What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II

[mattwhiteyanks1]

Mocked up some motor mounts for my 70 swb 5.3/4l80-e project

[real69ss]

Apparently I had two wires make contact on my starter while driving to work, the back fire was so loud that Patton would have been impressed, melt my battery cable, kill my (Optima) battery and .......



These are the mufflers that included with LMC's "Complete V8 high performance dual exhaust system...." . Great kit, could use a little bit better instructions, and the fit is a little bit tight on a lowered truck.

So I ......


And all is good !

[Churchill]

pulled the edge of the rubber flooring on the passenger side and saw some crud . wiped it out with my key. tapped the floor in that spot a couple times and made a pinhole of daylight through my floor I though my floors were solid

[outdoorsman310]

those new mufflers should hold up to many backfires!

[texasld]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Got my NOS tailgate hinges powder coated...

Did you do them yourself?

[texasld]

Originally Posted by mattwhiteyanks1

Mocked up some motor mounts for my 70 swb 5.3/4l80-e project

Are you making your own?

[bonnieclyde100]

Originally Posted by magwakeenercew2jh

I taught myself that I have not learned a damned thing about building these trucks in all my 68 years.

On my way to take care of the chickens this morning ("Yes, dear." "I'm glad you want to have eight chickens just like your old Italian neighbor
did when you were a kid." "I'm sure that you *will* do all the work."), I passed RAT siting and waiting for the rest of the stuff that's coming
(white face overlays) in order to install a slick amp:volt gauge kit from Forum Member, Forum Merchant, and all around good guy Tom at:

http://www.classicgaugeandcluster.com/

I remembered that I'd been head-scratching over the dash lights going dark a couple of months after installing the LCDs. Since I don't drive
much in the dark, I'd forgotten that I need to address that. And, since I want to pull the dash and bezel to install the kit from Tom, and I'd
already checked the fuse block on the chance that...well you know...fuses.

So, off with the dash grommet retainer, parking brake assy., undo the screws, push the light switch button under the dash to pull the "switch mast",
unscrew the ww and faux choke knobs, unbolt the under-dash steering column yoke, unscrew the phillips that hold the bezel on....clip the lines to
the non-GM tach. Unbolted the oil pressure gauge line, and the speedo cable.

Replaced a bulb that was burned out (one of the orig. that I couldn't reach when I installed the LCDs).

No dash lights (juice is there at the connector, 'cause the turn signals, etc. work). Brand new M&H harness. Pretty.

Got on the ground with a flashlight and peered at the fuses again. Pulled the 3A cluster fuse. Looked good. "WAIT!!!" "LOOK!!" "Hold it up to the light!"
"It's ever so slightly blown." Which means, it's blown.

Glad I waited to multi task to pull the dash, (the amp gauge:volt gauge conversion from Tom), or I'd really be pissed at myself.

do yo have any pics of you building that console for the screen? ihave one and i am looking for ideas. i was even thinking of putting mine in the sun visor but i like your idea also.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by bonnieclyde100

do yo have any pics of you building that console for the screen? ihave one and i am looking for ideas. i was even thinking of putting mine in the sun visor but i like your idea also.

Not a bunch of pics of this. But here's one:



Here's a parts list:

About ten feet of 4 7/8" (or whatever it is) left over flooring material...any floor installation place has a bunch of 18" scraps.

A yard of carpet that matches your interior to your liking (mine was under $20 from the dollar store...I got about 2.5 yds) ...
...the stuff I had was left over from the tank cover and kick and lower door panels.

Some heavy poster board or cardboard for templates.

A hundred different (in different sizes) wood and sheet metal screws.

About twenty feet of 1 x 2 scrap wood. Maybe twenty feet of 1 x 1 if you want to rip the the 1 x 1.

Four 1/2" "L" brackets (with the legs about 1-1/2" on each side) to hold the cabinet to the floor on the bottom, and screw
(or bolt) through to the existing holes under the a/c or heater controls on the under side of the dash.

Some spray glue to attach the carpet to the outside of the box. Some Elmer's wood glue to stiffen up the wood support
joints inside the box.

Some kind of clamps to help you hold everything in place while you glue/screw..... Unless you have six hands.

After I did the interior bracket for the radio, I cut the hole in the face plate (made of 2 sections of the floor material glued together),
I covered the face with some faux-carbon fiber material. I had to attach blocks inside the at the corners of the box to screw the face on.
I wanted/needed access for the electronics installation and for playing with it, if necessary, down the road.

For me, it was about thirty bucks and a few days of work. Would be less if I don't count the carpet. In actuality, it really only cost me the
gas to get to a friends house to snag some scrap bracing wood. But, I already had all the stuff laying around.

This one's not for everyone. But it serves my purposes pretty well.

[bonnieclyde100]

Originally Posted by magwakeenercew2jh

Not a bunch of pics of this. But here's one:



Here's a parts list:

About ten feet of 4 7/8" (or whatever it is) left over flooring material...any floor installation place has a bunch of 18" scraps.

A yard of carpet that matches your interior to your liking (mine was under $20 from the dollar store...I got about 2.5 yds) ...
...the stuff I had was left over from the tank cover and kick and lower door panels.

Some heavy poster board or cardboard for templates.

