Fixrupr

[landarts]

After pressing the pause button on the project for a while I am finally back at it. One thing I can say is that when you press the pause button it takes a little time to get back in the mode and remember what you were doing and why. Like the wiring, got stuck in a few areas and once I got back on it I could not remember why i was stuck. Anyways the new goal is to get it back on the road by the 4th of July.

Started with tightening up a few items in the interior like mounting the converted van tilt. Got it all mounted up in the location that I wanted it and then realized that I did not have the metal floor retainer and the rubber boot. So I will need to remove and get those over the lower shift lever either by bending the linkage or disassemble and slip over.

Then been wrestling with the firewall new cardboard pieces, the plastic retainers keep breaking so i will need to come up with another way to fasten. Probably go with rivet nuts with small bolts and large washer painted black to blend. What a pain this is to work with.

Found several items that needed paint or needed to be redone so I can move forward with the assemble.

[JustCallMeDrew]

Very very nice i just found this thread and read through it i really like the color you chose!

[mjensen]

Glad to hear you're back on it! It's a great looking truck!

[landarts]

Got a few more items painted with the black single stage. Only have he buddy bucket seat frame and hardware left to do in the black, then on to assembly. Spent most of the weekend getting the electronics tightened up on my new cnc machine. Was able to get movement on all axis and now to wrap up the cable management with some ordered drag chain. I have a few items that i want to get cut for the interior of the truck.

Will be cutting the follow for the interior:
-kick panel inserts for speakers
-speaker and amp board layout for behind the buddy bucket seats
-radio plate for radio out of aluminum
-custom glove box logo out of aluminum
-have a few other small items like new knobs once I wrap up the rotary axis install on the machine

[landarts]

Finally going for the final push. I have a few items on order and as they start rolling in i will be pushing to finish the truck before Summer gets here.

Items that are on there way:

-New windshield and rubber / already installed as of Friday
-Grant 13.5" wood steering wheel. GM horn button and install kit
-Summit Legend rims Gunmetal 15x8 all the way around / on back ordered
-Tanks Inc universal mustang tank with 90ohms sending unit, top fill in bed / working on installing

[landarts]

This is how I decided to mount the filler door for the rear mounted tank. I used a magnetic filler door from Yogi's here. When grafting it in I wanted to not just have big flat spot in the middle of the ridges in the bed, so I added a few angled pieces to mimic how the ridges terminate on the bed originally. I know the one in front of the door toward the cab will trap water in the valley but I am not worried about it. I have a Raptor bed liner kit that will be going on once I get this all cleaned up. Next I will be using my CNC machine to make a template for the bed ridges so I can hammer and wood dolly out a few more bed dings before adding any more body filler. Here are few pictures of a wood dolly someone else posted a few years back, and a few pictures of how the filler door is going.

[landarts]

Finally after having this build on hold for other projects I am back at it. I have a check list of things to wrap up before I drive the truck. Most of them are assembly items going forward. My goal is to have it going down the road by May 2018.

Over the weekend I was working on getting the major dings out of the bed (see pictures). While filler was drying I worked on a few interior items like finishing the foil backed insulation for under the carpet, got carpet installed and started doing hook ups for the heater duct work.

Going forward I will remove items from the list as they are done.

Here is a list of items left to do:
Interior install items

• heater box and new duct hose
• heater controls
• radio
• ash tray
• glove box door and liner
• finish assembly of tilt column
• new steering wheel
• door panels
• 3-point seat belts
• buddy bucket seats
• gauge cluster

Exterior install items

• headlights
• grill hoops
• side marker lights
• rear lights and backups
• get new tires for new Summit Legend rims

Things to do after its on the road

• ECE 4/6 drop
• paint tailgate and cowl
• repair 2 scratches in new paint ( probably have to repaint items )
• add silver pinstripe
• color sand and polish paint

[builtbyKane]

keep working hard and I'm sure you will have it done in no time.

[landarts]

While working on the interior items last night trying to get all the heater box items mounted and electrical plugged in, I noticed that there was only a hot wire for heater/AC from the American Autowire kit I installed. Since it has been I while since I installed it I was not sure what needed to be done. One thing I did know was that I wanted to make sure as I put things back together I only did this once. There is nothing worse than having to disassemble items from the dash because you forgot something or missed a wire.

I sorted through my old wiring that I tore out and found most of what I needed and proceeded to rebuild that section so it would also be new like the rest of the truck. Also when putting the heater back together you need to plug into the resistor inside the heater box and then it loops over to the AC compressor switch mounted on the outside of the heater box, then another out to the actual fan motor mounted on the firewall. Another set from this loom sends wire back over to the AC switch mounted on the heater/AC control, with that being said if not done now then I would have to tear apart a bunch of the items from the dash to do this. Luckily it looks like I had enough left over connectors and wire from the kit to just make it up myself instead having to purchase a separate add-on from American Autowire.

