Fast Orange: Rodstoration

[poorboy]

The truck has come along way. Keep up the good work.

[Rollie396]

jeez man you're catchin up to me in a big hurry!Lookin great so far.

[CPNEJR]

lots of progress getting done there. now come to my garage and do some work on mine so i can have it when i get my drivers license

[pimperout]

i like that a lot man good job

[fnoblitt]

i am going to be doing the same thing to my 70. what did you use to cut the floor with ? and what brans/amp welder did you use ? your doing a grewat job.

[my67C10]

where did you get the instrument cluster and glove box cover? i really like thoes!

[QKENUF4U]

hopefully ya threaded the nut onto the short end of your balancer installer truck is looking good, im jealous

[red71cheyenne]

Progress is coming fast! You are about as far along as I am and I have been at it for 4 years now! Thanks for the pics and keep 'em coming. Jeff.

[jay6891]

To keep your fingers from getting all nasty from spreading seam sealer with them. Dip your finger in thinner before you start and keep dipping as you work and it will not stick. The trick is to keep your fingers wet with thinner. Body man showed me that.

[mhdie]

great work! keep us updated 88

[jay-dawg]

progress looks good!

Jay

[muddpile]

Thanks guys! Lots of new progress, but I need to charge my camera. Here's some answers to your questions:

Fnoblitt: I used a variety of things. Everything from a sawzall with a metal blade, to an angle grinder with a thin wheel to a dremel with a 1 1/2 cutoff wheel. Whatever fit the area the best. The Welder I use is a Hobart Handler 140 gas mig.

my67C10: I actually built the instrument cluster. I just took a stock 3 hole unit from the wrecker, removed the gauges, cut all the bracing off the back, sanded the front smooth and fibreglassed the holes shut. I then cut new gauge holes with a holesaw, textured it using SEM texture paint, airbrushed a pile of skulls on it and cleared it. Took a few nights, but I ended up with something functional, and totally unique. The glovebox door is a stocker that got the same treatment of texture and skulls.

Jay6891: Thanks for the tip. I'll be using more of it later next week, and I'll be sure to try that.

[Yukon Jack]

Lot of work happening on that one. Keep at it!

[muddpile]

More progress pictures. These aren't the most current, but within the next few days we should be right up to date. The cab corners are just about finished, and the rockers will be in shortly as well. The doors took a bit of tweaking, but they ended up fitting pretty well.

I have finally decided to get rid of my in-cab tank. I bought this patch panel off Ebay for about ten bucks, and it fit pretty perfect.





Also, I decided to finally cut my dash for a modern head unit. With full autometer gauges, rear fuel tank, shaved stake pockets, modern seating, painless harness, billet everything etc, the original radio would look out of place (plus reching for the glove box is kind of a pain...)

[msgross]

Originally Posted by muddpile

the original radio would look out of place (plus reching for the glove box is kind of a pain...)

\

That's why all modern radios comes with a remote control.. .I use mine in my car so I don't have to take my eyes off the road, sad to see a dash get cut but I like the gas tank filler. Think I should go that route vs. trying to cut my own? thanks...

[muddpile]

Remotes work fine until it comes time to change a CD. I figure I've cut the rest of the truck apart, whats a few more in the dash if it makes me happy right? As for the gas filler plate, I would NEVER attempt it when this product is available for 10 bucks. It fit excellent, was nice and thick and welded up great.

New update time as well! Both cab corners and both rockers are now in. I can actually look all over in my cab and not see daylight anymore! That may not sound like much, but it means the world to me,









Scary isn't it? That mangled, wrecked mess that I started with is now coming together, and rather quickly. I HIGHLY reccommend Goodmark/Tri-Plus panels if you are restoring one of these trucks. I'd never welded before I started this, and hardly worked on a vehicle, and look what I've done. Just imagine what an experienced person could do.

Here's my new favorite shot. I call this one "It's almost a truck again"

[FarmTruk]

Muddpile, I just saw this post, and read it from start to finish. You're work looks great. Man, whew, that's a lot of work. This is inspiration for me too. I'm keeping my eye on this one for new updates. Keep up the good work.

[65-72 chevytoys]

Way to go. Keep going I am going to watch this one if you can weld that well the first time then I think I should give it a try.

[harmsy]

Looking good , mine is also orange and white , just complete.......

[turbochevy]

nice work! I am looking forward to the end results. What are your plans for mounting the seats? I have the same seats, and I am holding on until I can come up with an answer on the installation of them. I plan on removing the in cab tank sooner or later too, do you think I can run the buckets with the tank for now?

[YRU351]

Where are you going to put a new gas tank? I'm interested in doing this also/

[projectking]

wow great job on the truck, makes me want to stay up all night and work on mine!!!

[muddpile]

Lots of comments and compliments, thanks guys. I never had any idea of how fast it can come together once everything lines up. Now, answers to some questions:

TurboChevy: The seat mounting was a pretty involved process, although it didn't have to be. I wanted the most leg and head room I could get, as I'm not that small of a guy (6'0, 230+). What I did was slid the sliders right to the back of the seat, like where they would be if you slid the seat all the way forward in the vehicle. I then set the seat sliders down behind that thick floor rail that the front of the stock bench mounts to and checked for fit. The seat backs just barely touched the back wall above the tank, and there was lots of head/leg room. I then marked where each mounting place was for both seats (8 total) and set the console in between to make sure it fit.

Once everything was marked out and to my liking, I measured to see how thick of bolts I could fit in the seat holes, then drilled a pilot hole and then the real hole (which was about 1/8" bigger than the bolt for easier threading). I then tipped the cab back to do the cab supports, and while under there, I welded washers with the biggest outside diameter I could find to the floor (making sure the nuts would still sit somewhat on the washer for structure). I then centered the nuts and welded them on as well. I welded them VERY well, so they would not come off, then covered my welding with seam sealer to keep rust and whatnot away. The setup seems very solid and I am confident it will hold up well.

The seats actually fit very well with the tank in the cab. Up until about a month ago I was going to keep the in cab tank, but decided to switch to an under-bed model to save some interior space.

YRU351: I plan on mounting a 72 Blazer tank under the bed where the spare tire would normally hang, and filling it through a marine style filler in the bed floor.

[groundhog]

its looking good just hope you have the energy to keep going .im kinda doing the same thing to my 71 but with out the cab removal ill post pics soon...keep it up and it'll come around keep the pics coming...jc

[birdie]

That is great work you are doing, your truck is going to look fantastic when you are done.