72 K30 Build

[First c10]

nice. I ordered a under seat 10" powered sub woofer for my son for Christmas. also I thought the center speaker was 4x10? did they change to 5x7 in 1972?

[7dee2]

Ugh Oh, your right it was a 4x10! New speaker has a bracket that's been attached to mate to the factory cowl mount.


Everything is smaller these days you know (not a bad thing). Don’t think even a modern 4x10 could completely cover the dash opening, anyone have suggestions on filling the rest of the opening? Don’t really want any hardware showing up through the dash grill but also would prefer not to have the sun shine throught the dash either.

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Don’t think even a modern 4x10 could completely cover the dash opening, anyone have suggestions on filling the rest of the opening? Don’t really want any hardware showing up through the dash grill but also would prefer not to have the sun shine throught the dash either.

I have that Retrosound radio in the '50, the little I've used it I was quite impressed.

To the speaker question, I made a thin plywood spacer (I think it was 3/8"??) for my '69 K10, sized to fill the speaker grate and then drilled for two 4" speakers. Then I sprayed it with matte black Rustoleum, you'd never know it was there

[swamp rat]

I believe that's the front speaker I bought, don't expect a lot out of it, altho I admit I didn't put an amp on it yet. I have read some other posters here that installed dual round speakers by making a mount plate and had better sound, check this link out.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=dash+speaker

[First c10]

Brett so the 5x7 work?

[First c10]

I did a little investigation. I guess the 4x10 is for the NON a/c cabs and the 5x7 is for the a/c cabs.... anyone confirm?

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

I believe that's the front speaker I bought, don't expect a lot out of it, altho I admit I didn't put an amp on it yet. I have read some other posters here that installed dual round speakers by making a mount plate and had better sound, check this link out.http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=dash+speaker

Thanks for the link Mike, that’s a good thread. One reason for mocking up the system, was to get an idea of how it sounds together. Not really so much about quality (better than factory) as nothing is mounted and spread out but an idea of volume the head unit and speakers can do without the use of an external amp. Plenty for a regular truck cab IMO, still thinking a little sub couldn't hurt right?

Originally Posted by First c10

Brett so the 5x7 work?

Originally Posted by First c10

I did a little investigation. I guess the 4x10 is for the NON a/c cabs and the 5x7 is for the a/c cabs.... anyone confirm?

Oh yes, it’s gonna work great! Pretty sure you are correct Scott on the 4x10 speaker for all but it had a unique frame to cover the very large grill area. The 5x7 speaker only comes closer to covering the entire area. Thinking there will be more about the center speaker as we get closer to installing it.

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

I have that Retrosound radio in the '50, the little I've used it I was quite impressed.

To the speaker question, I made a thin plywood spacer (I think it was 3/8"??) for my '69 K10, sized to fill the speaker grate and then drilled for two 4" speakers. Then I sprayed it with matte black Rustoleum, you'd never know it was there

Me too Jim, I can’t believe all the features they get off two knobs!



Prior to the final wet sand?

[7dee2]

Some new products showed up for the cab. A couple of tubes of seam sealer and some mousse souple (WTF? ). This is the foamy stuff that is similar to what GM used in some cowl areas and to seal the high hump cover to the floor. The cab exterior is another step closer with just a little more work on the interior, jambs & firewall.

[7dee2]

Seam sealer applied.

[notchbackgta]

I bought the heavy bodied sealer too, is that the black stuff in the pictures? I have't used mine yet and am curious

[7dee2]

Yep, that black goop is the 3M 8308 Heavy-Bodied Seam Sealer. It went fairly well and wasn’t too bad to work with, masked just a few areas like the back of the roof and some small sections above the windshield just below the drip rail.


Plenty still to do, this particular headlight harness has already been converted to an internal regulated type alternator and wired as per the schematic below. Funny thing is that original lighter gauge blue wire is connected to a 12-gauge red on both ends it will be replaced with 12 gauge. Here’s a very helpful write up from forum member VetteVet on the correct way to upgrade to a 12SI. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...25&postcount=9

In addition to the factory harness we will also be running some heavier gauge cable to support the high amp alternator and dual battery setup.

[First c10]

Looking good Brett.
When I installed the serpentine system on Jr I changed the wiring as you did. I went all the way back to the firewall plug assembly. I installed relays for the headlights. I also added a few extra wires in the fuse block and firewall plug so I won't have to run any wires in another hole which is handy when I install the LED bar switch. I am installing relays for it also. I plan to use a wiper switch to trigger the LED relay.

[7dee2]

Thank’s, Scott that’s a really good idea, very clean. We probably won’t do a light bar for this truck but I am leaning towards adding relays for the headlights.

Got some more colour happening!

[First c10]

Looking good.
The relays will keep the big power draw from going in the cab to the light switch and back to the lights. Source of many cab fires I was told.
I can't wait to get cab pictures of my cab paint like yours. Rock on!

[rgunlock]

Exciting times! Cab is looking great Brett. At the rate you are moving on this project, you'll be driving it in no time - probably before I'm driving mine

[7dee2]

Thank’s, Scott that and the brighter headlights is a good reason to do this upgrade. We’ll be carrying spare relays and fuses for the fans anyway so might as well. Really looking forward to seeing the beautiful paint on your truck!

