New project! The "Red Herring"

[FarmerSid]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

Mine came from Classic Industries - you don't happen to know who made them? These were Counterpart, I believe.

Some of you all may remember, wayyy back in August I was having some issues with the title for this truck. Happy to report, I had a DMV inspector from the State Police out to the house this morning, and it looks like I should have a good, clean title for the cab in the next week. I've probably jinxed it now

Tri-plus maybe? Not sure. They looked identical to those pictured above.

[JJorgensen52]

Well, it was a nice day today so I went to the junkyard to grab a few parts, and do a little "field research" ... and as is usual with me, I should have known that wasn't going to be a quick trip

Anyway, I did get the driver's side cowl filler finished up: (Holy fuzzy photo, batman!)


I probably added 7/8" to the center to make it fit properly.

Fitted in place (don't mind the messy welds on the inside, I haven't cleaned them up. Can't reach in there with the grinder so I need to get some dremel burrs)


And it's ready to be welded on.

Junkyard stuff:
1989 Cadillac Eldorado engine fan ... I grabbed this one a whim because it measured close to what I remembered the core being - fits very nicely!


I'm contemplating some more modern interior upgrades - this is a truck that's being built to be driven, and driven a LOT. Thoughts?
Self-dimming rearview mirror (I'll probably find one that has compass and outside temperature, as well. Still will mount to the divider)


Overhead console. The map lights will be nice, as would the sunglass holder. I'm really interested in one of these for the homelink door opener setup (not pictured), and possibly using the blank panel at the front for an extra gauge or two.


I think the mirror I can get away with, not so sure about the console. Have to keep reminding myself it's going to have modern leather seats, Vintage Air and an updated radio, so I won't be messing with the look *too* much

[Advanced Design]

A good day at the junk yard. The overhead console looks contoured to the roof already so it has to be a go.

[oldman3]

I would use the console, just me....Jim

[JJorgensen52]

We'll see what Dad thinks, but the console is definitely growing on me.

Cleaned up the lower hinge pocket and sprayed with self-etch primer (I forgot this step on the other side and now I'm kicking myself )


Cowl filler fitted and welded



Any ideas how best to fix this?

It looks like the PO hit the mirror on something and pulled the nut right through the mirror support (the support is bent up just like the cowl is)
I am thinking I may cut that section out and make a patch.

Bad photo, but groove cut in the parking brake pivot from 65 years of use:


I welded it up, filed it down to the right size again, and re-drilled the cotter hole

Installed in the truck for mock-up - I had to trim the rocker a bit but I got the brace to fit and hopefully I won't need to extend anything (just some nice washers!)


Today was super warm so I finished stripping down the front clip on my stub donor:


And this shot shows why G-body is better than S10:


Both the cradle and the space at the steering box are about 3.5" wider.

From my measurements today, it looks like the radiator will *just* fit next to the steering box without clearancing. Which means I will trim it down for adequate space to move, but the cutting should be minimal.

I also took some more measures to confirm my plan - directly behind the lower A-arm rear mounts on the G-body, the frame is about 31" inside and 36" outside - which is close to the 34" width of the C10 frame the stub will go on. I'm hopeful I can just *tweak* the C10 frame out from the trailing arm cross member to give a nice, continuous look to the outer rail (since I need to make a trans crossmember and cab mounts anyway), and then I will extend the stub and box the first 6" or so of the truck frame behind the joint. The truck frame is also taller, so I should be able to make the joint look at least sort of inconspicuous by tapering it down a little.

[Advanced Design]

I agree, a patch where the mirror arm pulled through would work. Looking forward to seeing the G body clip.

[oldman3]

Had almost the identical cowl repair needed on my, here's a couple pics...Jim

[Hawkerdriver]

Looking good. you have to take advantage of those warm days..

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Had almost the identical cowl repair needed on my, here's a couple pics...Jim

I see what you mean! I'm curious now, what are you running for an antenna? I've been toying with the idea of using a late model car roof mount (one of the short ones that stick up at a 45 degree angle), or possibly the roof mounted style Buick used on their cars in the late '40s/early '50s

Okay, first I cut out the bent metal above the mirror and hammered the support back into shape:

I will still probably welded the edges of the holes up to add a little more meat so this doesn't happen again.

Then, I took a peak under the passenger's side ... something the PO evidently didn't do, since they missed the mirror mounting holes

I am not planning to cut this side out, it's not damaged like the other side, but I will probably weld the holes up and relocate them where they are supposed to be

This is a red letter day! I cut out the last of the rust I need to fix in the cab. I won't lie to you, this took every bit of my willpower to do, taking an angle grinder to the windshield frame!



On the passener's side there is a little bit of pitting at the edge that I chose not to cut out - I found I could get it clean with a wirebrush, so I will spotweld the deeper pits and grind that all down flush before I install new metal into the frames.