A hundred different (in different sizes) wood and sheet metal screws.

About twenty feet of 1 x 2 scrap wood. Maybe twenty feet of 1 x 1 if you want to rip the the 1 x 1.

Four 1/2" "L" brackets (with the legs about 1-1/2" on each side) to hold the cabinet to the floor on the bottom, and screw
(or bolt) through to the existing holes under the a/c or heater controls on the under side of the dash.

Some spray glue to attach the carpet to the outside of the box. Some Elmer's wood glue to stiffen up the wood support
joints inside the box.

Some kind of clamps to help you hold everything in place while you glue/screw..... Unless you have six hands.

After I did the interior bracket for the radio, I cut the hole in the face plate (made of 2 sections of the floor material glued together),
I covered the face with some faux-carbon fiber material. I had to attach blocks inside the at the corners of the box to screw the face on.
I wanted/needed access for the electronics installation and for playing with it, if necessary, down the road.

For me, it was about thirty bucks and a few days of work. Would be less if I don't count the carpet. In actuality, it really only cost me the
gas to get to a friends house to snag some scrap bracing wood. But, I already had all the stuff laying around.

This one's not for everyone. But it serves my purposes pretty well.

thanks that will help

[jethro5333]

got the Flowmasters installed today. tomorrow put the bed back on and get ready for paint.

[mattwhiteyanks1]

Originally Posted by texasld

Are you making your own?

Yeah, I know they make tons of kits but, it's just as easy for me to fab some up. I'd rather know I have everything where I want it, as opposed to it sitting where somebody else thinks it should be.

[texasld]

Originally Posted by mattwhiteyanks1

Yeah, I know they make tons of kits but, it's just as easy for me to fab some up. I'd rather know I have everything where I want it, as opposed to it sitting where somebody else thinks it should be.

Cool! Make sure you post some pictures! Have you been posting in the LS Swappers thread?

[mattwhiteyanks1]

No, but I'd like to. I'm not sure how to move my post into certain sections or categories. I'd like to move my build thread into the build thread.

[joeydurango]

Aligned my '72 today. The alignment shop got two tries first... but apparently this truck "isn't in the computer" (go figure) and after I told them how to measure for toe, then received it back toed 3/16" OUTWARD, I just said screw it and did it myself. I guess the old saw about doing it yourself is true...

Now the truck is toed factory 1/8" in and drives better than ever.

[Possmguts]

Just spent the day cleaning bolts and painting them.... Not much else to do right now till the ole lady stops spending my parts money on un-necessary crap like food, and gas, and kids schooling and stuff like that. Work is slow right now.... Story of my life, when i have time I have no money and when I have money I have no time.... Life, go figure....

[texasld]

Originally Posted by Possmguts

Just spent the day cleaning bolts and painting them.... Not much else to do right now till the ole lady stops spending my parts money on un-necessary crap like food, and gas, and kids schooling and stuff like that. Work is slow right now.... Story of my life, when i have time I have no money and when I have money I have no time.... Life, go figure....

Same for me. This is how I battle it, though. Lots of work and no time? Buy parts. Lots of time and no work? Install said parts! works every time!

[Possmguts]

Originally Posted by texasld

Same for me. This is how I battle it, though. Lots of work and no time? Buy parts. Lots of time and no work? Install said parts! works every time!

Ive had over 1000 bucks of body parts and patches sitting in my LMC shopping cart for 3 weeks or so now.... It will be the first sizable purchase. Ive done smaller stuff that has to sit until its time for them. You know, the stuff you see for a great deal but are nowhere near ready for buy you couldnt pass up.

[R.L.]

Yesterday I installed a vacuum gauge, today I replaced the heater core I broke while routing the vacuum line for the gauge. I guess I stepped on the hose while I was under the hood. Go figure the coldest day of the year too.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by real69ss

Apparently I had two wires make contact on my starter while driving to work, the back fire was so loud that Patton would have been impressed, melt my battery cable, kill my (Optima) battery and .......
Attachment 1345409
Attachment 1345410

These are the mufflers that included with LMC's "Complete V8 high performance dual exhaust system...." . Great kit, could use a little bit better instructions, and the fit is a little bit tight on a lowered truck.

So I ......
Attachment 1345411

And all is good !

Those blowed up real good! Nice looking new mufflers.

All I did today was drive mine for the first time in a few weeks. Too much going on, and I'm retired!

[gutterworks129]

I cleaned and prepped/painted this engine that was in a barn for 8yrs in VA. I bought a project truck that the guy gave up on 8yrs ago.

[ole dollor]

[QUOTE=gutterworks129;6991609]I cleaned and prepped/painted this engine that was in a barn for 8yrs in VA. I bought a project truck that the guy gave up on 8yrs ago


very nice clean up and paint job, and welcome to the forum from Texas, we like lots of pic's keep them coming...

[jethro5333]

got the bed back on. that was a neat trick by myself! as soon as it warms up a bit, I'll get some paint on it.

[texasld]

Brazed a 3/8" hose barb in my factory rad for my LS Steam port.

[CST10]

Put an ol school stagger tall fat/small skinny tire combo on ol Owen and painted the wheels white.

[CST10]

Gave me the rake I wanted to.