Wamego: 1949 GMC 150

[Old57]

I approve, carry on! Good luck on possibly getting the new shop property!

[oldman3]

joe, tires look good, also good luck on the property, would be a nice size shop...Jim

[Palf70Step]

Good luck with everything. That will be a nice sized workspace.

[joedoh]

its not a sure thing, but I sure like the idea. its cheaper than building! (so far)

[OutlawDrifter]

Good luck with the new acquisition! That's a great size, makes stacking them 2 deep 2 wide easy, with room to work!

[joedoh]

started laying in the harnesses finally. I am glad I built this "petite" pedal/column holder, there is so much room for activities now!

IMG_2074 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_2076 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_2077 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

on the s10 half the harness runs below the pedals, half above. I used to just put it all above but using the factory location for the BCM I needed to have it as close to stock location as possible so I didnt need to extend a million wires.

IMG_2079 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

half tucked, looking much much cleaner!

IMG_2080 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

the cluster connector is sticking out the radio hole. I am ordering CON2R gauges to work with the stock senders but there is a problem, the factory cluster has a serial connection to the PCM, and if you remove it, among other problems, it will set a trouble code for no communication and the alternator will not charge. My solution is to install the cluster behind the factory speaker. however since that requires that the senders stay hooked to the PCM (another trouble code if the fuel gauge has a open circuit for example) I am planning on taking the truck to someone with HP Tuner and have the gauge outputs mimicked/copied to three empty pins on the PCM (coolant temp, oil pressure, and fuel level, dont need volts). does that sound possible? if not, my back up plan is to disconnect the oil pressure wire from the gauges (it is not a serial output from the PCM, just a throughput), add a three wire coolant temp sender (third wire to new gauge) and simply disconnect the fuel level sender to the PCM and replace it with a 100 ohm resistor. It will always see a 1/4 tank that way.

after I had it all zip tied up and routed, I went ahead and took the dash harness back out. see, it helps if you pay attention and dont pick up the 98 blazer dash harness you had left over on the shelf, and use the 03 S10 harness instead.

IMG_2082 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

and this is a moment in history, this is the actual brake pedal clip that CAME OFF THE TRUCK WHEN I started. thats a first for me, usually I lose it and borrow the clip from the next truck.

IMG_2075 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

I was at the hutch swap meet last weekend and couldnt resist this bunch of stainless window trim, got one inside and three outside. I am ambivalent to shiny stuff so I dont know if I will use it, but if I decide to its nice to have.

IMG_2078 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

more to come!

[1952ssr]

I had a simular problem with my '53. I bought dolphin "electronic" gauges, thinking they would work with the LT1 PCM... NOPE. My alternator wouldn't charge either. So I put a one wire GM alternator on it and used the supplied sending units that came with the gauges and I am in business. For the fuel sender I used the factory unit (1985 s10 fuel injected 2.5) but replaced the fuel pump with one for a caprice w/ an LT1.

[Old57]

Looking good Joedoh. Nice"practice" on installing harnesses! At least you caught it soon enough before it made a lot more work to change it.

[joedoh]

ssr, I havent confirmed I can port the gauge info back out of the pcm without any losses, I have tried calling several local tuners today and friday must be optional.

either way, I KNOW my second plan will work. the pcm just needs to see some kind of fuel level input so if I give it 100ohms (its 40-200) it should just report 1000s of mpg if queried by a scan tool.

Old57 I actually LOOKED at it and wondered why it had a standard GM mini plug on it for the radio the 03 uses the double din with the 04-09 style connector. then when I was planning out locations of things I noticed the 4x4 selector connector and went back to the cabinet and there was the right one. I need to get out of my own way sometimes.


The property we were interested in rejected our bid, said another person had bid more and I should up my bid. very few people are as stubborn as me, so I told them that the bid page told me to bid my max and thats what I did, and I wasnt interested in helping them sell it to someone else by being the second bidder in the room.

[joedoh]

after thinking about it all night I decided that having a carpet snake and the BCM hanging out just wasnt worth it, so I cut all my zip ties again and ran the lower harness up top.

this is where the BCM would normally mount, for reference

IMG_2093 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

and this is after moving everything
IMG_2091 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

dont mind the end of the harness hanging out of the glovebox hole just yet, I have to mount the blower first. The BCM will fit behind the gauges, really doing the small brake pedal/column mount was the key, before those areas behind the gauges and under the very left of the dash were inaccessible.

