1972 Cheyenne Super coming apart to go back together

[mr.mud1]

hi Dan,of all the things i've lost,i miss my mind the most,that GM hose is here,thanks again.i forgot and thought it was still on it's way.i did use several tower clamps and they all broke,more chinese junk??i'm going to have to use some regular gear clamps til i can get some more tower clamps.sorry for the confusion,all good.take care my friend.

[Dieselwrencher]

I had the same luck with the tower clamps I got too. I hated removing them and now I hate the ones I just threw in the trash.

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I had the same luck with the tower clamps I got too. I hated removing them and now I hate the ones I just threw in the trash.

hi Ryan,i feel your pain.i saved most of the original tower clamps from my truck,cleaned them and re-used what i could but needed more.the repro clamps all stripped as i tightened them up.pitiful load of garbage.i guess i'll have to go to work and find some more old original clamps if i want to use them.they are a pain but i like the look.take care.Greg

[mr.mud1]

today was a good day,i got everything done and time to turn the key and watch this new motor come to life,it started right up,i went through the break-in procedure as mapped out by the machine shop,checked and topped up all the fluids.it ran today for probably 1 1/2 hours total,a little more running in the next couple of days and i'll get the break-in oil out of the engine and then switch gears to get ready for a little paint work.i love when a plan comes together.

[mr.mud1]

today i worked on getting the moldings,windowfelt and the door handles off in preparation for some paint work.the new door lock installed,door panel cleaned and all the broken clips replaced,and the A/C condensor painted and installed along with a new dryer.today i made a pattern for the patch that's going in where the gas tank neck came out through the bed side,one more to fix on the other side.hopefully tomorrow,that passenger side patch will be in,then move onto the drivers side.

[Happy_dan]

Nice, so glad cam and lifters gave you no trouble. I have been reading a lot about problems with the metal in the newer lifters. I am sure that breakin procedure included priming the oil and then running it at 2500 RPM or so for 10 minutes.

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by Happy_dan

Nice, so glad cam and lifters gave you no trouble. I have been reading a lot about problems with the metal in the newer lifters. I am sure that breakin procedure included priming the oil and then running it at 2500 RPM or so for 10 minutes.

hi Dan.the motor seems to be running well and sounds fine.i used a new Mellings cam,lifters and rocker arms and followed what the machine shop had recommended and used the "Driven" brand break-in oil they suggested.the breakin-in procedure was different than what i had done in the past,with using 3 heat/cool cycles and high RPM.i don't know if it helped but it sure didn't hurt.it sounds great.there are and have been for a number of years now,people having cams and lifters fail on start up by not using high zinc oil and or not following directions.

[Happy_dan]

Great to hear Greg! It looks like a new truck and I am sure will run great.

I have just recently heard of people doing proper breakin and installation and still having problems with lifters. I remember using high Zinc Oil on mine and following directions to the tee and also having an experienced friend here for first startup and all went well. It is a great feeling to get that first startup in!

[mr.mud1]

I've been working for days,not much to show for it.i made,welded in and cut out,2 panels I made for the aux gas door in the passenger side bed side.#3 went in today,just tacked in for now,i'll go back at it tomorrow.both attempts ended up not making me happy,not straight enough,so I made some changes,we'll try again.new window felts and glass channels arrived today.i'm just waiting for a new fuel strainer for the gas tank sender,i have the sender out for a new float,the original brass float wasn't "floating"i managed to tear the strainer so a new on is on the way.hopefully an update tomorrow with a gas door panel welded in and i'll be happy with it and move onto the gas door on the other side,remove all the trim,windowfelts,door handles,new door locks to install and get ready for some paint.

[GSFMECH]

Amazing attention to detail, I'm loving this build

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by GSFMECH

Amazing attention to detail, I'm loving this build

thanks Mike,i appreciate the kind words,glad you're enjoying it.i wasn't enjoying today,spending hours welding in the panel on the pass side to fill in the aux gas door,for the 3rd time,only to cut it out and throw it on the floor.i thought I knew how to do this but evidently not??try again tomorrow.take care.Greg

[mr.mud1]

well it's been several days since an update,not because I haven't been working on my truck,i am but not much to show for it.this auxillary gas door I wanted to eliminate since I already had removed the 2 tanks,has proven to be pretty stubborn.i welded in 4 patches,cut 3 of them out but this one is staying.i think I can live with this one.i had a horrible time trying to keep the side straight and one more on the other side to do next.a little skim of bodyman in a can,it'll look as good as I new,i hope.of course another step ahead,and 4 back.i started up the truck yesterday to put the it outside,i had a customer's car coming in and needed the lift.the engine started but the most horrible racket came out from somewhere?turns out the new starter had stayed engaged in the flexplate and it wasn't happy.i switched it off but it kept running til I disconnected the battery,it stopped then.i checked the starter clearance today,did some shimming and seems fine again but I think I may take the nose cone from my original starter and install it on the newly rebuilt starter I bought.never a dull moment?

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by mr.mud1

Never a dull moment?

Never a dull surface either! Everything on that truck is gleaming. Glad that the fuel door patches are coming together for you.

