1972 gmc 2wd highlander with original paint

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by LongBox

Nice work, and so great that your Grandpa and your Dad are both working with you, something that will stay with you for your whole life.

Thanks! I hope that I can keep this truck forever, just to be able to remember my dad and grandpa by, but as we all know that doesn't always happen

[kehstr]

So I have a really exciting update! We got all of the body work done on the cab, got it painted, and now it is sitting on the frame!!

Epoxy laid down over bare metal

Primer sprayed and masked to spray the white



My dad spraying the orange

[kehstr]

Here are the pictures of the cab on the lift ready to go down onto the frame, and then when it is sitting on the frame ready to roll outside.


It's not the picture that makes the cab look tilted, the lift is lower on the one side until it's lifted up all the way.

Here are my brothers sitting in the cab, they have been wanting to go for a ride in it for a while, but it's really hard to do without a cab on the frame, not exactly what they wanted, but will do for now.






The cab is not bolted down at all, the trans is sitting too high so it hits on the cab, something we will have to figure out what is going on, and fix it, but for now it's at least on the frame!!

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by kehstr

The cab is not bolted down at all, the trans is sitting too high so it hits on the cab, something we will have to figure out what is going on, and fix it, but for now it's at least on the frame!!

Would it be easier to change the cab to a "high hump" cab?
There is usually a few bolt on high hump transmission covers for sale in the classifieds section.
They add a ton of clearance.

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Would it be easier to change the cab to a "high hump" cab?
There is usually a few bolt on high hump transmission covers for sale in the classifieds section.
They add a ton of clearance.

We had to raise the mount on the trans to get the drivetrain angle where we needed it, so we are going to try playing with that first before we cut the tunnel, but if after doing that it doesn't work, then we will cut the tunnel. I actually bought one off of my local classifieds just cause it was cheap, and was worried I would need it. But thanks for the pictures it will help a lot if we do decide to cut the low hump tunnel out!!

[kehstr]

small update, I got the piece we added to the trans cross-member cut out and made it so the cab doesn't have a body lift anymore, just need to get the driveline angles set, and see if the motor needs to go down to make the angles all work right before I weld in the correct mount.



then I also got the steering column mounted



and got the firewall insulation mounted. Those of you that have put these on know how big of a PITA these are to put on. Anyone that is looking at doing this, it is best to start at one side and work to the other, clamping it or bolting it down as you go, otherwise it will fight you the whole time.

[kehstr]

Here is a better picture of the park brake switch I did

then also here are the visors all cleaned up. They look like brand new!!

And a picture of a gun rack that is mounted on the roof of my truck, just because I know you guys will laugh about it

[Tom Vogel]

So glad you are rescuing this truck. Well worth it, good work so far!

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

So glad you are rescuing this truck. Well worth it, good work so far!

Thanks! Every time I look at it I think of how much my efforts are worth it now, and how much more it will be worth it when it is done!

[Dieselwrencher]

Your truck is looking very nice. Those new rockers look good. That gun rack makes me think eventually someone will get a head ache from it.

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Your truck is looking very nice. Those new rockers look good. That gun rack makes me think eventually someone will get a head ache from it.

Thanks! I'm sure someone has hit there head on it before, and i'm sure i will! I just can't bring myself to remove them, I don't know how i would fill in the holes from the rivets, and just like to look at them and laugh when i see them !

[Greg58]

I had a Ford pickup once that had a cowboy hat rack mounted to the ceiling.
I never took it off either.
Thanks for the updates.

Greg

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by Greg58

I had a Ford pickup once that had a cowboy hat rack mounted to the ceiling.
I never took it off either.
Thanks for the updates.

Greg

I wish it was a cowboy hat rack!! That would be so much more useful to me, I honestly don't know what I will hang from this gun rack, it's just not the right size to hold anything I have, and is not cushioned enough for me to trust it with one of my guns.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by kehstr

I wish it was a cowboy hat rack!! That would be so much more useful to me, I honestly don't know what I will hang from this gun rack, it's just not the right size to hold anything I have, and is not cushioned enough for me to trust it with one of my guns.

