My 1970 GMC “Project Splice”

[Kronald_70GMC]

By the way, I'm sure that you must have a build thread somewhere but I haven't been able to find it. I'd like to take a read through it if you could drop a link.

[cornerstone]

To my shame I have never started a thread. I've wanted to but just haven't done it. I sure have learned a ton from other guys work. I really haven't done much of anything that's truly original... it's all been done before. That's probably a poor excuse though. I'll give it a think again.

A good reason to do it is for others to help keep me motivated, and also to be able to show anyone that asks me about it in the future, when I am daily driving it.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

To my shame I have never started a thread. I've wanted to but just haven't done it. I sure have learned a ton from other guys work. I really haven't done much of anything that's truly original... it's all been done before. That's probably a poor excuse though. I'll give it a think again.

A good reason to do it is for others to help keep me motivated, and also to be able to show anyone that asks me about it in the future, when I am daily driving it.

You should definatly get on it man. It is very motivating to have guys following along and watching/waiting with anticipation. You can also learn a ton of cool things. This site is an amazing collection of knowledge and skill. Plus I'd love to follow along with your progress.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Firewall update

I managed to get some grinding and a bit more welding accomplished in the last week. It was slow going as I was working a side job almost every evening over the last week. This week will hopfully see some quicker progress. I got the expansion that I had done to the engine recess ground down and complete. It will definatly be needing a coat of filler. After that was complete, I welded up a couple more holes in that area of the firewall. I have one left to fill and then I have to come up with a plan for where the accelerator pedal mounts. I want to eliminate the three captive nuts for a cleaner look. Probably just going to weld some studs to the inner firewall.

[cornerstone]

Your firewall is going to look killer all evened out like that. I notice that you got rid of the little bump that was on the top of the passenger side heater delete panel. I did that also. I do plan on "permanently borrowing" your idea on the drivers side. I've never seen that done and it's a huge improvement.

[chewychevy67]

I would raise what you have drawn so it's symmetrical with the other side. It will look more detailed with the e brake area bumped up but i would have the threads welded on the Inside of the firewall so you can't see the bolt /nut. Just the grommet and cable viable on the outer firewall.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by chewychevy67

I would raise what you have drawn so it's symmetrical with the other side. It will look more detailed with the e brake area bumped up but i would have the threads welded on the Inside of the firewall so you can't see the bolt /nut. Just the grommet and cable viable on the outer firewall.

I think that will be exactly the route I go with it. Clean and functional.

[chewychevy67]

Cornerstone, just curious what you did here in the red circle? I know there are supposed to be 2 holes for the steering column clamp. I only see 1. Just curious how you plan for this area to clamp the column and look smooth?

[Kronald_70GMC]

And here we have it folks. One symmetrical section from side to side. Well other than the lower piece that I still have to do. Then after that, only 10 or so more holes to fill in.

[cornerstone]

Originally Posted by chewychevy67

Cornerstone, just curious what you did here in the red circle? I know there are supposed to be 2 holes for the steering column clamp. I only see 1. Just curious how you plan for this area to clamp the column and look smooth?

Inside that red circle is just another example why we are better as a group. Moments after I read your comment there was a drill bit inside that red circle, removing a mistake! Nice catch chewychevy67! Might anyone know what tap size I now need to run through the threads previously filled with bondo?

I'm sure glad I didn't weld it up!

Sorry for the hijack Kyle...

[cornerstone]

Looks great Kyle! I'm scratchin' my head trying to figure out how that was done... Care to share anymore pictures?

[TA_C10]

Looks great!

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by TA_C10

Looks great!

Thanks. Hoping to be back out later tonight working on the lower area.

[chewychevy67]

That looks nice

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by chewychevy67

That looks nice

Thanks! I like it, worth the month it took me.

[Kronald_70GMC]

One more piece of the puzzle wrapped up tonight. Although we never found the complete accelerator pedal at my dad's, we did find the mounting base which is all I needed for the time being. I took a piece of 1/4" flat steel I had and cut it down to be just slightly smaller than the pedal base itself. Then I drilled the three holes for the mounting studs. After I had that figured out, I drilled about 3/4 of the depth of the plate with progressively larger drill bits so that I had a place for the weld to sit. Then I cut off the heads from some bolts for the studs which I tac welded into the holes. I did not fully weld at this point because i did not want the heat from my welds to pull the studs out of alignment. So I put the studs into the original captive nuts in the firewall and then welded it home. From there it was just some grinding to remove the captive nuts and spot welding the plate into position using the original holes! Sorry for the long winded explanation but I forgot to take enough pictures to show how I actually did it. Here are the few I did take.

[TA_C10]

Nice work I like that a lot better than stock. So I assume your going back with stock pedal and a cable TB?

.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by TA_C10

Nice work I like that a lot better than stock. So I assume your going back with stock pedal and a cable TB?

.

Yes I am going to stick with the stock pedal setup as I am still going to be carbureted at least until I can afford an efi setup but I'm still going to be old style with a 396.

[Kronald_70GMC]

I think that about wraps up the sheet metal work on the outside of the firewall. Tonight I got the E-Brake all figured out. What i ended up doing was I cut the studs out of the E-Brake so that i could reverse them and have everything except obviously the cable on the inside. Then I used an idea that I read about somewhere on this forum but I cant remember where. Thanks to whomever had posted it, I cut the two mounting holes so that they would be slotted, this allowed me to still be able to install the thing. After that, I made up another plate out of some thicker gauge metal than the firewall. I did not trust just welding the studs directly to the firewall. It probably would have been fine but I didn't want to take any chances. So after I had the plate all made up, it was just a matter of plug welding it into position.

[cornerstone]

It is amazing what a guy will go through to have a clean firewall! More nice work man. You better watch out or your gonna have a trailer queen on your hands.

What kind of hooch is this???

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

It is amazing what a guy will go through to have a clean firewall! More nice work man. You better watch out or your gonna have a trailer queen on your hands.

What kind of hooch is this???

Haha thanks. That is a great western beer called original 16. Good stuff

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

It is amazing what a guy will go through to have a clean firewall! More nice work man. You better watch out or your gonna have a trailer queen on your hands.

What kind of hooch is this???

It's wet, what do you care

[TA_C10]

I'm keeping my kick panel vents for that same reason. I don't want to have issues, and sometimes it's beneficial to have fresh air come in.

Windshield looks great. I should have done that one too since it's going to be my DD and I'm a little worried about windshield leaks.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by TA_C10

I'm keeping my kick panel vents for that same reason. I don't want to have issues, and sometimes it's beneficial to have fresh air come in.

Windshield looks great. I should have done that one too since it's going to be my DD and I'm a little worried about windshield leaks.

I thinking that if I was to make a delete plate from the outside while I have the cowl off that had a couple of louvers in it it would probably give me enough and not be too noisy. I'm still undecided on this, I dont even know how I'd go about punching louvers.

As for the windshield, as long as you get those seams filled up nicely with some sort of seam sealer, I think you would be fine. I didn't even think to much on that, I was more motivated to have my drip rail appear seamless all the way around. I suppose it probably would be helpful in the leak department as well.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Well I guess that answer that question. I spent the morning making a die for hammering out some louvers. I think if I was to have three louvers in each side, it should be able to pull enough fresh air through for everything to remain happy. I'm hoping that it will also double as a pressure relief for closing the doors as this would allow me to remove the one in the drivers door jamb for a cleaner look.
Oh and cornerstone, I've included pics of my grinding arsenal if your interested.