1963 GMC C30 panel truck

[TJ's Chevy]

Glad to see ya back at it again. Looking awesome! Just got a 99 Dodge 2500 with a 24v 5.9 cummins and a 5 speed. Love it! I'd highly recommend straight piping it if you haven't already. It sounds amazing when you do.

[350TacoZilla]

Here is a pic of the white-dark green-teal samples I had got. I requested them along with the black and orange I planned on and got them 2 days later.

[AJCK87]

Yeah, fair points 350! I will have to go over it again. I just assumed my ground was good. But I did track power along the ignition wire. I have 12v right to the back of the stereo, once it transitions, in the circuit board, inside to the in unit 15a fuse it’s dropping voltage. Seems weird, I know it did work when I first istalled it. I think I will give it a bench test to check the ground. I don’t see any scorching inside the unit.

Thanks TJ! These motors are pretty awesome, just the sound of the engine when your cruising. That 5 speed would be awesome! 1999, so it must be a NV4500, or do you have something different? I do like the idea of straight pipes, they aren't ridiculously loud, but these engines definitely benefit from the back pressure of a muffler and length of exhaust pipe.

Those samples look pretty decent! It would be pretty clean. I had to go and look at sms and all their fancy era fabrics and vinyls, and now I’m pretty set on what I want hahaha. Figure I’m going with G for the fabric. Thanks for the help!

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by AJCK87

Thanks TJ! These motors are pretty awesome, just the sound of the engine when your cruising. That 5 speed would be awesome! 1999, so it must be a NV4500, or do you have something different? I do like the idea of straight pipes, they aren't ridiculously loud, but these engines definitely benefit from the back pressure of a muffler and length of exhaust pipe.

I did a 4 inch straight on mine, actually lowered the EGT's when pulling hills so it helped. Mileage went up to actually. It's an NV4500, with 3.55's and 35's I feel sorry for that trans. haha Recently was rebuilt and I drive easy on it. When funds and time allow I'm gonna look into swapping in an NV5600 and put the 4500 in my 64 GMC.

[AJCK87]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

I did a 4 inch straight on mine, actually lowered the EGT's when pulling hills so it helped. Mileage went up to actually. It's an NV4500, with 3.55's and 35's I feel sorry for that trans. haha Recently was rebuilt and I drive easy on it. When funds and time allow I'm gonna look into swapping in an NV5600 and put the 4500 in my 64 GMC.

Right on! What did you do for the turbo, did you have to get a bigger housing to adapt to the 4” or did you use a transition piece?

Very cool! I really want to get and NV5600 behind my 12 valve
I was checking out high impact transmission and gear, they have all kinds of kits and transmissions but are pretty spendy, I guess that is inherently a spendy piece but just the same

https://high-impact.net/nv5600

What are some options out there to make this work? Are the NV 5600 compatible with the first gen 6BT?
I won’t be anywhere near doing this any time soon as I just want to get the rig on the road hahaha but I do like to do my research

[350TacoZilla]

Man if I had the money a ford ZF-6 behind a cummins would rock, both my dad and I have had 6spd rams and 6spd super duty's and the ZF is a sweet shifting trans for being a truck transmission. Nice part is they already have the adapters since ford guys swap the engines in all the time. I think a ram G56 would be my second choice followed by the NV5600, its not a bad trans but I didnt like it as much as either the G56 or ZF.

[AJCK87]

Hey 350, I do like the sound of a 6spd! I figure I’ll have to do some more research before I make a decision.

We just got hit with that cold spell, so I decided to work in the shop this weekend. Got started on the 3rd row seat. Made brackets for one point of the shoulder belt. Also fabricated brackets for the two buckles. Wanted to get those installed as I had to take off the vinyl to proceed with laying out the belt mounting in the seat back, getting the foam cut and sand blasting the seat frame. Picked up some marine vinyl at a local shop, it isn’t the exact colour I was hoping for, but at $20 CND per yard I was sold hahaha. Sure beats the $105 CND for the one I was looking at. Just the expense for the nice fabric. I ordered 4.5 yards of the G option. Went with a fawn or beige thread, will match the seat belts and contrast nice. I figure I’ll go back to stock colours on the inside. Metallic fawn and white stripe down the door.

[AJCK87]

Seat materials

[350TacoZilla]

Hey thats got a nice sheen to it for marine vinyl! I like it paired with the G fabric, originally I liked the G or A fabric samples you had paired with the D vinyl, good call on the thread matching the seat belts to give contrast to the fabric\vinyl.

I know its not a big priority at this point but what are plans on steering wheel? I'm also going to be using a dodge column and had thought about trying to use a later model GMC wheel with it rather than the normal parts store grant wheel I have used in like 5 other trucks lol.

[AJCK87]

Originally Posted by 350TacoZilla

Hey thats got a nice sheen to it for marine vinyl! I like it paired with the G fabric, originally I liked the G or A fabric samples you had paired with the D vinyl, good call on the thread matching the seat belts to give contrast to the fabric\vinyl.

I know its not a big priority at this point but what are plans on steering wheel? I'm also going to be using a dodge column and had thought about trying to use a later model GMC wheel with it rather than the normal parts store grant wheel I have used in like 5 other trucks lol.

Hey 350! Thanks I’m happy and moving on with the fabric choices, I have them all ready to go, even though I really would prefer one of the SMS vinyls, just can’t justify the extra expense o well. I have decided to add headrests the the 2nd and 3rd rows as well. Just want the extra bit of neck protection for my passengers.

