First Thread! My 72 project

[Rooster144]

Very nice, I just got a 71 K20. As soon as I find a body I am planning on tearing it down and restoring it as well.

[plummen]

how big of a deal is it to remove the dash?
i found a couple bolts on each side and a lot of spot welds across the front on mine,i think ill wait till after my floors and rockers are done to tear mine out so the cab doesnt collapse!

[TruckGuy5772]

Plummen, to remove the dash isnt too bad. You'll need a couple spot weld drill bits (NAPA auto parts) and a 1/8" drill bit. Drill with the drill bit first through each spot weld, then go back with the spot weld bit and drill with it but you'll only want to drill through far enough to brake the weld, otherwise it's a lot messier. As far as difficulty it's not that bad, just tedious. There are 2 bolts on either side but leave them in till all the welds are done. But you'd wanna take it out before your floor and rockers...the cab wont collapse without the dash...the floor and rockers are what keep it from doing so and when you take THOSE out, you have to weld in bars to keep it from doing so. Oh, and make sure to get a handful of the spot weld bits...it looks like a mini hole saw bit and has tiny teeth that heat up really quick and tend to brake off farely easy.

[plummen]

Cool,thanks!

[onebadbowtie]

Just by chance did you buy this truck from someone in the Pittsburg KS area? cause i do believe i have seen it around before. Great work by the way

[TruckGuy5772]

Originally Posted by onebadbowtie

Just by chance did you buy this truck from someone in the Pittsburg KS area? cause i do believe i have seen it around before. Great work by the way

I bought it from a guy down in Ark City, Ks. I live in Wichita so it wasnt too far away. Seemed like forever though towbaring it back to Wichita. And thanks man. It's something new everyday lol.

[TruckGuy5772]

WELL, as we were putting the tailgate on for the first time (ALL new bed ) it wouldnt allign right so having to fix that...ugh. AND the new tailgate handle wont fit correctly so we're gonna take it out, make it a Shaved tailgate handle and have the handle on the inside of the tailgate...should look cool, just frustrating that the new parts dont fit correctly...I'll post pics as the all the body work gets closer to being done and ready to paint but lost to tweak and fix so idk how long it'll be. Thanks for all the comments.

[TruckGuy5772]

Well, the bed is on the frame with the body lift! take a look..

[TruckGuy5772]

more pics...

[VA72C10]

Looks good!

[72LSK10]

Looking real good, nice to see frame off's on these trucks. What kind of bolts did you use on the rear inner wheel wells (the ones bolting the well to the bed floor?)

[TruckGuy5772]

Originally Posted by 72LSK10

Looking real good, nice to see frame off's on these trucks. What kind of bolts did you use on the rear inner wheel wells (the ones bolting the well to the bed floor?)

Thanks man, ya not to many K10's being done...as far as the bolts, they came with the bed I got from Bowtie Bits here in Wichita. The old bed was rusted like crazy and it was cheaper to buy new than rust repair...but they are just carriage bolts with washers and lock nuts and some antiseeze and locktite.

[72LSK10]

Originally Posted by TruckGuy5772

Thanks man, ya not to many K10's being done...as far as the bolts, they came with the bed I got from Bowtie Bits here in Wichita. The old bed was rusted like crazy and it was cheaper to buy new than rust repair...but they are just carriage bolts with washers and lock nuts and some antiseeze and locktite.

Thanks.

[TruckGuy5772]

Here is the tailgate...Got the handle relocater installed and the outside welded and flush...Sorry for the long delay, the cab is taken a lot of time to get everything lined up and fitted correctly...Plus finals came and school came first. Tell me what you guys think.

[1985-GMC]

Looks good! Why did you decide to relocate it?

[RossRinSD]

Looks good, can't see any warping in the panel, at least in the pics.

You going to do the doors, too?

[TruckGuy5772]

1985- I decided to relocate it cause I saw it online and just like the clean smooth look it gives it...plus with the truck being gloss black it will look cool...somethin different.

Ross- yea, absolutely no warping which is great lol. and no, leavin the doors with the handles on there. I like the chrome handles and locks against the gloss black that it's gonna be painted...

[stfinney]

What did it cost you for the bed? Alot of the inside of mine is rusted bad, but outside is't bad.

[DD1]

Will, wow, I must say you are making me feel better and somewhat inspired about my own build. I picked up a 71 C10, which also looked much better in a photo than it did once i got it all taken apart. I paid more than you did, and feel like I paid too much, but I feel better seeing that you paid $1000 and are still so positive even with all the work you have had to do.

The frame looks great. What steps did you do to get it looking the way it is? You have some nice pics posted there.

Darien

[RCbowtie69]

You're coming along with your build nicely,keep the pictures coming & keep on truckin'

[TruckGuy5772]

stfinney-I got it at a discounted price due to the owner and I having done lots of business both with this truck and my 57 pickup but it was about 5/600 and it came with all the bolts and hardware minus the hinges and what not for the tailgate. In order to protect the investment we went ahead and sprayed bed liner under the entire bed including fender wells, and inside. We're gonna wait to finish lining inside walls of bed till after paint cause it's harder to mask off bed liner than it is paint.

[TruckGuy5772]

DD1- thanks a lot, it's still a while off, but slowly surely... as far as the frame goes, I power washed it, then bought several cans of brake cleaner/degreaser and sprayed and wiped down everything. Then went to harbor frieght and got some cheap different sized wire brushes and went to down brushing. Then went to the Hardware store and got Black gloss rattle cans and with one of those spray attachements on top of them and a piece of cardboard went to work spraying it. It took a couple coats but def. cleaned it up...I didnt go overboard with it but still wanted it to look nice and I wanted to spend more of my money else where on it.

[TruckGuy5772]

Originally Posted by RCbowtie69

You're coming along with your build nicely,keep the pictures coming & keep on truckin'

Thanks man, I sure appreciate all the support. The cab is really given us a hard time with all the rust repair we're havin to do and getting everything to line up just right so any feedback and comments are greatly appreciated.

[TruckGuy5772]

Oh, forgot to mention, my buddy and I have been working on the truck, and as soon as we can finish the cab, paint and then bed lining under the cab, inside cab, etc. will be done...we're shooting for LATEST end of April...cause I'm still in school (mechanical engineering major) and he's getting married at the end of April and it's his body shop lol. Just thought I'd let everyone know. I'll post pics as we get stuff blocked, and primed...REALLY anxious to get the cab all welded together and ready for paint...havent seen it as a whole truck since I towed it home lol. Keep the comments and questions coming and Good luck on all your projects

[TruckGuy5772]

New pics of the cab from past weeks. Finishing up last bits of metal work and making sure gaps are set, then it's final primer and PAINT!! Cannot Wait to get her out of the booth and start putting her back together! still havent driven her lol... On the back of the cab, due to a wreck of some sort, the driver side had to be cut, pulled over and insert a piece of sheet metal and welded into place because it had been twisted which is why we had so much trouble fitting the rockers and doors...but, got her done and the light at the end of the tunnel is back on lol