Yet another GMC build

[Kabwe]

Thats a really nice build you have going here. I'm also rounding my bed corners with the U Pipe. I pick that mod up out of a classic truck mag many moons ago. Once again your build is look nice. Keep up the good work.

[sonofajunkman]

Man your truck is cool. keep up the good work

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by OKGMC4

. Any other ideas, anyone?

First thing that popped into my brain was blood shot eyeball, back lit. They could wink with the turn signal and have lids that close completely when you back up.

[hotrodrookie]

Im liking the looks of this build. Nice work on all those brackets for the rear suspenion, and kudos on the engine choice!

[bensimmons_05]

I like your moves.

What did you do with your orignal tail gate.

[OKGMC4]

Originally Posted by bensimmons_05

I like your moves.

What did you do with your orignal tail gate.

I still have it but it's banged up pretty good. Might be saved, just not sure if it's worth it or not.

[STOCKISH]

Great work, going to be a cool ride when finished for sure.

[OKGMC4]

Santa came and left an aluminum radiator. I tried to mount it and it has a huge amount of tilt to it and hits the splash apron at the bottom. I had to build spacers out of 1" square tubing to get it to fit and not contact at the bottom. With this placement I'm wondering how well the upper rad hose and air intake will fit. I have 3.5" clearance between the rad and the water pump pulley. Good news is there should be lots of room for a condenser this way.

[OKGMC4]

Also...the hand built rear pan is 90% done now. just filling some pin holes and doing minor work. I like it but it was a pain. This is where having the right tools would have been fantastic. Next time I'm going to buy one instead I think....

[58 gmc]

NIce Lookin truck you got there, great to see another GMC coming back to life, keep up the good work!

[blackdiesel]

updates??

[OKGMC4]

I've been roughing in the cowl once I got the louvers removed and smoothed. Got to tell you it sucks. It's still not where I want it after 4 hours of trying to finish it with bondo. It's curved on two different planes and hard to sand with any conventional sander. You get one area right and you've taken too much out somewhere else. I've also been reworking the dash some more. I don't want a full length console to the floor and needed a better spot to mount things in the dash so I cut it, moved it over 9.5 inches and filled the hole. Made some paper templates of vintage air louvers and controls and looks good. Still need to build something to hold a stereo (maybe like what CAL58GMC has). Also been working on making the bed at least sort of straight. The more I work on it the less I start to care. I mean it IS a truck bed...but I'm sure the perfectionist in me won't let me do that in the end. Bodywork just SUCKS.

[blackdiesel]

Originally Posted by OKGMC4

It's curved on two different planes and hard to sand with any conventional sander.

i learned very quick that to get anything straight you HAVE to do it by hand. 100% by hand. its best if you dont even rough it in with an air sander. that just makes waves. get you some long board 36, 80, 180, and 220 grit and several different blocks. buy a kit of the dura blocks, you'll need them all.

also you might pick up some stink rock. the longer the peices the better. its the blocks that is used to clean bbq grills with. you might ask why its called stink rock, but youll soon find out

[OrrieG]

Ditto on the hand sanding, especially on the multicurved places. In addition to the durablocks I got some hard rubber used for flooring in horse trailers (works great for cab and body mounts too). It is a little more flexible than the durablocks. I use push pins to hold the sandpaper it place. The pnuematic block and circular sanders are good for rough shaping but you don't get the feel like you do by hand.

[addicted2dunes]

Originally Posted by OKGMC4

I've been roughing in the cowl once I got the louvers removed and smoothed. Got to tell you it sucks. It's still not where I want it after 4 hours of trying to finish it with bondo. It's curved on two different planes and hard to sand with any conventional sander. You get one area right and you've taken too much out somewhere else. I've also been reworking the dash some more. I don't want a full length console to the floor and needed a better spot to mount things in the dash so I cut it, moved it over 9.5 inches and filled the hole. Made some paper templates of vintage air louvers and controls and looks good. Still need to build something to hold a stereo (maybe like what CAL58GMC has). Also been working on making the bed at least sort of straight. The more I work on it the less I start to care. I mean it IS a truck bed...but I'm sure the perfectionist in me won't let me do that in the end. Bodywork just SUCKS.