For the wheel, I would really like to get the stock GMC wheel on there. Just like the style best plus it all cleaned, repaired and ready to go. Project for the future. The Dodge wheel will do for now. If it doesn’t work with the Dodge column, i figure I will go with a nice tilt column later on.

Well Vancouver Island got a bunch of snow.... which has slowed down progreess a bit hahaha. But I have been back on it this last weekend. I have been getting the seat belts installed the brackets figured for the top of the back rest. Also picked up the foam for the 3rd row. Yesterday I started sandblasting the seat spring frame. I will have to get the frames blasted and painted, foam shaped and more on the brackets figured. Then the seats should be ready for fabric and vinyl.

[AJCK87]

Still have some figuring to do on the top brackets. Don’t want anything to bulky, trying to make it very strong and low profile so you don’t feel it with your shoulder through the back rest foam. I will have to fabricate the head rest mounts as well.

[AJCK87]

Little more progress on the 3rd row. Brackets are done for the seat belts then spent some time sand blasting the seat and spring frames. The spring frame is now in Por-15 and now I’m just waiting for the new seat springs to get here. The head rests came in with the guides so I started the layout and fab for the brackets for those. This will definitely make these seats a bit more comfortable not to mention safer hahaha. Need to make and install another set of brackets for the next head rest then onto shaping some foam.

[AJCK87]

Will be recovering the head rests

[AJCK87]

And the guides and brackets

[AJCK87]

Little bit more work done today. But I will be taking a couple of weeks off here to really power through and get this rig rolling!

My springs came in! Got them all cut to length, went with a 2” rise in the spring arch. Just painted them with a little POR-15, then I can install them in the frame

[AJCK87]

Got the truck insured today, got it out for a good shack down! Did about 90kms and she was running awesome! So good to hear that hum on that diesel. Hope everyone’s necks were ok though hahaha lot of turning heads

[350TacoZilla]

Cool deal man! I'm sure a ton of people were trying to figure out what the sound was then saw that thing coming down the rd lol.

Two quick questions, are the seat belts tied into the actual seat frame or just the board and can the retractor be moved up and out a bit? Just wondering if they will be real noticeable in the lower back lol.

[AJCK87]

For sure! It was a blast.

As for the seat, the belt reel, at the bottom, is just bolted to the 5/8 plywood and the same as the top bracket and this is in a fixed position. The anchor point for the buckle and end of the lap belt are off the seat frame. The test that I did with the old foam, the top bracket is high enough not to notice and the belt reel is to the outside of your your back. Fit pretty nice. I initially made the bracket at the top to bulky and you could feel it

Few more pictures

[350TacoZilla]

Ah ok it was hard to tell in pics but it looked like they would be right into your kidneys type area lol.

I was asking about the mounting just because of a worse case scenario where you actually need the belts. I'm not trying to tell you how to build your own truck or anything just wondering if maybe should make a support bracket that ties into the frame of seat, maybe even just set of small U-bolts that go around the frame bars and tie into the belt mounting points (both at shoulder and retractor). Keep up the good work man I cant wait to see interior done up with your new materials.

[AJCK87]

Originally Posted by 350TacoZilla

Ah ok it was hard to tell in pics but it looked like they would be right into your kidneys type area lol.

I was asking about the mounting just because of a worse case scenario where you actually need the belts. I'm not trying to tell you how to build your own truck or anything just wondering if maybe should make a support bracket that ties into the frame of seat, maybe even just set of small U-bolts that go around the frame bars and tie into the belt mounting points (both at shoulder and retractor). Keep up the good work man I cant wait to see interior done up with your new materials.

Yeah I am wanting it to be comfortable for sure. I have a 4” foam for the back and a 6” for the seat. That is a good point, I was looking at it and the ply is pretty strong especially bolted to the frame, but it might not be a bad idea to tie the brackets in up at the top to. My Uncle, thanks Gary!, lent me his foam cutter so I’ll be shaping that this week.

[AJCK87]

Little bit of progress. But mostly just been driving it been three weeks now and little tweaks here and there, running really nice and so much fun!

Continuing on with the seats, foam is all cut and supplies all gathered, so I’m ready to go on the upholstery work for the third row. Will be nice and comfy

[350TacoZilla]

Cant wait to see it come together for you man! I would be driving that thing as much as possible too, on big projects that is a huge sense of accomplishment everytime it fires up.

[AJCK87]

Hey Guys,

Not much to report, still coordinating to get the seat reupholstered. Mostly driving this rig! The foreman here is keeping me in point ��

Put in a Skyjacker duel steering stabilizer kit and going to be replacing the 1/2 ton rancho shocks with some bilstiens. Just having fun mostly. O did the side glass as well, waiting on a set of sliders for the middle back windows. Will have a locking window and a sliding screen for camping out.

Been on a couple good adventures so far, camped up at Woss Lake, or what we lake to call “Woss Vegas” and camped out at Ida Lake. Was a pleasure to drive and easy to camp in. I’m sure glad I put the diesel in there! 13-14 litres per 100km average and with the 66 litre tank I’m getting 450-500km

[AJCK87]

Few more.

Cheers,

Anthony

[Captainfab]

Glad to see you are getting some good use out if it and enjoying life.