72 GMC Short Step Build

[Z10]

Thanks to all who have given advice and encouragement to me over the past year, about building my 72 GMC Short Step. August of 2012 I purchased the 72 from Ebay by mistake. I was looking for a truck to build as my weekend warrior, because every guy needs an old truck. Oh, and this is my first pickup.

Back to the mistake. Found an ad on ebay with a buy it now price of $12k or make offer. Well, it looked like a decent truck but I wasn't paying $12k for this truck so I make what I thought was a crazy offer. Long story short the buyer accepted the offer and now I find myself an owner of a truck I've never seen, driven, or heard. I posted the story of my 900 mile trip from Missouri, back to West Texas and the minor issue of a blown tire and no tools to change it. The truck ran Ok, but couldn't pass a gas station and with no A/C and 100+ degree temps, the trip was a bit brutal.

I purchased a Vintage Air kit the first week I got back, which has been sitting in my garage until last week. I purchased a new ZZ4 turn key engine, a GM rebuilt 700R4 from a 90 Corvette, new Boss wheels, and started gathering parts for the build.

I have two great buddies that have volunteered to help with the build, one is a mechanical and fabrication genius and the other is an electrical engineer who just for grins and giggles likes to break the code on GM computers. With out these guys and the help and advice of others, this build would at best be difficult for me or at worst never get completed. I'm really turning into the gopher and guy with the check book.

About 3 months ago or so, the old tired small block 400 and 350 trans was pulled and I got busy cleaning and painting the engine compartment. Life has a way of slowing down projects and it did on this one. But two weeks ago, I got a text from the fab expert and said, we're coming after your truck and we're starting. So, 30 minutes later my truck is being pulled via a 1958 Chevy short step to my buddy's shop.

The plan is to have the truck running and driving before Christmas. So, if your inclined, follow along with my progress, updates, and photos.

Installement 1.

Pics of the truck as I found it.

[Z10]

2.
A few more photos.

[Z10]

Engine Removal
The truck originally had a six cylinder that was replace about 10 years ago with a 400 small block. The engine sucked gas, burned oil, and ran like crap. My first thought was to rebuild this engine, but the more I thought about it and the fact that I wanted this truck reliable and last me for the next 20 years, I decided to go crate motor. So, out with the tired 400.

Look what I find when I can see all of the firewall. The previous owner decided to use the six cylinder engine stands, which forced the 400 to far back, so he decided to do a little "Clearanceing" with a hammer!

[OARNGESI]

great looking stepside

[SuperC10Tex]

Z10, I am in your backyard....we will have to get together soon. I am subscribed to your 4-eyed build!! Let me know if I can help in any way!

[Z10]

Originally Posted by SuperC10Tex

Z10, I am in your backyard....we will have to get together soon. I am subscribed to your 4-eyed build!! Let me know if I can help in any way!

Super Tex, happy to have you drop in and take a look. I clicked on your thread and took a look at your black beauty! Very nice.

[Z10]

New ZZ4 350/355hp

Had some nice progress this week, although my wife thinks we're moving backwards. I keep telling her it's got to be blown apart before it get's better.

Back in January I bought a turn key ZZ4 crate motor and began the progress of prepping it. New Sanderson CC11 shorty Jet Coated headers, new vintage style valve covers and oil pan. A reverse flow fan was sourced for the serpentine system and the block was painted chevy
orange.

[Z10]

F.I.R.S.T. TPI Delivered
But......as these things go, the more I thought about it, I had already done a restoration project on my 69 Camaro, so another "Factory" correct build was not what I really wanted to do. So I ask my self if GMC was building this truck today, what would they do? So, I changed direction......which always costs more and decided to use as many GM parts as possible, to make sourcing easier and more importantly replacements easier to find 10 or 20 years down the road.

So, the first thing I did was start looking at Fuel Injection. Looked at the MSD Atomic, Edelbrock, and FAST. All nice systems, but the intake that I've always thought was just so nice looking was the TPI systems from the late 80's and early 90's Corvettes and Camaros. The only issue was that the systems were maxed out around 300hp.

