Over 25 Years Later, Finally My 71 C-10 Truck Build

[EZ SPEED]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Thanks! It took me about 3 days to finally get those bumper brackets in.

Yeah , i know how that is!!

I keep reading all these great build threads..I need to do one on my 67. Well I call it mine...I do all the work on it and my step-dad drives it..LOL
It will be handed down to me one day..so thats another reason I call it mine.

[VA72C10]

Like the plan for the belts! Interested to see how they look when done and how much you invest in them at that point vs. buying a new three point option...

[hgs_notes]

It's been awhile since I had an update. I had to go back to the 2nd page of my subscribed threads to find it. I haven't really done anything new yet, but I'm working on it.

I've been investigating my interior options and bought some of the vinyl die paint stuff to try out. They don't list an aqua or tuquoise in the catalogs specific to our trucks so I took a chance and found dark aqua for another GM car of the same era. I sprayed an extra rear view mirror plastic cover I had and it looks like a great match to the seat belt boots I have in the original color. I think I'm going to try it out on a set of visors I have and the door handle eustasions. Pics will get posted when it happens.

As for a vinyl material, I got a sample from classic industries for one of the truck parts they have and I think it is a good match to my door panels. Now I just need to see if they will sell me a few yards of the material to recover my dash pad, arm rests, seats, etc. Somebody is producing it I just need to find out who. I'm undecided on whether or not I'll install a headliner. I have one in black to use if I want.

I got a sample of turquoise and aqua seat belt webbing from an ebay seller and the turquoise one will be perfect. The aqua was a match to some 68 belts I had and is much lighter than the turquoise. I looked at some seat belts in a few trucks over the past week or so and may need to re-think my use of original buckles. The shoulder belts male buckle piece is either rounded with 2 rounded slots in it for the 2 belts to attach to or square but has a slot on 2 sides for the belts. I'll have to see if an old style male belt end could be modified for the 2 belts to attach to.

The other 2 options is to just buy a new set of universal belts in the color I want or just use the donor belts regular buckles but have the new webbing sewn into them. I have all winter to decide or longer if I just use what I have in it now.

And finally, the carpet. I just received my custom ordered carpet today and couldn't be happier. I can't wait to get it in and see how it looks with new sills, etc. I ordered it direct from auto custom carpets on ebay. The color selection chart shows a turquoise cut pile carpet but for 1974 and newer vehicles. I just asked them if they could do that for my truck and they said no problem. Didn't even have to pay any extra and it was just $148 shipped.

[VA72C10]

Glad to hear you're getting the interior buttoned up! Looking forward to the pictures with it together!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

Do you know where i can get one of those clutch deletes??

I might have an extra. I'll let you know.

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Glad to hear you're getting the interior buttoned up! Looking forward to the pictures with it together!

Me too.

[nuke1]

OK, I really am at a loss for words, I just spent the last while catching up on the build as you told me too. WOW!!!! I am so D#MN impressed with you right now!!! The truck turned out better than I could have ever imagined. I would love to come over, sit down on a chair with you and have a beer and admire your work, cause you did a fabulous job!! good going and enjoy her!!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by nuke1

OK, I really am at a loss for words, I just spent the last while catching up on the build as you told me too. WOW!!!! I am so D#MN impressed with you right now!!! The truck turned out better than I could have ever imagined. I would love to come over, sit down on a chair with you and have a beer and admire your work, cause you did a fabulous job!! good going and enjoy her!!

James, thank you for saying that. I knew you'd like it. Now I need to work on my spraying because I had no consistancy at all when it came to that.

My home is always open to you if you ever get down this way. I only keep good quality beer in my fridge and I have a heated garage.

[hgs_notes]

It's been very busy around here lately and having two projects to work on doesn't help. I finally got back to work on this one though. I've been trying to finish up the fat mat install and as you can see I used just about every square inch I had. This is all that was left...


It turned out ok, but you can tell I'm no pro with this stuff.



Couple things I learned. It will stick to just about anything except a dusty piece of metal you are trying to attach it to. I also learned that a heat gun is your friend. If you warm it up and then roll it on it will stick even if it's covered in dust. Also, you can't use it in a 50F garage. Too stiff. I warmed the garage, but for working on this I put a small space heater under the cab in the area I was working on.

