Build that 71 402 already

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

Finished the steering and tailgate yesterday. We started on the doors only to find out the original 3M tape on original molding clips are no good after 40-50 years

Looking Great.
Probably give 3M a call on Tuesday for warranty

[68bowtie]

Oooooh pretty

[TexasLS1]

These updates are fantastic, hard work pays off.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Thanks.....

Well I finally tied in the shift this and that, and the steering column this and that too, what an adventure. As steering goes, first I had to do it wrong to do it right, not a big deal. Turns out you can't install the upper steering shaft correctly with the intermediate shaft mounted to the rag joint, go figure. Anyway, got that done the other day and was happy to see I didn't have to mess with the steering box & rag joint formerly installed. So then came the shift business today, which kept me running for a while.

I tried installing what I thought might be the correct assm. for the bottom of the shift control rod to the shift shaft control cross using kit 1394293 / 22503153. Yeah, but not really, my fingers are real sore. I can't see that kit working, couldn't install what I know as the right spring clip. Perhaps there are different rods or clips.

.............. So I went with what I knew would work by tailoring a single flange grommet (aka step bumper # PBCS51612). I inserted that into the cross from the LH side, added a regular flat washer on the RH side, and the clip slid in nicely while there's no play.

Then came the flustering shift detent business for non-tilt, yeah that took a while. Once the positions added up, I ended up adjusting the play off the detent by finding a happy spot, and slowly tightening the lower strap over and over while repeatedly checking the shift, because even when I thought it was right, tightening the lower strap said nope, nope, not there either, nice try, not really close, yadda yadda.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Hung the doors and caught the hood springs today. I tell you this guy Josh is a God-send. When we dove in we didn't know what we were getting into, especially me. We dealt 10,500 for paint body & materials near 7 years ago. I'll end up around 18 not counting extras. He's never asked for a dime more than agreed on. I'm still getting a deal, how many guys do you know will pick up and deliver a cab and bed moldings & dry run too. He's Apache Indian and something like German.

Dry run proved a nice guide but wasn't quite where we ended up most places. The RH is great, that the side that was t-boned. They punched 30 some holes in that door and bondo. Good to know it's all steel again, thanks to Josh. RH door latch proved a challenge, but by my eyes the LH side needs a slight adjustment.

We lag bolted the hinges onto one of too many carts I've built for this disaster, sprayed them down deep creep, probably half a can, and worked them good. Josh is a strong fellow too and used a old fan belt while I supported the other side as we prayed. Really though, they went on much easier than expected.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Installed the duct, compressor & finished the brakes, she's ready for fenders.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Just a little update, hopefully she has a full body this Saturday, though I know we won't finish moldings or perhaps the skirts. I wonder if it would be worth it to fit the fenders, pull them to install with the skirts on? Hmm.

I freshened up the vacuum reserve can, wow what a nice piece. Hope it works It only had a few light scratches, sand paper & polish looks like new.

I updated my to-do list today and a manual I'm writing and realized wholly cow, this project is nearly done. That's kind of a shock, so much time dedicated. I figure 100 hours my end to finish the truck and kit I've written. It will feel strange to be done.

[DeadheadNM]

Just in time for Spring. Nice!

[tutone]

Nice work. I always dread,(and enjoy), this phase of a build. After one has been apart awhile, things just don't go as planned always. Thanks for the shift diagram as I am waiting for my linkage kit to get here this week, so I can get mine up on the trailer. Its always the little things.
Your paint looks great. It is going to be a super nice truck.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by tutone

Nice work. I always dread,(and enjoy), this phase of a build. After one has been apart awhile, things just don't go as planned always. Thanks for the shift diagram as I am waiting for my linkage kit to get here this week, so I can get mine up on the trailer. Its always the little things.
Your paint looks great. It is going to be a super nice truck.

I've found there's so much on this end of the build that needs to be massaged to fit. For instance I installed the lock cylinders today, but of course they wouldn't fit into the doors due a thick finish. So 10 minutes work was about two hours.

