'89 GMC C1500 build thread

[69c10stepside]

Back to work on this thing.. Recently promoted at work, and at the same time, been adding about 15-20 hours a week to my schedule there. Go figure. Will get some updates going on this thing in the next month, weather is starting to agree with my wanting to work.

[greystoke]

Made any progress on this beauty?

[69c10stepside]

I do have the rearend lined out for the truck now, have all the materials to paint the truck, going to refocus on the dash layout with the moonies, even if I have to take it all out and put it at my desk at work!

[69c10stepside]

Typed up all that I did to the truck this weekend, and I guess I took too long and my page timed out when I went to post it.

Anyways, removed the fuel tank and installed the fuel pump that I am going to use. I am going to use a fuel cell now I guess, after seeing some possible issues with the header on the driver side of the transmission and routing of the exhaust back from it. I plan on using a fuel cell from summit, 20g aluminum.. Anybody have any good guides for installing a fuel cell? Never have done one before..

[69c10stepside]

The more I think about it, the darker I want it to be. I really liked the dash it had in it from factory with the two different colors of red/maroon/burgandy whatever it was, but I think that it should be more of a out with the old and in with the dark. Maybe go with the idea of the two tone but black/charcoal grey. Need to figure out what I am going to do with the headliner in that situation, I am not sure if the dye would cause all of the glue to release or not.

[69c10stepside]

For the rearend.. going to use a 14 bolt 6, 3.73 gears. Taking axles out to have them welded and redrilled for 5x5. Center hub on axle is 3" wide where hub opening on my wheels is around 3.5". Ditching the huge drum brakes, will find a viable disc brake solution for it.

Found a vacuum leak, which would explain my random issues I had with fast idle.

[69c10stepside]

Had an hour or so to burn tonight to work on the pickup.. The hour turned out to be a lot longer then what I thought.. Test fitted how the tach would look in the dash, I don't quite have everything outlined out right, but it is close.

Also started/finished the install of my shifter, and really like how it turned out.

Finished test fitting fuel cell and related parts.

:edit: Sorry for the bad quality pictures, blackberry isn't good for many things, and for sure isn't good for pictures!

[69c10stepside]

More pictures..

Have everything mounted the way I am going to keep it now, and I am about 75% done with the wiring of everything for the gauges.

I am still undecided as to how I am going to do my dash color, the red/grey combination that is in the pictures is growing on me. I figure I will do something along those lines.

[69c10stepside]

Here are some pictures of what I think I am going to be doing with my dash colors.

Finally got the wiring done to my gauges, everything short of hooking up the speedometer. Here is another rough picture (I know I need to just take my digital camera to the shop and leave it for some good pictures!) of the lights working on the gauges, I think I am going to use the green caps on the lights.

[gmt400]

You did an awesome job on the swap and still maintaining much of the origional parts like the temp controls and column. Nice job on the gaugues too they look right at home but to be brutally honet The colors look out of place.

[greystoke]

that looks great, what was involved with the wiring? for instance the ac controls etc.

[69c10stepside]

Originally Posted by gmt400

You did an awesome job on the swap and still maintaining much of the origional parts like the temp controls and column. Nice job on the gaugues too they look right at home but to be brutally honet The colors look out of place.

Are you talking the colors of the dash/doors together? I didn't like it at first, but I changed my mind once I seen it outside! I will have to get some pictures of the interior outside of the shop (light inside is terrible) and see if that helps you see it the way I do. I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do to make the column work, I do have one for this style dash that I can use as a template to get some sort of spacer made.

Originally Posted by greystoke

that looks great, what was involved with the wiring? for instance the ac controls etc.

Still have the '89 model wiring, just put the 96 dash over the top of it. So there wasn't much wiring other then on the gauges.



Added a picture, a frontend I haven't seen in a while, just for the sake of doing it.

Keep the questions/feedback coming, it helps me keep on keeping on.

[19723DR]

Truck is coming together nicely.
I have the same dark red and gray interior pieces. I did notice when you armoral the dash it darkens it and makes it look a lot better. You could always dye whatever color you want, too. The gauges look really good as well.

[1967bigdaddy]

Love the picture of that grille and hood, it looks dam tough. Like a beast ready to pounce. I'm assuming your going with a black bumper on that set up..... Right or wrong?

[69c10stepside]

Originally Posted by 1967bigdaddy

Love the picture of that grille and hood, it looks dam tough. Like a beast ready to pounce. I'm assuming your going with a black bumper on that set up..... Right or wrong?

Black bumper yes, anything past that I don't know yet. Really eyeing some insert and/or light bumpers.

[1967bigdaddy]

If you go with lights in the bumper I,... know this is just me, but I would get them smoked. Keeping it looking tough.

[gmt400]

Well after seeing it complete I think colors work nicely looks awesome. By the way I dont know where you plan on putting the cd player but that make a delete pocket for the cd slot that turns it into a cubby hole. I bought one for my 95 but I havent decided where I'm going to relocate it maybe in my center console or glove box.

[69c10stepside]

I am thinking of some kind of multimedia/monitor setup for the dash, hooked up to an itx type pc, that is hooked into my msd ignition. That is what I am planning on doing, but I have changed my mind so many times on everything else, who knows.

[69c10stepside]

No updates yet, haven't had much time to get anything done with all of the rain and work schedules.. Did get this though, makes it all worth while!

[69c10stepside]

Still working slowly on it.. Driver side needed more work then I thought, funny how it all shows up once you actually start working on it.

Axles are done or close to being done, great thing about good cheap work, it is NEVER fast. I am going to keep the heavy old brakes for now, just done with the odds and ends until I get it rolling on its own..(and painted!)

[89chevsj]

wait i saw speaker pods. whered you get those?

[69c10stepside]

I bought those years ago when I worked at a car audio store.. They are q logic kick panels, here is a link I found on crutchfield's web site.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_044C100...ck.html?tp=130

[89chevsj]

thankyou sir. just as a precaution howdid you bend the parking brake pedal? or did you even havetoo?

[69c10stepside]

I didn't have to do anything to the pedal, I can't think of a single time I have used it on this pickup since I have owned it I am sure it would hit the kick panel if it was pushed all the way down.

[89chevsj]

ah ok. i just feel a little uneasy bending a brake pedal arm. but you make a good point. i never use it either.