Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

I have kept tabs on what has been happening here, and your truck is totally fricken awesome!!!!! great work on it!

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Thanks nuke1. I am honored that a guy with your skills likes what I am doing! I sure wish you were local (like the same nation) so I could have you do my rear doors and cab roof. Any chance you are going to Disneyland real soon?? (hint)

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Tonight I did two fun things.

First I tried out something crazy - I wanted to "stabilize" my stock bench seats from falling apart any more than they already are. So just for s&g's I tried some stretch wrap from work. I have no idea how long it will hold up but it was fun, kind of kinky and (at least for a short while) really firmed up the contours and fit. As a bonus I get kind of a weird fart noise when I climb in. To top it off I threw on a Mexican blanket I had. I swear I am not into the look - I just had it laying around.

Oh and of course what should fall out of the seat bottom while I was wrapping it but a hornet nest. Sheesh that Travelall was FULL from stem to stern with nests. Fer crying out loud!

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Next I pulled out the two sets of hood hinges I had and tried to figure out if one set was better than the other - nope, both were in the same condition. So I grabbed a set, cleaned them off and disarmed them.

Then I got to drive the truck out and turn it around (yay!) and started setting up for the hinge fitment. I parked the truck nose in so I could hang lifting straps from the trusses.

Took the pass side wheel and fender skirt off. Tacked a little lifting eye onto the hood and set it back on the truck with some lifting straps,

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Then started holding up the hinge and snapping pictures. Then I realized that things were going to be more challenging over on the driver side. Boy I sure hope I can clear the brake MC and the wire harness bulkhead unit. (It is a given that the cruise control module is up for a relo.)

Oh well that is why I am doing all of this - for the challenge and thrill of solving the 100's of big and little problems that crop up.

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

wow, i am jaw dropped. Great work, cant wait to see the outcome. She'll be one of a kind. i see one of those ih crew cabs near by and always admire it.

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

I have my first cause for concern over the condition of the GMC chassis. Now that I have the truck running again and have been around it for maybe a total of 20 minutes of running, I think I may have a problem. The exhaust pipes have two small leaks where the hanger brackets are welded on and they cracked. Whenever I have fired up the motor I got a lot of water dripping out of these cracks. (The crack is upstream of the stock muffler.) Well today when I turned the truck around it was the first time it was sloping backwards down the hill. I stopped the truck outside the garage and left it idling while I moved some chit around inside the garage. It was parked maybe 5 minutes and here is how much water came out.

That just seems like more than "normal" H20 combustion byproduct. My Burb doesn't make that much water. I smelled it and I don't detect any antifreeze - just smoky water smell. But I am worried that I have a blown head gasket. Except I woudn't think the water would get into the exhaust but the other way around.

Whaddup with all that water? :uhmk:

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

For Hood Hinges Check out the Porter Built Hinges for the 67- 72 trucks that mount to the cowl area?? or old jeep or land rover hinges that mount on the outside?? I think it would fit the build??

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Hornets ! Hate them ! Always on the look out myself.

That seat cover before the mexican blanket reminds me of my grandmothers
62 Fury wagon with clear seat covers.(many years ago)

I am no expert but if all the running that engine is getting is around the yard
it could never dry out and am often surprised at how much moisture an exhaust system can hold. Thats what I am hoping for you !

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Looking goof. Let me know if you need any little pieces, as we just got a rusty 65 in the junkyard here. I don't think there is a good body panel aside from the hood, but the interior has some parts.

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/k...0/100_3948.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/k...0/100_3952.jpg

couple more pictures here: http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/k...2010/?start=40

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Wow.... that IH has had a HARD life! Paint is a little faded too! :lol:

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Actually, the Bondo is a little faded. I think the paint peaced out a while ago when the rust moved in...

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Our grannies must have had the same taste in bling. Mine did the same thing - probably hit some of the furniture in the house with it too! And right now my bench seat is as tight as granny's girdle!

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Creepy. Sparkydog knows how tight his granny's girdle is. :eek:

:lol::lol:

Keep up the good work on the truck, and uh, leave granny alone... :lol:

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Did a little more cutting on the GM firewall so the IH hood hinges will fit. Then I was able to mount them onto the hood and start designing a bracket/weldment that will become the attach point for the hinge onto the firewall.

I tried to get my camera over on the DS of the engine bay and see how the hinge looks there. Not quite the right camera angle but I'm starting to hope that I'm going to clear the harness bulkhead OK.

In the final shot the black thing behind the hinge with the vicegrip holding it is the start of my bracket.

