Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab

[sparkydog]

All right... while the finance committee studies how to fund the tranny overhaul:


(And maybe helps clean up the mess from the tranny yank. Ahem!)

[sparkydog]

I thought I would move on to some MORE dirty, hard, crappy, overhead welding.... and get the final set of cab mounts relo'd. This involved about 45 min of sawzall time (and three blades per side) to surgically remove a portion of the GM frame bracket and move it under the IH cab rear wall.

And I have to say - I STILL haven't figured out how to overhead weld with MIG, but the best of the worst seems to be higher gas flow, regular voltage and higher wire feed. (?)

[sparkydog]

Next up was actually a fun little project to install the fuel filler door that I had raped off of an eff-werd truck in the Oregon pick-n-pull a couple of months ago.

Don't you just love how the yellow paint matches the color scheme I have going?

[sparkydog]

This is probably the first area of the entire truck where I was able to properly clean and prep both sides of the metal and bring my emerging metal artisan skills to get some decent blend results. This was a great area to work on at this stage of the project. I think I can move on to some of the other external sections of the truck and do a decent job of finishing off their joints now!

[sparkydog]

PS: I swear I tried to use a GM fuel filler door but those SOB's are not easy to extract off a vehicle!! They tend to have a structural rib right next to the door and my hand shears couldn't cut through them. So hence the F*** part making it's way onto Halfbreed. I guess this means I should figure out something off a D**** and slap it on somewhere too!

[sparkydog]

I made further progress on the fuel filler area. I have smoothed out the bed sidewalls (both sides) and also the fuel door patch. Also patched up the bed floor. I thought I would post some "MIG porn" - these are my best thin-gage welds so far.

[sparkydog]

Next up was seat belt install. I wanted to re-use the belts out of the '97 GM truck. The front belts were filthy but I had read on an internet forum to wash them out in a bucket and WOW did it work. You cannot imagine how black the water got. It took me about 3 separate washes to get them clean again.

Then it was on to welding in some weld-nuts for anchor spots and bolting them up.

[sparkydog]

Next up was changing the position of the steering wheel, brake and gas pedals. These were all "stock GM" but since I had intentionally positioned the IHC cab about 3" forward - I had to eventually correct the ergonomic boo-boo this created.

The steering wheel seemed to be the most complex issue but it ended up being quite simple. All I had to really do was slice off three brackets and move them 3.25" further up the column. The brake pedal arm was the most time-consuming. I ended up cutting it in 3 locations and changing the angle of it's dangle. Still have the gas pedal to do but it (hopefully) will be the easiest of the three.

You guys can't tell from the pics, but boy is it cool to have the wheel, seat and pedal in the right position... I spent a few hours sitting and making vrrrrrroom noises with the chicken.

[NONHOG]

You are doing great work on this! Love the idea and the skill level.

[sparkydog]

With the project in the doldrums waiting for the Cash Fairy to sprinkle magic transmission cash - I've entered a dangerous phase. This is where my anal-retentive, perfectionist, ADD, OCD, DVD issues start conflicting with one another.

So after spending so much time near the dashboard while working on the steering wheel and pedal ergonomics, I decided to redo my dashboard extension because... hey, why do it once when you can do it twice? Heh?!

While this photo probably looks identical to the others of the dash - this is the NEW and IMPROVED dash - with better patch panels and a plug into the former steering column hole. I also filled in the exposed joints of the stock IH dash. (As soon as I gain access to a 2" flap wheel I will finish taking off the tops of the filler welds.)

[sparkydog]

I could also use some help locating a suitable donor vehicle for the center seat belt sections. The ones from the GM truck (buckets) will not work well with the IH bench seat. I need a GM compatible buckle unit on a cloth belt that is about 20-23" long overall. Does anyone know of a GM car/truck that might have this approx length cloth belt with the female buckle latches on them?

[sparkydog]

I also want to graft the shifter knob off my 67 IH stick onto the column shifter of the 97 GM. Does anyone know what is underneath the rubber/plastic overmold around the GM shift lever? I assume there is metal under there - does anyone know what it looks like and what diameter it is?

[sparkydog]

I have really enjoyed the past two evenings working on the truck because this was the first time I was sitting inside it, listening to music, doing something easy and that did not involve cutting, welding or getting dirty!!

I started cleaning up the wire harnesses and getting them put back in and routed and dressed out nice.

I also did my shift knob graft and went with a "lowered" profile on the shift lever.

