1968

[gdavis]

Today, I received my new to me grill. It is a good find. No rust or dents at all just a little dent on the botton. I hamered it out and only a slight amount of bondo will fix it. But the P.O. did drill a hole in the top of the grill. I guess he mounted a light or something there. Going to fix the hole and sandblast the grill Monday and prime and paint it orange. At least that is my plan. This is the hole or damage to the grill. A simple fix. I will cut out about 6 inches around the hole and weld in a patch panel. Only kidding guys. Brian said I nuke my repairs so that is why I added that. Will post pictures tomorrow of the results.

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by gdavis

Brian said I nuke my repairs so that is why I added that.

LOL that was a joke...

[Xeen]

George that reminds me did you ever dimple the frame for the power steering box? If not you really need to go back and do that because just using spacers throws everything off, seriously you want it to be right don't you?

[Mustard72]

Keep it up, George. There's light at the end of the tunnel for sure. I posted a few pics on my thread of the throttle linkage inside of the cab of my 72. Hopefully it'll help you figure out yours.

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by Xeen

George that reminds me did you ever dimple the frame for the power steering box? If not you really need to go back and do that because just using spacers throws everything off, seriously you want it to be right don't you?

You know I forgot all about that. I guess I better back tract a little bit. What page on your build didyou fix yours. I need to re look at it.

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by Xeen

George that reminds me did you ever dimple the frame for the power steering box? If not you really need to go back and do that because just using spacers throws everything off, seriously you want it to be right don't you?

Brian you need to stop thinking about my build. Every time you think I have more work added. Only kidding and thanks for bring it up to my attention.

[gdavis]

Today I started to sand blast the grill, front turn signals and the steel hoops. But got rain out in the sand blasting. Only did a little of the front of the grill. At least I got thehoops and front turn signals done. I found a small dent on the bottom of the grill. Nothing I can't fix. At least it wasn't rusty holes. A small amount of bondo will fix that.

[Xeen]

Your new grill is really nice George it's going to look great on the truck.

[Xeen]

The damage to the lower part of the grill face will be behind the bumper so it's not even going to show so I would just use a dolly and flatten it out from the back and call it good, there is no reason to even fill it, unless that's not the dent you are talking about.

[gdavis]

Yes that is the dent I was talking about. It only takes a few minutes and it is done. This way I know what is fixed or not. It rained again today so I did not get to finish sand blasting. And it looks like it is going to rain for the rest of the week. A small low depresion in the gulf of Mexico is bringing a lot of rain our way.
But, I did get a new booster gromit installed on the booster. My new window cranks and door handles came in. They have one on back order. Did I say I hate back order. Well I do. I did also paint the steel hoops for the grill black.
Orange grill and black hoops with black head lights benzels might give me a mean looking front. alone with the crow hood.

[gdavis]

I was so glad to find the gromit that I had to post. LMC 7.95 pluss hpping. I found it in a local parts store 2.49 no shipping. Now I need to find a set of adjusting screw for a headlight.

[Bomp]

Those are some sweet looking handles.

Doesn't the parts store carry adjusting screws? Or out in the wrecking yard? I got some for my '69 Chevelle but that was 30+ years ago.

Your parts will look really nice when they all are installed.

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Those are some sweet looking handles.

Doesn't the parts store carry adjusting screws? Or out in the wrecking yard? I got some for my '69 Chevelle but that was 30+ years ago.

Your parts will look really nice when they all are installed.

Yea I think so to. I had to buy the handles the company almost gave them to me and no shipping.

I went to the local parts place and guy said that the computer did not show them. But I was looking at the screen and it said to look in the paper pages. Well, I guess he did not want to or doesn't know how. So he said all he had was a universal set. Well they did not fit and tomorrow I will take them back.
The screws will fit but the platic nuts is the problem.

[gdavis]

Well, today it rained all day again. So no sand blasting on the grill. So I started installing my headers. I had a brain Blank I guess. I thought studs would be great on the headers. Well they are not as you can see. Had to cut 1/2 inch off the perch to get the headers to fit. I don't think these headers were for a 67 thru 72 truck. If they were a person should not have to cut the perches like I did. Then it donged on me. Just remove the studs and they will fit. Stupid me. I still had to trim the frame rail. I knew that was going to happen.

