Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild

[DWilbur]

Man if that was my truck I would slap a lawn chair in and go for a drive around the block. looking good

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

Man if that was my truck I would slap a lawn chair in and go for a drive around the block. looking good

I'd settle for a 5 gal bucket!

[Blown06]

Making some great progress, looking good as usual.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Dang, you weren't kidding. Moving right along. Carpet looks nice!

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Yea diggin the shifter too!

Originally Posted by DWilbur

Man if that was my truck I would slap a lawn chair in and go for a drive around the block. looking good

Originally Posted by Blown06

Making some great progress, looking good as usual.

Thanks guys! Really appreciate all the nice comments. I made some more progress yesterday. Got the brackets made for the amp under the passengers seat.



I also got started on the panel/box for behind the seats. This task will take a little longer. i am going to try and gain some storage back that i lost in the glove box. I'm gonna try and make a slight bump out to meet the back of the console and add a compartment for maps, papers etc. I will need to carpet it. Anybody got any ideas as to where I can get a little carpet for it without paying
an interior shop?

[DWilbur]

Check out Home Depot. they has some carpet that would work in truck. it is the same stuff they use making bed rugs

[cmabolt]

Today just a few odds and ends as I had limited time. I ordered some of GMC Paul's push on door weather stripping. The glue-on type were less then stellar in my case. They kept coming loose and needing re-glueing. They installed with a rubber mallet in about 10 minutes and very glad I ordered them. Doors close fine.




After fabricating my overflow tank holder out of the 2nd battery tray I freed up some room for RAM AIR.


So, here is the beginnings of the Ram Air System. I just need to order a few flexible joints and the in-line air filter. I may hold off on that though. Not a necessary expenditure at this point. It can breath fine as is, but dyno numbers were dramatically better with cold air and a lot of it. Not too much money to free up some HP.


Now I am just waiting on some seat belt covers on back order and a couple free days to finish the box for behind the seats.

[Blown06]

Those weather strips look good that's probably the route I'll take when I get there. I always hated the glue on ones
Posted via Mobile Device

[cmabolt]

Today did a little more work on the rear cab box. Got the woodwork roughed out.

This pic shows a bump out above the center section where the console sits. This will serve as general storage for maps, papers etc. I also started on the body work to smooth it all out. When I paint it, I don't want to see wood grain.

2nd coat of filler.

I also got the amp all wired up and passengers seat ready to go in. I had a few extra factory connectors so used them. Just need to run the RCA cables from DIN to rear cab now. Of course I am still waiting on the inner seat belt covers. These are holding me up at the moment from finishing the interior. Grrrrrrrrr!

As a side note, while working on the rear cab box, I have had to remove the console lid several times to make room for fitment. I noticed two things: First the console lid wouldn't open vertical and two, they supplied tapered machine screws when flat screws were needed for the piano hinge. Typical LMC type stuff. I had to make a little spacer for under the hinge on the lid side and voila console lid opens vertical and is extremely tight with flat head machine screws.
It may actually stand up to a little use and abuse now!?

[mcbassin]

Very nice work on the rear filler panel. Looks great!

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice work on the rear filler panel. Looks great!

Thanks Mike. Here it is finished. It dawned on me that I still had a few cans of raptor liner. (love that stuff) I used that to spray the box and it turned out great! Just need to let it cure for a few days then she'll be ready to install. Also had to make some custom washer plates to hold in the box using the existing gas tank strap holes. Worked out really nice and fits like a glove.

[rgunlock]

Using the raptor liner did turn out great. Heck of a lot easier than the filler work you'd started. Looks really good!

[swamp rat]

Turned out nice!

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Using the raptor liner did turn out great. Heck of a lot easier than the filler work you'd started. Looks really good!

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Turned out nice!

Thanks guys! Well, the filler was necessary to soften the hard inside angles. The raptor liner saved me about 5 coats of poly before painting. I think the texture of the bed liner is similar to carpet actually. Much nicer then paint would have been. It really just needs to disappear back behind the seats anyway for now. Maybe some day I'll make it a little more functional. Cup holders, drop down dinner tray etc. LOL

[cmabolt]

Interior progress...I mean, interior done! finally received the seat belt sleeves. They are not long enough, but they serve the purpose I needed them for. They elevate the belt and make it easily reachable even with the console.

Got the rear box installed and bolted using these long flat brackets.


Today I also received a couple tow hooks I picked up on ebay. Would love to have some original 72 tow hooks, but just can't justify spending $375 for two hooks. Perhaps when the price comes down. In the mean time these are late model gm hooks and bolt right onto the frame in the old hooks location.

Last, but not least, the seats went in. I was very pleased it all still fit together with carpet etc.

[rgunlock]

Looks really nice! Aside from stereo install, what is left? You must be nearly complete now. "Interior done" must have felt really good to add to your update.

[cmabolt]

Hey Rick! Yes, felt really good to write interior is done.
Really, all that is left is install stereo, get exhaust done, install WS/ wiper arms, seal front outer grill and install and get some miles on it to see if I need to work out any gremlins. I may have forgot a few small items, but that's it. Can't wait to drive and go to some truck shows.

Chris

[Blown06]

Looking great, your attention to detail is amazing.

[mcbassin]

Looking good!

[swamp rat]

Great progress!

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by Blown06

Looking great, your attention to detail is amazing.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Looking good!

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Great progress!

Thanks guys! Really appreciate it. While waiting for exhaust parts to come in I was thinking I may need a couple items for safety. I got a little fire extinguisher and mounted it in an easy to reach place behind the seat. I am also gonna try and get a military scissor jack which is small but stout so I can change a tire when needed.

I have been working on the grill a lot. All together spent about a week sanding the aluminum grill. First 220 then 320 then red scotchbrite. It came out pretty nice.



I was looking for a product that would seal the aluminum so I could keep the brushed look and not have to worry about re-brushing. Found this stuff online. Supposedly it impregnates the metal and seals it for up to 2 years. We'll see.

[DWilbur]

Give that shine and seal a try I would like to see if it changes the appearance of the brushed aluminum.

[swamp rat]

Test panel first? maybe on the back side?

[cmabolt]

Well, I am happy to report that Shine Seal works and it does not alter the finish of brushed aluminum at all as far as appearance. In fact, I used it on my brushed chrome mirrors and machines aluminum wheels. It not only didn't changes the appearance, but it seems to pick up residue that you can't see left behind even after cleaning. Everything looks great. Hopefully it will stay that way.
Today I finished the grill. Riveted the metal brackets back on and filed the holes for new plastic mounting nuts. The new nuts are rectangular not square. I guess they fit after market grills but not old original grills.


It all want together without issue. I think I have to remove the bumper though to get it back on. I didn't disassemble the front end so don't know.

before the grill goes on I had to do the ram air inlet work that sits behind the grill. I bought an air horn and with some trimming and massaging it worked out great. I also stuck some galvanized mesh in there to keep large objects from entering the inlet.

here is the reverse side of the core support. All ready to run pipe to the intake.

[swamp rat]

I like the air horn!

[DWilbur]

The air horn looks good where did you get it