I don't know about your placement of stuff there on the dash..... looks too much like a face to me!

[OKGMC4]

Ya...it looks like Mr. Bill...OH NOOOOO!!! It's not done just yet though, maybe I can make a beard too...lol
I could always reverse placement or maybe whan the radio box gets built it'll look different.

On the sanding I'm wondering if some stiff round foam would be good. It might work to keep the rounded shape of the cowl but be WAY more flexible than a board sander. I have a couple foam and rubber blocks that work great on flat/ semi-flat areas but nothing cylinder shaped as of yet.

[blackdiesel]

Originally Posted by OKGMC4

Ya...it looks like Mr. Bill...OH NOOOOO!!! It's not done just yet though, maybe I can make a beard too...lol
I could always reverse placement or maybe whan the radio box gets built it'll look different.

On the sanding I'm wondering if some stiff round foam would be good. It might work to keep the rounded shape of the cowl but be WAY more flexible than a board sander. I have a couple foam and rubber blocks that work great on flat/ semi-flat areas but nothing cylinder shaped as of yet.

in the dura block kit there is a cylinder block. Its one of my favorites, its good for nearly every curve

[hotrodrookie]

You could also use a Fun-oodle, you know those swimming pool floating devices. Wrap some sand paper around one of those to shape and bend to all kinds of contours.

[OKGMC4]

Originally Posted by hotrodrookie

You could also use a Fun-oodle, you know those swimming pool floating devices. Wrap some sand paper around one of those to shape and bend to all kinds of contours.

My wife said the same thing! I'd have to look at walmart but I think they may be out of season at the moment.

[CAL 58 GMC]

Realy nice job on your build! I know what you mean about getting to that point when you keep working and working and it starts to feel like your never going to get it done, I know I've been there. Somtimes it helps to take a break for a few weeks then get back on it. Keep up the good work, from what I see it's paying off!

[OKGMC4]

Been working off an on with the bed and other body issues for several months inbetween side jobs and real life. It happens. I decided to take a break on the bodywork and do a couple other things. Got the frame painted and my suspension bolted in. I was told the black was semi gloss but it ended up being "holy crap get your sunglasses" gloss black instead. I got a gallon for free so what the heck, I'll use it! Only posting a rear pic because I found more sandpaper scratches than I liked on the firewall and I'm redoing it before stabbing the engine again and taking pics.

[OKGMC4]

Also modified the tank for a late model GM EFI pump module. It required cutting the bung off the tank in four parts without cutting the tank (very time intensive) and modifying the module to fit. It was too long so it had to be taken apart and the tubes and springs shortened 2.5", reclock the pump to the housing, and bend the float to reflect the new height. Alot of work but now I can repair this module with about any 5.3 truck pump from the parts house. If you break down 500 miles away you don't want to have to special order a pump from JEGS and wait for it to get there. The mounting system came from my father in law. Again, it helps to have genious help from a CNC operator. The c ring goes inside the tank, the middle ring has countersunk bolts to locate the inner ring and provide a seat for the pump O ring, and the upper ring holds the pump in. Couldn't have done it myself and truly appreciate help like this!

[OKGMC4]

The other thing that's been taking up time is my new girlfr...err..truck. Always wanted a 4x4 and now I've got one. 06 Dodge Big Horn 1500. I love this truck, HEMI and all. Takes some of the pressure off getting the GMC done. It already had a leveling kit, some nice Bridgestone AT Revo tires, and a Gale Banks catback. I've just built a front receiver mount for it and plan on that winch cradle and 10K winch along with building some rock slider style steps for it. 11 MPG sucks but still lovin it. And if Blackdiesel reads this...I like your new 06 Dodge project too but I think the driver side has a little scratch in the paint... Just kidding, hope to see it in one piece again!

[blackdiesel]

If I'm reading this... nothing gets past me. And I worked all day buffing and I got all the scratchs out on my new truck. LOL

[blackdiesel]

BTW, i'm almost done with my 06. painted today and got started on the interior. and some outside peices.

sorry for the crappy pic, cell phone. will back it out in the sun tomorrow and snap some good ones