Can you see 30.00 in studs here well there is.

[gdavis]

As you can see I had to cut the perch a little to make the headers go over the studs. so now I am replacing or welding the piece back on the perch. It is not so pretty after the header is installed so tomorrow I will fix the perch back up. and remove the studs and installed header bolts. Sometimes I do not make decision when I start working on a project. Need to stand back and think for a little.

[gdavis]

I took the V8 perch off the drivers side. Welded the pieces back on the perch. They fix like a puzzle. Tomorrow, I will grind the weld down and paint them and call it a day or done. Another mistake I can chalk up to my many. Don't use studs on a header.

[gdavis]

I am not going to install the headers on the pass side of the engine today. We are haveing our first storm of the year. Already had 3 to 4 inches of rain and it has not even got to us yet.
I will work on the perch, I welded up last night. At least I can do something beside setting around getting lazy.

[gdavis]

Today I finshed welding the V8 perch I messed up. Now it looks like I never touched it. Also I re-installed the perch on the truck and now I am back to square one again. I installed the gas pedal and cut some plugs that will cover the holes where the 68 gas pedal was. Tomorrow I will weld them up. I hope that my gas tank will be here soon. I would love to run my lines from the fuel pump to the tank. Brian you savied me some money. Thanks on the perches.
I hope I can install the other header tomorrow.

[gdavis]

Today, I removed the front clip. Had to demple the frame for the power steering gear box. I also cut the frame rail on the pass side so the headers would fit without rubbing. I think I might raise the motor a 1/4 inch so the perch don't kit the headers. A longer bolt on the rubber mount will do the job. I installed the headers on both side with headers bolts. Took the studs back and bought the headers bolts. Fit like a glove. Tomorrow I will re install the front clip and be back on track. The main reason I pulled the front clip is to dimple the frame. Which I forgot to do a while back Thanks brian for reminding me. The headers look a lot cleaner with the right bolts.

[gdavis]

Headers installed

[gdavis]

Well, guys I finshed the sand blasting on the grill. It turned out real nice. I Got it all primed up today. Fixed the two spots that needed some love. Had to get two new lines for the transmission cooling to the radiator. Had to re-route the line. They were right in the middle of the dump pipe for the headers. Tried to re- bend what I had but I broke one, so off to the parts store. Got one installed and I figured I would call it a day. Don't like the way they look so I think I will get another one and use the 45% elbo this time on both of them. Not going to show how they look untill I get them the way I like. Don't want you guys to think I did not know what I an doing.
I hired a new helper today. All he wants is a lot of attention.

[gdavis]

Still no gas tank guys. Bad shipping seems to run all over the place. I will be raising my bed at least 4 1/2 inches. I seen it done in this months issue of Classic Trucks. I seen it up close also and I really like it. So stay tuned later down the build. Got a lot of other things that needs my money first. Like a column and wiring and a ton of other things.


How do you guys like my new helper. Dosen't get a lot but got to stay right with him. Or he will MESS up a lot.

[gdavis]

Well, I got a PM from my gas tank guy. It was shipped out this morning I hope it was anyway. So I welded up the holes in the firewall where the 68 gas pedal was. Now I'm going to installed the 72 gas pedal. All I need is the measurements where the 72 gas pedal is to be installed. I wish I would have thought ahead. I would have done this when I was working on the firewall 5 months ago. But anyway it is done and it came out pretty good. I didn't spend a lot of time making the inside look as good as the outside. It will be covered with carpet anyway.

My adophed son's school project need to find them a home.

[Evaded]

Great build so far.. awesome work. You my friend have some skills. Looking forward to more! Can you post what paints you used in a can.. primers and paints.

Eric (Evaded)

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by Evaded

Great build so far.. awesome work. You my friend have some skills. Looking forward to more! Can you post what paints you used in a can.. primers and paints.

Eric (Evaded)

This is the first frame off I have done. It is only a thing.