I mentioned this to my electrical engineering buddy, who has a TPI installed in his 85 El Camino, and he suggest I look at the F.I.R.S.T TPI intake. Turns out this unit has been around awhile but few seem to know much about it. It basically looks like a GM TPI on steroids and can easily handle the 375hp or so that the ZZ4 will ultimately put out. So, after consulting with my project manager, known as "Car Boss" the fabricator, and the EE, we move forward and order one.

This week Christmas came early! The system was delivered.

[Z10]

Comparison of a stock TPI runner and the FIRST.

[Z10]

Ok, I changed direction, so the carb is gone TPI is the new direction. So, now we have a new challenge, the 72 fuel system was not designed for FI. So, the Car Boss steps in and makes a plan. We'll use the factory incab fuel tank and utilize a surge tank. But we don't have a surge tank? Did I mention Car Boss can fab just about anything?

So how do you get from this to this?

[Z10]

How To Make Fabricating a Surge Tank Look Easy

[Z10]

All nicely tucked away behind the battery in the front right fender
Thanks Car Boss!

[In The Ten Ring]

Z 10,

I hear ya man! I have a short stepside too so I'm very happy to see another guy like me on here. Your truck seems to be in better shape than mine.

I am even more on my own as I don't know any gear heads, at least not near me, but I would be willing to pay someone on here if they'd let me use their garage and expertease for me to learn. I am also very dependent on this forum and so far, could not be more pleased for the quality of people on it.

As for your drive down....to TX with it, did you not think to drive only at night? I don't know if you could have or if it is even a good idea but that would be my plan for any cross-desert trip....my truck is AC-less also!

Please keep us posted!

OH! Are your (front) inner fenders powder coated? I've been thinking about having mine done that way along with the radiator core support, battery tray, and assorted brackets.

[Z10]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

Z 10,

I hear ya man! I have a short stepside too so I'm very happy to see another guy like me on here. Your truck seems to be in better shape than mine.

I am even more on my own as I don't know any gear heads, at least not near me, but I would be willing to pay someone on here if they'd let me use their garage and expertease for me to learn. I am also very dependent on this forum and so far, could not be more pleased for the quality of people on it.

As for your drive down....to TX with it, did you not think to drive only at night? I don't know if you could have or if it is even a good idea but that would be my plan for any cross-desert trip....my truck is AC-less also!

Please keep us posted!

OH! Are your (front) inner fenders powder coated? I've been thinking about having mine done that way along with the radiator core support, battery tray, and assorted brackets.

Hi Ring,

I am fortunate to have quite a few gear heads around me. I would suggest joining a local car club. You'll meet a bunch of guys who will point you in the right direction.

Didn't have time for night drives so just pushed forward. Reminded me of my 68 Z28 I had in highschool, no A/C in that one either.

No the inner fenders appear to be painted. Stay tuned for my firewall paint post.

[In The Ten Ring]

You know man, I never thought of the local car clubs! I will look into that!

Ah ha...."just pushed through." I used to do that so much when I was younger. My best performance was working all day, then leaving at midnight, driving 4 hours to get this girl I knew, immediately driving back 4 hours, and entering a "Kissing Contest."

You read that right: a kissing contest. It was held in Fayetteville, NC and was on Valentine's Day, hosted by 99.9XFM. Even though we had only kissed minutes before "for practice" and both of us hadn't slept for a whole 24 hours, we went for 3 hours and 45 minutes NON STOP french kissing. The winners went for 7 hours.

I practially carried her the last hour as she worked 24 hour shifts as a rad tech. It was televised and when the reporter asked for interview volunteers, we ran up. She asked how long we'd be dating and I turned to the girl and said, "what was the name of the bar we met in last night?" And she said, "I don't remember! I was too drunk."

