI. We found when testing the supplied injectors, they did not flow to spec. Although they would have worked sufficiently to run the engine, they would not provide peak performance. So, these were returned for credit and another set was purchased, retested and we were able to confirm that we had a set that performed to spec.

How many builders would have the test equipment or know how to do this? Probably not many. I am blessed to have these guys on my team!

You have very talented friends!

[Bomp]

Awesome stuff

[Z10]

Thanks Bomp,

We should start phase II sometime in September and October. Stay tuned.

[BigDaddyV]

Sub'd!
Love the truck and all the amazing work.

[Z10]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyV

Sub'd!
Love the truck and all the amazing work.

Thanks Big Daddy. Hopefully Car Boss will get a certain 55 chevy out of his shop soon so that we can start phase II.

Here are some of the things we'll be doing.
2" lowering blocks
Rear Adco swaybar
Power Trax rear diff
Finned Aluminum diff cover
Front and rear Wilwood disc brakes
Willwood proportioning valve.
New Bluetooth stereo system
New OEM outside door handles
Sound deaden both doors
New OEM interior door handles

When you list it out like this, seems like an afternoon project. "NOT".

[adamb12]

The truck looks awesome, can you give me info on the armrest with the cup holder that is in the seat I assume you can buy that and use it on a seat that does not have a cup holder. I have found Leather from a 08 Tahoe that will cost roughly the same as having my seat done like yours except black and red houndstooth with black ostrich print trim and I am tossed as to what to do.

[Z10]

Originally Posted by adamb12

The truck looks awesome, can you give me info on the armrest with the cup holder that is in the seat I assume you can buy that and use it on a seat that does not have a cup holder. I have found Leather from a 08 Tahoe that will cost roughly the same as having my seat done like yours except black and red houndstooth with black ostrich print trim and I am tossed as to what to do.

Thanks adamb12. Sure the company is Classic Consoles
http://www.classicconsoles.com
I picked mine up for around $85 from eBay. Hope that helps.

[Skerbs1]

Your truck is really nice! Very impressive. Congratulations. I have enjoyed reading about the build and got some great ideas for my truck. Thanks

[Z10]

Originally Posted by Skerbs1

Your truck is really nice! Very impressive. Congratulations. I have enjoyed reading about the build and got some great ideas for my truck. Thanks

Thanks Skerbs1.

Stay tuned, more to come.

[Z10]

Core Support Filler Panel

I bought a core support filler panel to clean up the area between the grill and core support. I contacted screaminchevypickup, a vendor here on the sight, and he shipped one out quickly. I think it looks great. Here is a before and after pic.

[j carter]

Did you install your brakes yet? If you have how do you like them?

[72bowtiestepper]

Originally Posted by Z10

Core Support Filler Panel

I bought a core support filler panel to clean up the area between the grill and core support. I contacted screaminchevypickup, a vendor here on the sight, and he shipped one out quickly. I think it looks great. Here is a before and after pic.

Filler panel for the core support looks great....really cleans up the front of the engine compartment....can't go wrong with black....I have seen some with polished alum. or body color...black looks best IMO.

[BigDaddyV]

Trucks Looking Really Sharp bud!!!!

[nlped]

Looks great!

[Z10]

Originally Posted by j carter

Did you install your brakes yet? If you have how do you like them?

Good question J Carter. No, they're still sitting in boxes in my garage. Perhaps Car Boss will see this?

In his defense he's had a few projects that needed to be wrapped up and he's in the middle of installing a new engine and super charger in "Hank" his 58 Apache.
(go check out his build, it's going to be very cool. diceman50)

I'm sure we'll reassemble the team shortly.

[screaminchevypickup]

Looks great!! Thanks for the business..

[Possmguts]

Very jealous of all the guys on here with friends that are actually useful and know what they're doing. I'm going solo on my build and don't have half the knowledge of the fab work as a lot of you guys on here and my pockets aren't very deep. But I'm 45 years young and wanted to do this..... I do have access to a full machine shop though, but I barley know how to turn on a Bridgeport...
Beautiful work on all the custom fab stuff.

[diceman50]

Originally Posted by Possmguts

Very jealous of all the guys on here with friends that are actually useful and know what they're doing. I'm going solo on my build and don't have half the knowledge of the fab work as a lot of you guys on here and my pockets aren't very deep. But I'm 45 years young and wanted to do this..... I do have access to a full machine shop though, but I barley know how to turn on a Bridgeport...
Beautiful work on all the custom fab stuff.

Hang in there Possmguts! None of us started out knowing how to do all this stuff. If you have the desire and access to a machine shop you should be able to accomplish most anything you want to do. The internet is a fabulous tool to get the knowledge you need to do most of this stuff. Your skill set will grow faster than you think.

Although Z10 and I are neighbors we also belong to a local car club as does Double E. We have been able to combine our individual talents along with other club members to accomplish more than if we were working alone. Sometimes that help may come only as advise but, that can be very valuable. If you don't belong to a club you might see if you can find one with some members that have similar interests. This stuff is more fun with some friends to do it with.

Diceman (aka Car Boss)

[Z10]

Possmguts, Car Boss has some great advice. We all do have talents. He can build anything, Double E can wire and understand all things electrical. I...... well I can clean stuff up, get in the way and break out a check book.

Really, go find a club of like minded guys/gals. We have new folks joining us all the time. If your lucky, you'll make some great friends with a great deal of knowledge and have fun helping each other.

Case in point. This afternoon, I had a couple of hours, so I stopped by Car Boss's shop to find he and Double E working on another friends 1940 Chevy coupe. They were hard at it and I just decided to start cleaning the intake manifold. Wasn't much, but I had a great time hanging out with friends. It's not necessarily the end results; it's the journey.

[Z10]

Phase II Begins

Well life has a way of getting in the way and Phase II is no different. With my schedule and Car Boss's schedule, time has slipped a bit. But, that all changed this afternoon, Phase II began.

Took the 72 over to Car Boss's shop and we got the rear up in the air, unbolted the bolts holding the diff to the trailing arms and got the 2" lowering blocks installed. Took a bit of coaxing but a couple of hours later they're installed. We then decided it was time to get the axles out to prep for the Wilwood rear brakes and the Powertrax rear installed.

If you've kept up with this build, you'll recall several short cuts that where inflicted on the engine mounts, firewall, and even the speaker system, which have all been corrected. One of the last subsystems that had not been touched was the rear diff. I should have know that this would turn out to be tampered with also. We pop the diff cover and were greeted with a thin red fluid and not the heavy gear lube we were expecting. ATF transmission fluid? Yep. Who knows how long it's been in there, but for sure the last 3 years that I've owned it. Well at least the diff cover and and gears look really clean.

Here's a pic of the diff cover. You can see where the fluid level was. Nice and shiny. Now why in the world would someone do this?

Double EE came by after we had started and was presented with my new sound system to start planning for.