[fryer1979]

Cool progress pictures. Allow me a simple question if you would; why is it that the GM center belts won't work with the IH bench? An answer might help locate a suitable replacement.

[sparkydog]

Originally Posted by fryer1979

Cool progress pictures. Allow me a simple question if you would; why is it that the GM center belts won't work with the IH bench? An answer might help locate a suitable replacement.

My donor GM XCab had bucket seats. The buckle units (in the middle) are made from heat treated steel strapping with a shroud of plastic around them. They aren't designed to flex and twist. Routing them up through the bottom of the IH bench seat orients them the wrong way.

The fabric style (like in the earlier picture) will work great, but I have to have longer ones. The pair in the picture came off the rear bench seat and that is where they will be going when I put it back in. So I need something similar to them but longer. And also not in a combo unit but as individual units because the mount locations are wider apart.

EDIT: here is a picture of what I mean by the steel strap wrapped in plastic style looks like. This is the right length but because it isn't cloth it won't flex up into the bench seat. It was made to go along the side of a bucket seat.

[fryer1979]

That's right. So then a center belt section from a square-body (73-87) with a bench seat should do perfectly...if they were longer. One idea is most auto parts stores stock those seat belt extensions, most I've seen are about 10" long or so. Another suggestion is the aftermarket lap belt assemblies. IIRC they are quite long, are offered in a few basic colors, work as a stand alone unit, and are fairly inexpensive. Again, any local auto parts store should stock them at about $25 or $30 (maybe less, it's been a while since I last purchased some). For a junkyard score, how about pre-87 Chevy fullsize vans? Or maybe an early lap/shoulder combo, and just cut off the shoulder strap? Just throwing ideas out now...good luck with the belts.

[1985-GMC]

You could use your fabric seat belts and order some seat belt webbing, then take them to a upholstery shop and have them sew them back up to the length you want. Look here http://www.strapworks.com/Polyester_Webbing_p/sbw2.htm though there are several other places to order it from.

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by sparkydog

And I have to say - I STILL haven't figured out how to overhead weld with MIG, but the best of the worst seems to be higher gas flow, regular voltage and higher wire feed. (?)

I have found that slightly higher wire feed is definitely helpful with inverted welding. Weld at least as hot as you would flat. Keep the stick-out between 3/8" and 1/2". Dead straight on to a max of ~5* degree push angle, and stay ahead of the puddle.

Truck is looking good! I went through the same type of excercise with my minx pedals

[JohnC]

The project is coming along great man. Keep up the awesome work!

[89muscletruck]

For the seatbelts, you might be able to use the middle belts out of a GM 88-98 truck that did not have the bucket seats. These ones still used a braided steel wire, they lacked the plastic piece around them and were much more flexible.

[sparkydog]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Dead straight on to a max of ~5* degree push angle, and stay ahead of the puddle.

I will try that. I have been going in at an angle, mainly because I've been lying off to the side - trying to dodge the hot "mag-ma" coming down onto my face and forearms.

[sparkydog]

Originally Posted by fryer1979

That's right. So then a center belt section from a square-body (73-87) with a bench seat should do perfectly...if they were longer. One idea is most auto parts stores stock those seat belt extensions, most I've seen are about 10" long or so. Another suggestion is the aftermarket lap belt assemblies. IIRC they are quite long, are offered in a few basic colors, work as a stand alone unit, and are fairly inexpensive. Again, any local auto parts store should stock them at about $25 or $30 (maybe less, it's been a while since I last purchased some). For a junkyard score, how about pre-87 Chevy fullsize vans? Or maybe an early lap/shoulder combo, and just cut off the shoulder strap? Just throwing ideas out now...good luck with the belts.

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

You could use your fabric seat belts and order some seat belt webbing, then take them to a upholstery shop and have them sew them back up to the length you want. Look here http://www.strapworks.com/Polyester_Webbing_p/sbw2.htm though there are several other places to order it from.

Originally Posted by 89muscletruck

For the seatbelts, you might be able to use the middle belts out of a GM 88-98 truck that did not have the bucket seats. These ones still used a braided steel wire, they lacked the plastic piece around them and were much more flexible.

Awesome guys - thanks for the ideas. I'm sure one of these will work out great.

[Frizzle Fry]

You could always switch to laser beams...
Posted via Mobile Device

[ERASER5]

Or sharks with freaking laser beams on their heads!

[Pop's C-10]

This is tha best puzzle ever...nice work fam