68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!

[msgross]

Originally Posted by ChaseDale3and8

Looking really good! Can't wait to see how well that cab floor comes together. I've been waiting quite a while to see somebody put one of those new cab floors in. Maybe someday they will start making them for the 73-87s too! They seem to be priced reasonable, and if they fit really well, would definately be a better alternative to trying to patch up an old floor in my opinion. Anyway, good work! Keep it up! I love watching this build! ...Joe

Thanks for the compliments.... the build kinda stalled for a bit when I left for 6 months, now i'm back on track and have some parts to keep me busy through winter....

There are a few guys that have done this floor... Tri-pro automotive's project GPW (also found in jaros44sr "po has me po'd build halfway through it)

[msgross]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

Looks nice Mike, next step to put your wood bed in it? What are you using to clean up the crossmembers?

More pics, more pics, or video...Take the banding off

I'll either drop the crossmembers off at the sand blaster with the cab or clean them up with a wire wheel and then use etching primer on all of it....

ok, banding needs to come off...thanks

[mahanian]

Originally Posted by msgross

I guess 68 was the only year with the angle brackets on the rear wall. The cab mount bolts screw up through them and another bolt goes down through to hold the to the floor. They are spot welded to the rear wall. Should make and easy rear alignment.

My 67's have those angle brackets as well, not quite sure what they are for.

Build is lookin good!

[msgross]

did it have the squigly lumps under the center of the seat? I guess some didn't, not sure what it's for though...

[msgross]

Decided to take a break on Saturday and hit NYC with the wife, dad and one brother (they came in town from Indy)....

Yankees pulled it out in 13 friggin innings! They stop selling $10 beers after the 7th thankfully!

[68 short step]

the pic of the city looks cool. bet that was a lonnnng game

[msgross]

Then got back out in the garage for a few hours today.

Rest of the floor is out except the firewall portion and the rear area. I'm gonna make an appointment with the media blaster...and finish those areas up this week. i did notice that my high hump floor has a center brace that the replacement 2WD floor doesn't. Guess i'll pull it off and clean it up as well.

Gotta love rust!

Do you think I should go with Coal slag media (the blaster does indutrial trailers and already did my axles, springs etc..) I would have him avoid the large sheetmetal areas like the roof and back wall. Probably run $200 I bet.

Or should I go with a local guy that does bodywork and uses Garnet? He charges $90/hour and will probably cost me $300+.

[msgross]

Should I epoxy primer it or etch primer it after blasting?

[estig70]

nice work MS, I had been wondering why the build had slacked off.

Eric

[msgross]

Originally Posted by 68 short step

the pic of the city looks cool. bet that was a lonnnng game

I need to see if I have one that's not as blurry. The sun reflection turns the buildings gold in the evening, that from the Jersey side of the hudson. Very long game, 5 1/2 hours I think...

Originally Posted by estig70

nice work MS, I had been wondering why the build had slacked off.

Eric

Thanks, Uncle Sam said that I needed to go to school for 6 months over the winter, then I really didn't feel like messing with it when I got back home. Now I have cleaned out some of my storage parts and picked up replacement parts so i'm back on stride. Oh yeah, mama gave me a few bucks to get things rolling again...

[msgross]

Since i'm working nights for the next two weeks I should have a little free time in the morning to work on the cab. Decided to get the remaining sheetmetal off the firewall/floor seem this morning. Drilled out the spotwelds and one shot with the air chisel knocked it all off. Cleaned it all up with a wirewheel. Then I cut out the bad area of the firewall so the blaster won't have to mess with it.

Also removed the cross support that the new floor doesn't come with.

[msgross]

Oh yeah, got in a little fight with the coarse wire wheel... I think he won this round but i'll be back to fight another day....

Nothing like 10,000 RPM's coming to a stop on your chest!

Only a few scratches on me, no worries...

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by msgross

Oh yeah, got in a little fight with the coarse wire wheel... I think he won this round but i'll be back to fight another day....

Nothing like 10,000 RPM's coming to a stop on your chest!

Only a few scratches on me, no worries...