IMG_2092 by Joe Doh, on Flickr


I moved the cruise actuator to the drivers side so I wouldnt need to lengthen the harness.

IMG_2094 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

doing that freed up the center of the firewall. I can either mount the PCM there and the battery on the inner fender, or vice versa. I am thinking of putting the battery over the engine in the center. it was that way on the 47 GMC I did, easy to access and out of the way.

IMG_2095 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

I needed some closed cell foam to seal the new blower pass through on both sides of the firewall, the commercial says "they've got it at the yard!" and it only took a minute to find something suitable.

IMG_2096 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

they also had universal door seals with double sided tape on them, 6 bucks for 2 8ft lengths. I may try them on the next truck, looks like 2 8ft sections would do one door.


while I was right there, I stopped by the upholstery shop. he hadnt even started. good thing I stopped though, because there was a "problem" with the seat I dropped off (it had some curvy sections that didnt show under the other cover that was on it) and then when I was leaving he said "and there is your carpet" and it was BLACK! I said, no, its supposed to red.

[joedoh]

things are popping, havent heard from mobsteel but the back and forth with con2r is about over so I am excited to see the gauges. I finished everything I needed to with the front end off so I put the front end on.

IMG_2111 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

then I realized I kinked a brake line putting it on so I pulled it off. 4 hours later after buying a new flaring tool I put it back on and mocked up the condenser/rad to see what kind of room I had.

IMG_2114 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

built the stand for the underhood distribution box.

IMG_2115 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_2116 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_2122 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_2124 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_2126 by Joe Doh, on Flickr


I was out of tin so I stopped at the yard. here is just a sample of the view out the back door.

IMG_2127 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

picked up the bolts for the cab mounts and front end while I was there and now all thats done. got some strap for the rad and condenser mounts. tomorrow I will build the air directors and route the wiring to each side, maybe put the grille on. for sure put the battery mount in and maybe even try for a start.

IMG_2129 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

the joedoh rule has snapped on me. I ordered that steering wheel and for whatever reason didnt pay attention, I got one of the original type so the horn ring stub is in the wrong spot. already painted, cant return.

[oldman3]

Moving along and looks good...Jim

[8man]

I hate to admit it, but I've broken THAT joedoh rule, by the way which number is that rule?

Looks good. That stand is really nice.

[joedoh]

its the only rule

BUT its better to make mistakes, because at least you are doing something. I love it when I have problems, and I am in constant admiration of people who actively work and have setbacks and still find a way to finish. I post everything, the good and the bad, because 1. pobodys nerfect and 2. I dont need validation or admiration.

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by joedoh

its the only rule

BUT its better to make mistakes, because at least you are doing something. I love it when I have problems, and I am in constant admiration of people who actively work and have setbacks and still find a way to finish. I post everything, the good and the bad, because 1. pobodys nerfect and 2. I dont need validation or admiration.

#1....I see what you did there

Endeavor to persevere!

[28TudorAZ]

That is a crazy amount of wiring. Great job keeping it all straight.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Endeavor to persevere!

I wanted to work on the battery but the power steering line was dripping and while I was under there (o-ring) I saw how easy access was to the lower rad hose. in the past I would slightly stretch the hose onto the rad but on this truck the auto trans cooler lines were in the way. I hit up the auto parts store and asked for a couple hoses for the same engine. I usually go in the back and look for one the right SHAPE, longer here or there, but I decided that something with the same or similar motor/rad layout might have something I could use.

the 4.3 fullsize hose was a bust, smaller water pump side for some reason? and much too long. the parts guy surmised the relationship would be closer on the 5.7 fullsize of the same era, he brought it out and I was dismayed that it seemed to curve the opposite way. but then I held it in 3D space, roughly in the same way it would be installed. it LOOKED like it had the same starting and ending points, but with a different set of bends to get there. I brought it home and I'll be dipped.

56323057188__2E4F99A4-A5D5-4E43-804C-242D6FC8D30C by Joe Doh, on Flickr

it looks like its touching everything but it touches nothing, room to spare under the rad, it doesnt even come close to the fan! here is the part number if it helps someone.

