My 1970 GMC “Project Splice”

[Kronald_70GMC]

Well I should have know better than to hope that I wouldn't have to slice and dice the drivers cab corner. Still trying to live up to the name "Project Splice". I have the top fitting very nicely, just the bottom wants to fight me. After about an hour of trying to get the bottom to do what I needed it to do with no results, I decided that it would be easier to get the top all tacked in and a few other spots so I can address the "Splice" area while it is solid. Hopefully I can get it to do what I want without to many more "Splices"

[sakustoms]

I have used predominantly Goodmark sheetmetal on my cab and have had to do some relief cutting myself. I haven't gotten to the cab corners yet but I'm sure I'll be doing the same thing you are.

Looking real good so far.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by sakustoms

I have used predominantly Goodmark sheetmetal on my cab and have had to do some relief cutting myself. I haven't gotten to the cab corners yet but I'm sure I'll be doing the same thing you are.

Looking real good so far.

My panels all came from LMC and have been sitting with the truck since my grandpa bought them. Must be close to ten years ago now. I hope your Goodmark panels fit better. Good luck to you when it comes time for the cab corners.

[sakustoms]

Originally Posted by Kronald_70GMC

My panels all came from LMC and have been sitting with the truck since my grandpa bought them. Must be close to ten years ago now. I hope your Goodmark panels fit better. Good luck to you when it comes time for the cab corners.

Just looked at my pics and realized I actually got the D/S cab corner on. It fit pretty ok except the rear stamping was a little off from the factory cab rear stamping. I guess it's ok since you won't see it with the bed on.

The cab is on the back burner now since I've been working on the M2 front suspension swap.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by sakustoms

Just looked at my pics and realized I actually got the D/S cab corner on. It fit pretty ok except the rear stamping was a little off from the factory cab rear stamping. I guess it's ok since you won't see it with the bed on.

The cab is on the back burner now since I've been working on the M2 front suspension swap.

Do you have a build thread? I'd be interested in seeing what you are up to.

[sakustoms]

I don't. I actually just signed up here. I work full time day (now lol) and at night help my bro-inlaw at his show building custom cars. I barely have time to take pics let alone post them all online. haha

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by sakustoms

I don't. I actually just signed up here. I work full time day (now lol) and at night help my bro-inlaw at his show building custom cars. I barely have time to take pics let alone post them all online. haha

Sounds like fun building custom cars.

[sakustoms]

Building in my 1 car garage. I used to share a 4600 Sqft shop but gave it up.

[sakustoms]

Originally Posted by Kronald_70GMC

Sounds like fun building custom cars.

Yea I love custom fab work. I used to have my own business building air ride mini trucks. Gave that up due to cheap people who had no money to pay for quality work.

Working on a 66 Nova with a 572 tall deck block right now.

Made some motor mounts which will weld to the aftermarket subframe.



Had to rebuild a header to fit between the block and the frame/shock tower.



After trying to fit the mini starter couldn't make it fit no matter how I configured the header. The 572 is taller and wider than a standard BBC and this aftermarket subframe leaves no room. Had to change tactics and ended up using this header with a welded on 3" outlet. Not optimal.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by sakustoms

Building in my 1 car garage. I used to share a 4600 Sqft shop but gave it up.

That looks awesome! I can't wait till I'm on frame and suspension. That will be alot more fun than rust repair. Also alot more $$$

[sakustoms]

This was one of the first custom trucks I built. Seems like forever ago now.

[sakustoms]

Originally Posted by Kronald_70GMC

That looks awesome! I can't wait till I'm on frame and suspension. That will be alot more fun than rust repair. Also alot more $$$

I got tired of doing rust repair so I jumped on the frame. Keeps things interesting too. lol

[Kronald_70GMC]

Right on man. Keep up the good work!

[sakustoms]

Originally Posted by Kronald_70GMC

Right on man. Keep up the good work!

Thanks. You too. Keep posting updates.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Ok so things with my cab corner are getting a little Mad Maxish over here. I have been slicing and slicing and welding and welding then slicing and slicing....well you get the idea. I believe that I have the shape figured out now and all tacked up. My dad is going to come lay a second set of eyes on it to see if I'm missing anything before I weld and weld and grind and grind. What do you guys think?

[Kronald_70GMC]

Well we looked it over several times and my dad didn't see anything odd with it so I went to town with the welder. Still have all the bottom Splices to weld back together then I can grind and ill be onto the rocker, which looks like it could be my worst fitting piece yet. Par for the course I suppose haha. Stay tuned to see just how much fun it might be....

[sakustoms]

Looking real good. Looks like you have things well in hand. Keep up the great work.

When you're done you can come finish my cab.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by sakustoms

Looking real good. Looks like you have things well in hand. Keep up the great work.

When you're done you can come finish my cab.

seems to me that will be quite a while considering that there is still a whole rest of a truck to do

[sakustoms]

Originally Posted by Kronald_70GMC

seems to me that will be quite a while considering that there is still a whole rest of a truck to do

Can't rush perfection right?

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by sakustoms

Can't rush perfection right?

Absolutely. I figure I have somewhere between 500 and 750 hours on this cab so far

[Kronald_70GMC]

Cab corner is in and done. I stripped the remainder of the rear of the cab and got the rocker spliced and fitting. Turns out that 3 splices was all I needed to get the rocker fitting so that is nice. I do have to hang the door and fender to confirm that it all lines up at the front.

[Kronald_70GMC]

When I went to hang my door and fender to confirm that everything was fitting, I ran into an issue with the door. While the front and rear door gaps were nice, the top and bottom were skewed about 1/4". I tried several different door adjustments but was unable to find one I was happy with. Turns out my uncle (chewychevy67) had a spare door that fits my cab like a glove! Near perfect gaps all the way around. Thanks chewy!

I now can finish my rocker prep and get it welded in. Hopfully that will be this week some evening. Feeling very excited that it will be a complete cab again!

[chewychevy67]

Glad it works for you!

[Kronald_70GMC]

Woo hoo! Milestone reached! It is officially a complete cab again with no more rust (or so I hope) Feels like I am actually accomplishing something now.

[Kronald_70GMC]

I took a break from all the welding and grinding tonight to try and work out an idea that a friend gave me. I was planning to remove my ashtray and smooth out the dash there and he gave me a better idea. Why not remove all the inner workings of the ashtray and have the door hinge down to house some aftermarket switches and stuff. I figured that was a pretty cool idea and I've been brainstorming for a few days to figure out what sort of hinge would work for this. Today I went to visit my dad and he had an extra glove box hinge for his 58 impala. Looked perfect for the job, it even has an offset so that the door swings out and down instead of just straight down, giving me a ton of clearance between the bottom of the door and the dash. After some modifications to the ashtray door and shortening the hinge to fit, it looks like its going to work perfect. The only thing I have to figure out now is how to keep the hinge from swinging past 90°, how to keep the door from just falling open and how to attach the hinge to the very shallow door.