Harold's '48 S10 LS1 Build

[8man]

Nice. No chains.

What door handle and latch combo are you using?

[Tikal48]

I got the idea a few weeks ago of my front blinker lights, and I didn't want to stay with the original ones. I found these that are white and amber, where I can use for both daylight driving lights and blinkers. I blacksmithed a housing that I will weld on the back side of the fender. I'm placing the lights just slightly above the front bumper.

[Tikal48]

I'm grinding the housing where the lights stick out only about 1/8". Surprisingly enough, the lights that I selected had a radius on the lens that is extremely close to the fender contour. I got the driver side cut where the light just fits. I will wait to pull the fender to align and weld the housings in place.

Rains started so I'm done for the day. God I need a shop!

[Tikal48]

Originally Posted by 8man

Nice. No chains.

What door handle and latch combo are you using?

I made the door handles, with help from one of my friends with a CNC mill. I'm using the large bear claw latches that I got from Autoloc.

[oldman3]

Light ideal, is going to look slick...Jim

[99 to Life]

Its amazing how many talented guys out there that have no garage or limited space. Proves to them all, you don't need a full blown shop with 100k worth of tools to build awesome rides. I still work out of a mechanics toolset from craftsman, I take it everywhere I go. Built all my trucks with it.

You sir would do very well with a nice garage.

[dsraven]

great job on the lights. are they stock lights from something? looks like it from the original mounts. it would be nice to be able to get them from any parts store later, if you ever have a problem down the road.
should look cool when they are on at night.

[Tikal48]

Between work and rain, 2018 was a bust for making much progress on the truck. I finished the passenger side driving light and removed and disassembled the grill. This was supposed to be a show chrome grill. This has been under roof for 3 years, but I found that the back side of the chrome pieces were starting to rust. There was only a light chrome flash on the under side. I'm in the process of cleaning the rust and will seal before putting this back together. I painted the pieces behind the chrome with a sugar gold color. When I get this put back together, I will see if this is what I was imagining.

[Tikal48]

I bought red oak for the bed floor and I started all the routing work this weekend. I was planning on going with purple heart wood, but with two girls in college, I needed to be a little more frugal. My wood cost was only $250 verses $2000.

I still have the two pieces to finish routing that go against the bed sides. Once I get those done, I will need to attached the angle strips to the bed sides, and route for the wheel tube. I have a few ideas that I want to play with on the final color and finish. I'm thinking of a golden oak color.

[99 to Life]

that looks really good and yah a 2k dollar bed, I wouldn't put paper towels in there!

[8man]

Looks great.

[Tikal48]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

that looks really good and yah a 2k dollar bed, I wouldn't put paper towels in there!

Thanks and yes I know, I would be afraid to scratch it too.

My grandfather and dad both had sawmills, so I thought that an unusual exotic wood like that would have been a nice addition.

The red oak will be nice though. I finished the routing of the last two side pieces yesterday. I still have to route the wood for the wheel tubs.

I also need to fit the tubs over the side angle pieces. So a little grinding and a little short hair filler for the final fit, and the tubs will be done, except for the final finishing.

[99 to Life]

they'd be proud of your woodwork! metal work too! looks great.

[Tikal48]

I finally got a bit more done on my bed wood. I drilled drain holes in the wood bed strip grooves every foot and finished sanding everything out.
This is the same color that I used on the grill. I wanted something a bit more yellow than the wood stains that I could find. I shot a piece of pine wood with this paint about 8 months ago, and I have left this piece outside in the elements. It seems to be holding up very well.

I still have to sand out the bed wood, and I will most likely shoot another color coat before I shoot the clear. I still have to finish fitting the wheel tubs to the two pieces of wood closest to the bed sides before I paint them.

I never noticed before but my angle bed strips were on different hole spacing from the ends, than my center bed strips. I will have to cut these anyway to clearance for the wheel tubs, so I think that I can make these work.

[Tikal48]

I've started to assemble the exhaust system. I'm going all stainless 2.50" with Borla mufflers. Using the X-pipe and the offset mufflers, this worked out where it gives me a straight shot to the exhaust tips in the running board.

I'm also using the V-Band Clamps. These make it very easy for removing the exhaust.

[68blackbird]

Admire your work, looks great!

[99 to Life]

looks great, smart move on the holes in wood and the v bands.

[8man]

Beautiful work.

[Tikal48]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement! Not much progress in the past two years.

I worked a little more this weekend on the bed wood and side strips. I sanded out the bed wood and shot a few more coats of the sugar gold candy. I also added a little gold metal flake to catch a glimmer when its in the sun. I sprayed a couple of clear coats over that. I had a few minor dust issues that showed up on the final coat. I will sand one more time with 1000 grit and shoot a final clear coat.

The grain did not fill as it did on my test piece. I should have filled the pours before I started, to get the glass smooth finish. The joys of working with red oak. . . It still shows a little of the wood pours, but I am happy to say enough.

I bought all of my bed strips and angle strips at the same time and same place. I just noticed a few weeks ago that the holes in the angle strips do not line up with those of the bed strips. I had to cut them up any way in order to clearance for the wheel tubs, and all but one hole in each is good. I was able to install some rivet nuts in the stake pocket areas, and behind the fenders. This way I can screw them in place, and not have to weld them.

I finally shot a few parts with color. I was tired of looking at gray primer. I will add one more top coat and clear coat.

[Tikal48]

I found a hydro boost unit in a parts yard a few months ago, and started fabricating my brake bracket. I also picked up a new CPP master cylinder with adjustable proportioning valve. I will need to get my steering column and get it located before I finish fabricating my pedal. This has been one of my rainy day side projects. I bought an "O"ring rebuild kit for the hydro boost, but I am still debating as this unit was not leaking.

[99 to Life]

love that purple. great job. nice engineering on the boost also

[oldman3]

Moving along and looking great...Jim

[Tikal48]

I was finally able to get back on the truck for a bit. I finally put the grill back together so that I can store it for the time being. I had to re-polish all of the chrome pieces as it was starting to rust. I'm starting to make a little headway with painting some of the miscellaneous parts.

[Tikal48]

Here are a few shots of the driver side inner fender. I had to clearance the piece for the hydraulic lines that are going to the steering box. I will still need to shoot with clear tomorrow.

[Tikal48]

I mounted my oil cooler for the steering and hydro boost underneath the lower grill support. The cooler I found was a little larger than I anticipated, and it would not mount between the lower radiator support. It is still above the bottom of the grill support, so I'm happy with it.