The other day I installed the A/C vents assisted by an orange (literally) and heat gun That worked well, but I was reminded of the arthritis in the thumbs screwing the vents on. On a side, perhaps GM installed the duct hoses on the vents with a dash of glue? Seems all my vents had some, but it doesn't appear necessary, I don't see these coming off unless it's on purpose. I had to buy a "new" RH vent bezel. Of course that didn't quite fit right either, another spot for the heat gun. But wow am I impressed with GM parts, it's really good stuff. Far and away better than even luxury cars today.

[mr.mud1]

great work Tony,it's coming together.what's next?take care.Greg

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Close man, we're going to finish it up May 28th. Works well, those fenders give me lots to do, I should start thinking about a battery. We're going to drop the rear LH hood a pinch, and grille is temporary. I'll install the "good one" after it's running.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Wow, 6 + years later, after installing the rear harness today, I literally ran out of things to do on my truck, hmm. Go figure I hadn't ordered gaskets for the lenses, oh well. Some dependencies. We finish the body and moldings this Saturday, so the engine bay will soon be done, looking forward to it. Guess I'll need a battery soon.

How awesome if the glass guy could deliver, you'd think a year's notice is enough, same for the air cleaner my nephew's had 1+ year. Other than that, it's a gas tank, interior doors & seat away from being done on my end.

[Low Elco]

Keep it up, it's looking great!

[IronCanine]

So close. Looking great. Outstanding work as always Tony.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

It's starting to look like a truck. The body is built. I installed some fun stuff in the engine bay today.

Picked up an NOS coolant expansion tank kit along the way. Against the kit's instructions, I routed the hose through the RH inner fender's drain hole. Pretty sure original radiator drain hose ran through it, so what the heck, it routes clean.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

I'm down to so few hours, but no sign of windows yet, that will come soon. I even get my air cleaner back today, out 1.5 years. I ordered the original seat cover, $900. Might take till Dec., so less the gas tank and a few loose ends, I think I better install the old seat to get this running say Oct.

Bummer I had all NOS Witek band clamps I liked a lot, but the #10 don't fit a 3/4" heater hose, they're for the bypass hose only. I ordered two of these, they might work instead. I also ordered clone tower clamps, just in case, yikes Just want to get her done. Edit: The 7 1/2" Wittek band clamps work well with the 3/4" heater hose, happy I can use band clamps as planned. There are a couple left on Ebay, the pair I got are super nice. Downside the bolt heads are just slotted, but I swapped them out for hex bolts. https://www.ebay.com/itm/224819904092

Dumb question. The factory installed a pad on the cab's wall for the fuel tank. Any reason why the fuel tank shouldn't receive the pad instead? seems a much better option. I'm using 1/8" neoprene rubber, and I have glue Edit: I installed the pads on the fuel tank.

[68bowtie]

Amazing work!

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Good day to install a fuel tank. It was the "hardest" thing I had left to do.

For tips perhaps, I installed Classic Heartbeats grommet. Slid it on the filler neck with dish soap. Installed the tank loosely, with my son's help. Tried dish soap to get the grommet through, failed, probably not the soap. My son kept a blow drier on it while I started it from the inside, finished from the outside, not bad at all. All with a ball-end tool, I swear by them for installing grommets.

NOS cap. And least it was before installed. 71 is a rare cap, I found this in 2017 for $35

[IronCanine]

Beautiful.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Well man, after installing the door components everything else is eazy peazy. I don’t get to install the interior panels until the seat’s done. Don’t get that until? The material will be here “perhaps late February”. I ordered that say 6-7 months ago, prepaid $850ish.

The window's weather strip was a challenge on the first door, same for the sweeps. Not having done this I spent well too many hours on it. The next door was done in short order. Tip perhaps, secure the rear window channel to run the weather strip from the vent window down the top end of the rear channel. Loosen the channel’s top screw and remove its bottom screws to finish.