Once that was done, I pulled out the other insulation to lay over it. It's basically styrofoam with an aluminum coating front and back. You use aluminum tape for the seams or to attach it. It was cheap and I figured it wouldn't hurt for more sound deadening and some insulating for the firewall and floor.



With that done, I could at least lay the carpet down for the first time. It's not a perfect fit, it'll need a little work but it aint that bad. First time my truck has ever had carpet.

[VA72C10]

Looks great! And should be nice and quiet!

[67chevy1series]

beautiful!

[nuke1]

Gotta love that!! there is always a first for everything. This truck is gonna be super nice to ride in.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Looks great! And should be nice and quiet!

The mufflers under the cab area create a resonance (sp?) so loud that the rear window buzzes and that was with 3/4 of the cab having fat mat installed. I'll move the mufflers to under the bed and maybe go to a sonic turbo style rather than the flow masters. I like that it sounds like a hotrod, but not window rattling loud.

Originally Posted by 67chevy1series

beautiful!

Yep and it's a perfect match for the dark aqua paint I bought and the turquoise seat belt webbing.

Originally Posted by nuke1

Gotta love that!! there is always a first for everything. This truck is gonna be super nice to ride in.

It already is super nice to ride in. Those 15" wheels and fat rubber, soft coils and cheap shocks make a smooth ride.

I've been reading the "make it handle" thread and the other No Limit threads and will be incorporating some of the simpler tweaks to this truck over the coming year also. I'll probably add a 1" block to the rear, move the lower control arm forward for better caster, flip the front trailing arm mount for better squat transfer, find a rear sway bar, and maybe get a larger one for the front with improved mounting. I can't drop the front anymore without also having to drop the rear the same amount and for now I am avoiding a C notch. I love the way it cruises down the highway but want the improved handling without sacrificing the ride. If you haven't read this thread, you really need to...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=419251

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

The mufflers under the cab area create a resonance (sp?) so loud that the rear window buzzes and that was with 3/4 of the cab having fat mat installed. I'll move the mufflers to under the bed and maybe go to a sonic turbo style rather than the flow masters. I like that it sounds like a hotrod, but not window rattling loud.


Yep and it's a perfect match for the dark aqua paint I bought and the turquoise seat belt webbing.


It already is super nice to ride in. Those 15" wheels and fat rubber, soft coils and cheap shocks make a smooth ride.

I've been reading the "make it handle" thread and te other No Limit threads and will be incorporating some of the simpler tweaks to this truck over the coming year also. I'll probably add a 1" block to the rear, move the lower control arm forward for better caster, flip the front trailing arm mount for better squat, find a rear sway bar, and maybe get a larger one for the front with improved mounting. I can't drop te front anymore without also having to drop the rear the same amount and for now I am avoiding a C notch. I love the way it cruises down the highway but want the improved handling without sacrificing the ride. If you haven't read this thread, you really need to...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=419251

Wait until you bolt your seat down. ahaha That was a pita. looks good.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

Wait until you bolt your seat down. ahaha That was a pita. looks good.

It wasn't too bad. I watched a video on you tube on how to do it. I just pushed a scribe through the floor holes and through the carpet, used a razor knife to cut small crosses in that spot, and it worked out ok. Only a little harder than without the carpet trying to get the bolt through it all.

I had used a wood block as a spacer for the front inner seat mount for the driver side. I pulled out the plastic trim parts for the seat mounts from when I bought it and found that the cover for that mount was not going to work with a wood block, so I made a nice one.

I started with a piece of tube from a parted out steering column, used my new metal band saw and cut a 1-1/2" piece. Then tack welded a fender washer to one end where it rests on the carpet.


In place...


With the cover...


The other front mounts bolt direct to the floor. The rear mounts have about 1/2" of plastic spacers to level the seat out a bit. It's all bolted in and I even got the passenger side sill plate on. A few more minutes later tonight and I'll get the driver side in. I need to pick out some floor mats yet and get the seat belts, and that will finish the floor.


Once the seat gets recovered to match the rest of the interior I'll spray the mounts turquoise to match the other plastic/vinyl in the cab.

