Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild

[cmabolt]

I got the air horn from ebay. One of those 4" import aluminum air inlet's for import cars. I ended up cutting it and using just the smooth front curved area.
Seemed like a better solution than a ton of air hitting a flat surface and trying to find it's way in. I did have to trim the headlight bucket support brackets on the core support to get the inlet to fit behind it, but did not effect structure of headlight mount.

Chris

[DWilbur]

Thanks for the info I will check out Ebay

[swamp rat]

I hope you don't mind me bringing this up but the wire meshing you put across the opening has me a little concerned, i'd keep an eye on it as i don't trust the durability of it holding together for a long period of time, i know ya got an air filter in there but i don't know if a piece did break off if it would possibly damage the filter? maybe a heavyer mesh like expanded steel? just a thought.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

I hope you don't mind me bringing this up but the wire meshing you put across the opening has me a little concerned, i'd keep an eye on it as i don't trust the durability of it holding together for a long period of time, i know ya got an air filter in there but i don't know if a piece did break off if it would possibly damage the filter? maybe a heavyer mesh like expanded steel? just a thought.

Don't mind at all. I wanted to keep air flow resistance to a minimum and yet make some provision for large object filtering. This wire is galvanized. You think a woven stainless would be better. It seems like all the extruded steel is very thick.
Not as pliable?

[cmabolt]

Today was a good day of some more odds and ends. I was able to finally get the grill installed.


It took a little finesse, but eventually she went in. I was shocked at how well it all lined up. I also painted the headlight surrounds with black enamel
pin- striping paint. The headlight bezels needed to be brushed so they would match. So body panels are done now.

Next I installed the stereo. Not very eventful. Just wired some connectors and stuffed it all in the dash.


One additional item i have to find a place for is the microphone for the hands-free feature of the radio.

After working so hard on the ram air system I needed to build a fender bracket to support all the eventual weight of the tubing and air filter. This bracket bolts to the fender and cradles the 4" tubing to eliminate sag or joint working loose.

[swamp rat]

I wish i was that far along with my truck!

[mcbassin]

Very nice work on the grill, intake and radio install.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

I wish i was that far along with my truck!

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice work on the grill, intake and radio install.

Thanks guys! I literally have nothing left to do. I am waiting on stainless collector attachments for my headers which were on back order. So, until I get those, exhaust is delayed as well as the, "Maiden Voyage."


I do need to put the battery back in and make sure the electric and stereo are working properly before venturing out. I must say the electrical is by far giving me the most nerves about driving this thing for the first time. Can't help thinking about an electrical fire burning my work to the ground.

I do plan to do a writeup on vendors that were great to deal with along the way and I thought I would do a small video about posting pictures here in the forums since so many people find this less than intuitive.

Anyway, Reno is not yet on the road so more to come.

Chris

[DWilbur]

That's awesome your that close. I miss placed my collectors I looked for them last week end no luck. be looking the week end for them and my body bushing. Good luck on the maiden voyage.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

That's awesome your that close. I miss placed my collectors I looked for them last week end no luck. be looking the week end for them and my body bushing. Good luck on the maiden voyage.

Thanks!

Since I have nothing to do until exhaust parts arrive, the little woman has been badgering me about participating in some way. So she is now busy on the truck.
LOL


Chevy orange used to compliment the brown A little better then chevy red.
I also milled the backs of the emblems so i could use trim tape on them.

[ryanroo]

looks great! i have a few colors of that brand of paint upstairs. when its cold and crappy during the winter i sit in my office and shine up and paint old fender emblems for fun. i dont think i am as good at it as your lady friend!

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

looks great! i have a few colors of that brand of paint upstairs. when its cold and crappy during the winter i sit in my office and shine up and paint old fender emblems for fun. i dont think i am as good at it as your lady friend!

Well, I think she's gonna do another coat. Do you thin your paint? From what I've read, others thin with turpentine. It could use a little thinning to help it level. The first coat is a little blotchy even though she did a great job with coverage.

Chris

[swamp rat]

Awesome! My hands are a bit shakey so i'd be forever doing that stuff LOL!

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Awesome! My hands are a bit shakey so i'd be forever doing that stuff LOL!

Me too. I was happy to turn over that task. Yesterday, I got to researching placement of the emblems. You would think their would be a ton of data on that
but it is spotty at best. The assembly manual has good pics but no real world measurements. I did finally find a diagram someone made with measurements. It is a little hard to read so i re-created it and a version for those that by chance convert their emblems to stick-on. So, I measured and taped up the fenders as a reference and to transfer to a paper template and flipped it for the passengers side.






