47-55.1 Project "Bickle" 1948 1/2 ton 4.3 4l60e

[joedoh]

haha we pick on each other a lot. its good stuff though.

a little history to start the day, first, I found the original picture of this truck (well, the cab anyway). the scrap red dot was super serious back then.



second, someone asked how to support the rear of the running board with only two frame brackets. its not that loose once you get all the bed bolts in but this is an extra bracket I build if they are wiggly. a couple joggles and a couple holes.



even though I have aftermarket gauges installed, the original cluster has to go inside the dash, the OBII doesnt like not having it installed, it sets a trouble code in the PCM as an uncommunicative serial device and wont let the alternator charge. I wanted it over the brake pedal bracket this time, usually I put it behind the speaker opening but I needed that room this time. I bagged it and taped it so it would be ok if the windshield leaked, and then viola, it fit right up there.




with underhood stuff done I got the hood on, no springs yet.



literally nothing else will fit haha. more in second post.

[joedoh]

next I set about getting all the underdash stuff done. brake pedal switch and special clip installed, fusebox and light switch underdash on the drivers side, floor courtesy lights routed. this guy was missing for several months, a directed search though and I found it.



what is it? on the modern column the cable shifter fits a special bracket, and if you dont put that staple in, a couple shifts and the cable housing will snap.



I had it in the "interior" bucket from disassembly but someone kicked the bucket outside and I didnt notice it was gone for a long time.

that done I cut the vents down to install, I used two chunks, the face vent/defrost section and the main face vent cut down to fit over the first. (I also shortened the glovebox, there is enough stuff back there now to choke a goat)



all installed, my master plan was to fire the single vent out the speaker grille, worked perfect!



that done I installed the HVAC controls and the bilge blower for a test



it worked well with the engine off, but without vacuum I couldnt test the various doors. so I started it up, an ohwellwhat thehell, checked AC operation. SUCCESS! AC blew ICE cold (albiet with a cycling compressor, no fan shroud to pull air, will be fixed)

was it cheaper to reuse all the factory stuff than use an old air or VA system? you freaking bet. especially since the system can be pulled fully charged, and a working system before = a working system after. was it easier? welll... no. but having installed the VA systems a couple times I will say it was a lot cheaper than it was a lot harder, meaning with VA you buy it for a lot more money than it is a problem to install the factory setup.

enough soapboxing. I am super happy that bilge blower blows STRONG. someone asked a while ago about how the original fan blew, compared to this it wouldnt put out a birthday cake.

[joedoh]

great news stan!

worked on the small small small trans bump, laid a little asphalt sound deadening material too.




then jute



then carpet! I think the color will go well with the dash/seat/steering wheel.



put in the glovebox and hvac controls, would have buttoned up the dash but missing the screws and didnt feel like masking up for homer derpt.



more tomorrow!

[VoyagerXll]

Looking good...........is the asphalt material that is used for roof flashing? I have read that it works quite well and the cost is reasonable.
I put a 1947 WC Dodge on a 1990 Dakota chassis about 10 years ago. I used limited sound deadening material, and there is a lot of wind noise in the cab. When I get to that point on my project, I will look into the sound deadening material........... I think a lot of the noise is just part of the non aerodynamics of these old trucks.

[joedoh]

wind noise is different than road noise and both are different from reflected noise. seal up wind noise, use mass adders for road noise, use thick pads for reflected noise!


more finish work today. need a glovebox latch from storage, dwindling supply of those. dont worry about the smudged glass, in process!



on the rear view mirror its for a car and supposed to mount on the dash, but i didnt want to drill a hole so I used a 5/16 weld nut on the windshield garnish, worked great.



most cowl vents dont open. this one is super reluctant, I use a breaker bar for leverage but have a pretty good feel when something is going to break loose or just break, this feels like a break. someone else can screw with it, I put in AC for a reason. next truck I will just weld it shut but on this one some silicone will do it.



wipers windshield center bar and outside mirror done.



undercoating hid the seam sealer by blending it to the bedliner. I will put the OG bed wood and strips in the bed over the floor if someone wants.




tomorrow I am looking at a honey hole with a good buddy, and a few other things too. maybe get the bumper welded on and the door panels


STILL WAITING ON SEAT. this sucks. he is usually 3 weeks. its 6.

[OutlawDrifter]

That dash looks familiar...hmmmm.

Looking good, almost there!

[joedoh]

it should look REALLY familiar, I couldnt find (didnt really look for) a chevrolet speaker trim so I used the GMC!

[oldman3]

Looks great Russ...Jim

[youngrodder]

Looks great. I too had trouble with my fresh air vent. I had to keep working it back and forth and hit with PB Blaster repeatedly.

