Project "My Happy Mess"

[chevy2racr]

That gate would look great on my 71!

[litew8]

If you can break into my house, get past the security system and gaurd dog - it's yours!

[chevy2racr]

Dont Tempt me! now you offered it, its not theft!

[litew8]

^ forgot to mention my good freinds Smith and Wesson, you can meet them if you want.

[Dieselwrencher]

I think it's looking good. That seam sealer won't be noticed after a good under coating.

[litew8]

Thanks Ryan. Your project is coming together nicely too. One things for certain, no more rust!

[Dieselwrencher]

Not for now at least. I plan on driving mine through the year. Some year.

[litew8]

The cab work is finished! Better quality pics, taken with my HD camcorder -

[litew8]

Ordered some parts from Top Banana!
Received a call from the UPS guy - ETA middle of next week!

I decided to get AM bedsides for a cleaner, less effort install.

[litew8]

bench seat - more white to the eye, but not camera
SMS sent me samples, but they (vinyl/fabric) are a sandalwood shade, not white :/

SMS samples
- Color is a little lighter to the eye, but is not white (Parchment) like mine. Pattern looks right on.



my pickup (in shade, no direct light, camera is old)









considering getting the fabric professionally cleaned, then maybe address vinyl



to be continued...

[Steve Hafner]

Thanks for the close-up pictures of your seat - it will help me when I do my blue one. The sample that SMS sent me looks "pretty close" to what I'll need. ( close enough, anyway )

[litew8]

np Steve, glad it helps.

Here's some more for the archive taken with my HD camcorder.
The camera is definitely yellowing the fabric.

Maybe it's smoke over all these years.
Definitely not gold/sandalwood looking like SMS's samples.
Considering sun/UV fading - I still don't see any darker areas.
Pretty much all even in color and the seat has been covered ever since I got it.

I can almost see SMS's samples matching my dash pad and steering column,
but since my vinyl is WHITE on the bench seat, I'm pretty sure they are
off in the samples they sent me - even though I specified "PARCHMENT".
I'm going to e-mail them back and see if they've got the right match.



















This is the (OEM) floor covering I removed earlier.
CUST COMF & CONV EQUIP on the SPID.

It's torn and don't think I'll reuse.
Would be cool if I could find an repro of this, but I'll prob. put carpet down.

[litew8]

Replaced the SMS sample pic in post #99 with an HD pic.
I went and pushed up on the back/bottom of the seat to see a more authentic fabric.
Here's what it looks like (still more a white, but has a little gold in pattern) -



The SMS sample in sunlight -



Might be somewhat close to what I have/had, but personally think it's too dark/gold - I don't think it's close enough for me to want to buy and replace what I've got now. Still going to e-mail them to see if they have a "white" version.

[litew8]

Before and possible after Med. Bronze color pics (adjusted contrast)

[Steve Hafner]

I don't think I'd replace yours either !!!

It just might have to be taken out as a whole seat and professionally cleaned.

Below, is a picture of how MOST of these original cloth seats look now !!!

[litew8]

I think it can be cleaned with the fabric/vinyl on the seat.
The bench seat isn't bolted down, so I can take it anytime.
I've already spoken with an upholstery shop.
If it cleans up good enough, I'll get the vinyl repaired.

One thing the PO (1991) asked about, when I talked w/him, was the bench seat.
He vividly remembered it standing out and being impressive.

[litew8]

I know you have a cool picture of your truck to post in a thread I started earlier! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=480810

[litew8]

Some updates:

Spoke with SMS the other day and they are sending different samples.
Top Banana shipment arrived. Haven't looked at the bedsides, but still!
Found the rubber floor mat, I may get instead of carpet.

[litew8]

Got 1/2 of the frame undercoated with Zero Rust
Waiting on the garage, so I'm stripping/polishing my grille.

