'69 GMC Build Thread.

[samwise68]

Well guys.

i've really completed NOTHING on the old girl lately.

ever since getting it back together, i've been driving it to the neighbors on the weekends. its about 2 miles on snow covered roads, and if i want her to, she handles fine.

though there seems to be an issue with one of the brakes catching more than the other. eep. should really address that i spose...

i also took my heater controls out, and reattached the lever bracket to the face plate. that should really assist in opening the controls and flappers and all that heat related...stuff. haha.

this week? hopefully get some more done. rear bumper brackets, wire the HEI correct with connectors and inline fuse, heater controls, replace a light bulb....etc. just very minor stuff.

however, due to the holidays being so around the corner, i may not be able to afford liscense and registration like...right now. SO. that just gives me time to get this little stuff done. yup. thats it. .

but yes. i'll be sure to update when i actually get something done...haha

-Sam.

[samwise68]

ok! time for an update!

not that i've done a whole lot to her or anything.

still driving her on the weekends...made a run to my neighbors house with about a face cord of fire wood down the highway. she took it just fine. but don't worry, Dad was driving. we leave this sorta thing to professionals. lol.

i got the rear bumper on, albeit not being painted. it's a might cold, and it's just a few bolts if i ever get the urge to bring it in the basement to warm up and spray bomb. so, yeah.

here you can see the rear bumper on.

along with a bit of a burnout. it was for a photography project. so. all in the name of education, i say!







not too shabby. but, once again. it helps that my Dad was driving. because, let's face it. he's a helluva lot better at it then i am. haha.

He's really enjoying having a truck on the road (kinda) again. especially because it's so close to his '68 he bought we he got out of the service. his was blue, with a white cab. a C20, with a 3 on the tree, and a 283. i know, not year correct engine, originally had a 327, but someone put a 283 in it. headers, glasspacks, pipes out the sides...hmmm..sounding familiar yet? lol. we're both really enjoying it.

oh!

and the neighbor that we took some wood to brought me a radio.

so, instead of this:



i'll make a plate to clean up the hole, and mount this in there instead.





i know it's out of like..a late 70's early 80's...but. it looks period correct. its GM Delco. it's got a cassette player. and those neat little buttons i can use to preset stations. yay!

-ahem-.

so. thats about it.

today was my last day of classes for the semester, so, w00t to finals being over! that also means a month of vacation for yours truley, in which i have most of my day to..well..do whatever i want!

which will include addressing my brake issue, installing the radio, adjusting the clutch, and putting liscense plates on.

since title transfer and registration fee's are going up quite a bit here after the new year, we're gonna liscense it pretty much asap. which doesn't bother me at all...lol. as long as it's safe. i'm chompin' at the bit to go for cruise.


wheew.

that was a bit long winded. i'll cut it off now.

let's hear it!

-Sam.

[samwise68]

Well, to continue continuity...heh. kinda redundant.

but. truck plus tree on slippery road equals.





time to find some new fenders...and the rest of a front clip...

dad feels terrible, since he was driving. almost as bad as i do. but, we're both A-ok. fixed it once, can fix it again...right? hah.

-Sam.

[Palf70Step]

Sorry for the news of the truck, but REAL glad your dad is OK.

You got a great attitude about it. We'll be looking forward to the continuing saga of the truck build.

[samwise68]

Thanks Bill.

i pretty much have an idea of what to do, i just need to finish tearing he apart today, and see what all i'm in need of.

if the core support is ok, then i'll take the top chrome bar off the grill, along with the eyebrow molding, and if i'm right, a 67-68 hood will bolt right on, match the fender lines, and without the grille bar, *should* sit flush with the grill.

but, thats including a bunch of big IF's.

we'll see what the next few days brings. i'm on break for a month before my next semester starts again at college, so i think i might make it yet. the only thing stopping me is...well. nothing.

bwahahah...

-ahem-.

thanks again Bill. . you brightened my day.

Merry Christmas all!

-sam.

[msgross]

ouch... at least everyone is ok....

[samwise68]

Thanks Mike.

i got it about 2/3 of the way torn down. hood, cowl, and driver fener are off.

the good news? it might just be the front frame horns bent over a little, which can be straightened.

i also checked my inventory, and have a fairly straight driver side fender, whih only needs a front cup replaced. which i have one.

that just leaves one question...if the rad support is alright. if that is..then...it's just a few dings to pound, a few rattle cans, and back at it! wooO!

i'll be sure to keep it all updated. yep. pics of course coming soon.

-Sam.

[samwise68]

well, time for an update.

got the rest of the front clip torn off, and it looks like everything is ok, aside from the frame shifting over a bit, which can be fixed.

i'm almost done patching a replacement driver side fender, along with hammer and dolly-ing the dent out of the passenger side one.

so, here's some pics.


yeah. that'll buff right out.



my semi straight bumper isn't even close to being semi-anything now...lol



yup. broke the radiator.



the battery too..sheesh...

so. from the looks of it..and at the pace i'm going..i might be able to have her back together before i go back to school. but thats only if i get over this damn cold..flu...thing.

gah. time for some more nyquil.

i'll keep you all posted.

