Not Another Rebuild Thread....

[markeb01]

I've been studying the above photos, and the more I look at them, the more I see a Gothic look to them. Rather than sharing any disappointment in how they turned out, I'd be inclined to share how many different experiments you had to go through to get them to turn out exactly how you wanted them. As if it was purposefully done to make it look more sinister!

[Ta2Don]

Gotta agree with Mark… Sinister is a good description...

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Looking Good Murph!!!

Wish I could offer some words of advice concerning the lettering...
Encouragement is the best I can do at the moment...
I am sure you will find the best solution...

Your Tailgate cables are...

and those side marker lights...

Well Done Sir!!!

I am already collecting the stuff to do this again, just going to be a matter of setting the time aside to hit it!

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Dude, really, that cable bit is slick. Nice job.

thanks man, I am super pleased with the way they turned out. I have them hanging in place now, with large paper clips holding them to start them training how to hang with the tailgate on.

Originally Posted by Jeff La

Again your hitting it out the park. Love the fender marker. I'm sure you already have those pesky letter figured out and they will be great.

Thank you Jeff !! I am getting pretty lucky with some of this stuff, as it is actually coming out better than I had imagined it in my head. It is starting to look like the rear lights and the side markers are really going to compliment each other when it is all said and done !! But more to follow on that



I hope this isnt violating any board rules, but I had to share this what my wife found on her facebook this morning:



Isnt that the truth though?
I had one of those moments getting my step support bolted up. I had forgotten that it was the only one that bolts to the frame and not the bedside!
Off to a car show in North Pole today, will post some pics and maybe some progress later !!

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by markeb01

I've been studying the above photos, and the more I look at them, the more I see a Gothic look to them. Rather than sharing any disappointment in how they turned out, I'd be inclined to share how many different experiments you had to go through to get them to turn out exactly how you wanted them. As if it was purposefully done to make it look more sinister!

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Gotta agree with Mark… Sinister is a good description...

Well guys, I really wasnt going for a "Blood Bath in the Truck Bed" sort of look, but if I had, this would have been awesome indeed !!
Sometimes the best things in life happen by accident.

Thanks for the positive remarks, it certainly helps get over the internal disappointment !!

[flips72]

not sure how you come up with these ideas but keep it up, tailgate looks great, need to hook you and bomp up and see what rolls out of the shop. keep em coming.

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by flips72

not sure how you come up with these ideas but keep it up, tailgate looks great, need to hook you and bomp up and see what rolls out of the shop. keep em coming.

Some days I feel it is a curse... LoL

If I could assemble a team from this board, we would put any reality build show to shame !!

*********************************************************************************

Ok back on 10 April I mocked up my tail lights on the frame to see if I would like how they looked, and I did like it.
I knew with the bed and tail gate mods I would have to do a roll pan so this is what is happening now...
Here is the 10 April photo:



Then I made a template and with that, cut these large panels out of what was left of the GMC hood I had left over:


I made buckets for my tail light lanterns to bolt into, and here I am checking them in the roll pan panel:


Here is the roll pan panel with the buckets and lanterns mocked up in it:


And a shot of the back side of it showing the 1x1 angle I welded in for support and stiffening, as well as the integrated fuel fill well:


More later this week guys !!

[C@rnut001]

Man, that is looking awesome. You have some great ideas. You should really try writing up a reality build show, you have such excellent build and fabrication ideas.

[bj383ss]

Man that is wild!

[Grizz1963]

Mike, despite your own view on the outcome thus far, be under no dis-illusion that this is a fail.
You continue to inspire loads of us with your creative ideas and execution thereof.

Unless you try, it will never happen.

I continue to be addicted to your thread and share it out on internet world with friends.

Thanks as always for posting up your progress and descriptions.

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Mike, despite your own view on the outcome thus far, be under no dis-illusion that this is a fail.
You continue to inspire loads of us with your creative ideas and execution thereof.

Unless you try, it will never happen.

I continue to be addicted to your thread and share it out on internet world with friends.

Thanks as always for posting up your progress and descriptions.

X2!

[aggie91]

Just caught up again on your build. Your tailgate cable idea looks great!

Don't be too hard on yourself for the tailgate letters. Like everyone else, they look great to me. Even it it didn't meet your expectations, the fact that you are thinking out of the box and trying new things is a win for everyone including yourself.

I say leave it as is and get the rest done. Its always something you can redo later down the road if you really want to do it. Who knows, you may come to like the look!

