54 GMC 100: The Iron Ox

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by joedoh

looks like a pot of spaghetti blew up!

And wiring one of these old trucks should be as easy as it gets. To top it off, this is one of those generic wiring harnesses that has each wire labeled, but there is no schematic for it. On top of that, I've had to buy the ignition switch, light switch, dimmer switch all separately and they have generic wiring as well and there is no matching up wire colors. Even had to splice in the right light harness to the left side.

Anyway, I'll get'er done - the worst that could happen is I burn it to the ground, right?

I should have this part done sometime this week I hope - I'm about ready to hook up power to it to make sure everything works before I tie everything away.

I'm using all new parking light and headlights too, and replacing all the connectors - getting rid of all the old crap. Same with fuel sending unit annd dash instruments.

[joedoh]

stay away from dorman headlight sockets, I just bought some and they are crapola, the terminals push out of the plastic.

[DeanTX]

I went with H4 headlights so I used ceramic plugs. I didn't want to risk plastic ones melting

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by joedoh

stay away from dorman headlight sockets, I just bought some and they are crapola, the terminals push out of the plastic.

Originally Posted by DeanTX

I went with H4 headlights so I used ceramic plugs. I didn't want to risk plastic ones melting

Thanks for the advice guys.

I got some of the spaghetti cleaned up today. Hooked up the battery, no sparks or plastic melting which is always positive. Turn signals and parking lights are working. Put on the hood to cowl seal today. The old screws did not want to depart!

[SCHRUMGMC]

Loving this project so far

[Zoomin]

Just because a truck has a ton of rust, I dont think it's a good dea to let it go without doing something to slow or stop it. Eastwood sells a spray on product that's a rust "converter" instead of an "encapsulator". Just go after the area with a wire brush then hit it with a couple thin coats.


Before


After



Got the headlights, parking lights and tailghts installed. The headlights are HID with the turn signals built into them. The turn signals I changed to be parking lights. One piece of amusement is that the new dimmer switch I bought worked for low beams only, so I cleaned up the American made 62 year old old one a bit and shot some lithium grease into it, and it works like a champ.





Spaghetti is getting under control




I should get the gauges installed this week

[Zoomin]

Decided to work on the dash and gauges so I could get them wired up. Here's how they looked before - all original and I don't know if they worked or not. If anyone wants them, drop a PM.



After

[joedoh]

nice work! the fourth dimension has always been time.

are your headlights upside down?

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by joedoh

nice work! the fourth dimension has always been time.

are your headlights upside down?

All the ones I've seen have the turn signal at the bottom. Now you've got me wonerdering...

[aggie91]

Love you builds. This one looks like a 180 direction change from your last few...

[joedoh]

no I think you are right, the turn/park chamber on mine is on top!

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Love you builds. This one looks like a 180 direction change from your last few...

You're definitely nicely right about that. I've figured out my favorite part of the hobby is the build process, figuring out how stuff works, and it's as close as I'll ever get to artistic expression, if that makes any sense. And you don't have to drop big chunks of change to do it.

Originally Posted by joedoh

no I think you are right, the turn/park chamber on mine is on top!

Hey, if it works that's a win IMO.

[Zoomin]

Got the gauges installed in the bezels and made up the wiring harnesses




Yes, that's a dent in the hood.

[mcbassin]

Cool Project Steve! I would have never known if you hadn't changed your picture....
Looking forward to following along.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Cool Project Steve! I would have never known if you hadn't changed your picture....
Looking forward to following along.

Well Mike, this is a project that I'm doing myself, a low budget-have some fun-twenty footer. I bought this on a whim and we'll see how it goes. It's been fun so far.

[solidaxel]

Great project and it is another solid windshield GMC!!

[Zoomin]

Some progress to report. The gauges are in and the wiring is mostly complete. I cleaned up the firewall a bit in the process. I bought a leaf spring kit from Total Cost Involved (haven't received it yet) so I started the process of removing the current rear suspension, which looks like it's going to be a ton of fun in the form of rivet removal. Can hardly wait for that.

[mcbassin]

Nice work Steve! Sounds like you'll have fun on the rivet removal.

[iowaboynca]

Man I do like how a 54's dash looks. Popping out the rivets aren't that bad as long as the cut the "X" in the head and pop it off.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by iowaboynca

Man I do like how a 54's dash looks. Popping out the rivets aren't that bad as long as the cut the "X" in the head and pop it off.

Cut the X then drill out or chisel it?

[iowaboynca]

yup. Cut an "x" into the head w/cutoff wheel down to the frame then use an air chisel to remove the head. then you can punch the remaining piece out with the air chisel. Definitely wear hearing protection. It can be LOUD!

[Zoomin]

What a PITA! Each front spring mount has no less than 5 rivets holding it in place - 3 on the side and 2 underneath. I went to HF and pissed away some money on an air chisel. It did make a hell of a racket but not much of a dent in the rivet head. I found the best way was to grind the head down flush to the frame and then drill it out.

The two front mounts are out and now on to the rear mounts with only 3 rivets each, but the are all on the bottom of the frame.



After this everything else will seem like a blast...

[joedoh]

man I hate grinding rivets.

for next time,

instead of a grinding disc use a thin cut off wheel in the grinder and be VERY CAREFUL (goggles, face shield, heavy long sleeve shirt, leather gloves, no shorts or flip flops!) to hold the grinder firmly, dont bind the disc or it will explode and the shrapnel is lethal. (maybe not lethal, but it will make you remember the date on the calendar as a BC/AD kind of thing)

slice the heads off the rivets, easy peasy, then drill a hole about half the size of the rivet in the center. the hole in the center takes the compressive force out of the rivet and you should be able to just bang them through.

if you have a plasma cutter, just blow right through the centers of the rivets and blow the heads off sideways, easy peasy.

[Zoomin]

Joe, I took your advice and ground the heads off. Wasn't easy peasy because there was always something in the way and being on the bottom of the frame I was treated to spark showers. I also learned why you recommended a long sleeve shirt too.

I had better luck drilling a small hole in the center of the rivet then going after it with a step bit after that. Then I just knocked the bracket off with a BFH.

Anyway, all those rat bastard rivets are off there now.

Next up is to grind the crust off the axle and get it painted and hang the brackets.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by Zoomin

Joe, I took your advice and ground the heads off. Wasn't easy peasy because there was always something in the way and being on the bottom of the frame I was treated to spark showers. I also learned why you recommended a long sleeve shirt too.

I had better luck drilling a small hole in the center of the rivet then going after it with a step bit after that. Then I just knocked the bracket off with a BFH.

Anyway, all those rat bastard rivets are off there now.

Next up is to grind the crust off the axle and get it painted and hang the brackets.

good workaround! I dont have a drill that will drill past the 4th step on a step bit haha.