68’ GMC frame off build

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

Looks familiar! It'll be a better truck in the end.

Good luck, Rg

Sadly an all too familiar sight to us all.

It’s worth the effort, that’s for sure.

[YBNORML]

Took some parts in for blasting yesterday. Got them back today.

I just love freshly blasted metal.

[YBNORML]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how straight the Original GMC tailgate is!!!!!

It cam off of the purple/white parts truck. I was totally expecting it to be full of bondo.

[cornerstone]

Originally Posted by YBNORML

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how straight the Original GMC tailgate is!!!!!

It cam off of the purple/white parts truck. I was totally expecting it to be full of bondo.

So, apparently there ARE some previous owners out there who knew how to use mirrors! Its a thing of beauty.

If you don't mind me asking, about how much did it cost to bast all the parts in the picture?

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

So, apparently there ARE some previous owners out there who knew how to use mirrors! Its a thing of beauty.

If you don't mind me asking, about how much did it cost to bast all the parts in the picture?

It really is, gates like this just don’t exist up here anymore.

$300. Cdn.
They also chemically stripped the tailgate before blasting, they were afraid of warping.

[YBNORML]

Another piece of the puzzle arrived today. Tires will be here early next week, can’t wait to see them up against the original yellow paint

[cornerstone]

Nice choice!

[YBNORML]

A little sneak peak of where she’s gonna sit. Give or take an inch or so.

[YBNORML]

Got some fresh pics from my buddy who’s doing the cab repairs for me.

[YBNORML]

A few more.

[MDPotter]

Originally Posted by YBNORML

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how straight the Original GMC tailgate is!!!!!

It cam off of the purple/white parts truck. I was totally expecting it to be full of bondo.

That is beautiful. I've come to really appreciate original sheet metal. It's amazing, with today's technology that reproduction parts are so inconsistent and fit so poorly. They must not have the resources that GM does to develop these parts and have a good QC department. I watched a video the other day on YouTube of the Fisher body department at GM back in the 60's and how they developed and manufactured new bodies and it's pretty cool.

I've spent one full day so far mocking up, trimming, elongating holes, cutting, welding, etc. on my repro bed assembly. I knew I would have to, so I'm not frustrated about it. We also have an original shortbed assembly that we will be taking apart and putting back together so I'm interested to see how the two assemblies compare.

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

That is beautiful. I've come to really appreciate original sheet metal. It's amazing, with today's technology that reproduction parts are so inconsistent and fit so poorly. They must not have the resources that GM does to develop these parts and have a good QC department. I watched a video the other day on YouTube of the Fisher body department at GM back in the 60's and how they developed and manufactured new bodies and it's pretty cool.

I've spent one full day so far mocking up, trimming, elongating holes, cutting, welding, etc. on my repro bed assembly. I knew I would have to, so I'm not frustrated about it. We also have an original shortbed assembly that we will be taking apart and putting back together so I'm interested to see how the two assemblies compare.

Agreed, it’s simply amazing how crappy some of the aftermarket stuff can be.

I also put together a shortbox from all aftermarket parts a few a years ago. It required a lot of hole stretching to fit. Especially where the back of the box bolts to the crossmember.

When I re-assembled this one. The front is all from the same truck so I had no worries there. But the rear crossmember is from a different truck. Happily it just slid right in and bolted up clean. Sure makes for a more pleasurable assembly.

[YBNORML]

Some more pics from today. Drivers side getting close.

[YBNORML]

This might sound weird. But this is one my favourite things to see when a cab is repaired.

I absolutely hate it when the metal or body guys eliminate this seam. It just looks so proper to be there.

[MDPotter]

I'm impressed at how well that cab corner fits!

[cornerstone]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

I'm impressed at how well that cab corner fits!

Me too! Probably better that fresh off the assembly line.

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

I'm impressed at how well that cab corner fits!

Originally Posted by cornerstone

Me too! Probably better that fresh off the assembly line.

My man is good at what he does

[YBNORML]

So the driver side is done and tacked into place. He likes to do all the fab work and then burn everything in completely.

[YBNORML]

And on to the passenger side. Which although it looked better it is actually a fair bit worse.

[YBNORML]

And for the gross part.

I cleaned several mouse nests out of this thing when I first got it, but never found this one

[YBNORML]

Picked the cab up on Friday. I honestly couldn’t possibly be happier with the quality of work.

No filler has been applied anywhere. The cab corner seam was intentionally put under the trim.

[YBNORML]

Pressure washed the interior, sanded the floor and primed it. It’ll get some sound deadener before carpet.

I also sprayed the back of cab corners. I just used some rattle can that was mixed up to match the original 520 light yellow. Pretty good match to the non-sun faded paint on the back if the cab.

[Canuckvetter]

Robert sure does nice work.

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by Canuckvetter

Robert sure does nice work.

Yup, he’s got some serious skills.

Pretty awesome for a hobby body guy.

[YBNORML]

Body all mocked up. With the exception of the tailgate.