[litew8]

Originally Posted by litew8

(SMS fabric) Might be somewhat close to what I have/had, but personally think it's too dark/gold -
I don't think it's close enough for me to want to buy and replace what I've got now.
Still going to e-mail them to see if they have a "white" version.

Update on this - SMS sample recieved today. They didn't send another sample of the fabric, and wrote on the sheet that the sample they sent is the correct fabric. Uh, sorry - it may be the only fabric they have and to them it is correct, but according to mine - they are wrong. I won't be buying their fabric. They sent another sample of the vinyl, and it is again beige in color, though the pattern seems a little more thick. Strike three. Oh well - at least my fabric looks like it'll hold up for quite a while longer. The vinyl could probably be found anywhere.

[litew8]

More pics.

Power sprayed the frame.
Tried getting as much primer off as I could. Got about 1/3 to 1/2 off (scuffed the rest).
Not a big deal, just that Zero Rust likes bare metal.
I only shot the top half. The rest when on a hoist in garage.

After drying overnight. The temps were perfect!
Surface rust in picture looks worse than it actually was.
I used Zero Rust prep solution after power washing and it helped.
Scuffed the surface rust off before applying Red Oxide.



Then the first coat (Red Oxide) of Zero Rust applied.



After about 1/2 hour, the second coat (Black) of Zero Rust applied.
I think it turned out great. Should last 5 years before I need to look/touch up. Which is easy.



Since then, I've been reconditioning my grille surround.
Removed most all anodizing and have since been sanding pits, scratches, left over anodizing.



I've been sanding (using drill w/attachment too) with 220, then 120, then 80 (by hand).
One more time and I'll be good to polish with Mother's aluminum polish.
Then clear coat in a can for protection.

Saving me $300 (cost of new grille surround) - will go towards new wood for bed!

[litew8]

Making progress for what it's worth -
Got the truck into the garage and we begin tearing it down.

We start by pulling the engine and tranny together.





Here's what I've got left to clean on the frame before suspension and paint. Not much.



Disassembled the engine. Removed freeze plugs, cam, pistons, heads, etc...
Getting it ready to take to the machine shop (it's there as of this writing).





The spills etc... have all been cleaned up.

Removing cam bearings -



Cleaned up firewall a little. Not going to paint it.



Got the windows out. Going to reuse the seals.





New trailing arms from EPE. Very nice. Going to install Monday.

[litew8]

I need a sound off of people still following this thread.

Just so everyone knows, my project name "my happy mess" was ripped from an internet race horse naming site that generated different names. I thought it was fitting because 1) I had bought the truck from a girl that raised horses and 2) I want it to go fast and 3) It's a mess!

Update pics coming up.

[VA72C10]

Looking good and looking forward to updates!

[litew8]

Got the grille more shinny!



Painted the bed sills -



Took the heater core/box off. It's never really worked (trickled heat) - found out that there's a busted link on the backside of the control panel. Cleaned up the core and will put back on with new seals. Will need to manually open/close the vent door from inside the cab when I want heat. The motor still spins nice.





Tore down the front suspension (have new inner/outer tie-rods too (not shown))-



Drilled out the upper ball-joints and replaced with new -



Took the old lower ball-joints out and replaced with new -









Realized that the driver's side upper control arm shaft bearing on the right was worn - causing a lot of play/movement. This was probably because my lower ball-joint has been shot for a long time, causing the upper portion of the suspension to bind and wear. Replaced the shaft (new not shown).





Replaced the outside stabilizer arm bushings. They were shot. This is a C20 HD arm. The rest of the suspension are C10 parts (upper/lower ball-joints, rotors, calipers, spindles).



Put new rotors and calipers on. One old one was gouged deep, and one caliper was on its way to Chevy heaven. Put them all out of their misery and I won't have to deal with them later.



Guess what's in the garbage bag? Yep, my block is back from the Machinist, and the tranny is getting picked up tonight also.



Have my top end parts for the engine ready also.

Things are moving right along!
Wood is (has been) at the Woodsmith's getting finished too!