My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Oops, sorry Rick commented on the wrong part of the shifter! I've had pretty good luck using a Sharpie (and a steady hand) for raised letters?

No problem. Just looked again at my knob. The letters are still legible but don't look that great. The parts that need to be white are stamped into the surface and my best success with this has been just dipping the tip of a toothpick or needle into the paint and then just painstakingly letting the paint flow from that into the letters/stamped areas. May give it a try, but not sure in my case it would be worth the aggravation I'm sure would be involved.

Originally Posted by boynton

This might be a long shot but what about taping off the top of the shifter with a single wide piece of tape and the gently sanding it or scraping it back with a knife to the letters? I think sanding might work best and it will prep your surface all at the same time.

I think this idea has promise. I am going to give it a try. I'll report back how it went.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Seems like others would have posted on their techniques for this but maybe I am just lousy at choosing my search keywords

[rgunlock]

Turned out pretty well Boynton - certainly much better than any other technique I've tried.

Covered the letters with Scotch painter's tape. It's fairly thin. Rub it down with my thumb around the letters/numbers. Sanded with 220 grit on block with steel back until all the surfaces that needed paint were shiny. Used a blunt toothpick at this point to drive the tape down all around the letters/numbers. Painted a coat, blew air on it from 16" or so to flatten and dry paint and then the same for a second coat. Removed the tape (exacto knife where needed on insides of letters/numbers). Voila!

A little more time and patience would have probably had a bit better results, but for a piece that goes on the floor that you'll barely see in front of the bench seat I think this is plenty good enough BTW, from a little further off than this close-up it looks even better.

[Greenlee]

Nice job on the 4x4 shifter!

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Oops, sorry Rick commented on the wrong part of the shifter! I've had pretty good luck using a Sharpie (and a steady hand) for raised letters?

Turns out the shifter knob is pretty easy Brett. Unfortunately I can't take a good picture to save my life - flash wasn't doing me any favors. This actually looks pretty good in person.

Just gobbed white paint over all the areas that needed paint. Wiped the excess off gently with a paper towel, then cleaned the paint smears off the flat surface with another paper towel just lightly wetted with laquer thinner. Masked the grip part of the knob and sprayed a little clear over the top. I did not repaint the black surface of the knob since it still looked pretty good - just cleaned it up real well before doing the paint.

[cmabolt]

Turned out great Rick. Down to the details. The fun part.

Chris

[boynton]

Looks great Rick! I'm glad it worked.

[TKCR]

Such an awesome build!! I spend a few hours between last night and this morning reading through the whole thread. All I can say is WOW!! Your talent and patience is just amazing.
Your at that part of the build that is my favorite part, the interior. Everything and I mean everything looks amazing!! I know that seat has given you fits but it still turned out looking great.
Here in a few more months you'll have that seat you've been searching for, a full foam AND it tilts!!! Can't wait to meet you Rick!! Keep up the awesome work your doing on the truck, it is BEAUTIFUL!!

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by cmabolt

Turned out great Rick. Down to the details. The fun part.

Chris

Thanks Chris! Not sure how much fun, but my to-do list of details fits on a 4x6 sheet of paper now.

Originally Posted by boynton

Looks great Rick! I'm glad it worked.

Sure appreciate the suggestion.

Originally Posted by TKCR

Such an awesome build!! I spend a few hours between last night and this morning reading through the whole thread. All I can say is WOW!! Your talent and patience is just amazing.
Your at that part of the build that is my favorite part, the interior. Everything and I mean everything looks amazing!! I know that seat has given you fits but it still turned out looking great.
Here in a few more months you'll have that seat you've been searching for, a full foam AND it tilts!!! Can't wait to meet you Rick!! Keep up the awesome work your doing on the truck, it is BEAUTIFUL!!

Thanks for the compliments and kudos for getting all the way through this. Not so sure about the talent part, it feels like it has just been more about stubbornness and perseverance Look forward to meeting you as well!

[7dee2]

Nice, boynton nailed that one! Good job as usual Rick!

[rgunlock]

Thanks Brett! Well, got the dash nearly buttoned up this weekend. Just missing the black plastic piece that goes under the steering column. I'd bought one from LMC but it didn't fit at all. The wings going off to each side were too long and too wide and actually had unusable standoffs molded into the back. I'm guessing that my ebay dash bezel isn't actually correct for a 78 although it works fine with my guages, radio, wiper switch, etc.

Also discovered tonight that I've had a bit of a setback. All the black I painted into my exterior emblems and tailgate trim are peeling off in sheets. I think it is due to mixing too much hardener into the sign painter's paint. I washed the truck last weekend and I'm guessing some water got under the already loosening paint and humidity is finishing up the job. The stripes in the trim I just masked off and sprayed with Rustoleum still seem to be fine.

Sorry for the unusually bad batch of pictures tonight. I've really got to learn to take a picture

[7dee2]

Your interior is really looking great Rick! Sucky news on the trim pieces...

[TKCR]

I have one of those steering column covers listed in the parts section. If we can figure out if it's the correct size.

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by TKCR

I have one of those steering column covers listed in the parts section. If we can figure out if it's the correct size.

Looks like it would work. Problem is that they all look the same to me I'll have to get some measurements when I get home this evening so we can compare notes.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Looks like it would work. Problem is that they all look the same to me I'll have to get some measurements when I get home this evening so we can compare notes.

