Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Just a very thin skim of filler will be all it takes to make this look perfect, and now the rocker to door gap is nice.:metal:

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

I know what you're talking about! I could have sworn I took a picture of what you're talking about and can't find it. Looking most excellent!! :metal:

Mike

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

I’ll take your word for it. Looking good.

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

JaysonB sent me a text this morning on the progress of the passenger side body work. I think this side of the cab got the best of him, but, he was able to take some poor reproduction panels and turn them into a top-notch product. Good job Jayson! :metal: Thanks for all you're doing on Dad's truck. Thanks Mike

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Looks beddy beddy good!

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

All the rust repair us done on the cab. Working on cleaning up the welds on the bottom of the cab, and double checking for pin holes in the welds. As soon as things are cleaned up on the cab, the body work should move along quickly. It was a chore to get things on the right side of the cab to cooperate, but I finely got things beat into submission. :metal: Now to try and squeeze myself back under the cab to get some work done.;)

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Hello Jason! I just had a similar problem with our truck. But now it looks good on your repair.

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

It's weird how things can fit easy on one side, and you can end up with your hands full on the other side! That's why it's so important to keep checking the fitment of everything as you go along. As soon as I finish up the first round of body work on the cab, I will put the truck back together one more time, that way I don't end up with any unwanted surprises once it's painted. I got the welds cleaned up under the cab, and I like to put a tight skim coat of fiberglass reinforced filler over the welds. It's waterproof, so if I missed any pin holes I will be ok, and after a quick sanding, priming, and undercoating, the repair will be pretty much invisible.

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Looks great Boss!!

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Now that the metal work on the cab is done, I put the truck back together, and got stuff adjusted so I don't end up with any surprises putting it together once it's painted. Things ended up fitting very good!:metal:

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Couldn't help myself, JaysonB sent me these early this morning!!! Looking great Jayson!!!!! Epoxy.

Thanks Mike

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Go JAyson Go!

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Yes, go Jayson go!!!!:wave:

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

It's been awhile since I have updated on my progress. The last time I test fit everything, the passenger side just seemed a little off all the way around, so I have had to spend some time reworking the front of the rocker/door hinge piller area. At some point this area was pushed in a little, and it took me awhile to track down the area that was causing me trouble, because there was no obvious damage anywhere. I was running out of adjustment in the door hinges, and was barely able to get the body line on the door to match up with the body line on the cab. So I had to take a step back and figure out what was going on! Once the bottom of the hinge piller was pushed back out about an inch, it put the door hinges right in the middle of the adjustment range, and made things fit better overall! I did have to cut the front half of the rocker loose, and get it lined back up with everything, but it all fits good now. Now I'm getting after sanding the cab, it is in slick sand now, and I have the first round of block sanding about done. Pic 1 shows how things line up after getting everything straightened out. Pic 2 shows how far I had to come down after I pushed the piller out an inch. I had the paint mixed up, looks good! I'm hoping the pace will pick up now that I have things fitting good!

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

That color is going to look outstanding on this truck.

When you say you pulled out the hinge pillar area, is that out from the center? or forward? Besides the rocker but you showed above, what else was cut loose? Just trying to wrap my head around what you did to fix the alignment issues.

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Color is perfect Jayson!!!

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Spent the night blocking out the cab, and working on the roof, there were a bunch of little dents, and dings up there. I believe that it is nice and straight now.:metal: With the next round of primer I will hit the inside of the cab, so I spent some time finishing up the floor, and hit it with a couple heavy coats dupont mastic epoxy, very tough stuff, and extremely corrosion resistant. My plan is to get some 2k high build primer surfacer on the cab this evening, then get the doors, fenders, and hood ready!

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

A little extra care, and time spent on installing the floor pans resulted in an almost undetectable repair. It's the little things that make my OCD happy.:lol:

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Very well done, Jayson! I like it very much, when it looks like a factory made.

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Thank you Ilkka, it's trucks like yours that motivate people to try and go the extra step to make things nice!

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Thanks Jayson! I and my brother are beginners and we have to learn a lot, but you are a professional.

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Great build!

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Looks great Jayson! Can’t wait to see some color!

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

I’m late but are you using new sheet metal on the front like the hood and fenders? I’m just curious about the fit. Thanks. Looking good.

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Everything up front is NOS. I’ll let Jayson describe how it fits. Mike

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

As Mike stated, the fenders, doors, hood, and front valance, are new old stock gm parts, so they fit perfectly! :metal:

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Finished cleaning up the rest of the little stuff I found on the cab, resealed all the seams, and since I had a bunch of work on the roof, and a a few spots I sanded through, I just shot another full coat of epoxy, when it flashes off I'll hit it with some surfacer.

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Shot a couple coats of 2k primer, and a little blue on the inside of the cab. Looks good, I really like the color! It's a little early in the project to be spraying color, but it's a good boost to the motivation! :metal:

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

That looks great Jayson!!! I need to catch up!

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

You can try and catch up Sir, but you need the wheels that I have to paint for the one your working on, I will sabotage your plans too stay ahead!!:smoke::lol:

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Lookin' good in the hood!

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Love that blue!

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Thanks Karl! Jayson is doing a great job. That blue is the factory coded color.

Jayson and I have a surprise to announce here in a day or two. Hint, we're mixing up my two builds!!!!!!! ????????

Mike

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

I finished sanding the cab last night, and couldn't help but shooting some paint on it. Should have some clear on it in another couple hours.:metal:

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Clear is on! I'm trying out SPI universal clear coat on this truck, and so far it is awesome! I got a few specks of dirt in it, but it will sand and buff beautifully. :5150:

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Did I mention that I love my new paint gun!:lol:

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

That looks amazing. Love the subtle two-tone.

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Jayson is doing some smoke'n hot work on my Dad's 79 GMC. CHANGE TO THE PLAN: The other night while I was traveling to Fargo, ND from Des Moines, IA late at night Jayson and I were talking about this project and my 78' build (Addiction). During the conversation, it was decided to take all the original parts (350/350, rear end with drum brakes) and put Dad's 79 GMC back to stock, except of course for the drop and that it's about 14/6" inches shorter. Will maintain the rally wheels, 8's in the back and 7's up front with white walls all the way around (Jayson didn't know that part, he's asleep right now). Matter of fact, I just ordered the tires last night. So, I've temporarily put a halt on the 78 while I work on gathering all the parts that are needed to put this 79 back to "ALMOST" all stock.

This also means that all the LS/4L603, fuel system, cooling system, disc brakes in the rear etc will go into the 78 after we make the swap in a few weeks.

I can't say enough about what great work Jayson has done and what a joy he is to work with!!!

I love my blast cabinet, it sure comes in handy!!!!!

Thanks Mike

Here you go, what I've been doing the last couple days in support of the main effort, Dads79GMC:

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Truck is coming along nicely! What are your plans for re-wiring it? hint...hint lol

Re: Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation
 

Are you offering to sponsor it and give me the wiring? Hahaha!