"Crewcab Jake" the 84 to 74 conversion

[N2TRUX]

I organized my shop attic and located parts up there that I wanted to use. I pulled the core support I had picked up quite some time ago. I was told it was a 78, but some one IDed it as a 1980 based on the oval shaped holes below the headlight holes. I stripped it of everything bolted on and gave it a thorough clean up with a wire brush and Scotch Brite. I did the same for the 73 filler panel, and lower valance.

Once dry, I installed the external release filler panel, and added the 73-74 center brace. The outer brackets require drilling holes. The last conversion I did on my 77, the core support had two factory indents where the holes should be drilled. On this core support they were only on one side. I made sure the filler panel and center brace were square, then marked and drilled the outer brackets. With these in place I could install the grill and squared it up.

[N2TRUX]

I installed the grill and adjusted the brackets to get it square. I had picked up an aftermarket lower valance from a failed project years ago, so I installed it as well. I dug through my swap meet boxes and found a set of driver quality headlight bezels. These will work to give me a feel of what the finished set will look like.

Its far from complete, but its a huge motivational tool. I plan to add headlights as soon as I locate the parts to install them.

[Advanced Design]

Looks good! I never realized the intricate differences in parts on models that look similar. Following along is a real education for me.

[Palf70Step]

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Looks good! I never realized the intricate differences in parts on models that look similar. Following along is a real education for me.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

We are never to old to learn. I try to learn something of value every day. Unfortunately as I grow older, its harder to retain.

[rusty76]

I need watch this one for sure.

[N2TRUX]

The holiday weekend went by in a blur. I have family coming to stay next month so I'm working on getting my back yard in shape. In between sessions of weeding and planting, I have been working on Crewcab Jake.

My buddy Yuma has been clearing a hole in his shop so he can get the body work done, and prepped for paint. For that to happen, I had a lot of preparation that needed to be done first. At some point in his life the roof was damaged. It appears that a tree limb fell on it and dented several spots. That will be the first challenge for Yuma and his crew to over come.

[N2TRUX]

With that task is accomplished they will focus on the interior metal. After a few decades of living out in the Texas sun, the interior color is faded. It will get a fresh coat of GM red on the entire inside of the cab. That means that the all of the interior had to be stripped out.

To remove the headliner panel from the truck you have to take the front or back glass out. It will not fit through the door opening with out doing damage. All of the rubber seals will be replaced with new ones from Precision Replacement Parts. I opted to remove the rear glass since I was working solo.

[cruizin01]

Would you mind taking a picture of the hardware that's used to hold the hood stoppers on the radiator support? My support only has rectangular holes with nothing to thread the stoppers into. Much appreciated. Build looks great btw.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by cruizin01

Would you mind taking a picture of the hardware that's used to hold the hood stoppers on the radiator support? My support only has rectangular holes with nothing to thread the stoppers into. Much appreciated. Build looks great btw.

I will get some close up pics later today.

[N2TRUX]

With the interior stripped on Friday, I called it a day. Saturday morning I focused on the bed. It needed to come off so they painter had access to the back of the cab. I backed it up to the edge of the door and removed all the bed bolts. With thos out of the way I set up my trusty bed hoist. I know it doesnt look like its OSHA approved, but its safer than it appears. I have a 4x4 running across the rafters with the chain looped over all of them.

[N2TRUX]

With the bed off, I moved outside to work on the doors. I started with the passenger side and got the front and rear hung. Unfortunately the rear door had a busted glass. I'll swap the glass from the old door and have Precision Replacement parts rebuild the rear quarter window.

[N2TRUX]

So far I have acquired 3 full power doors. I'm still looking for a drivers front door, but my buddy may have one coming soon. Till then I spent the day hanging the three that I have. I used the truck hinges to keep alignment as simple as possible. I will eventually replace all of the bushings to ensure they close smoothly.

[N2TRUX]

For those that have never added power doors to a non power truck, be aware that you will need the harness from the donor truck. In this case it had been cut badly so my buddy provided me with a clean harness from his stash of parts. Also not that you must make holes large enough for the plugs to go through. I used a hole saw followed by an air sander with to deburr the holes.

[Palf70Step]

You got busy for sure!

[aggie91]

Lots of work to do by yourself.

[blazer2007]

are you putting the doors on by yourself ? If so can you tell me how you do it, I have to do mine which are electric and awful heavy.

[mingoman]

Loving the build so far, it's going to be one cool truck when you're done.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

You got busy for sure!

Originally Posted by aggie91

Lots of work to do by yourself.

Chris has been pretty busy around his house lately so I had to go lone wolf.

Originally Posted by blazer2007

are you putting the doors on by yourself ? If so can you tell me how you do it, I have to do mine which are electric and awful heavy.

I used a floor jack with a 2x4 on top to help hold it in place. Its rather precarious, but it works. Note that I left the stock hinges in place on the cab, and bolted the them to the doors. It would be much harder the other way around.

[Low Elco]

Another way to go is park the truck near the edge of the garage door and use a strap over the door track to stabilize as you have it up on the jack. Works good, done it a couple times doing door pins.

[rustytruck50]

Lookin' great, Ken!!!! Looks a bit like you have your hands full, but, working smarter rather than harder is paying off!

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Another way to go is park the truck near the edge of the garage door and use a strap over the door track to stabilize as you have it up on the jack. Works good, done it a couple times doing door pins.

I looked at that initially because i wanted to work out of the sun. Unfortunately nothing seemed to line up with where I needed to be to have adequate space to move around.

Originally Posted by rustytruck50

Lookin' great, Ken!!!! Looks a bit like you have your hands full, but, working smarter rather than harder is paying off!

I'm trying. Thanks for the kind words.

[N2TRUX]

No shop time this week, and Yuma hasn't started on the bodywork yet. I have been gathering parts again. I decided to keep the drip rails in place. Somewhere along the way the existing rails lost their stainless caps. I posted a request on my Facebook feed and located a mint used set from a 91 Suburban.

[N2TRUX]

Even though I have a nice 74 grill that's in very restorable condition, I was still looking for better. I came across a buddy that had one of the Key Parts GM Restoration replacement grills. He had two, and very graciously offered me one. This is the same grill like I have in Elwood and the quality is impressive.

[rusty76]

I really like the 73-74 grills. Though I’m still partial to my three bar 76 grill. Nice pieces you have for sure.