51 GMC 'Project Why Wait'

[Coach529]

Love the images..........I will be following along!!

[dsraven]

That thing looks fast just sitting there. Cool.

[lower50's]

I love when a build gets to this stage, seeing all your hard work coming together. Good Job Dave

[olcarguy]

Nice job...can relate to rust issues and Bills is a great place to get parts.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Thanks everyone. It's back up on stands again as it was hard to work on when it was laid out looked awesome though.

I ordered a new rad support (ouch), and drivers side fender support. My rear cab mounts and rear step mounts will be back from powder soon then I can boot the cab up (just sitting there now) and start hanging sheet metal through the winter.

I also ordered Michigan Metal Works notchless tie rods as the tie rod frame interference was closer than I'd liked.

I'll have some new pics soon. Probably out of money for the year though. Maybe ask for truck parts (or time) for Christmas. Both worth about the same...

[joedoh]

great perseverance, and the truck is really taking shape too!

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Hey everyone, still plugging away on this thing.

Managed to fab up my rad support (basically shortned the factory one) and cut up the inner fenders to find the outer fenders. From there I set the truck back down to make sure the inner fenders didn't need more modification





Luckily everything seemed to sort out well. I have the blocks under the wheels and tires to simulate the wheel and tire set up I will actually be running. The Chrome 5 spokes are just my rollers.

With the inner fenders in I had to install my Fitech Intake manifold on top of the motor. I was originally going to run this (Trail Blazer SS)



But I am sure you will all agree this looks a darn sight better



It's the FiTech "loaded" Ultimate LS intake manifold I am running. Which is basically their ultimate LS system minus computer and harness.







It was all quite easy to bolt onto the motor in the end.




I've got the front bumper to mock up still then everything gets blow apart in prep to have the roof, firewall, interior, and inner fenders painted up

[youngrodder]

Nice progress....it will really look cool once you paint the insides. I like the contract between a newly painted surface and a crusty exterior..keep at it.

[joedoh]

lookin great man!

[olcarguy]

Nice...Won't be long now...keep up the good work...

[lower50's]

I love the intake! Keep an eye on the no notch tie rods, I bent a set. Not sure of make tho and I have a bit more weight than you.

[slammed57]

boy that looks nice!

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I hope everyone is doing alright during these weird times. Because my job was a little uncertain I plowed ahead with what I had on hand; inner and outer cab corners are now done, Altman latches installed, and door hinges rebuilt.

With that meaning the metal work is completed I pushed the thing out of the garage for the first time in 4 years!

My son has been really into it lately too so I've had him out as much as I can watching, taking pictures and pretending.

Going to finish up my body work then send the cab off for firewall paint and roof flake hopefully mid September.

While it's gone I'll be buttoning up some Chassis bits before sending it off to the friend that built the chassis for wiring.

[8man]

I like seeing the kids involved.

[tinydb84]

I am rarely on this subforum but I just went through this build. Great work. That chassis and color choice is spot on. I love the patina on it too.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Originally Posted by 8man

I like seeing the kids involved.

He LOVES it now that it looks like something, shame I have to take it apart for a bit

Originally Posted by tinydb84

I am rarely on this subforum but I just went through this build. Great work. That chassis and color choice is spot on. I love the patina on it too.

Thanks for stopping by man! Hope to get some more updates up soon.

[LT7A]

Such a cool truck. Great work. And you engaging your son when he comes out to "help" will probably be the best thing about the project no matter how it turns out. It looks to me that you could get a shade of medium blue where you made the cab repairs and not even have to "faux" with it. I'm not sure you could make that thing look cooler even if you ever painted it for real.

[MiraclePieCo]

Dave: Not sure how I've missed this build thread before, but it's darned impressive. The curves in that frame are works of art. Also fun to watch your boy grow up as the build progresses.

A word of advice from someone who knows: keep your locks away from grinders, acetylene torches, and creeper wheels. Even though I've been attacked by all those things, my motto remains: Friends don't let friends get haircuts!

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Thanks man. Creeper wheels are probably the most awkward! I'm actually cutting them back again (well eventually) because of shenanigans haha. Though I think I love some experience points everytime I do.

Been trucking away on body work lately, and Ash and I got a new non broken grill emblem.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Gone, but back once more, 2020 sucked tried to stay in the garage more than on the computer.

I was able to finish out all my patch panels. Finding a convincing blue to match the majority of the blue on the truck was tough. Might not look it in the photos but I primarily used a very dark blue, and two light blues to make the patina match.

It looks fairly convincing I think? Also picked a white for my roof (Mazda Rally White) which will be flaked when I send out the cab to get the firewall done.

Truth be told the cab should have gone to the body shop for most of what I have now done (thanks Covid) but hey it is what it is. If it this all keeps up I might buy a compressor and gun and keep plugging away. But the fumes of 2k paint kind of scare me...










Painting my hinges are up next, then a lot of wetsanding of various areas. Fingers cross this lockdown ends soon and I can fire the cab off for paint.

Once the cab is gone I can finish up a few more chassis things before it comes back.

Trying to get as much as I can done now before it gets really cold in the garage Feb/March

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Oh check it out this was panel #1 I ever replaced

[Kevin_C]

Looks great!

[youngrodder]

Nice progress...

Marc

[Mains52]

Sometimes a hiatus is all you need to relight that fire. Great work man keep going.

[lower50's]

If this lock down thing eases up this year I'll have to get my butt over and see this thing in person.