Wait till the 4 1/2" cut off wheel cuts a "V" notch in your index fingernail, kevlar gloves don't stop it, trust me...

Are you making a patch panel for the firewall? Wierd your floorboard didn't come with crossbrace

You can take some of the spotwelds off of the diagonal brace going up the firewall(there's about 10 - 15, but count them to be sure) If you have two drills. you can start the hole with a normal drill then switch over to a drill that you have ground the point off. Work from the horizontal brace side, since you will be throwing that away. Eventually you will have to remove the diagonal brace as well, since you won't be able to get the floorboard under it.

Nice work so far

[msgross]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

Wait till the 4 1/2" cut off wheel cuts a "V" notch in your index fingernail, kevlar gloves don't stop it, trust me...

Thanks,


Must have been the rock hard foundation under my shirt that stopped the grinder!

Army Strong, that's what the commercials say...


So the large vertical brace will need to come all the way off then? I figured that sine my cab corners and B pillars are off I could slide the front in place first then the rear...I will bend some steel once the floor is in to fill in the firewall hole.

[bkwagonss]

Originally Posted by msgross

So the large vertical brace will need to come all the way off then? I figured that sine my cab corners and B pillars are off I could slide the front in place first then the rear...

Mike, I didn't have to take the braces off of the firewall to fit the floor in.
I was able to slide the new floor into place under the braces. It's tight but it fits. One thing to look out for; if you look at the firewall edge that you cleaned up, you'll see that it's not perfectly straight across. Under the braces the edge has some bumps in them. I had to trim the floor a little to match the bumps, otherwise the floor doesn't fit flush against the firewall.
Man, you almost caught up to me!

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by msgross

Thanks,


Must have been the rock hard foundation under my shirt that stopped the grinder!

Army Strong, that's what the commercials say...


So the large vertical brace will need to come all the way off then? I figured that sine my cab corners and B pillars are off I could slide the front in place first then the rear...I will bend some steel once the floor is in to fill in the firewall hole.

You musta had your flack jacket on, or the Army is building some very strong young fighters. Either way I'm glad your on my side

Try your method first, I didnt have the rear of the cab off as you do. Might work

[msgross]

Originally Posted by bkwagonss

Mike, I didn't have to take the braces off of the firewall to fit the floor in.
I was able to slide the new floor into place under the braces. It's tight but it fits. One thing to look out for; if you look at the firewall edge that you cleaned up, you'll see that it's not perfectly straight across. Under the braces the edge has some bumps in them. I had to trim the floor a little to match the bumps, otherwise the floor doesn't fit flush against the firewall.
Man, you almost caught up to me!

good info, thanks..

I noticed that bump that you are talking about. The Driver side rot went into that area so I trimmed it out too!...

This build will more than likely stall after this week while I wait for the sandblaster to do his thing. Hopefully he will have it done by labor day...

[msgross]

Got the remaining portion of the floor out now. Off to the blasters tomorrow... probably won't see if before Labor day. I'm gonna have them coat it with a basic shop primer. I was going to do Etch or Epoxy but have been told that it will depend on my final paint as to which primer to coat it with. What are your guys thoughts? Place wants $150 to do it in Epoxy....


I cleaned off some paint to find the spot welds, drilled them out and she spilt right apart. Also added a piece of angle iron to keep the main two braces connected for transport...

[msgross]

Got the cab loaded on the trailer this afternoon.....

Here's the old floor...

and a shot of the rad support temporarily in place to hold the rad. As you can see I couldn't find my upper red holddowns... had to start her up for the neighbors that came over....

[my67chevytruck]

looking good Mike.

[msgross]

thanks...

[estig70]

looking GREAT ms, keep it up.

Eric

[jb4short]

grab a sawzall and go nuts.....

[msgross]

Originally Posted by Tri-ProAutomotive

grab a sawzall and go nuts.....

isn't that what I already did?


The floor actually comes out very easily, hopefully the new one goes in as easy.... I have a number to customer support in NJ if it doesn't!

[jb4short]

non habla english...the sawzall comment was for Jim's benefit. He had an ambitious "Technical Advisor" here earlier in the year making him crazy