I really hope to get back to mine sometime later in the summer or early fall. You guys that work in the ubsurdly cold areas of our great country are die hards for sure!

[piratexpress1369a]

wow that is going to look killer

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by C@rnut001

Man, that is looking awesome. You have some great ideas. You should really try writing up a reality build show, you have such excellent build and fabrication ideas.

If I only had the time, facility, equipment, and skills..... LoL

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Man that is wild!

Congrats on your progress too, your red wheels look pretty cool as you get your frame done!

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Mike, despite your own view on the outcome thus far, be under no dis-illusion that this is a fail.
You continue to inspire loads of us with your creative ideas and execution thereof.
Unless you try, it will never happen.
I continue to be addicted to your thread and share it out on internet world with friends.
Thanks as always for posting up your progress and descriptions.

Thank you Rian, those are some kind and enheartning words !! I did not mean to sound like I was sniveling, just saying that the result was not what was intended.... I need to do better.

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

X2!

Hahahahaha thanks Don !! you my world dude !!

Originally Posted by aggie91

Just caught up again on your build. Your tailgate cable idea looks great!

Don't be too hard on yourself for the tailgate letters. Like everyone else, they look great to me. Even it it didn't meet your expectations, the fact that you are thinking out of the box and trying new things is a win for everyone including yourself.

I say leave it as is and get the rest done. Its always something you can redo later down the road if you really want to do it. Who knows, you may come to like the look!

I really hope to get back to mine sometime later in the summer or early fall. You guys that work in the ubsurdly cold areas of our great country are die hards for sure!

Aggie, I love it when you post, I just wish you could get back on yours sooner than later !! And like I mentioned to Rian, I did not mean to sound like I was whining.... But I dont mind sharing my mistakes as well as my successes. I learn more from the boo boos than I do the Oh Yeahs !!

Originally Posted by piratexpress1369a

wow that is going to look killer

thanks Pirate, I really hope you enjoy the whole package as I start to button it up here in the next few days....


****************************************************************************************


Ok kiddies !!
Some success stories now !!
This is Mister Roll Pan all welded up, stripped down to metal, and primered to bring out all the areas of attention, which I outlined in red sharpie:





Then a light application of bondo...... lots of sanding...... then glazing putty to fill the cracks and pin holes ...... more sanding ....... then filler primer and more sanding..... more filler and MORE SANDING ........ until it all started to look like it was meant to be all just one piece of auto body:


Then before I came up for dinner today, it was the first shoot of the flat black:


As I was waiting for the paint to dry today, I got some other stuff done too. I prepped what is going to be the new (and hefty I might add) bed support rails. I elongated my tailgate mounting holes to hopefully help me correct the offset tailgate latches due to the tailgate warpage I did. I also remounted the front grill so it marrys up with the head light doors better, and fixed a lighting issue in them. I also got some time on the Tow Truck today too rerouting the heater hoses so I can drive it tomorrow and Friday....

All in all a very productive day, I hope you all had a great one too !!
As always, thank you for taking a look !!!

[coulter]

i know your not happy with the tailgate letters but i think it looks pretty damn sweet!!! if i didnt know better i would think you made them look that way on purpose!! As always you come up with some awesome ideas!! keep killin it man

[Ta2Don]

Progress being made!

Driving the Tow Truck...

[chad64chevy]

its been a while but checking in!! and I got to say you have done a lil of killer work, I have realized are trucks will never going to be done! theres always new things coming out that we all would think that would look cool on my truck!! I like that tailgate and think when you get to it it will look great, just like the grille and everything else you have handmade on this truck!! keep it up, your getting there, man!!

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by coulter

i know your not happy with the tailgate letters but i think it looks pretty damn sweet!!! if i didnt know better i would think you made them look that way on purpose!! As always you come up with some awesome ideas!! keep killin it man

Thanks man, and congrats on TOTM !!!! I knew you were going to own it !!

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Progress being made!

Driving the Tow Truck...

Yeah that Tow Truck is a hoot to drive, I really enjoy it !!

Originally Posted by chad64chevy

its been a while but checking in!! and I got to say you have done a lil of killer work, I have realized are trucks will never going to be done! theres always new things coming out that we all would think that would look cool on my truck!! I like that tailgate and think when you get to it it will look great, just like the grille and everything else you have handmade on this truck!! keep it up, your getting there, man!!

I see you are making more progress on yours as well sir !!

*************************************************************************************


Well today was pretty productive, the whole weekend was actually...