It is exactly 9 1/2' wide. Where the 2 screws are on each side, that is 2" top to bottom. The cup for the steering column, I would assume that is the same on any of the years. But here are the measurements anyways. At the top or the narrow part, it is 4 1/8". And at the bottom or the widest, it is 4 3/4". Hope this helps and hope it will fit.

[rgunlock]

Thanks for checking TCKR. The one I need looks to be 8.75 x 2". I went back and found my email receipt for my guage/dash bezel and it was listed for 75-77 (not sure why I bought it - not paying close enough attention I guess). The lower column piece I got was for 78-80 but there is a different one listed for 73-77. Not sure if I should get the 73-77 column piece or if I need to find a 78-80 dash bezel...

[rgunlock]

Man I hope this turns out! This detailed masking is tough!!! Doing a 2-tone scheme this time. Saw a grille gmachinz did this way that looked great.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Man I hope this turns out! This detailed masking is tough!!! Doing a 2-tone scheme this time. Saw a grille gmachinz did this way that looked great.

It will all be worth it and it will turn out great.

[rgunlock]

Been making more progress on the interior the last couple of weekends, and finished another try at the grille.

I am super pleased with how the 2-tone body of the grille came out, but the GMC letters need some work. The black isn't standing out unless you look from the correct angle.

Got my replacement seatbelt retractors and installed them. Also used SEM plastic prep, adhesion promoter, base and clear to paint my kick panels and door panels camel. Still convincing myself that shade is going to work because I don't want to redo them Door panels are assembled and installed except for the map pockets. I'm going to have to find a better color of vinyl and get them redone, but I did get the doors drilled and the little square screw inserts in so they are ready to mount. Unfortunately, the window cranks which were a gift from my daughter are not going to work. They don't stay on and the style isn't quite right.

I've just got a little work to patch the carpet around the NP205 shifter and then mount the boot, find something for behind the seat, and paint the trim for the headliner and get one installed to be finished with the interior

[TKCR]

I like that 2 tone look. Mine is like that too. The dash is darker than the door panels. I think it looks awesome!! Good work

[7dee2]

Grill and interior is looking great!

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by TKCR

I think it looks awesome!! Good work

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Grill and interior is looking great!

Thanks! I appreciate you saying so.

I'll never make a living installing carpet, but I stitched in another patch and called it good enough. Mounted the boot for the NP205. Also got all the various plastic thingies I needed to finish mounting my door panels.

Lot of panel off, panel on, bench out, bench in going on here. I did discover some good news - apparently I'm not fat Bought the longer seat belts and the buckle ends up on my lap instead of beside my hip. Thinking that isn't how 3-point belts are supposed to fit for maximum effectiveness!

Also did the wash with dish soap and green scotch pad, then SEM soap and green scotch pad, then spray and wipe with the prep, a couple coats of adhesion promoter, a couple coats of paint and finally a couple coats of clear. Headliner trim done if it doesn't show through maroon in better light Had most of a can left from the door and kick panels but not sure it was quite enough.

Pretty close to calling the interior done!!!

[7dee2]

No one will notice that carpet repair, nice patch job. It's going to look really good with those panels in place!

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

No one will notice that carpet repair, nice patch job. It's going to look really good with those panels in place!

Thanks Brett! Yep, that patch is just in front of where the bench is so you'd have to be looking for it. I can't see it sitting on the bench so it won't bother me.

[rgunlock]

Ok, I'm stoked! Been having to run the engine at around 22 BTDC to keep it running decent. Not good. Pulled the carb and been doing a lot of reading. Tore it down and went through to make sure the rebuilder set things right inside. Mostly did. I went ahead and drilled out the holes the idle mixture screws go in to about .091. Followed a bunch of directions to adjust everything for choke.

Well, hot day today and choke never engaged, but got the thing running again. Was actually able to set timing to specs from engine paperwork. 10 degrees BTDC at 650 rpm, and it was right at 32 BTDC at 3000 rpm. Just like it is supposed to be! Paperwork said to expect 10-12 vacuum on this engine and I've already got 10 and still have a little tuning to do. Warmed up, the truck is now idling great! Finally seems like I'm on the right track at least...

In other news, I'd ordered a headliner to finish the interior. Its bulky so ground shipping, and I figured they might have to wait until the manufacturer had one in the fabric I chose. Any case I finally got around to checking the status. Supposedly it was delivered on my front porch 8 days ago. Never saw it... First time out of at least 100 orders I've made on this truck that has happened.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

In other news, I'd ordered a headliner to finish the interior. Its bulky so ground shipping, and I figured they might have to wait until the manufacturer had one in the fabric I chose. Any case I finally got around to checking the status. Supposedly it was delivered on my front porch 8 days ago. Never saw it... First time out of at least 100 orders I've made on this truck that has happened.

It could be that someone thought they would score on a big package being delivered. I have set up a Blink Camera aimed at the front porch & door. I get an instant message & video when the motion sensor is activated. I can then view the video on my phone. If someone decides to come up on the porch and steal it, then the Blink Camera will catch that too.
I hope the place where you got the headliner from will send another one, since something obviously happened to the 1st one. I guess there's always a possibility it got delivered to a wrong place. I had torque wrenchs from Sears that were delivered to my house number & street, but it was in a different sate. They had to do some extensive tracking and finally realized the mistake and replaced the order. Someone somewhere got a nice present delivered to their door.