-Sam.

[samwise68]

alright, another quick update.

i was banned from the garage by my parental units for a couple days as i recover from this cold...thing. meh.

however, that didn't mean i couldn't hammer and dolly out the dent in the passenger side fender that i had moved to the basement, now did it. haha...stick it to the man! er...kinda?

no pics, but i got most of it pounded out. a little bit more work, with an extra set of hands, should mean minimal filler to smooth it out.

i also have the cup beaded on, and the back lip tacked on. so, that'll require the rest of the welding, along with shaving the sidemarker, a bit of hammer and dolly, and filler...and we should be good to go.

i also picked up some rattle cans of my paint, so i can get the panels sealed up and one color in the basement (not a long enough air hose to reach from the garage), and thats about it.

the rad support and grille is untouched, and the frame is tweaked slightly, and uniformly. so, it'll be chained and cranked out. and...thats pretty much it.

we'll see how it all turns out, and i'll be sure to keep ou all posted.

-Sam.

[samwise68]

aight, happy new year to all!

while running on minimal amounts of sleep, dad and i got the frame cranked out today,

we ended up using a handyman jack, a long iron bar for leverage, and a chain on the driver side rail. then we used another chain and a chain tightener on the passenger side frame, to bring the ends back in straight. and, i must say, it turned out very well. lol

so, frame is back to being straight. check that off the list.

i have both fenders in the basement, working on filling in a few of the dings and warping seams from welding. so far, i've got the passenger side pretty much filled in, and have to lay some pn the seams of the drivers yet.

so, progress is being made.

this week i hope to get the front fenders filled straight, along with possibly getting he other front sheetmetal primed and possibly painted.

that, along with sticking the replaceent radiator in, and starting it up to see if any damage was done to the engine.

alright, but thats where she sits as of now.

no pics, again. but i'll see about taking some tomorrow.

-Sam.

[Palf70Step]

Must have warmed up some for you.

Of course trying to straighten up a frame will definitely warm you up.

Glad to hear you are getting it back inline. Did the frame bend throw off the front end much as far as the wheel/cross member alignment?

[samwise68]

Bill,

oh yeah, cranking on that jack warmed me up. i was almost tempted to lose my coat...then i remembered it was about 10 degrees out. and decided against it. haha.

the weels were off a little bit, but nothing very serious. the bend was about even with the gear box, so luckily the A-arms weren't in the midst of it. and as far as the cross member, it appeared to be unscathed.

all in all, got lucky, i suppose.

-Sam.

[samwise68]

well, time for some pics.

my new work area, thanks to understanding and supporting parents.



chest freezers make great work benches!



passenger side fender, in the process of smoothing.



driver side fender, patched and shaved, waiting to be smoothed.





now, i'm not going to kid anyone on this - the work thats going to take place on these fenders is simply to get them half way straight and smooth, back in one color, and back on the truck.

so, in other words, worse quality workmanship than before. haha.

i'll keep you all updated, i'm hoping to have the fenders smoothed by the weekend. we'll see what the week brings.

let's hear it!

-Sam.

[Kager67]

Looks good! Just think how boring your life would be if you would have just gone out and bought a used rice burner.

Kage

[ksbeatty]

Anyone that would jump right in and fix it after wrecking is alright with me. Do what you can when you can. Just be careful next time the law of physics always wins just ask Newton.

[samwise68]

Kage -

if i had a bought a fart canned ricer...i sure wouldn't be on thi board. . plus i'd be looking for another one, since anything but a full framed vehicle pretty much would've been sent to the scrap yard after that.

KSBeatty -

thanks man. i had the hood, cowl, and most of the drivers fender off the night that it happened. then x-mas day...i was back out there. there's really no use sitting around and sulking about it. the only thing that'll fix it..is. well. fixing it. heh.

and yeah. don't worry. Sir Issac pretty much kicked my ass on this one, why couldn't it have been an apple, instead of the whole tree..sheesh...

-Sam.

[samwise68]

well.

spent some more time playing with the mud.

i have the passenger side almost done. just have to block the skim coat i threw on it tonight, and it *should* be about ready.

i have about 2 coats on the seams of the drivers side, so after tomorrow it should be good. (pending how much time i get to work on it...the girlfriend is coming up to visit, and it'll break into my sending time. since she doesn't like...well...anything dirty).

this weekend, since we're sposed to have a warming streak, i plan on getting the spare radiator in it, and the new battery, and starting it up, to see if there might be anything wrong with it(god i hope not), and to move it.

then, on to over hauling the front brakes, and...getting her bolted back together. prolly try to get the fenders primed this weekend, along with maybe the hood and cowl, but i won't get my hopes up.

i'll be sure to keep you all updated.