After this repair, it's just dents in the rear panel, relocating the steering column, and fitting the new cab corners. No sweat

[oldman3]

I went with one of electric hidden antenna's, works great for me, but some say they are no good...Jim

[Advanced Design]

Nice repair work. Hidden electric antenna for me too, though it is still sitting on a shelf.

[JJorgensen52]

Thanks guys!

Do you happen to know off hand the brand of your antennas?
I had a Dakota Digital hidden antenna in a truck I built some years ago (the small, rectangular amplified style) and it did not work well for me at all, which is driving me towards using an external antenna.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

I had a Dakota Digital hidden antenna in a truck I built some years ago (the small, rectangular amplified style) and it did not work well for me at all, which is driving me towards using an external antenna.

Dang it that killed that idea! I had hoped those worked but apparently not so good.

[JJorgensen52]

Am traveling this weekend, but got some boxes of goodies this week!

Modified and reprogrammed engine harness


Corvette pedal


Stainless supplies for building my bucket seat mounts


I'm using the 67-68 style wheel with my tilt column


At this point I'm planning to run these S10 style center caps on the wheels. Picked them up NOS on the cheap (because who wants S10 caps )

[JJorgensen52]

Man! I feel like it's been ages since I did anything on this truck ... even though it was less than a week ago

Started in on the windshield frame repairs tonight

This is recycling at its finest. Cutting a patch from a patch I didn't use because I didn't like the way it fit, that I cut out of a hood I took off my '71.

Tacked in place. Sorry for the fuzzy second photo



I left the patch a little oversize so I can trim it down once it's welded in and get a nice, even line where the windshield will sit. I also left a little bit of meat underneath, so I can get my head up under the dash and weld in a few key spots under there, as well.

Oh. And Happy St. Patrick's Day!

[ghettoluxury]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

At this point I'm planning to run these S10 style center caps on the wheels. Picked them up NOS on the cheap (because who wants S10 caps )

You mean S15 center caps.

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by ghettoluxury

You mean S15 center caps.

Tomato - Tomahto

[JJorgensen52]

Just plugging away. REALLY wished I had a shrinker/stretcher rig tonight

Finished up the dashboard lip and cleaned the welds most of the way


I've also filed the edge to shape based on the old piece I cut out.

Started making the upper portion of the cowl edge (one more piece to make after this)

There is a lot more curvature to this than it appears in the photo

[Advanced Design]

Nice save on the windshield lip. How did you get the curve without a shrinker?

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Nice save on the windshield lip. How did you get the curve without a shrinker?

The hard way

I bent up a section to the right dimensions, a little longer than I needed, then I cut a series of notches in the flange so I could bend it one way or the other. I clamped to the old piece to get the shape, and then tacked all those little cuts on the flange to lock in that curve.

So, having the shrinker would have saved me about 45 minutes worth of effort AND made a nicer patch, but where there's a will, there's a way!

[oldman3]

Very nice job on the section...Jim

[JJorgensen52]

Well I ended up doing some work on the '71 last night so no progress here - but I did get my title in the mail yesterday! It's so nice to finally have all the paperwork, clear and in hand

[JJorgensen52]

So this weekend a buddy of mine came up bright and early Saturday to install a new stainless exhaust on his Sonoma. Long story short, turns out you can't actually get an exhaust for his truck, so he got what was close and I cut and welded the tailpipe to work - here's the rear half of the system, all welded ready to install

I was just happy for the opportunity to practice MiG on SS before I start building my seat mounts. Between the exhaust and a bad starter solenoid on my '69, I lost about a day and a half for this truck.

But tonight, progress! Windshield section patched, finished and drilled for spots:


Clamped up


And burned in and MOSTLY cleaned up


I think, given how much trouble I am having getting the body line at the base of the windshield (where I welded) to look right, I may actually cut further into the cowl on the other side to alleviate this problem. Is there some secret to this that I missed???

[JJorgensen52]

Back to the grindstone!

First off, as I've been doing more cleaning and wire-wheeling, I've found that the cowl vent recess in my cowl has got enough rust in the gasket channel that it needs to be replaced

There is perforation in probably 30% of it, unfortunately not in one place where I could simply patch. There is a patch section on ebay at the moment which I think I will grab for this.

Started in on the passenger's side windshield patch. Tonight I made the patch for the dash flange where it meets the cowl - it's tacked in, I need to finish the welds and grind it down a bit.



Also, on a different note, I've been working on conceptual artwork for gauges - I'm working with an aftermarket supplier who does a lot of one-off custom stuff to make a set of gauges which incorporate all the features I want (and will work with the OEM LS engine sensors). I'm mimicking the '48 color scheme, and trying to keep with my theme - which is that modifications should be subtle. I want you to look twice!

Anyways, figured y'all would like a look.

[Advanced Design]

Nice work, the gauge design looks good.