Fixrupr

[builtbyKane]

keep working hard and I'm sure you will have it done in no time.

[landarts]

While working on the interior items last night trying to get all the heater box items mounted and electrical plugged in, I noticed that there was only a hot wire for heater/AC from the American Autowire kit I installed. Since it has been I while since I installed it I was not sure what needed to be done. One thing I did know was that I wanted to make sure as I put things back together I only did this once. There is nothing worse than having to disassemble items from the dash because you forgot something or missed a wire.

I sorted through my old wiring that I tore out and found most of what I needed and proceeded to rebuild that section so it would also be new like the rest of the truck. Also when putting the heater back together you need to plug into the resistor inside the heater box and then it loops over to the AC compressor switch mounted on the outside of the heater box, then another out to the actual fan motor mounted on the firewall. Another set from this loom sends wire back over to the AC switch mounted on the heater/AC control, with that being said if not done now then I would have to tear apart a bunch of the items from the dash to do this. Luckily it looks like I had enough left over connectors and wire from the kit to just make it up myself instead having to purchase a separate add-on from American Autowire.

Here are the tools I used for the electrical install, got them on Amazon and they really make the job of crimping the connectors properly an ease. The ratcheting crimping kit was $72 and the stripper/cutter was $29.

[landarts]

Well for this weekend I got a few small items wrapped up, and had a few steps backwards.

Items completed:

• sandblasted and repainted the tail light housing and backup light housing
• mounted new bulbs and lens for tail lights and backup lights
• installed all 4 side marker lights
• 2 more rounds of filler and sanding on the bed floor dings
• mounted heater housing and ran hoses on drivers side
• installed door felt and wipers
• installed throttle and kick down cable to carburetor
• painted gas pedal bracket and installed
• unbolted tilt column to install gauge cluster
• installed oil pressure line to motor, routed to interior

Steps backward:

• when trying to hookup oil pressure line to cluster line snaped off at 1/8 fitting
• fitting was really in bad shape and needed to be replaced, none available locally so had to order online
• after installing window felt and rubber and it did not fit well, did not know they need to be trimmed to fit right, that's a redo
• also found out that when I rebuilt the wind wings that the rubber at bottom tucks into the door instead of laying on top, that's a redo

I should have know better on the wind wings, all I had to do is got outside and look at one of my other trucks. First time doing the window felts and rubbers, hopefully I can get this set out without messing them up. If not I have another new set in the shop that I will trim and fit.

[landarts]

I posted pictures of my wind wing rubber and how it looked bad and did not lay down right. Someone chimed in to assist and tell me that I needed to tuck the rubber in side the door.......there's your sign! I removed the three screws tilted it back, , put a leather work glove over the sharp top and worked it back into door, much better.

I also pulled out the brand new out wiper on the door since I installed with out trimming it. Once I was able to pull it out and look it over I decided there is no way I could get it formed back straight enough to look right. So I will use the last brand new pair that I have. Measure first, cut it to fit, lay down some protective tape on new paint and mark where the clip opening are. Install and move on to the next item.

[landarts]

After pulling out the outer wipers for the windows which were brand new, they are completely in twisted up mode. Does anyone know if they can re-used or is it just better to toss them? Also finally got a few more pieces that I was missing or should I say misplaced for the interior install.

[landarts]

Picked this up on a special sale Home Depot was having. Got it for $248, built very strong and is heavy at 268lbs. I seem to have tools all over the garage when working on these trucks and this will help to have a place for everything to go.

This weekend trying to finish up the dash items install and get the buddy buckets and 3-point seat belts in. Do a little testing of all the new wiring and make sure that everything is good to go.

[landarts]

Got a few items done on the dash, finally got the oil pressure gauge fitting installed. Using an all stainless steel interior screw kit to put it all back together. Dropping off rims this week to get the new tires put on finally.

[72 tigger]

You’ve done a great job! Any progress?

[landarts]

Here are a few pictures of the Fixrupr finally put back together and being used. I am so glad to get to this point, now I need to keep knocking off a few items every weekend from the punch list. Last picture was from this Sunday drive, told myself I have to take a break working on it and enjoy a drive every weekend. Had about a 3 inch snow in the morning so I waited until about 2pm when the roads were dry and clear and went for a nice ride.

[cornerstone]

The fruits of your labor! Gotta love it man. Just a fantastic looking truck.

[72 tigger]

Looks great- thanks for updating. How close are you to finishing?

[Stickman]

Looks Awesome, nice and clean.

[landarts]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Looks great- thanks for updating. How close are you to finishing?

I am driving it now just have a few items to wrap up. The nice thing about what is left is I can still drive it the way it is.
-Raptor line the bed and inner tailgate
-Paint tailgate and mount
-Paint front grill emblem to match truck instead of red
-Minor touchups where new paint was scratched
-Possible 4/6 static drop or Porterbuilt stage 1 front and stage 2 rear air bag setup
-Mount the headliner
-Install speakers and sub box behind the Buddy Buckets
-Install floor sill plates

Originally Posted by cornerstone

The fruits of your labor! Gotta love it man. Just a fantastic looking truck.

Thanks I appreciate it, I can't believe how every time I take it for a spin I get the thumbs up or someone will complement it. It has been a long project compared to all the others. The knowledge I learned from this has really paid off, learning what to do and not to do.

Originally Posted by Stickman

Looks Awesome, nice and clean.

Thanks!

Here is a picture of the inside, I need to take a few more shots to see it all.

[landarts]

Here is a picture of the truck when I had it in Arizona and another being town down for body work.

[landarts]

A few photos of me filling in the aux. tank gas doors with sheet metal.

[landarts]

Here are a few pictures of parts I have already painted. I used single stage Sherwin Williams Crossfire gloss black for everything under the hood. The reason for using this product is one of my best friends owns a Napa Auto store and I get the friend dealo.....

I am in the process of tearing down the buddy bucket seat upholstery materials so I can make patterns and get the seats sewed up for the truck or more than likely I will have to send them to my big brother in Arizona that is a complete stitching god. As soon as I get the samples from online or my big brother and make the choices I will be posting progress on the seats. I am going with black seats, possible black and white houndstooth or a perforated leather look inserts, adding the drink cup holders to the flip down center seat. I already have black shoulder harness seat belts and needing to add a black lap belt for the center.

[landarts]

Here is a front drivers side fender that I got with my 68 front clip. It had a nice tear from the bumper corner. Craig the father of "valdez project build" is a master at metal work. He is giving me a starter lesson and how he would tackle the repair. Craig made the first square repair and did some pounding of the metal to get me started, I finished the rest of the repair and have the finder in filler primer now.

Craig was also kind enough to show his method of using a large sharpie marker over the ground down metal areas and using a file to find the highs and lows. Then proceeded to instruct on how to hammer and use the dolly on and off methods.

He is one of my seasoned friends that is an excellent source when i get stuck on something or just need another opinion.

[landarts]

After filling in the aux. tank doors with sheet metal I moved on to fabricating a metal housing to go inside the bed and support the filler neck from the aux. tank that Im still going to use.

What I did was take measurements of a in cab housing off of a blazer and adjusted to make it work for me. After measurements were transferred to piece of 18 gauge I scribed where the bends would go and rig up a poor mans brake . I use a large piece of metal flat stock that had, I slid the metal under the flat bar and clamped everything to a piece of plywood had sitting on the back frame of the truck. Once the bend was inline I bent it then moved on to the next bend. Finished off with a few tacks with the welder and a little flap disk on the grinder.