67 SWB First Build

[loudchevy]

Very nice job. The amount of effort you put in on the bodywork is amazing. Enjoy the pay off. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the build

[Kronald_70GMC]

Agreed! Everything is looking flawless and amazing!

[68 C10 Driver]

Originally Posted by a.c.ward

when doing our builds, we prep as if for paint, Direct To Metal (DTM) primer, then color match exterior paint with Raptor Liner.

The picture shows the underside of the hood and the front fenders, but we do the bottom of the cab, underside of bed, underside front fenders, and wheel tubs in the back the same way.

A.C. Ward, how do you color match the Raptor Liner? Is it as simple as adding paint to it? I sprayed the bottom of my cab, but left the Raptor Liner black.

Thanks in advance!

[68 C10 Driver]

Definitely an outstanding build! I am just now getting to my frame. I can certainly relate to balancing family and working on the truck. I cannot wait to see what the final product looks like with the lights, engine, and interior installed. Your work is very motivational for me to get my truck finished!

[Shifty One]

Looks great man!

[Scurry67]

Thanks for the compliments everyone.

I’ve been getting up to the shop most nights recently, for at least an hour. I spent the week re-prepping the interior, the tubs, and a few other misc pieces for paint. Ended up painting Friday night. Ended up being a productive night

Grill inserts had a couple spots in the back that were a tad light on basecoat from a previous painting attempt. I taped them off and rehit them. Much better!

Back of hood in paint.

Dash/interior is looking much better.

Tubs turned out decent, too


Next objective is to repaint drivers fender and bedsides. I’ll also start cutting/buffing the interior.

[Scurry67]

Update: bedsides and driver’s fender are in paint. Onto the cut and buff. Hope to get after it this week.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Real nice build. Sure takes a while don't it? I started mine in 2015. I'm in well over a year for a front bumper and seat, they're still pending. Since covid, things have proved very difficult to have done, and right.

[Scurry67]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

Real nice build. Sure takes a while don't it? I started mine in 2015. I'm in well over a year for a front bumper and seat, they're still pending. Since covid, things have proved very difficult to have done, and right.

Appreciate the compliment. Definitely has taken some time. I’m definitely motivated to make some more progress after an 8 month hiatus.
I’m dreading the wait time on my seat upholstery. I’ll find that out this December I’m thinking. By the way, i really enjoy your build. I’ve stayed caught up on it for awhile now. It’s been very informational!

[Scurry67]

Taking a little break from the buffing. I felt like switching it up a little bit. I hung the inner fenders a couple nights ago. Very minor scratches I’ll have to clean up at some point.

I also decided to break out the new wiring harness. Every time i looked at it, i’d get intimidated and find something else to do. I finally decided to jump into it though. I’ve been taking small bites out of it every night i get up to the shop. It seems to be progressing and is less intimidating now.

[Scurry67]

I’ve been making some progress on the wiring as time permits. I made a good start on the interior but ran into an issue with mounting the vintage air evaporator. I smoothed my firewall early on without considering how to secure the evaporator to the firewall. I think i have a solution but put it on hold. I jumped into the rear harness and was able to get it routed along the frame rail to the rear of the truck. I used the ebrake firewall hole to exit the cab since i don’t plan on installing an ebrake.

Another issue i had was i didn’t consider the taillight housing when moving my filler hose up the rear stake pocket. In order to get it to sit flush, i had to modify the terminal location. It came out pretty decent.

Lastly, i installed my taillights. It appears when i ordered them last two years ago, they shipped me two driver’s side parking lights. The new one is on order.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Nice progress! I have been thinking about mounting my evaporator to the firewall too once I can afford to get it. Since I'm hoping to keep my firewall clean and not have bolts coming through it, I was doing research for options a while back. I believe that full custom fab has a bracket that mounts to the floor below the pinch weld and thus there is no need for drilling through the firewall. I found this info somewhere on this forum but I can't remember where specifically.

[loudchevy]

Originally Posted by Kronald_70GMC

Nice progress! I have been thinking about mounting my evaporator to the firewall too once I can afford to get it. Since I'm hoping to keep my firewall clean and not have bolts coming through it, I was doing research for options a while back. I believe that full custom fab has a bracket that mounts to the floor below the pinch weld and thus there is no need for drilling through the firewall. I found this info somewhere on this forum but I can't remember where specifically.