The reporter's jaw dropped! Then she interviewed another couple.

I drove her back and immediately turned for home. I slept for an hour two times, right on the side of the interstate, slept and hour when I came in, then went immediately and worked all day. I fell asleep driving once, drove across a plowed field, and woke up JUST BEFORE I WOULD HAVE RUN INTO A 6 FOOT DEEP 20 FOOT WIDE CANAL. I turned back and didn't get tired the rest of the day.

My worst performance was falling asleep after a bad day but wild night in Charlotte. I bounced off a guardrail, denting the full length of my Honda Civic. $500.00 deductable but I'm glad I had full coverage. These days, I pull off and sleep or get a motel.

[Tom Vogel]

Very very nice truck.

[Tinkermc]

very nice and I bet it runs like a scalded dog/

[Z10]

Firewall Painted and Core Support Removed
Some more progress made over the weekend.
Firewall painted. Hides 40 years of ugly.
Core support removed. Rust below battery, new support arrived last week.
Fender wells removed. Needed to come out, to remove core support and to install new fender emblems.
Instrument cluster removed. New Classic Instrument panel delivered last week.
Exhaust Removed. Sound like crap. Need to order new system.

Sorry for the cell phone pics

[Z10]

Custom Aluminum Fan Shroud and OEM Electric Fans

Car Boss has been busy this week. I purchased a two row aluminum radiator a couple of months ago and had intended to use a traditional fan/clutch set up. But once again we made a turn and decided to go with electric fans. Buying an off the shelf solution, just wasn't in the cards, so Car Boss, Double E, and I went shopping at our local car salvage yard. Our goal has been to use as many factory replacement parts as possible to aid in future parts availability from auto parts stores. So we picked up a couple of electric fans from a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am.

That's where Car Boss comes in. I sometimes think he would rather fabricate than eat. So enjoy the pics of a custom fan set up, made from scratch.



















Give him a hand!!

Now Double E, will work his electrical magic with his computer.

[Z10]

Fixed the pics.

[Mike C]

Nice. I keep thinking about moving my motor back to some 6 cylinder mounts. Should improve handling and let you run Corvette 2 1/2" manifolds (which I want!) but you might have to "clearance" for the HEI... Or run a small cap distributor.

Did you decide to go to V8 mounts or keep the 6 banger ones?

[Z10]

Originally Posted by Mike C

Nice. I keep thinking about moving my motor back to some 6 cylinder mounts. Should improve handling and let you run Corvette 2 1/2" manifolds (which I want!) but you might have to "clearance" for the HEI... Or run a small cap distributor.

Did you decide to go to V8 mounts or keep the 6 banger ones?

Nope, moving it to the small block position, and using the correct engine stands. The back position is too close to the firewall.

[Z10]

Busy day today. Got the new brake booster and master cylinder this morning but, it had the wrong firewall bracket, so this one goes back and replacement ordered. New core support bolt kit arrived this evening. Double E is just about to finish up the new wiring harness so that's good news.

Pulled the fuel tank out to insulate and add sound proofing. Go the dynamat material and the aluminized closed cell foam installed. Now I'm waiting on the MLV to cover it up. I'll post pics of the cab wall tomorrow.

[swamp rat]

Subscribed!

[Z10]

New Classic Instruments

Received my new Classic Instruments instrument panel this week. I think I'm going to like it. Here's a couple of pics one in the box and one test fit in the dash.

Double E dropped by this afternoon and showed me the new wiring harness he's been working on. I'm not sure how much time he has in it, but I know he was working on it at 2:00am last night. He's adding circuits and a secondary fuse box that will power the ECM among other things. He even washed the old fuse panel and the thing looks absolutely new. Now he needs to wrap it and terminate the ends after we get the engine installed.

I also got the dynamat and aluminized closed cell foam insulation installed on the firewall this afternoon. Hopefully the Mass Loaded Vinyl will be delivered later this week so that I can finish.

Pics of the instrument panel.