IMG_2148 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

after that I buttoned up most everything under the hood, including all the AC lines

56323343945__D2C10EB7-84C1-4D7B-80B8-1088AE07BCAC by Joe Doh, on Flickr

I used a different engine side evaporator box and pulled the screen in the bottom tube of the evaporator, it was a little dirty so I pulled the original. crud. the silver mud is a dead compressor, so new lines and compressor are on the agenda.

IMG_2139 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

after that I rearranged the pcm to the passenger fender, it will fit no matter where the battery goes.

56323498952__C02C9CF9-9F72-4383-8863-BB5B7CA02A3D by Joe Doh, on Flickr

I looked up the size of a group 78 battery and its a little smaller than a priority mail medium flat rate box. looks like its going on the firewall.

IMG_2142 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_2146 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

Looking at maybe a honda high capacity battery to keep it smaller, or maybe behind the seat?

I got a tracking number for mobsteels today! so maybe I can take them to powder coat this week. the seat was done today, did you see it? neither did I. but a battery is all that is needed for a start.

[Old57]

Nice progress! That's a full engine compartment, but it's nice that everything fits and works. Sucks about the AC compressor. The Yard is great... every time I go there for steel or something, I end up spending way more time walking around to see if there's something else I can't live without. I'm in there about once a week.

[joedoh]

well its even more full now haha.

I started out this morning with a group 75 batt (group 78 was wrong, thats what my 2500HD uses) and a plan to put it on the firewall. but more and more I wanted it on the fender and felt like a quitter. if I extended the cables to the firewall I might as well extend them to behind the seat. or under the bed.

so I wiggled and squinched and cajoled and if I moved the AC drier slightly, it fit! I had to lower it two inches because the negative terminal would have hit the drier.
IMG_2151 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_2155 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

a quick tray on the plasma and bobs your uncle.

IMG_2160 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_2165 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_2166 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

I think the expression is "ten pounds of shart in a five pound bag"
IMG_2168 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

I keep taking the intake off and on, I am really close to making my own intake hat from an elbow.

oh and I picked up the seat and carpet.
IMG_2167 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

I love love LOVE the color. my favorite so far. I will take a scrap of vinyl with me to the powdercoater, I think I have gone away from black wheels and want to match the interior like I usually do.

[OutlawDrifter]

I dig the battery solution, love the seat color(matches the interior on my Z28), and believe the term you need is blivit.

[oldman3]

joe, I think the red wheels will look great on the truck, nice seat...Jim

[8man]

That is one full engine compartment! Looks good and that seat is beautiful.

[joedoh]

thanks fellas.


I got the wheels and immediately dropped them off at the powdercoater. they look small in the boxes...

56338562025__615545A9-9C36-4B62-AC0B-E925DB0D2DB1 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
56338575061__903A0841-ACD6-45CB-88F1-455C59DC8A45 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

but when you put them on something you already know the size of, like a shopping cart, its easy to see their size.

IMG_2190 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

I wanted to put the windshield in but without the hood on, it would have been a chore. so I laid the hood on and did it.

IMG_2191 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
56348513909__ED971EA4-33A9-40A4-98BD-6AEF0EE65628 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

the rubber gasket is from precision, I used the LMC gasket last time and it had curious lumpy/loose spots I had to touch up with urethane. this one fit better, so well I almost went hoarse swearing at it sometimes. I used blunt screwdrivers to wiggle here and shove there till it was in correctly.

since the hood was on I decided to hook up the hood hinges and springs, the hinges went ok but the drivers hinge just would not compress enough to get the bolt in. I used my big crowbar to lever the firewall side up, but since only one spring was hooked I also used a broom to hold the hood open. you can probably guess. the hood slipped off the broom, the big crowbar shot out from the force of the spring. it chipped the floor and ricocheted off my shin, the broom gave out under the weight of the hood and took out one of the overhead lights. all total I got a nice dent in the hood, a nice dent in the floor, a nice dent in the fender, a nice dent in ME, and I sat there in almost darkness because the overhead lights were daisy chained together. I figured it was enough for one day haha.

[oldman3]

joe, glass came out nice. Lets hope tomorrow is a better day...Jim

[Nut Case]

Dents are on the house!!!!!!!

I feel your pain. Great creative fabwork!


NC