Still waiting on my $1100 radiator, cough. And the long pending hubcaps. Other then that and flooring I’ll pay to have done, all that’s left is to install the “nice” grille, the bumpers I haven’t selected yet, fun stuff like the visors, and the rear view mirror I consider the package’s bow.

Any ideas to re chrome bumpers? Hate to send them out; I’m open to drive some. Last I knew California restrictions prevent a good plating.

Picture of the RH door, I did this one first. I discovered some time ago I always start on the RH side, kind of weird, though now it's conscious.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Polished this steering wheel to good enough. I'll install a cover over it. This Ebay guy had a bunch of these, all had their dust shields busted off. Apparently they came from a shop that modified these trucks back in the day; I figure they just pried them off. Anyway, seems the last one he sold was this, only this one had a dust shield. Turns out its old cover was busted off as well but replaced.

Yesterday was a good day. Arranged for someone to install the front and rear glass, they plan to do that in 2-3 weeks. Thought I had that one figured out well over a year ago. First guy ended up in prison, 2nd all talk over an 18 month period. This new place is real professional and tight. Hopefully that translates to a great job.

Then I called the exhaust guy, he's paying me a visit tomorrow. Then a message from Roger Koop, my vent windows are ready. Snap, I have 1K+ in vent window parts and not even using them. Reference all talk window guy. I just wanted to get this done, even if it meant two sets of vent windows and spares.

Air cleaner is on its 3rd paint job The guy missed a spot, twice. That's been out since Feb. 2021, but "any day now" He's an old buddy.
Other than that, a bench seat and vapor can hoses this is ready to run.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

I put a cover on that steering wheel and perhaps will never see rim again. Great news today, the exhaust guy came over, super nice, all he's ever done is operate wrecking yards and restorations. Very cool, he drives old Toyota Pick-ups with points, and "they're not avail. because I own them all" Anyway, heads up, he's calling soon and this will be one of his last jobs. He's never paid into SS, so at 52 will be driving semitrucks, they'll be lucky to have him.

He's going to custom build the exhaust system. He suggests 2.5 pipes front and back. Correct me if mistaken, I think the old ones were 2.5" fronts and 2" rear. Guess I shouldn't have sold the old set for cheap huh? Nobody sells a kit for this frame, but he doesn't need them. He says many replacements don't fit anyway. He plans to search for mufflers as well, at the moment I like the Flowmaster 70.

Battery on order, someday, months on months? Upholstery due December? so installed the old bench, actually looks nice short butt deterioration. Windows? Heck I don't know, plan to call them today, no doubt back-ordered, covid-style.

Less some of that and a couple hours on my part she's ready to roll.

[yote1234]

wow... Beautiful !

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

I put a cover on that steering wheel and perhaps will never see rim again. Great news today, the exhaust guy came over, super nice, all he's ever done is operate wrecking yards and restorations. Very cool, he drives old Toyota Pick-ups with points, and "they're not avail. because I own them all" Anyway, heads up, he's calling soon and this will be one of his last jobs. He's never paid into SS, so at 52 will be driving semitrucks, they'll be lucky to have him.

He's going to custom build the exhaust system. He suggests 2.5 pipes front and back. Correct me if mistaken, I think the old ones were 2.5" fronts and 2" rear. Guess I shouldn't have sold the old set for cheap huh? Nobody sells a kit for this frame, but he doesn't need them. He says many replacements don't fit anyway. He plans to search for mufflers as well, at the moment I like the Flowmaster 70.

Battery on order, someday, months on months? Upholstery due December? so installed the old bench, actually looks nice short butt deterioration. Windows? Heck I don't know, plan to call them today, no doubt back-ordered, covid-style.

Less some of that and a couple hours on my part she's ready to roll.

hi Tony,you're right,the original front pipes were 2 1/2 and 2 inch tailpipes.i had my tailpipes made with 2 1/4 and of course 2 1/4 outlet Walker mufflers.i always use steel donut gaskets,especially on the big blocks rather than the fiber type.they never seem to stay tight but the steel gaskets do.take care.Greg