Punch list:
Polish other wheels
heater box
adjust e-brake cable
eustations to match panels
horn
inner fenders (need new nuts, paint bolts)
Cowl shims
Washer pump
finish exhaust
upholstory recovered
alignment

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

It wasn't too bad. I watched a video on you tube on how to do it. I just pushed a scribe through the floor holes and through the carpet, used a razor knife to cut small crosses in that spot, and it worked out ok. Only a little harder than without the carpet trying to get the bolt through it all.

I had used a wood block as a spacer for the front inner seat mount for the driver side. I pulled out the plastic trim parts for the seat mounts from when I bought it and found that the cover for that mount was not going to work with a wood block, so I made a nice one.

I started with a piece of tube from a parted out steering column, used my new metal band saw and cut a 1-1/2" piece. Then tack welded a fender washer to one end where it rests on the carpet.


In place...


With the cover...


The other front mounts bolt direct to the floor. The rear mounts have about 1/2" of plastic spacers to level the seat out a bit. It's all bolted in and I even got the passenger side sill plate on. A few more minutes later tonight and I'll get the driver side in. I need to pick out some floor mats yet and get the seat belts, and that will finish the floor.


Once the seat gets recovered to match the rest of the interior I'll spray the mounts turquoise to match the other plastic/vinyl in the cab.

Punch list:
Polish other wheels
heater box
adjust e-brake cable
eustations to match panels
horn
inner fenders (need new nuts, paint bolts)
Cowl shims
Washer pump
finish exhaust
upholstory recovered
alignment

Ahh man, thats a brilliant idea. I didnt do that. ahaha.

[VA72C10]

Looking great!

[hgs_notes]

Went for a ride today with the carpet and extra insulation. Wow, what a difference. The cab is tight enough that having a vent window open a bit helps the doors close. I have a door jamb vent I pulled from another truck and I'm thinking about installing it on the passenger side. Is it worth the effort and the risk I mess the hole up and have to fix a mistake?

The decibal levels are definitely better and it just has a different feel to it compared to the all steel interior top to bottom. I still need to move the mufflers back to under the bed though. I think I'm going to work on getting the heater installed next. Not that I really need it, but it needs to go in before the inner fenders and I want to finish routing the wiring for the EFI, etc.

[VA72C10]

Cool, that sounds great! (poor puns intended)

[Dieselwrencher]

Great work. The new pieces look sweet!

[hgs_notes]

Got all of the interior soft parts cleaned up and sprayed except the seat bracket covers and dash pad. At least for now the stuff will all match up pretty good. I'm not thrilled with the arm rest and visor color but can get those covered with the seat when that is done. The mirror is in, the rest I'll let cure some and reinstall later today.

The stuff is pretty easy to use. I cleaned everything with soapy water, let dry over night, then cleaned again with my summit wax remover/degreaser just like I was painting a fender. Then just sprayed a couple coats on the parts, with about 10 min between coats. It dries fast and covers well.

[hgs_notes]

Got the stuff put back in, except for the door crank eustacions. I think I have to pull the door panels off to install those. And since my brand new driver side door handle busted and needs replaced, I'll be doing that soon enough anyway. I think they look pretty good installed, nice match to the paint.




I took the wife for a ride tonight as the sun was setting. Topped out at 105+ before she said thats enough (it was still climbing), but it's so smooth you feel like you can cruise it right there. She's impressed with how it all feels now with the added insulation and carpet. Still have a few things to work on over the winter, but my list keeps getting shorter. I think I'll do the heater box next so I can get the inner fenders out of the basement.

[VA72C10]

Looks great in there!

[Palf70Step]

[BurnoutNova]

Looking good... almost like the 2wd twin to my truck, I even have the same wheels. What color is that? I painted mine the factory Medium green color, looks very similar in the pics.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by BurnoutNova

Looking good... almost like the 2wd twin to my truck, I even have the same wheels. What color is that? I painted mine the factory Medium green color, looks very similar in the pics.

It's a 1969 Turquoise Poly, paint code 511. This was medium green before and if you saw them together it's obvious how different they are. This is more blue than green.