Dave's 1970 GMC 402 Longhorn

[y5mgisi]

I would be lost working with such much CLEAN!

[thelonerife]

This is the best Longhorn I've seen.period..

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice! Your mirrors and brake lines have turned out super!

[davepl]

Thanks for the kind words folks! I'm into this about 2 years now, but there's light at the end of the tunnel. Like any project, the last 10% takes 30% or more of the time.

[davepl]

Here's the center stack.

[VA72C10]

Simply GORGEOUS truck!!!

[davepl]

Got the carpet, tank carpet, and one seat in today!

[davepl]

Also installed the fuel tank, filler neck grommet, and my nicely hand-polished original cap.

I wound up reusing the original grommet; the "NOS" replacement was significantly different. It was genuine GM but not made when the trucks were, it was a later service part.

I turned the grommet upside down since the top had been seeing the sun for 44 years (though it must have been garaged, since the rubber was actually in OK shape).

To 'restore' the grommet I used some "waterless car wash" spray I had on hand. Cleaned it to a nice bare rubber color, but still gray. So I used "Tire and Wheel Shine" stuff which gave it back the black appearance, at least for now. Not sure how long that will last.

[y5mgisi]

Looks good!

[Dieselwrencher]

I bet your truck was garaged and well taken cared for to some degree at some time. It's pretty rare to be able to use stuff like that on trucks here. Even your fuel cap, that is nuts. Good deal for you though!

[litew8]

Originally Posted by davepl

nicely hand-polished original cap.

Shouldn't that nos cap have a nos sticker on it

[davepl]

Shouldn't your cab be the same color as the box? :-)

If I had $11.99 kicking around I could get this, it comes with the sticker.

http://www.ecklerstrucks.com/chevy-t...-stepside.html

Maybe I should run that one instead of my original for when some idiot eventually steals mine.

[litew8]

That's funny It's all color, now.



That gas cap you linked to, it says "manufactured to original factory specifications" which means the sticker is OE.
Not something I bought. Original, like my bench seat.
Also notice the one you linked to doesn't appear to say MADE IN USA like mine.

[davepl]

To anyone following along, that link is for a non-vented truck WITH a charcoal cannister. My truck is non-vented, no canister. I'd presume they have different variations to match the requirements of your year and style.

I think the C20 is different than the C10 even in some years (the HD trucks didn't get the cannisters until later, I believe).

[davepl]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I bet your truck was garaged and well taken cared for to some degree at some time. It's pretty rare to be able to use stuff like that on trucks here. Even your fuel cap, that is nuts. Good deal for you though!

Oh, the cap was plenty rough, though the truck did indeed lead a sheltered life.

Here's part way through; I went down to 60 grit on stainless steel at high speed, so you can imagine the types of scratches I was dealing with.

In an unrelated matter, if anyone would like their gas cap converted to a billet-looking brushed stainless steel, I'll do them for $100 a shot :-)

[litew8]

hahhahaha, the cap in that link says "Made in Mexico"!

[odog]

Man I have to say the truck is coming along beautifully!! I am really impressed.

[davepl]

Been a while since I've updated. As anyone who's done an "every nut and bolt" restoration likely knows, the last 10% takes the longest. It's not like TV.

Anyhow, here's the brake booster I just got from BrakeBoosters.com

Having been set back quite a bit by a parts store replacement unit that had studs too short to hold the master and brackets, I was in a rush. To avoid shipping the core I elected to let him restore one he had on hand (we checked all the proper stamping codes and rods and so on first).

I think it looks great. While it should be black in a '70, I'm running 72 brakes (front discs), so it's correct for the brakes if not this year of truck. And the gold zinc or dichromate or whatever looks way prettier than black. I let the NCRS guys worry about that kind of stuff.

They apparently spend a lot of time polishing them. My parts store unit was really rough, pitted, and even [b]rusty[/u] right out of the box. This one is smooth because it first goes to a polishing company and then to a plater (unless he plates in-house, I forget now).

Anyway, I'm pleased with the results and here's a pic! The master cylinder lid is something I did and not them, so blame that one on me!

[VA72C10]

Looks great! The details make the difference between a nice truck and an amazing truck!

[blue 72 gmc 4x4]

Wow, very nice! Who did all of your chrome?

[y5mgisi]

Very nice!

[davepl]

Couple of new photos. Added three point retractable belts because I'm too good looking to risk my face on that wheel.

[davepl]

BTW the belts are pretty much invisible when not in use. It's certainly not a style choice I'd make, but there are a lot of fatal head-on crashes on the non-divided highway I pretty much have to drive on.

No mods required except an additional hole through the seat brace under the floor, but that's well hidden. And I saved the little plugs for the shoulder belt bolt holes....

[davepl]

Managed to get it driving far enough to take it outside for a photo... first time in 3 years almost!

[y5mgisi]

Very nice!

Always admired the people that have that much time, money, and love for fine classics.