57 GMC / C4 Build

[Jason 56]

I like how your bumper came out! Going to be a clean look. What are you thinking for tail lights?

[BlueChipCal]

thanks Jason56

I'm pretty happy with how the back is coming along. The firewall on the other hand...

For tail lights, I picked up a set of 37 ford lights with the LED bulbs. I was planning to mount them on a short post just behind the fenders. Pretty classic look. But, I let someone talk me into frenching them below the tailgate.

I'm not sure if I like them this way or not. Maybe they will grow on me.

What do you guys think?

[BlueChipCal]

Got the tilt bed floor working.
Just ripped a sheet of 3/4 plywood into strips for now. I'll do the actual hardwood planks later on down the line.



Mounted a plate with a generic cable release latch to hold it down.


The hinge mechanism makes it lift up and out so I don't have a pinch point at the front of the bed. This means I have to open the tailgate for it to clear, but that's fine with me.

[JML55]

Nice work

[youngrodder]

The shorty bumper looks great. I like the tail lights as well.

Marc

[NorCalGal]

BlueChipCal,Do you have any more pictures of the tilt bed set up? Im in the process of doing the same thing.

[BlueChipCal]

Originally Posted by NorCalGal

BlueChipCal,Do you have any more pictures of the tilt bed set up? Im in the process of doing the same thing.

The hinge is a 4 link mechanism made from a couple of threaded rods and some shock mounting fittings.


Here is a little animation I made to show how it works.


It takes some trial and error to get the length bars and mounting points right for the correct sweep, but it is solid once it is dialed in. I exaggerated the members in the animation to show how the back end will drop down while coming forward. I mounted my short bar as close as I could to the end to minimize this.

[6DoF]

i really like the re-proportioning, good eye.

[BlueChipCal]

So the bed is all welded up and sent off to be blasted and primed. A friend of mine offered to do it for me cheap when he has time. I told him I wasn't in a rush. I feel like I may regret that... haha.

Also been working on some rust repair on the cab. Opened up the doors and made some repairs then reskinned the lower portion. Replaced the steps and cab corners on both sides. The cowl will need some work and I have to reskin the roof as well. It has a bit of a starry night thing going on when you sit in the cab and look up towards the light.

I knew I wanted to upgrade the door latches to something more secure. I looked at the couple of aftermarket options for these trucks and decided they were pretty comically overpriced for what they are. I grabbed some latches from a 90's ranger (free) to see if I can get them to work in these thin doors without getting into the window glass. I also snagged the windshield wiper motor assembly from the same truck. A good upgrade from the vacuum system if I can get the geometry to work right.

Here is a look at my battle with the firewall. Lots of cutting and adding patches to piece it together. I was having some trouble getting the vintage air kit to fit under the dash with the motor so far into the cab. It is still to tight between the dash and firewall so I am going to cut the whole thing out and make a clean version. Should have just done it right the first time, but live and learn I guess.


I found a 1989 Buick LeSabre with the factory flip hood hardware at a local yard a few months back. I spent a couple of hours trying to make it work with my setup. I came to the realization that you can't do the flip hood like this with a hood that is tapered towards the front. Because of the way it releases forward before it flips up, it binds in the fenders and won't work. So instead I am going to recess some hinges in the cowl area above the firewall and have it open normally.

[ChuckDriver]

Cool build!!

[BlueChipCal]