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Finished the basic shape of my hinge bracket. Tacked the PS in and then marked the hole locations. Drilled the holes. Cut the bracket off/out. Made a clone for the DS and welded in nuts on both sides. Tacked the new brackets back in the truck. Bolted up the hood and crossed my fingers and carefully closed and opened it.

I think I will be OK over on the DS. Very busy in that area and I think eventually some harness mods are in the works so I can stay well clear of the hinge and spring.

But for now I think all is well and I can proceed with more welds and more gussets to strengthen the whole area. Tonight is that last stuff I can accomplish on this trip. More progress in 2 weeks or so!

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Ouch! I walked right into that one, huh?! Rimshot for Eraser5.:lol:

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

I forgot to post this pic of the DS hinge area - as you can see it's a little too crowded and the hinge wants to rip up one of the harnesses someday!

I'm toying with the idea of fabbing up a "spanner bar/tube" that would run across the engine bay but under the hood. There's lots of open airspace above the fender line that isn't occupied right now. Then I could mount some of the orphaned GMC technology off it. Like the CCM, the coolant recovery tank and maybe the ECM if the harness route would be better. Something like in the sketch.

3" Come to Jesus
 

Whenever I have been involved in a creative project I have learned that there always comes a time where I am tempted to modify/expand/redo something. Well I have just such an episode now with Halfbreed.

I'm fretting over 3" of proportion. I am second guessing my decision to cut the rear cab doors as short as I did. I am wondering if I should deal with this or not. For me, the "ideal" proportions for the cab and bed are those of the modern GM X-cab (like the '97 that donated it's chassis for my build). I really like the balance of the body. When I was busy 3 months ago trying to figure out how to cut the real sheetmetal and deal with all of the variables, I decided to make the rear cab about 3" shorter than ideal because at the time I could not figure out a clean way to modify the bottom rear wall of the IH cab to clear all of the GM equipment.

But with 20/20 hindsight I know there is a fairly good way to deal with this. I just wish I would have thought of it then. If I was to stop now and go do this over I will be faced with at least a 1-2 month delay and I will have to chop up the cab of another GM Xcab in order to get a new floorpan/rear wall piece. I will also be faced with having to fill in 3" of IH door frame opening with body metal that I don't think I saved. And finally I would have to cut the bed again and shorten it another 3". So it is a significant amount of work. But it's better now than later after I have cut down the IH rear doors themselves. If I do that and then change my mind I have even worse consequences.

These are shots of what I am talking about. In the first picture I show how the truck looks now compared to what the slightly longer cab would look like. The top image is how it is now and the bottom image is photoshopped to the longer cab. You can see the rear doorway is wider. And the second picture/pair shows how the slightly longer cab matches up with the GM body/bed proportions.

I know a lot of you probably don't even see the difference and that is just it - this probably doesn't matter all that much. It's the OCD/perfectionist in me.

My choices are: 1) forget it and keep going, 2) convince myself that someday later I can change the body again if I want to, 3) stop and deal with this now before I cut the rear doors down.

Opinions?

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

i thought they looked a little small on the rear doors, although its not my project nor my time and money lol. Id say if your unhappy now stop and fix it, but make sure its what you want so its done right the first time.

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

I would say deal with it now. Think of all the other stuff you'll be basing measurements off of now, and all the custom pieces you'll have to make for the doors, which you'll have to re-do later on if you change your mind.

And if you need a roof cut section, let me know and I can cut that one of the 65. I think it's like $75 or so for a roof here.

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

I wouldn't mess with re-doing that much wok unless I was going to be the one getting in and out of the back door.not enough difference in the looks.
But that's my opinion. Doug

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Put the rear seat in. Mount a door and with it open see how easy or difficult it is to get in or out. Go from there.

That's a hell of a lot of work for 3". That kind of change is sometimes the motivational killer in projects like this. You cut it back apart, wonder why the hell did I do this?, then give up. Maybe not permanently, but sometimes for years. You seem to not be this type of person, but redoing months of work can deter even the best of us.

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Wow lots to think about. The way I see it the longer doors will look more OEM.
the shorter doors will look just fine as long as they look like factory doors.
(no shaved handles)
It is really hard to tell w/o seeing doors in there.
can you photshop the doors in there with and w/o the 3" ?
Either way it will be really cool ! (and I'm picky)

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Yeah redneck you are soooooo right. I do have to think about the de-motivation aspect of this too. So far I have been making good, steady progress and I don't really want to stop the momentum until I have it street legal. From there on I can deal with the 100's of remaining items - even deal with the potential big body makeover to add the 3" later on. If I leave the cab alone and proceed on I only have 24 items on my punch list before it is street legal again.

