TA_C10: Stage 1

[TA_C10]

It has begun. Last piece of the metal puzzle.








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[TA_C10]

Found a bad spot that had to be fixed. This makes both sides same amount of repair done. This hood was in bad shape...

[1971Stepside]

My arms are tired just looking at that...

Home stretch though. Keep going with the jello arms.

[MDPotter]

I'm having nightmares looking at all that filler. But you're on the home stretch now!

[TA_C10]

LOL. That's what your supposed to do right? Put a skim coat on everything no matter what? Pfff, I have no idea what I'm doing, I just go for it...

I started with 36g on a long block and quickly realized this was no small task. Finished that and went with 80g on a DA. Now I'm back to 80g on a long block to finish it off. Each day I get hood out and throw it on horses out in the driveway. Then I have to put it away again. I can't wait for a real shop....

After 2 days of sanding.

[TA_C10]

Quick reminder of how bad the hood was. This was one of my first welding jobs ever... I guess I gave up on it a year ago because I found the other side was just as bad....

[Scurry67]

Hood is looking great! I feel your pain with the sanding... but it’ll all be worth it! You’re definitely on the home stretch

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by Scurry67

Hood is looking great! I feel your pain with the sanding... but it’ll all be worth it! You’re definitely on the home stretch

Thanks!

[TA_C10]

Small update.

Took truck to alignment shop, they were no good, couldn't do caster/camber, only toe. So I won't be going back to them. But in the process I found out I put my control arm bushing seals on backwards... So I ordered new ones and they finally arrived for me to install. I pulled it apart a while back when I got back from shop but was unable to just turn them around and reinstall because the bolts for shaft snipped them so they were ruined. Well I installed them this weekend, and I was not paying attention but I did the same thing to the lowers as well. WTH.... Lowers are not ruined however, will have to tear down again to fix those...




Wrong ......





Right ....

[MDPotter]

Ah man what a bummer. Good thing the suspension on these trucks is so simple and easy to work on!

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

Ah man what a bummer. Good thing the suspension on these trucks is so simple and easy to work on!

You got that right, simple is the word.

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[TA_C10]

Update - Flush Mount License Plate Box with Hidden Hitch

Well I have a rough mock-up of it. Still need to clean up my cuts around the trailer hitch hole. But it works. I'm happy with it. I will need an extended hitch receiver. And I am still deciding whether to use the stock style license plate light or go with the lights that came with kit(lights you see in my pics). It works great. There is plenty of room for plate to flip up and see/access the hitch to install the receiver.

One thing I am disappointed in however, is HartFab sells this box and I never found it when searching for a "license plate box for 67-72" on the web. He is selling same box with very little difference. And it's only $75 compared to the $99 at brotherstrucks. I would rather buy from a local member on here to support them.

https://hart-fab.com/products/67-72-...ense-plate-box


3 main steps I did to modify this box:

#1 = Drilled new holes for flip bracket. They are a little wider than stock holes for license plate.
#2 = Cut access hole in box for hitch receiver to insert.
#3 = Had to cut the 2 top mount bumper license box holes off so the flip kit would swing up far enough for access.

If you wanted to modify a stock box you probably only need to add material to the sides of box to raise it up behind bumper and drill 2 side holes for mounting. You can keep your OE license plate light assembly. Rest of my steps would still apply unless your not doing the hidden hitch.


My angle with camera is bad here, not centered, but again I do need to finalize these cuts and spray a little paint to complete. I was cutting small amounts at a time till I get it where I want it. OH, and the box does not lose any stability with this cut. Not enough to make any difference anyway. The box doesn't do anything but hold the license plate anyway.




Not sure if I am going to use these lights from the kit, but they are just tucked under the plate for now. Later pics show them working.




Here you can see the tabs I have cut off of bumper so the plate swings out far enough. It still locks out for ease of use too which is awesome.







Here is a short receiver installed. The plate will fold down completely with receiver installed I just didn't take a pic of this. With an extended receiver I will be able to flip the receiver upside down since the truck is so low. Keep the trailer up high enough.





Back of box view. You can tell here how the stock light lamp would still work on top if you want to go that route.





Few extra pics. Some I took as it started to get dark so lighting was temporarily installed to see how the kit lights work.

[First c10]

Looking good. I like the hidden hitch. I should be getting the rear of my truck completed soon.

[chewychevy67]

That flush license area does look much clean and smoother.

[TA_C10]

It's supposed be 67* today. This might happen... See how far I get.

[TA_C10]

Update - Backup Camera

Everything has been hardwired and routed for a while, been working with siggy on 3D parts. Ended up using the customized original metal part from OE style mirror for now. It works really well from what I can tell, haven't had a lot of time to play with it yet. But right now it's working without the antennae connected to transmitter under the truck(It's 2.4Ghz wireless from camera to rear view mirror) so I expect the image quality to enhance and be a little quicker turning on/off, but it's already really good. It's hard wired to the reverse lights switch on column. Between the reverse lights and camera LED's it's got a ton of light at night.

a note on pics and video below, I still have the screen protector on so it's not very clear looking.







Here you can see my wire routed out of the roof panel is hidden by the mount, all you see is the wire next to arm.






And here is a quick video I did showing it coming on and off putting the transmission in reverse and back to park.

https://youtu.be/OU8VIBPTGZI

[1971Stepside]

Put that lawn mower away! It's January

[MDPotter]

That came out very clean - nice work.

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

Put that lawn mower away! It's January

LOL, I have grass in the backyard that is year round man(tall fescue blend). It's pretty, but it sucks cuz Texas doesn't get cold enough for it to go dormant.

But really, it was just out cuz of my small garage and it comes out everyday so I can work on truck....

Originally Posted by MDPotter

That came out very clean - nice work.

Thanks man. I just hope for longevity it lasts for a long time. Otherwise I hopefully have it setup in such a way I can pull new wire for newer "replacement" if required.

[First c10]

Nice work. I like that mirror ����

[derotoreut]

Good work. That mirror is pretty cool.

[TA_C10]

Thanks guys, hope it is a good one and lasts long time!

I will leave these here for fun. Bragging rights goes to the first person who guesses which hand I am holding up(left or right) LOL.

[siggyfreud]

Should be the left, right?

[SIXTY9]

I guess the right, reason being the lettering is backwards on the tailgate.

[TA_C10]

Sixty9, winner winner, c10 dinner. It took me a while looking at it myself before I realized what was off. They did the software right in the camera so it's exactly right for a rear view look backing up. You never know when it comes to aftermarket, those little things make or break the product.

I got the hood primed last weekend too, glove box door, tailgate hinges and handle. It took forever for that primer to dry sitting outside in driveway at 65* for about 2 hours, then temp dropped to around 55* by the time I put it away around 8pm.

So finishing up in sealer and final paint I need at least 75* so when it drops in temp it will dry properly. Might have to rent a booth. And I really don't want to spend the money on that...

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