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Never a dull surface either! Everything on that truck is gleaming. Glad that the fuel door patches are coming together for you.

thank you sir.it's been a struggle but I may win in the end,1 more side to do.hopefully I can get'er done in 1 crack,not 4??take care.Greg

[Richard]

Awesome Progress. Had dual Aux tanks on my truck. Even with a full repaint it was a lot of work to eliminate them. Hope all goes well with the patch on your truck.

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by Richard

Awesome Progress. Had dual Aux tanks on my truck. Even with a full repaint it was a lot of work to eliminate them. Hope all goes well with the patch on your truck.

hi Richard,thanks.i'm sure we'll get this figured out.i had a look at your truck,awesome work.take care,Greg

[McDeezl]

Nice work on the patch Greg .... won't take much of a skim of mud at all to smooth it out. Your attention to detail is amazing but your patience is next level sir!
No doubt your vital signs must have been heading north up until you found out it was the starter. Yikes -->> phewff!

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by McDeezl

Nice work on the patch Greg .... won't take much of a skim of mud at all to smooth it out. Your attention to detail is amazing but your patience is next level sir!
No doubt your vital signs must have been heading north up until you found out it was the starter. Yikes -->> phewff!

thanks,it was a battle but I may win?i just about had a heart attack when I started the engine and it sounded like a cat was caught in the fan belt?it started a 100 times,never a problem til then?i bought a new starter cause the original was still working with 1 bolt missing from the solenoid switch,the top of the solenoid burnt right through from living under the exhaust manifold and the brushes worn right down to the screws that hold them in place.the last thing I expected was for the new starter to misbehave?anyhow it seems fine with a few shims,i had it running several times today and once for a long while to get it warm enough to get the the break-in oil out and new fresh oil in.it's all good.i have some welding to do on a customers car so the next time I get to the truck,i'll start on the patch on the other side.i'm hoping for a 1 shot deal,we'll see?take care.Greg

[Happy_dan]

Always great to see your progress Greg. That post about the starter really scared me at first! Glad that is all is was.

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by Happy_dan

Always great to see your progress Greg. That post about the starter really scared me at first! Glad that is all is was.

hi Dan,thanks.it was an anxious time when I started it and it sounded so awful,all good now.i think I may lead that patch in rather than plastic body fill.i have about 75 pounds of lead I rounded up,may be time to put it to work?we'll see.take care.Greg

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice work on the patch panel. Those can be a pain because most of those holes were cut and rolled crudely by the installers. My Longhorn, they put the door centered over the seam extension. That should be really nice to try and make look correct when deleting the tank door.....

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice work on the patch panel. Those can be a pain because most of those holes were cut and rolled crudely by the installers. My Longhorn, they put the door centered over the seam extension. That should be really nice to try and make look correct when deleting the tank door.....

hi Ryan,you're right.whoever hacked the holes in my truck just used an air hammer,cut a hole,not square and left a big curly Q of metal at every corner,then the screws pulled the metal crooked as they went in,a real mess and of course i'm no bodyman.i almost wish I didn't start but then again when I leave things to the "experts" the guys who know how to do it right but don't,drives me nuts so I do it myself?have a great day.take care.Greg

[mr.mud1]

well not much to report,the last week or so has been all upside down.i got roped into repairing a rotten Buick that belonged to a family member,i spent 5 days welding a new bottom in a car that wasn't worth my time,then last weekend,we were getting ready to go away for the weekend,the phone rang at 6:00 am Saturday,my wife's mother on the phone,my father-in-law had had a stroke and was in the hospital.needless to say we didn't get anywhere,my wife trying to get a flight home but couldn't get out til Monday,so Monday,in a storm,i drove her to the airport.about 3 hours from here,then delayed flights and on and on.anyway he's doing well and has been back home now for a day or two.my wife will fly home on the weekend so i'm back to work on my truck.i have the patch i made and welded in the pass side done,waiting for the bodywork part.today i made a patch and got it fitted into the gas door hole on the drivers side and a bunch of moldings off.tomorrow we burn welding wire.

[mr.mud1]

well just a little update,although i've worked for days,it doesn't appear to be much progress?these patches in each bed side where the auxillary gas doors were,gave me fits.i would've loved to have the guy who chewed them into the side of the truck,by the throat.i did each side 4 or 5 times til it suited me and even then i wasn't 100% happy with my work but you have to draw the line somewhere?i have the first coat of fill over the patches,tomorrow we sand filler.i welded up 7 holes on the bed sides top flange where the camper shell was bolted on,so i'll make those dissapear.we did have a little set back and i lost a little time when i had to drive my wife to the airport,3 hours away and then back home.she had to fly home,her dad had a stroke and then a week later,drive back to the airport to get her once he was home and doing well.it's all good.i have an appointment at the body shop for the paint work on May 5th i think it is so i'll be ready for him,then put all the trim,door handles and so on,back on and get this old girl back on the road.then it'll be time to get back to my 39 Chrysler project that has been waiting patiently in the corner,while i worked on the truck.it'll all come together.

[Richard]

Looks like you are doing a good job making those doors disappear. I can personally appreciate the amount of work you have put into the task. Will pray for a continued recovery of your wife's dad. Bless you and your wife for taking the time to honor your parents.