Lurker OrrieG Progress Pics

[JML55]

I know what you mean, I'm back to square one with my paint job.

[OYMC]

Very Cool Build...

Just a suggestion, but you might want to change the position of your upper front shock mount...

It is a very common mistake, but if the lower shock mount does not match the alignment of the top shock mount, your shocks will bind up through suspension travel and cause premature shock failure...

Other than that, keep up the good work!

[OrrieG]

I'll check it again, you might be looking at a picture of the first install (post 13) where the mounting bolts were not parallel and it was binding. I changed it (post 39)and compressed and expanded it as far as I could. I went out and looked and the upper and lower bolts are close to being parallel. The photos might make them look out of alignment.

[OYMC]

Good deal... It's surprising how many people make that mistake (Myself Included)

[OrrieG]

Yeah - I noticed mine on the first setup when I set the short block to mock up the steering and noticed the front did not drop much. Jacked it up and removed the shock bolts and found the problem. Thanks for the observation, the more eyes the better.

[OrrieG]

Picked up some more primer and the final sealer, base and clear for inside the cab, man paint has gotten expensive. Busy with my Dad's stuff next weekend, but following weekend hope to have the cab interior and firewall painted so I can get it back on the frame and have non-monetary assembly work this winter. Decided to go with GM Silver Birch, goes well with the leather seats I have and the future blue exterior. Get to use my new guns and HPLV for first time, from what I have read should be much easier than my very old pressure gun.

Decided to move the alternator to the driver side so A/C compressor will go on passenger and I can avoid custom A/C lines. Ram horn exhaust works for short water pump but the bracket need slipped forward about 2.75" to work with a long water pump found on 350's. Here is the results, kind of clunky but functional.

[munice]

Hey, nice build so far! I keep checking back on this one! I've always been a fan of those old rough tread bias plies. (Seems every old car or truck left out in a field is sporting a pair on the back) Are you going to run anything like those again? I've been pondering over getting something like that for my truck, but can't seem to find a tire store that can get anything like those. Keep up the nice work!

cheers, Andrew

[OrrieG]

Andrew - will not run the bias tire, to noisey and rough. I toughed it out for about 6 years until they wore out then got a set of new Firestone m/s radials. Was amazed at the difference in ride quality and now quiet they were.

Progress today was good. Got the bed sides, rear inner fenders, bed front panel, dash and firewall primed for the second time. Now it just some blocking and final paint for the dash, inner cab and firewall. New gun is REALLY nice. Had a little hassle getting the air pressure right, but once I figured it out all went well. Also, low pressure left virtually no over spray, I forgot to toss a tarp over my tool boxes, etc. and they and the floor didn't even get dusted.

[OrrieG]

Firewall painted! Used Chassis Black so it will match the inner fenders. Sprayed on undercoating on lower sloped surface and inner fender areas, this truck will see some mud, water and snow when finished.

[1985-GMC]

It looks great!

[sgtusmc]

Nice!

[Kim57]

Looks real nice.
Kim

[bajabob]

I dig your firewall, mine had a bunch of holes in it and I am still trying to get some of them filled before paint goes on. Nice work.

[OrrieG]

Yeah Bob, mine had 45 holes from screw size to 1-1/4". Luckily my wife went to stay with my daughter for two weeks when grandkid one was born so I got lots of hours in a short time frame. Took saturday to get to bare metal, sunday to weld up the holes, couple of evening to grind then a bunch of hours with the plastic, sand, repeat routine. I wanted to keep the stock ribs so that at a glance it looks stock, but those who know will know the work that went into it. Next trick is to reroute and a hide all the stuff that in a stock truck goes thru the firewall.

[OrrieG]

I'm stoked. Finally feels like progress. Painted the interior today and I LOVE my gun and these modern paints. You really can't see how deep the gloss is, the dash top sort of shows it if you see the reflection of the plastic sheet. Still need to cut and buff it, but over all not much orange peel. Used Nason sealer and base (2 coats), Dupont Chroma clear (3 coats). Color is GM Silver Birch, turned out exactly like I wanted. Can't wait to drop the leather seats in to see how it matchs. The dots in the pic of the cab back are reflections in the lense, not goobers!

[JML55]

Nice work.

[1985-GMC]

That looks great!

[Kim57]

Looks very nice.
Kim

[ChuckDriver]

Lookin Good!

[sgtusmc]

NOW...that's a dash! Looks really good. I can't wait to see it done.

[GeorgeVale]

Really nice job looks fantastic love the colour.

[bajabob]

me likes the color and the work......

[OrrieG]

Cab is back on the frame. It is so nice to know that everything I did today was a final bolt in, not trial fitting. Checked the fit around the oil cooler and lines; ok. Checked the HEI; clearance is ok but WTF its crooked! Scratched my head, did I really install the engine out of level? Leveled the frame side to side, checked the intake manifold, right on level. I've been messing with SBC's for 45+ years and never noticed that the dist is NOT vertical because of the gear alignment with the cam. Also tossed in a picture with Ms. Joan my bride of 40 years next year.

[masshole]

OKGMC4 said it best...this stuff is like porn to us and right now... YOU are the star!!! strong work, keep it up and the pics coming(no pun intended) Greg

[bensimmons_05]

These are BIG steps. It is looking AWESOME, keep us all updated!