My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble

[cmabolt]

Nice work Rick! I especially like the lifting apparatus. Engineered to last. I like that. I grew up with a square body and one day... will return.

Chris

[rgunlock]

Thanks Chris. Didn't plan on a square body being my first full build, just how things worked out. I had 2 K10's early in my adult life, a 73 and a 77. When I picked up this 78 as a "donor" I decided to heck with that - I like this body style and want another one - so given title issues with the 59 and this one ready to jump on, I jumped on it. Just was clueless about how long this one would take

Anyway, a little behind schedule and about to run out of my time off. Just finished putting primer back on the areas of the roof that I needed to fix. First pic is the driver side door edge, then a pic of my new little buddies, then a done shot. I also did the passenger side, patched a spot in my rocker that I'd missed first round, and fixed the dings in the middle of my roof. The stud welder and stud lever worked like a charm, even for a first time user.

Now I need to wheel the truck bed out into the drive and start sand blasting - OH JOY. I can't think of one single chore that I dislike more!

[y5mgisi]

Man i just so badly cant wait to be at that phase of build on my 78!!!

[Bomp]

Looks great.
You made that Stud Lever sound so good I went and bought one.
Thanks

[rgunlock]

Looks like you've been at this type stuff awhile yourself y5mgisi, so I'm sure you know that you just have to keep pluggin along and you'll get there. Have you started a thread on your 78?

For the price, the stud lever works pretty well Bomp. Does tend to slip a little on the studs/nails I'm using but generally at a point I am probably using too much pressure anyway.

I did manage to make some progress on my truck bed before having to go back to work. Spent 2 days blasting the inside and underside of the bed and got both in epoxy primer. Not exciting enough for pictures. I do have a few "swiss cheese" areas in the floor that I need to deal with. Didn't want to spend for a new bed floor, so will come up with a way to patch it and then cover it top and bottom with bed liner.

Thanks for checking in guys!

[y5mgisi]

No on the 78 it's killing me! Gotta get stupid house projects done first! Then it's winter and I only have a small one car garage. But I did get a new bed for it that I will be straightening over the winter so that with any luck, I might have the truck all painted up and going back together around this time next year! I finally have the burb all but done so that's something. But it just makes me itch to start on the 78 so bad! Anyway, until then I take notes from threads like yours! So keep it up!

[y5mgisi]

Reckon I could start a thread on it anyway. I have done a few little things to it. And it does look pretty cool anyway. And I'm a pic whore and who doesn'tlove that!

[rgunlock]

Go for it! I've got a 59 stepside sitting in the driveway waiting for me to finish the 78 so I can get on it, so I know just what you mean. That's the one my wife wants me to work on because (her words) "it has curves just like me!".

[mjensen]

Looking good Rick! I wish I wasn't stuck in fuel line fitting hell on mine LOL

[rgunlock]

Thanks Mike! I've been following your fuel fitting saga, but have no help to offer. Have you tried putting your questions/dilemma out on the general forums?

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Thanks Mike! I've been following your fuel fitting saga, but have no help to offer. Have you tried putting your questions/dilemma out on the general forums?

Just about 2 minutes ago, I stumbled upon a company called Pure Choice Motorsports that seems to have some great options for the fittings. I think I now have the resource I need to order up. We'll see

[rgunlock]

That's really good to hear Mike - I'm ready to see some progress on your build

[rgunlock]

Got the underside of the bed done. To deal with the "swiss cheese" rust through I decided to slather kitty-hair both under and inside the bed. I had most of a gallon left, and what else are you going to do with that nasty stuff? Just used a 50-grit roloc disc to shave it down reasonably good, reshot with epoxy and then did Raptor bed liner on the underside.

[cmabolt]

Bed turned out great Rick.

[rgunlock]

Thanks Chris! So did the front of my shins and tops of my feet - not my best idea to shoot this in shorts and flip flops

[rgunlock]

Been busy on it the last couple weekends. While the bed was upside down on the dolly, I took care of the filler work on a fairly big dent and where I'd patched in new metal on both fenderwell backsides. Then finished stripping the rest of the paint from the bed - damn that was a lot of sanding! Got it into epoxy primer today and placed it back on the chassis. Still have a couple dings to deal with in the upper bedsides, and still have to deal with a lot of the swiss cheese pockmarks on the inner bed floor but dang it feels good to have the 2 biggest parts of this truck done with major bodywork and into expoxy!

[rgunlock]

One more I like.

[y5mgisi]

Thats awesome! How did you flip the bed around?

[rgunlock]

Thanks w5mgisi! Had a neighbor come help. We stood it on end and then carefully flipped and lowered it back onto the dolly by hand. Not too bad with 2 people. I had already built a jig to lift the bed so I used that to put it back on the truck.

[y5mgisi]

Nice! I used an engine hoist and four tie downs to lift my bed onto my work cart and it was sketch as hell! I will for sure at least be doing something similar to you your jig there when i lift it next time.

[mjensen]

Looking awesome Rick!!!

[boynton]

Almost ready for paint!

[boynton]

Do you need this emblem? I happen to have it and it is NOS! I even have NOS mounting hardware with it.

[rgunlock]

Thanks Mike, and I've got a few more parts to get ready before paint Boynton. Thanks for the offer on the emblem - looks really nice but not sure where I'd put it on my GMC

[boynton]

Ha oops I forgot. I stumbled across it and got excited.