LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I like it......a lot!

Thanks Dale. It's going to be different that's for sure.

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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Still moving along on this. It continues to be really hot here so that is slowing me down some. I work on it early in the morning and in the evening.

I sand blasted a few more parts early this morning and installed the window regulators, windows and vent windows. All of the window channel felts, and glass seals and such are in. I need to install the door panels and arm rests next week.

We are having our family get together Sunday that was postponed from the 4 of July, so not much work on the truck this weekend.

Thanks to everyone that's following along with me on this. So far it has been a blast.

LockDoc
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[LockDoc]

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Well the family dinner went off Sunday without a hitch and it seems like everyone had a good time. I enjoy it, but glad it only happens once a year. It's a lot of work.
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Worked on the project yesterday and today. The weather is a lot nicer right now.

I drilled the heads off of some of the bolts on the rear wheel tubs to see how much I will have to widen them. (picture 1) I used a center punch to punch the center of the bolt heads and a 12" long drill bit to make it easier to clear the tub. (picture 2) Then I marked the cut line on the tub. (picture 3) and cut it. (picture 4). I have extra tubs so I won't have to put a piece in, I can just cut another inner section wider. The top line is 3 3/4 inches and the bottom line is 5 inches. The top line would be wide enough but it is on top of a rib and will make it a hassle to fit the lip of the tub to the floor. I think I will move out to the 5 inch line where it will be in a valley and make it much easier. I still may use the orange bed. It has a wood floor and would make this whole process much easier. The wood floor is bad but I have a new oak wood kit and new bed strips for it so that isn't a problem. I will have to give it some serious thought.....

LockDoc
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[LockDoc]

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I also installed the exterior heater box and blower motor. I installed new rope chalk around the perimeter of the box and installed the heater core. (I forgot to take pictures of the core install) I pressure washed the core and flushed it out good before I installed it.

I had an A/C blower motor that I lubed up and tested before installation.

Worked on the wiring a little more and got more of it sorted out and straightened up. The little stuff takes a lot of time.

LockDoc
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[cwcarpenter98]

Looks like you've spilled a plate of spaghetti on your fender, Leon! The truck is looking great! My choice would probably be for the wood bed just because I like having nice wood in the bed of an old truck

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Looks like you've spilled a plate of spaghetti on your fender, Leon! The truck is looking great! My choice would probably be for the wood bed just because I like having nice wood in the bed of an old truck

Yes, but it is the non edible spaghetti....

Thanks. I don't favor one style bed over the other but I am just looking for the easy way out....

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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Yard work today so I didn't have a lot of time.

I wanted to try something so I prepped and painted a pair of door panels and upper channels I had on hand. It's just a Metallic Silver I had on the shelf. I think it needs something to break up the all black interior. If I go with it I will also paint the outside rim of the glove box door with it. Let me know what you think.... Too much? ..... OK?

Thanks,
LockDoc

[pjmoreland]

Reminds me of the color scheme of the gauge cluster bezel and glovebox door on a '67. I like it!

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Reminds me of the color scheme of the gauge cluster bezel and glovebox door on a '67. I like it!

Thanks Patrick. I will paint the outside edge of a GB box door and see how it looks. I also have all of the parts to rebuild another cluster so I may use an older bezel and paint it like a '67.

LockDoc

[72gmguy]

Looks nice broken up by the silver.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by 72gmguy

Looks nice broken up by the silver.

Thanks Jeremy. I think I will go with it.

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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I'm still plugging away on this thing.... Just nothing exciting to show. I finished up all of the fuel supply and return lines today. Been working on that for a couple of days. I dug out a couple of pairs of stock Chevy 454 exhaust manifolds I had stashed away so I could decide which ones I want to use. They all need a little TLC.

I started on the custom cowl vent for it yesterday. It's a lot of work but it should look pretty good on the truck. I have done a couple of them in the past. I will try to get it sandblasted tomorrow.

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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I finally had a chance to finish the cowl panel up. I have a few small imperfections to put some spot putty in but it came out pretty good. Too hot to paint it this afternoon.

I let the smoke out of one of my HF grinders yesterday. It has served me well for about 7 or 8 years with a lot of use. I had to drag out what I affectionately call the "Man Killer". It is an old Souix grinder that my dad used for years when he was a heavy equipment mechanic back in the '50s and '60's. This thing has to weigh 10 or 15 pounds. I actually have a couple of other small grinders but this one will get some serious work done..