Here are the diagrams for others to use. If I forgot something, let me know. They are fairly easy to modify.

[ryanroo]

I haven't tried that. I'm not really crafty, but it gives me something to do so I don't get into trouble for taking the microwave apart to see how it works. I am interested in trying that though. It does need a little help leveling out. I'd be excited to hear of anything that helps out.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

I haven't tried that. I'm not really crafty, but it gives me something to do so I don't get into trouble for taking the microwave apart to see how it works. I am interested in trying that though. It does need a little help leveling out. I'd be excited to hear of anything that helps out.

I'll update you on how it goes. After 24 hours the first coat still wasn't totally dry. It's been pretty humid and the paint was thick. I should have gotten the hardener additive I think.

On the microwave disassembly, have you found a way for it to turn bacon into money? If so, I need a schematic.

LOL
Chris

[ryanroo]

Originally Posted by cmabolt

I'll update you on how it goes. After 24 hours the first coat still wasn't totally dry. It's been pretty humid and the paint was thick. I should have gotten the hardener additive I think.

On the microwave disassembly, have you found a way for it to turn bacon into money? If so, I need a schematic.

LOL
Chris

I'm not sure I wouldn't rather have it turn money into bacon. Toss in a fiver for a few minutes and out pops pound of bacon? Sold!

[cmabolt]

Perhaps a new product under development. Announcing the new Mircowacon 300.
drop in your spare change and 30 second later enjoy some delicious bacon.


BTW, after several days, the paint is still not entirely dry. I would strike it up to humidity, but yesterday was fairly dry. I think I am going to have to start over and get some of the hardener. I am also going to thin it with turpentine. This way it will flow a little bit more. Less painting and more pouring.

Chris

[cmabolt]

Well, still no exhaust parts. Shouldn't be too much longer. I have been going over the truck with a discerning eye to see if I missed anything. Of course I noticed a few minor things that needed to be addressed. First was when i had my brake cables made they have a little slack in them. I looked for stabilizers that would work but nothing that was a great solution. I made some brackets to remedy this
along with some industrial line clamps I found on Mcmaster Carr

The line clamps come with a weld plate the had 2 nut incorporated into it. This is it welded, painted and ready for assembly.


I used a standard u-bolt plate and mounted the brackets to the leaf springs next to the leaf clamp.

Done


Next item was the Ram air intake. I decided to just buy everything despite not needing it now. Screw it I said!! OK, the actual story is I have a few big jobs coming which helps loosen the pocket a bit. So here it is installed along with my bracket for carrying the weight of it all.



As for the emblems, well, they never dried completely. I had to order some hardener from 1 shot and will redo the emblems when it arrives. We are going to try and thin the paint and use a needle/syringe to flow the paint onto the emblem not paint it on. This way it will be perfectly smooth. We'll see, but i suspect that may work. I am using the old emblems as a test because I just received word that my custom emblems are almost done. Having them made by billet badges. here is the proof. Couldn't be happier.

This will go beneath the front marker lights where the 8/350 badge used to go. it is a little larger then stock, but should look nice. The LSX logo will be painted chevy orange to match the Cheyenne emblems.

[DWilbur]

The emblems are looking good. I bought new ones. CHEYENNE 30. I found my collectors and gaskets this morning looking for my rear yoke. Now I'm trying to find the rear yoke.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

The emblems are looking good. I bought new ones. CHEYENNE 30. I found my collectors and gaskets this morning looking for my rear yoke. Now I'm trying to find the rear yoke.

Hilarious!! Yeah, I cleaned my bench for the first time in probably a year and I have about 1000 bolts left over. What a mess

[DWilbur]

Ha Ha Ha I media blasted most of my nuts and bolts marked and bagged them. with all of the modification I have done I bought new ones for most of the parts so far.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

Ha Ha Ha I media blasted most of my nuts and bolts marked and bagged them. with all of the modification I have done I bought new ones for most of the parts so far.

I did the same. Ended up with a lot of left over. Plus I used stainless on items I thought may need to be removed in the future and that didn't need to be grade 8. It's amazing how the shop can be a black hole at certain stages of the build. Things just totally disappear despite my efforts to stay organized.

Some days i just had to laugh.

[DWilbur]

I agree with you. I found my yoke last night and moving forward again.

[Trixxterr]

Very NICE, custom badges there man. I love'm.