-Sam.

[samwise68]

alright. got some stuff done today.

the spare radiator, was a spare for a reason. it had a pretty nice leak in it, along with being the wrong bottom bracket spacing.

so, we ended up soldering the bottom water outlet back in. we cleaned it up, fluxed it, solder, flux, solder.

so far, it doesn't leak at the seam. so, thats one less thing to worry about.

we also started the engine back up. after the initial moisture smoking out, the smoke was normal. checked the oil after letting it run for a bit, and voila. just a good oil color, no milky goodness. no ticks or tocks or knocks.

so, once again. one less thing to worry about.

so, tomorrow we;'re going to spin the old girl around in the garage, and tear into the front brakes. once those are done, then it's just spray bombing and bolting.

speaking of which i had better go knock down some bondo, and get those fenders done. the passenger side is a few strokes away from being smoothed out, and the drivers is filling in nicely.

i'll be sure to take pics, if theres something worth taking pics of. .

let's hear it.

-Sam.

[Palf70Step]

Glad to hear things are coming together. I know all about the blocking and sanding. After soccer with my son all morning, I spent time on mine doing some sanding and bondoing (if that is a word)

[samwise68]

Bill -

Bondoing HAS to be a word. i mean, c'mon. how many dozens of people use it on here? .

But, as far as an update.

i didn't get a chance to spray any primer, but that'll happen tomorrow, i'm thinking.

we did, however, get the front brakes off. for the sake of simplicity, i'm just going to get two new wheel cylinders, instead of worrying about rebuilding them. new shoes, as well, of course. and new wheel bearing grease seals.

did you know it helps to stop when the shoes aren't covered in grease? yeah. news to me too.

but thats where she stands as of now - on jack stands.

tomorrow i'll call around to the part stores, and find who is the cheapest for the above listed items, then tuesday i'll pick them up after i pay tuition for the next semester of college.

then that just leaves this week to get my body work done, get the panels scuffed and painted, and back on.

i go back to school on January 21st. so, kinda shooting to have it back together and driveable before then. but, we'll just have to wait and see. deadlines don't seem to work out too hot for me...so. hey. who knows.

tomorrow, pics will come! i promise!

-Sam.

[samwise68]

alright, finally got some real visible progress done.

after nit picking with bondo and sanding, bondo and sanding..i've decided that it's "good enough".

so, here's before some spray bomb primer.







and after some red oxide goodness.







doesn't look too bad. and tomorrow, i'll start laying some green onto them. i figure a coat will be good enough, and maybe 2 if i'm feeling ambitious.

so, that means tomorrow i'll pull out the '69 chevy hood, and bring that down stairs to thaw out, and get the spare cowl out of the garage and take that to my make-shift shop as well.

and that'll just about take care of the little bit of body work and painting i have left to do.

i also did some calling around, and ordered my brake parts for tomorrow. the cheapest i found was Napa, and it came to a total of about 70 dollars for 2 sets of shoes, 2 wheel cylinders, brake hardware, and front wheel bearing grease seals. so, not too bad. money well spent considering brakes are kinda nice to have.

and thats about it.

however, i also checked on the books i need to buy for next semester, and it comes to about 400 bucks. SO. it looks like i may be doing some scraping for that. . but don't worry, i have it figured out, and Diamond Lil will make it back on the road in time....

....i hope.

let's hear it!

-Sam.

[Palf70Step]

You'd think those book were made out of gold, or something important like NOS parts for what they charge us for them

Nice work on the fenders!

[samwise68]

Thanks Bill!

and yeah...they say education is priceless, and knowledge is power...well. my pockets are empty i feel pretty bent over on this one..

oh well. i'll just cross my fingers for a decent buyback price.

things are getting close...and i just might make it...

-Sam.

[samwise68]

alright, got some done today.

the guy at Napa said, and i quote, "****, someone dropped the ball on that order" when i called to see if my parts were in.

so, i'm having Mom pick them up tomorrow after work.

i did get the fenders painted though.









i don't think they turned out too bad.

i have a run on one spot, but i can take care of that.

all in all, for a rattle can, i think they're presentable.

i also hauled the extra hood and cowl into the basement, so they warm up and dry off. i'll scuff them tomorrow, and lay some green on them as well, when i touch up/extra coat my fenders.

i also started on patching another inner fender, and get that ready to go in. i'll prolly brush some black rustoleum on that, just to keep consistency.


and...thats about it.

i'll be sure to keep you all updated. i'm hoping this weekend the brakes will get put back together, and i can get the front end bolted back on.

let's hear it!

-Sam.

[clemson71guy]

nice work!
im shure you will have pleanty of fun putting the brakes back together if you have drums all the way around i know it took us about a week to put the new stuff for my rear drum breaks, but at the rate you work you should have it done in less than an hour