I will buy another HF one as soon as I get a chance. My closest HF is 70 miles away.....

LockDoc
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[LockDoc]

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I touched up a couple of places on the cowl that I'm still not happy with, early this morning.

Finally worked on the Drive By Wire throttle pedal and bracket yesterday and today. I think it turned out pretty good. Paint was still wet this evening so I will install everything in the morning.

I used the section of firewall insulation board that I cut out for a pattern and made a mock-up bracket out of a thin piece of aluminum flashing. By doing that it is easy to flatten out and re-bend if needed. I needed to do that on one of the bends and you can see the double lines on the piece of white metal. After I was satisfied with the fit I transferred the pattern to a piece of 1/8" sheet metal and cut it out with my trusty jigsaw. It was pretty straight forward so it was easy to do. Luckily I have a small machine shop a couple of miles from me so I took it there to see if they would have time to bend it for me. The guy said he could do it right then. We went out to the big sheet metal brake and it only took him about 5 minutes to bend it to match my pattern. After doing a little final tweeking on it I temporarily bolted it in and marked where the pedal fit good. I removed it and drilled the rest of the holes and primed and painted it, and the pedal assembly. It feels good to have that done.

Hopefully I will be able to sand down the spots on the cowl and get it painted in the morning.

Like I said earlier, I will be jumping around on different parts of the project depending on how much time I have.

LockDoc

[kev2809]

that bracket came out perfect. I bought mine from the board and it looks damn near the same

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by kev2809

that bracket came out perfect. I bought mine from the board and it looks damn near the same

Thanks, It would have been a little harder if a guy didn't have the piece of the firewall insulation board to use for a pattern.

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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Finished the smooth cowl up. I will install it tomorrow.

Bolted the Drive By Wire pedal assembly and bracket together and installed it in the truck. It worked out good. I have full travel just before the foot pedal hits the floor.

LockDoc

[regan wilson]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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Finished the smooth cowl up. I will install it tomorrow.

Bolted the Drive By Wire pedal assembly and bracket together and installed it in the truck. It worked out good. I have full travel just before the foot pedal hits the floor.

LockDoc

That smooth cowl looks really smooth!

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by regan wilson

That smooth cowl looks really smooth!

SMOOOOOTH, Yes.... .. Thanks Regan!

LockDoc

[CG]

Looking good! You fill those holes to keep the gunk out, or just because you could? haha

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by CG

Looking good! You fill those holes to keep the gunk out, or just because you could? haha

Thanks Mark.

...... A little of both I guess. I hadn't done one in quite a while and just wanted to see if I could still do it. Plus it will be something different that not everyone has. I think I will modify one for the Panel Truck too after I get this truck running.

LockDoc
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[LockDoc]

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Well, no work on the project truck for a couple of days. I need to put a new throwout bearing in the Blue '72 Dually. It has the NV4500 5 speed overdrive transmission in it, which is really heavy, but I don't think it will be too bad to do.

Hopefully I will be back on the project in a couple of days.

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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OK, new throwout bearing is in and the '72 Dually runs great. Now I need to check out the "U" joints in the '36 Ford Coupe, they just started squeaking. Man, I can't catch a break here.....

LockDoc

[CG]

Whenever I come back to this thread it makes me want to merge my 72 Cheyenne C20 leaf spring truck with my 71 Super C30 157wb. The 72 has a ton of rust but the frame is great. C30 has very minor rust in the cab, plus it has cab lights. Big block, air, dual batteries etc.

I have my C30 up for sale locally nothing but low balls, to me anyway heh (hey I want what I want lol). Plus stuff doesn't seem to sell for as high out here in the PNW as the rest of the states, well not the plain stuff. We have a large amount of high end trucks that bring big bucks.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by CG

Whenever I come back to this thread it makes me want to merge my 72 Cheyenne C20 leaf spring truck with my 71 Super C30 157wb. The 72 has a ton of rust but the frame is great. C30 has very minor rust in the cab, plus it has cab lights. Big block, air, dual batteries etc.

I have my C30 up for sale locally nothing but low balls, to me anyway heh (hey I want what I want lol). Plus stuff doesn't seem to sell for as high out here in the PNW as the rest of the states, well not the plain stuff. We have a large amount of high end trucks that bring big bucks.

Well, that way you would have everything for the swap and shouldn't have to buy anything.

As far as the truck values It seems like you guys have a lot of '67 - '72's out that way and that would affect the overall price of the average truck for sure.....

LockDoc