1973 C20 Semi-build

[mickeykreg]

Awesome truck! Love the mustard yellow! I've done the same thing with bolts ha ha! Strong work dude.

[Wraith]

Ordered a new passenger inner fender as the original was rusted in a horrible place to fix. So one brand new inner and one old, crusty, rusty, undercoated inner and a plan to paint both with new paint. A quick clean up and paint would work........



Nope. Heat gun and scrapers.









Well, let's get out the sander







And while I'm at it the sandblaster







Now I can shoot some primer and paint both.

[Wraith]

Been avoiding this project with work and other stuff in the way along with customer jobs. I did get the original fender liner in primer, just need to find time to shoot it black.



And this morning escalated quickly with what started the morning with a rebuild of this sticky switch.





Went to a full blown tear down, rebuild, and repaint.













A buddy and I picked up a M35 A2 for a side project also.

[Wraith]

All back together







But this needs some love











And throw it back in to try it out



https://youtu.be/Ja-S_8wNlGI



Not too bad for 16 year old gas.

[Wraith]

Well you can't just throw a crummy looking steering wheel back on the refreshed column and I've had a cold for a couple days so just a quick and easy project. The original steering wheel was that GM, sitting in the sun sticky but I had washed it down with lacquer thinner and then refreshed it with a creme protectant but the center cap/emblem needed some love.



Old and busted







Refreshed hotness, well just a lot better anyway.

[Whamo]

Nice!

[Wraith]

Today on this old truck we solve the case of no brakes. While pushing it in we had no brakes BUT I had swapped the front brake lines and never bled them so no big surprise. What was a surprise was this:







That was the brake fluid pulled out of the master cylinder. And the brakes were more of the same.







Then I pulled the steering column apart AGAIN. When we hooked it up to push it in it seemed too short but we got it to work. When I got to the garage today the top seal on the steering box had leaked on the floor, so it all had to come apart.







Once I got it out I remembered while assembling it I had dropped it on the end of the shaft which collapsed it by about an inch or so which I promptly remedied with a crescent wrench and a dead blow. Back to good! Two wheels dropped off to get mounted and balanced and now I'm waiting for the steering box rebuild kit.

[aggie91]

That is some nasty brake fluid...

[Wraith]

Today I finished a job I had been dreading, actually two jobs. First was replacing the aging body bushings with new polyurethane bushings, I think the originals had been used up.









Next up was more of brown fluid removal in the version of what was once gasoline. This is how much was in the primary tank.







On this truck it has a dealer installed fiberglass tank on the driver's side with a filler in the rear wheel well, then a manual changeover valve in the cab. At this point I'm not trusting it so I chopped the fuel lines and plumbed the stock tank into the pump feed then looped the other lines together until i assess the spare tank later.

[Wikid61]

Originally Posted by Wraith

More degreasing and derusting in preparation for paint this weekend.





Magic potion at work

This^^ magic potion', what is this mixture please? And I could not sent PM w/pix here are my rotary polishers. Thanks.

[Wraith]

Back at it but parts keep falling off.







Door adjustment after the new body bushings







Hinges in a deep soak







Getting the fenders ready for paint





Also finished the primer on the fender liner

[Wraith]

Last few days, even more work. Steering box input shaft seal has been replaced but the stupid boot on the upper steering shaft had a crack so it got disassembled again for a rebuild kit with a new boot and fresh paint again.











Also the hinges came out of the magic juice in great shape albeit a little loose. Some fresh paint laid on too.









Put the fenders outside, sandblasted the rust from a prior exploded battery and put some primer on to get ready for paint.





Also had the last two new tire mounted and balanced

[Wraith]

All geared up and ready to assemble.



But in my haste I didn't measure the new boot which was too small to seal in the original spot.



So a dive in the trash can and i got the original boot or what was left. I took a die grinder to it and buzzed out the center to fit over the new boot.



And voila! New boot kit works.



Called it a night by installing the shaft, painting the steering box, and removing the ancient trailer brake controller.

[Wraith]

Well, these things aren't going to paint themselves and being scared isn't an option.......









First coat







After three coats

[Wraith]

Windy, can't paint outside, little bit of leftover ochre......these could use some love.









Couple coats









Chrome edges cleaned up but missing something







Better







While I'm at it might as well finish the driver's side that was never touched









That natural patina people are paying for









Nasty

[aggie91]

Nice work on the steering column and shaft. Emblems turned out nice.

Where did you source the boot kit and the other parts to rebuild the column?

[Wraith]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Nice work on the steering column and shaft. Emblems turned out nice.

Where did you source the boot kit and the other parts to rebuild the column?

I used a crown automotive kit for the parts but all my bearings were in okay shape other than the grease being gum after so many years. I washed them out with brake cleaner, dried, then regreased.

Crown kit
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Whamo]

do you mind sharing the recipe for your secret degreasing sauce...pleeaaze

[Wraith]

Short work day today.











Also didn't like the way the black laid out on the badge refresh so I stripped them down a little, now they look patina'd but with a little bit of color.









Also stripped the hinges again after I painted them, didn't care for how they turned out and will now get shot with hot rod flatz when I shoot the underside of the hood.

[LEEVON]

I really like this truck!

[aggie91]

Love your paint booth...lol

[Wraith]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Love your paint booth...lol

Only the best for my builds, every expense spared!

[mickeykreg]

Originally Posted by Wraith

Better

Damn nation son!!! This is good!

[LT7A]

Not body color for hinges? Looking to make contrast in some places?

[Wraith]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Not body color for hinges? Looking to make contrast in some places?

I'd love to do them in fresh gold cadmium but will probably use the flat/satin black to hide oil/grease plus offset too much yellow.