Thank’s, Rick I’m pushing for this Spring sometime and the bed on and done this Summer. Your truck is super close you’ll be taking it out fishing in no time!


And the rest of the cab.

[7dee2]

Broke out the Eastwood polishing kit and had at some old window trim. Here’s some before and during pics, we do have a replacement for the dented center clip. Thoughts are to try and bring the cab home with the front and rear glass installed.

[El Dorado Jim]

looking good! My sons both have the retro sound stereos in their trucks , they really sound good, I am going to get one for my 72K20 and one for my 73 suburban.....I just picked up a 69 GMC one ton open road motorhome, but i think I am going to keep it a motorhome, the interiorof the camper isnt all that bad, a little water damage, but worth fixing it....I think I will start a thread and post pics...

[7dee2]

Thank you, El Dorado Jim. Went for a (OMG were going to die!) ride last Summer in a friend’s beautiful red 64 Malibu. He has a non-amplified retrosound radio, windows down, happy 383 and the radio sounded great with just 4 Kenwood speakers.

Open Road motorhomes are very cool would love to see a thread on it. Just hated cutting up our Rancho El Rae here’s a pic of the old girl outside my office 4 years ago, covered in snow. I was going to wait till the 3-year anniversary of this short video which is next month but here’s us ripping the leaky roof off ours. Ha, think I mentioned earlier our neighbors love us! https://youtu.be/qx1Q172qmuA

[First c10]

Hey Brett I bought a HF benchtop grinder/buffer, with coupon it was like 40$. It worked great for the trim. Made the process of buffing nice since it was mounted to a pedestal.
keep it up its looking great and moving fast!!!

[El Dorado Jim]

I cant watch youtube at home,lousy internet,I may be able to send it to my phone and watch it someplace else......I havent decided to either put a newer front end with disc brakes and newer rear end.......or my son wants me to convert it to four wheel drive...I can get a dana 60 dually front end from a mid 80's chevy for $1200.00 with 4:10 gears,(a friend of my son's has it) and then find a 14 bolt dually rear end with 4:10 gears....I already have a t-400/205 trans case setup....the truck has a t-400 now and the 350 engine was replaced with a 454, came with all the receipts,has only 10,000 miles on the 454....I stole the truck for $800.00 with $375.00 in back dmv fees,I trailered it home ,would start but wouldnt stay running, I changed carburetors, removed quadrajet,(installed holley my son had that i knew was good) runs great.....I need to start a thread, just hate trying to download pics on this site, I couldnt post pics last time i tried....

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by First c10

Hey Brett I bought a HF benchtop grinder/buffer, with coupon it was like 40$. It worked great for the trim. Made the process of buffing nice since it was mounted to a pedestal.
keep it up its looking great and moving fast!!!

That would be so nice but for this little job the small hand held buffer worked out pretty good. Thanks, really happy with how it’s turning out.

Originally Posted by El Dorado Jim

I cant watch youtube at home,lousy internet,I may be able to send it to my phone and watch it someplace else......I havent decided to either put a newer front end with disc brakes and newer rear end.......or my son wants me to convert it to four wheel drive...I can get a dana 60 dually front end from a mid 80's chevy for $1200.00 with 4:10 gears,(a friend of my son's has it) and then find a 14 bolt dually rear end with 4:10 gears....I already have a t-400/205 trans case setup....the truck has a t-400 now and the 350 engine was replaced with a 454, came with all the receipts,has only 10,000 miles on the 454....I stole the truck for $800.00 with $375.00 in back dmv fees,I trailered it home ,would start but wouldnt stay running, I changed carburetors, removed quadrajet,(installed holley my son had that i knew was good) runs great.....I need to start a thread, just hate trying to download pics on this site, I couldnt post pics last time i tried....

The video is just 7 seconds of camper carnage out in the street. Disc brakes would be a very nice add and a 4x conversion would be very cool. Driving ours home we hit a dust storm with some high winds and had to stop for a few minutes. With the narrower CC diff and no rear sway bar the RV got some serious sway, Mrs. 7dee2 was following and said it looked like we were going to tip over. Raising your center of gravity, I would seriously engineer some very large sway bars into the 4x design.



The frogs are back and happy as ever to help out. Taking this stuff for the short ride over to the cab for install. Cab is done and ready for glass, it’s been polished and the top of the dash is blacked out.

[rgunlock]

Looks like signs of recently completed color sanding. The cab turned out looking great!

[El Dorado Jim]

I havent driven my gmc yet, trailered it home..didnt think about how top heavy it is, I need to drive it and see how it handles, may just go with the disc brakes on the front and call it good..thanks.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Looks like signs of recently completed color sanding. The cab turned out looking great!

Thank’s, Rick! You are right and it's beauty in person, kudos to my friend Rex Marshall at Marshall’s Corvettes for the great paint work.

Originally Posted by El Dorado Jim

I havent driven my gmc yet, trailered it home..didnt think about how top heavy it is, I need to drive it and see how it handles, may just go with the disc brakes on the front and call it good..thanks.

Good luck with your Open Road and let me know if you start a build thread, El Dorado Jim.




The glass is in and it’s now ready to go back home. Ha, hoping we can do better than these guys! http://www.discovery.com/there-goes-the-cabin/