As the back end of my truck started coming together, I realized I only had 5 wires coming back to power everything I was going to be running back here, so I happened to be looking at some of the left over Sierra parts, and spotted this junction box.
I got some new pins from the local GMC dealership and repinned it to distribute the power more cleanly, and with better options for future workings:


Then it was time to hang the roll pan:


That last pic was at about 1100 this morning, things kind of snowballed from there for the rest of the day until 6 hours later I had this:


As a total teaser, this is with the flash on the camera:


And without the flash:


And that is where I am now.
Mostly all that is left is I need to rehang the license plate, the tail gate hits it when lowered.
Exhaust.
Mount in the new bed rails.
Lay in the bed, once I get my hinges from Jay....
New Tires all around.
Tweak the doors so they open and close right.
100% lube job and front end alignment.

I am going to refurbish my old bumper as best I can, they are only $100 from LMC for a new primer one, but the $248 shipping was a tad too steep for me.....

Well that is where I am at today, even got some stuff done on the Tow Truck this weekend too so, all is well !!

Thanks for looking.

[piratexpress1369a]

that is awesome ..just wondering did you wire the tailgate as a third brake light

[Ta2Don]

Can't wait to see the whole truck put in the Daylight...
Not to mention, hear the comments of the general public...

[Low Elco]

Lookin' good! How many days and a wake-up! Stoked for ya!

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by piratexpress1369a

that is awesome ..just wondering did you wire the tailgate as a third brake light

No, I could not get the lighting the way I wanted it, to become brighter with the brakes, so it is just wired in as running lights. It seems to be dim enough to be complimentary without being a nuisence or distracting.
I am glad you like it....

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Can't wait to see the whole truck put in the Daylight...
Not to mention, hear the comments of the general public...

Probably soon sir. My neighbor was all alight yesterday when I showed him and he was asking if I was going to drive it.
Soon, yes soon....

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Lookin' good! How many days and a wake-up! Stoked for ya!

54 days until I Final Out from Ft Wainwright.
56 days until I ship out of Alaska.
84 days until I am an officially retired old bastard.....

Let the Fear begin.

[Ta2Don]

I know you will enjoy retirement Sarge!!!
I sure do...

[McMurphy]

Ok guys just a few follow ups on a couple of things....

When I finally decided on mounting the tail lights horizontally under the bed, instead of vertically in the fenders, I knew then ends of the lights and the space between the rear bed supports and the back of the fenders was going to need some treatment.

I forgot to get a before pic of the space between the support and fender, but I am sure you get the idea.





In the previous pics above, the license plate was mounted too far up, and the tailgate was conflicting with it when lowered. I tried to massage the mount but ended up making up a plate bracket mod that was better when all is said and done. It shows more of the fuel fill than I wanted, but such is to be expected sometimes.... The plate up:


And the plate down:


I may have to lower the fuel fill neck as it looks like it is going to be a tight spot getting the gas nozzle in there without banging up the paint.

[McMurphy]

Unless I stumble across another incredible deal for rims like I did the Cragar SS for my wifes Pontiac, I am going to stick with this American Racing wheels. At least for the time being up here in Alaska....
I wire wheeled off all the rust, shot the cones with the metallic charcoal grey I have been doing the trim in, and the inner rings were shot with truck bed liner.
One down, 3 to go:


This last photo is just a little techie tip that occured to me.
There have been a few times, with modern equipment that I have found myself trying to get these connectors to crimp down on itty bitty whisker sized wires.
So this was my solution, this is me twisting some solder wire in with the light leads before I crimp the connector on.


So far it seems to work pretty amazingly well, I just wish I had thought of it like WAY sooner !!


Just a short update on a side project.
If some of you recall I made a video about things I do while waiting for paint to dry, one of those things was a knife I made. (It was actually born from work buddys checking off an item from the Man Card) I finally got around to tempering mine this weekend, so while I was stewing about having to re-engineer my license plate, I finished it up.
Fresh out of the fire and cooled:


Re-file sharpened and polished up some, also signed and dated. I named the blade on the other side too...


Here is the final assembly with the elk horn grips I made with it:



I have duty tonight so I am taking a couple of wet stones and I am going to really hone it down.


Thanks again for looking at this mess of mine guys !!

[Ta2Don]

Adapt & Overcome...

Diggin' the Wheels!

…and the solder idea…

Lastly, Love to see the smiokin' progress you are making as you prepare for the move south...

Oh yeah, almost forgot… That knife Rocks...