Marc

[joedoh]

visited the honey hole, bought 5 trucks. a 49 chevy 4400 fire truck cab and front clip, a 49 ford f-1 (always wanted to build one!), a 49 willys overland truck, a surprisingly complete/intact 59 international shortbed 4x4 (for my brother the international guy) and a 1994 toyota std cab 2wd pickup. I figure if I can get it titled, I will just use it as a donor for the ford!

guy had some wild stuff, there were at least 100 67-79 ford trucks there and old semi trucks, houses on beams still hooked to the old cabover fords that hauled them there. there was a 67 lemans 326 with a tree growing through the rear of it, an early econoline and chevy 108 van, this huge gal diamond t tandem axle wrecker that looked like a semi tow truck, even a GM diesel (not a detroit) that was as tall and almost as long as a fullsize chevy van it was infront of, I think from one of the 4 cranes dismantled on the property.

got the bumper mounts designed, need to cut them out.



realized my garage is a pigsty (it always is in the throes of finishing) so before cutting I cleaned the truck and pushed it out for some time in the sun.





made a run 30 minutes north to pick up a FItech for my brother, he got a pretty good deal and its really like ordering online because all he has to do is push a button haha




rather than complaining about how small the forum images have shrunk (again), instead I will complain about how long the seat is taking. its been a month and a half and now he says two more weeks.

[GreasyLikeaBurger]

[Tempest67]

always making progress,

looking good

[joedoh]

thanks t man!

greasy its one week now! :P

got the front bumper on, still deciding on a rear bumper. I haave a couple aftermarket rear bumpers, even a black one. still deciding though.

taillights wired, rear fender braces attached, door panels on. just need a seat!

[VoyagerXll]

the yellow fenders are a nice contrast to the rest of the truck. It looks great

[oldman3]

Russ, getting closer and closer each day...Jim

[8man]

The truck looks good. You have this down.

[VoyagerXll]

I am slowly making progress on my project. I did get the drivers side motor mounts made. I should have asked this question prior to making them.......what thickness of metal should they be made from?
Now I am headed to the shop to see what I can screw up today. Keep up the good work

Stan from NE

[joedoh]

thanks jim and robert!

stan I use 1/8th on my mounts, but I make them double sided (two supports on the pipe). I know a lot of guys that use 1/4 with a single support.

[VoyagerXll]

Originally Posted by joedoh

thanks jim and robert!

stan I use 1/8th on my mounts, but I make them double sided (two supports on the pipe). I know a lot of guys that use 1/4 with a single support.

Thanks russ, I am glad to hear that because that is what I used on the one I made

[reaper71]

looking great Russ!

[joedoh]

thanks!

getting tired of waiting on the seat. did the alignment and did some shakedown cruising with a kitty litter bucket.



everything works well. found an exhaust leak from where I cross cut the pipe for slip fit and forgot to weld up the cut. very quiet now!

I did a "soft opening" where I listed it for sale pending seat install and a nice guy who has bought some 41 parts from me in the past called and looked and bought the same day. seat should be done sunday night, he is picking up monday.

the front suspension settled a little with the drive so it looks better to me. keep in mind this is only lowered from stock s10 1", and rides and steers like a go kart with the close ratio steering and sway bar setup of the zq8.

here are two pictures on the "for sale" corner of my parking.




I will post pictures of the seat when its installed.

summing up, I really thought the yellow and black colors would go well together, and they have, but differently than I pictured. I didnt really care for (and still dont care for) the champagne interior but I begrudgingly admit that it came out nice and is very classy! I may do it again, although the next truck is slated for black on black. this is hands down the NICEST truck I have done, if I had the first one here for a comparison I would probably get sick.

speaking of the next truck, keep an eye out, starting project 10! no moss grows under my feet!

[OutlawDrifter]

The black and yellow makes me think of a NYC cab....

This one looks to be a great driver and champagne isn't for everyone! I went that route cause it was close to the factory GMC interior color.

What's next...a real one for you or another to finish and pass along?

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

The black and yellow makes me think of a NYC cab....

This one looks to be a great driver and champagne isn't for everyone! I went that route cause it was close to the factory GMC interior color.

What's next...a real one for you or another to finish and pass along?

Ill do the black five window in this picture and sell it on, and then I should have enough money to colorado swap my 56, also in this pic (you can see the yellow bed I got the yellow rear fenders from! )



the 56 is ultimately supposed to be my shop fetcher. I am leaning towards AWD with a trailblazer 6 and transfer case, but probably 2wd 5 cylinder will be fine for me too, I like the lopey idle of the OHC 5s.

[8man]

Wow, that was quick, and congratulations on the quick sale. Looking forward to the next one.

[Tempest67]

nice work on Bickle,

a 56 on a Colorado........... I will be watching that one closely.


Great work Russ, and thanks for all the tips and experience that you share with all of us.