Nice build! Good documentation on the what you are doing. Good luck.

[Greg58]

Originally Posted by kehstr

I wish it was a cowboy hat rack!! That would be so much more useful to me, I honestly don't know what I will hang from this gun rack, it's just not the right size to hold anything I have, and is not cushioned enough for me to trust it with one of my guns.

I think that style rack is meant to hold a cased rifle.

Greg

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Nice build! Good documentation on the what you are doing. Good luck.

Thanks! And I have to say, your builds are top notch have been a huge motivation maker for this truck!

Originally Posted by Greg58

I think that style rack is meant to hold a cased rifle.

Greg

That is probably true, it seems like the perfect size for that, I'll have to try it!

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Do you have a completion date for your truck?

We came up with one a few weeks ago. My dad and I decided we are going to have it done in enough time that we can take a road trip in it to go to the Brothers trucks car show in California on June 25. And yes that is set, we will be going unless something very catastrophic happens between now and then.

[Dieselwrencher]

Good luck, I hope you can get it done and make your trip. That's something I have problems getting done.

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Good luck, I hope you can get it done and make your trip. That's something I have problems getting done.

haha, I know how that is!!

[kehstr]

Another productive weekend. I got the brake booster (hydroboost) and the master cylinder all mounted, and the brake pedal is adjusted right in the perfect spot!

I took a factory LS hydroboost return line and cut it to fit with my hydroboost since it is "upsidedown"



The line is not perfect, it still needs a little bit more tweaking, but works for now.

Here is a picture of my boot on the pedal just to get an idea of where I have it adjusted, it's right where I like it!!

[kehstr]

I also started to clean up my heater box to get it installed. My diverter flap that changes the air to go to the defrost and floor vents, or the AC only vents, was broke. Lucky enough I found one in our shed from my uncles old truck he parted out that had been fixed by someone at one point, but it wasn't good enough for me, just glad I don't have to build a repair piece from scratch, saves me some work.

This is the flap, it just had grabber screws holding it in. We are going to panel bond the metal piece to the diverter flap to help make it stronger.

I also found a fish hook in the ducting piece that goes to the driver side defrost.

Here is the ash tray cleaned up. It had a bunch of surface rust in the actual tray part. Just let it soak in some rust stain remover, and then wire brushed everything, and it came off pretty easy.

Then I also cleaned up the paint on the interior of my cab, you probably won't be able to see much in the picture, but trust me, it made night and day difference.

[kehstr]

One thing I forgot to add that I did, I tested my wiper motor, because we all know that it is a lot easier to replace a blown wiper motor now, rather than doing it when the heater box is all installed. This is the thread that I used to get me started http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=413551
I started by testing a wiper motor that we had sitting on the shelf, and then crawled under my dash and tested the one on my truck.

I noticed that factory these trucks had a bunch of large washers that went over the shaft that can be seen on the steering, stopping the column and the intermediate shaft from coming closer together. What is the use of these washers? And do I need to add them?

[kehstr]

Kind of a small update. I got the dash cut to fit my radio and got the billet radio bezel piece mounted. Along with the key cylinder installed. Then I spent a bunch of time trying to get my gas pedal to work the way I wanted. I ended up just cutting the pedal and then bending it, and building pieces until it sat where I wanted it to. I also build a bracket to mount the pedal, They both need a little bit more work, but are close for now.

[kehstr]

Got to work my truck again this weekend.
Got the evaporator box all finished up. I got the filler piece riveted and siliconed in

Then finished up my gas pedal and bracket. I cut the mounting surface for the pedal down so it isn't so big and bulky, along with the bracket that mounts it to the firewall since it didn't need to be so big anymore with the pedal mounting surface being cut down. (You can see where I cut it in the picture before, I cut it along the black line)

Then I got the evaporator box installed

Along with the rest of the heater box

and the heater controls

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice work on your truck! I have seen a washer and a spring in between the intermediate shaft and the lower bearing on the column, but haven't noticed a lot of washers in between them. Do you have a better pic of this by chance?