Thanks for the company name for the kit. A quick Lougle search came up with this link
https://fullcustomfab.com/shop/ols/p...ket/v/GEN%20IV

I'm in the same boat with a shaved firewall and a future VA install. This bracket looks promising when you don't have the VA unit for stud layout before painting everything.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by loudchevy

Thanks for the company name for the kit. A quick Lougle search came up with this link
https://fullcustomfab.com/shop/ols/p...ket/v/GEN%20IV

I'm in the same boat with a shaved firewall and a future VA install. This bracket looks promising when you don't have the VA unit for stud layout before painting everything.

My thoughts exactly. I don't really want to buy my VA kit just to figure out mounting then have it sit on the shelf for potentially years until I'm ready for it.

[Scurry67]

Originally Posted by Kronald_70GMC

Nice progress! I have been thinking about mounting my evaporator to the firewall too once I can afford to get it. Since I'm hoping to keep my firewall clean and not have bolts coming through it, I was doing research for options a while back. I believe that full custom fab has a bracket that mounts to the floor below the pinch weld and thus there is no need for drilling through the firewall. I found this info somewhere on this forum but I can't remember where specifically.

Oh nice, i wish i would have known about that earlier. That’ll be my plan B. For the time being, i ended up fabricating my own little bracket based on what i saw someone else do here on the forum. If it ends up being a flop, i just may have to try that bracket.

[Scurry67]

I built the evaporator bracket out of some scrap sheet metal and some flat bar i had laying around. It’ll mount above the evaporator, on the cowl. I think it’ll work okay.

I also mounted the condenser on the core support. What a PIA it was to install with the grill already installed. It took some time, but i was able to drill the core support and route the lines. It’s slowly coming together.

[loudchevy]

That home brew bracket looks like it did the trick, nice job! How did the ping pong paddles come into play

[Scurry67]

Originally Posted by loudchevy

That home brew bracket looks like it did the trick, nice job! How did the ping pong paddles come into play

Ha! I didn’t realize those were in the shot. Those just happened to be the closest “shim” in the shop while I was leveling my evaporator it’s typically a one-man-band in the shop.

[Scurry67]

Built a Dakota Digital control box bracket that’ll mount to my brake bracket behind the dash bezel. The kit came with the BIM module so i mounted it although i won’t be using it. Maybe down the road…

I’ve been working on getting the interior all wired up and it’s starting to come together. I still have to figure out where I’ll route the control box sensor wires through the cab.


A couple shots of the engine bay. I have the headlight harness and the AC harness roughed in. Each harness is tucked behind the inner tub and I’m trying to mount under the core support top lip. Not shown in the picture is the new battery tray in the original location.




Lastly, I installed the new LED headlights. They have the LED bar in the middle that I plan on wiring up for turn signals.



I’ll continue to slowly chip away at the wiring and maybe get some other pieces in paint over the holidays.

[loudchevy]

Originally Posted by Scurry67

Ha! I didn’t realize those were in the shot. Those just happened to be the closest “shim” in the shop while I was leveling my evaporator it’s typically a one-man-band in the shop.

gotta be resourceful. Wiring it looking good.

[Scurry67]

Knocked a few more things off the to do list.

I ordered a replacement AC control panel about two years ago. After wiping off the dust, i got the harness and new faceplate installed. Fit was great. I installed my cup holder as well. I’m sure I’ll have to take it out when i install the carpet and seat, but i couldn’t resist.



Gauges are about ready to go in, just have to wait for new j-nuts now



Started buffing the cab. Looking good, although there is a little bit of orange peel still. I decided to keep moving forward and if the little bit of orange peel bothers me, I’ll fix it. Just too anxious to get this thing done.



Happy holidays!

[Scurry67]

I set out on a goal this past week to get a handful of parts painted and installed. High build, sand and seal coated the parts by Wednesday.


Shot paint on Thursday. The color is a Toyota color called cement gray. It has a slight pearl to it. Very happy with the contrast in colors



Grill trim, headlight buckets, emblem and front bumper installed. Reinstalling the trim was a total PIA with keeping the fasteners seated. That was definitely a frustrating couple of hours, but it came out nice. I’m really liking the look

Next goal is to get the doors put together.

[kev2809]

i like it! progress is looking good

[cj847]

Did I miss the post where you talk about closing up bolt holes and mounting the bumper? It looks fantastic!

[kev2809]

good catch..i didnt notice that. looks a lot cleaner than the bolts showing. do they take a separate bracket to mount?