Also good advice hoggy! Now that I have the hood and fenders on I think I will take a fresh side shot of the whole truck. Then I will get a good side shot of the rear doors and chop them into the picture. Thanks!

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Thanks guys! I really appreciate your thoughts!

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

I guess I should also say that as far as the interior space for the rear seat goes - I'm OK with where the cuts are now. The rear seat area and the rear doorway opening are about the same as the GM Xcab - maybe a little tighter. So it's not the functionality or ergonomics of what I have...

The thing I am obsessing over is the exterior body proportions. It's the "sculpture" shape that I am looking at - the shape and size of the outside of the cab relative to the bed and such. You know - like what if this thing makes it into the Museum of Modern Art someday?!! hee hee. ;)

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

I would leave it the way it is I think it looks fine.

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

+1 for leaving it as it is. But it's your project and we're just onlookers ...

-Steve

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

I'm heading back to SoCal tonight and will have about 4-6 weeks to work on Halfbreed. My next milestone is to have it legal, safe and road-worthy. I have a lot of things I can work on while I continue to think about the cab/rear door size issue.

Here's my punch list:

1 Hood hinge bracket/cowl reinforcement DONE
2 Hood latch DONE
3 Footwell sides DONE
4 Finish front and middle cab mount brackets DONE - DONE!
5 Front lights, horns and wire harness DONE
6 Rear lights and harness DONE
7 Modify and install rear doors DOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNEEEEEEE
8 Finish rear cab roof feathering DONE
9 Finish bed seams Exterior is DONE
10 Fill in rear floor pan DONE
11 Quick cab primer (roof rust stabilize)DONE
12 Front seatbelts & harness attach points DONE
13 Front & Rear window; Front is DONE
14 Install wiper motor, posts and linkage - debug Started
15 Dashboard mods/dash ducting mods Started
16 HVAC unit install & debug Installed but not hooked up
17 Seal up cowl drain seams
18 Reinforce cowl sheet metal
19 Ebrake assy DONE
20 BFH front edge of fuel tank to clearance cab better DONE
21 Move and install rear cab mount brackets DONE
22 Fire Extinguisher DONE
23 Front Bumper Ehh... Maybe Later
24 Rear bumper Ehh... Maybe Later
25 Ground straps DONE

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

I wrapped up my hood hinges and installed the hood latch. Like everything else, they are at about 90% complete and will serve their purpose until the day I decide to do a proper body makeover.

I also completed the prep I needed to the tow bar and rigged up some tow lights and harness - then took it for a trial tow/run. This afternoon I towed it up to Lake Elsinore and had a professional body customizer look at the door and cab roof and give me an estimate for what he would charge to do a really nice job of cut and fitment.

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

I've got my first "it won't run" problem. When the truck was a bone stock donor 97 XCab it would start within one or two seconds of cranking. This was the way it kept working up until my last 4 or 5 times running it. Now today it wouldn't start at all when I was done towing it back.

I went old school on my troubleshooting and started trying to rule spark and gas in or out. When I stripped the air intake equip all off clear down to the top of the throttle body and squirted some starting fluid in - it fired right up and runs just fine until I shut it off. Once I turn it off same deal - no starty again.

How can it be starved for fuel during crank but get plenty of gas once it is running? :uhmk:

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Seeing the "distant" body shot, I think the cab looks great as is ;)

That's an interesting issue. With the vehicle off, when you turn the key on (without trying to start it) do you hear the fuel pump hum? It should make a humming sound while it primes.

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Yes there is a little, faint growl for a few seconds and then it stops.

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Here are some pictures of the rear section with the rear seat mocked up. The front seat is slid to where I like it as a 5'8" guy. But if the steering wheel and pedals were "corrected" to their proper locations to compensate for my cab, then I think the front bench would be about where a 6' er would have it.

I haven't really paid attention to what a modern X-cab rear seat clearance is relative to the front seats. Does this look about right or too narrow?

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Well, you got me then :lol:

That looks close to how my Z71 is (2000 Ex cab). It looks good to me. Have you butt tested it out? :lol: If your knees aren't in the seat, I'd call it good :D

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Heck I don't give a crap whats going on in the back seat. As long as my dogs can fit back there and hang their heads out the window I'm good!!!

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Nice work so far. I look forward to seeing more of the truck. And by the way you've got some skills with metal keep up the good work.

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

Looks great! Those old IH's are cool!

Re: Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab
 

In true Halfbreed spirit, I decided to take one of the GM horns and one of the IH horns and put them together into the truck. As usual I spent waaaayyyy too long trying to figure out where and how to mount them but eventually settled for behind the pass side headlight.