Here are the tools I used for the electrical install, got them on Amazon and they really make the job of crimping the connectors properly an ease. The ratcheting crimping kit was $72 and the stripper/cutter was $29.

[landarts]

Well for this weekend I got a few small items wrapped up, and had a few steps backwards.

Items completed:

• sandblasted and repainted the tail light housing and backup light housing
• mounted new bulbs and lens for tail lights and backup lights
• installed all 4 side marker lights
• 2 more rounds of filler and sanding on the bed floor dings
• mounted heater housing and ran hoses on drivers side
• installed door felt and wipers
• installed throttle and kick down cable to carburetor
• painted gas pedal bracket and installed
• unbolted tilt column to install gauge cluster
• installed oil pressure line to motor, routed to interior

Steps backward:

• when trying to hookup oil pressure line to cluster line snaped off at 1/8 fitting
• fitting was really in bad shape and needed to be replaced, none available locally so had to order online
• after installing window felt and rubber and it did not fit well, did not know they need to be trimmed to fit right, that's a redo
• also found out that when I rebuilt the wind wings that the rubber at bottom tucks into the door instead of laying on top, that's a redo

I should have know better on the wind wings, all I had to do is got outside and look at one of my other trucks. First time doing the window felts and rubbers, hopefully I can get this set out without messing them up. If not I have another new set in the shop that I will trim and fit.

[landarts]

I posted pictures of my wind wing rubber and how it looked bad and did not lay down right. Someone chimed in to assist and tell me that I needed to tuck the rubber in side the door.......there's your sign! I removed the three screws tilted it back, , put a leather work glove over the sharp top and worked it back into door, much better.

I also pulled out the brand new out wiper on the door since I installed with out trimming it. Once I was able to pull it out and look it over I decided there is no way I could get it formed back straight enough to look right. So I will use the last brand new pair that I have. Measure first, cut it to fit, lay down some protective tape on new paint and mark where the clip opening are. Install and move on to the next item.

[landarts]

After pulling out the outer wipers for the windows which were brand new, they are completely in twisted up mode. Does anyone know if they can re-used or is it just better to toss them? Also finally got a few more pieces that I was missing or should I say misplaced for the interior install.

[landarts]

Picked this up on a special sale Home Depot was having. Got it for $248, built very strong and is heavy at 268lbs. I seem to have tools all over the garage when working on these trucks and this will help to have a place for everything to go.

This weekend trying to finish up the dash items install and get the buddy buckets and 3-point seat belts in. Do a little testing of all the new wiring and make sure that everything is good to go.

[landarts]

Got a few items done on the dash, finally got the oil pressure gauge fitting installed. Using an all stainless steel interior screw kit to put it all back together. Dropping off rims this week to get the new tires put on finally.

[72 tigger]

You’ve done a great job! Any progress?

[landarts]

Here are a few pictures of the Fixrupr finally put back together and being used. I am so glad to get to this point, now I need to keep knocking off a few items every weekend from the punch list. Last picture was from this Sunday drive, told myself I have to take a break working on it and enjoy a drive every weekend. Had about a 3 inch snow in the morning so I waited until about 2pm when the roads were dry and clear and went for a nice ride.

[cornerstone]

The fruits of your labor! Gotta love it man. Just a fantastic looking truck.

[72 tigger]

Looks great- thanks for updating. How close are you to finishing?

[Stickman]

Looks Awesome, nice and clean.

[landarts]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Looks great- thanks for updating. How close are you to finishing?

I am driving it now just have a few items to wrap up. The nice thing about what is left is I can still drive it the way it is.
-Raptor line the bed and inner tailgate
-Paint tailgate and mount
-Paint front grill emblem to match truck instead of red
-Minor touchups where new paint was scratched
-Possible 4/6 static drop or Porterbuilt stage 1 front and stage 2 rear air bag setup
-Mount the headliner
-Install speakers and sub box behind the Buddy Buckets
-Install floor sill plates

Originally Posted by cornerstone

The fruits of your labor! Gotta love it man. Just a fantastic looking truck.

Thanks I appreciate it, I can't believe how every time I take it for a spin I get the thumbs up or someone will complement it. It has been a long project compared to all the others. The knowledge I learned from this has really paid off, learning what to do and not to do.

Originally Posted by Stickman

Looks Awesome, nice and clean.

Thanks!

Here is a picture of the inside, I need to take a few more shots to see it all.