72 GMC 4x4 rebuild

[msgross]

looks like progress.. I forgot what progress was in my garage (note:i'm still working on the honey do list!)

[Crumley]

Started fitting up the front fenders and have run into all kinds of pesky little alignment problems. Due to the instillation of new poly bushings nothing lines up. The fenders where too high at the core support compaired to the fire wall. So I unassembled the radiator core support along with the front cab support bolts and started moving things up, down and all around. Well so far I have ended up with 1/2" shim's between the front cab support and frame to get the large gap at the base of the fenders to close up. Now that problem is solved I now will need to shim out the top door hing to make the top of the fender and door match up..so it will be back off with the fender to install an upper door hinge shim.

I also installed a new adjustable offset drag link. The stock one was on a steep angle due to the instillation of the 6" lift. Trying to eliminate bump steer.

Here are some pictures:

[Crumley]

Did some more work on the truck last night. Begining to look like something you can drive. The pesky alignment issue repaired....Had to replace the fuel pump but got the engine fired up, set timming, RPM, topped off all fluids....this thing is almost ready to drive. Boy am I itching to drive it down the road. I still need to lengthin the rear driveshaft and have the front end alligned before it can be driven on the street though. For those interested here are some pictures.

[sdailey]

Looking good!! You're making some great progress.

[Rack Man]

Looking good....nice job on everything!!

[barthmonster]

Using Acrylic-Enamel ? That interior looked great and looked like Single-Stage to me. Can't wait to see you get this thing painted !!

[Crumley]

Thanks for the support and yes that is single stage paint. The paint supplier said that since the color is solid and contained no metal flake, that single stage would be an easier shoot. Being that this is my first paint job, there has been a huge learning curve. Right now I have learned that when painting overhead (head liner), not to fill the cup up with paint. If you do it will drip out of the vent or lid thus running all over the gun, hand and down your arm. Made a nice little mess. Another thing is keeping the paint gun the proper distance from the surface while shooting paint. I ended up with runs everywhere. Fourtantly most of the runs will be hidden under carpet , gas tank, etc. Currently I am stripping paint off the doors and bed. Then I will start the final body work, priming , sanding and painting. Hopefully by the end of September (keeping fingers crossed) it will be completed.

[Crumley]

Here are some pictures.

I got the new drive shaft installed, cranked it up and drove it up and down my driveway. I have a fairly long driveway, checking the brakes.

There is a picture of the truck sitting outside the shop in the sunshine. Boy my I am itching to drive it on the street.

A picture of 99% of the paint removed off the doors and bed. You can see where I patched the gas filler openings in the bed. I will now be sanding until my arm drops off preping the body for body filler, epoxy primer, filler primer and finally paint.

Now I will probably get some grief from the GMC fans out there but here goes. I picked up a nice 67/68 hood for $40.00 this weekend. My plan is to replace the 72 GMC hood and eliminate the chrome monobrow the GMC trucks have going across the top of the grill and down the front of each fender. A bit too much chrome in the front for me. I will install the 67/68 hood (I like the way the hood slopes with the fenders). I will be leaving the 72 GMC grill insert, but I will change the way the piece across the top of grill so the 67/68hood will work with the latch assembly.

The 72 GMC grill insert, instead of it being stock chrome and black. I am going to paint the blacked out areas blue and the chrome areas white. I don't know yet how it is going to turn out so we will see...if I don't like it I will purchase a new grill.

[msgross]

I like those hoods too

[foosed]

any progress?

[Crumley]

Yup a little progress:

I stripped the hood, it had lots of paint and primer on it. The factory paint, high build primer, and 2 additional layers of paint on top of the high build primer. The top layer of paint had been applied with a paint brush.

Thurs, Fri and Sat I masked off the truck, boy this was alot more work (time consumed) to masking then I figured it would be.

This morning I am fresh out of the paint booth, the truck and hood is completly in epoxy primer now...no pictures yet...maybe this afternoon, after the truck sets and cures for a little while.

[Crumley]

Well, I am a little late with the pictures, so here it is in epoxy primer. They where taken today..the goal now is to scuff the epoxy primer and start shooting the high build primer tomorrow.

[68,69 K20]

Things are coming along nicely, can't wait to see it finished!

[Crumley]

You and me both on getting it finished. I am ready to drive it on the street. I was hoping to paint the truck this weekend, but after looking at the weather forecast, they keep calling for rain Fri, Sat and Sun, which means the humidity will be too high. It looks like one of those hurry up and wait kind of deals. Maybe I wil get a break in the weather.......

[Big-Blue]

Looks great! Can't wait to see the paint on her.

[Crumley]

Update: The weather has coaporated this weekend and I got to shoot paint both Sat ans Sun. The white on the cab turned out awsome.....the blue I ended up with 3 runs in the pant but it isn't anything that some 600 grit can't take care of. Here are some pictures of it in blue.

I didn't paint the inside of the bed. The bed will get a coat or 2 of line-X.

It turned out pretty good for a first timer...I am already planning my next project.

[Chevy1TonFun]

Very Nice. Lovin' the build.

[1985-GMC]

Awesome truck man, looks really good!!!

[Crumley]

More pictures: I ran out of hardner so the right front fender still needs one more coat of paint. So I have left the right side of the truck masked off until I can get to the paint store and get another bottle of hardner.

[88JRFAN]

Truck is looking really good. The blue looks great with the white roof. Paint looks good for your first time painting. Is the blue a factory color?

[Crumley]

Actually the color painted on the truck is Chrysler blue. GM medium blue is the factory color. The spraying of the paint part wasn't too bad. As they say its the body work under the paint. This statement is soooooo true. When I get close I can see all of the little dings, lint/dust, body repair etc in the body work. But it still looks quite good. Thank goodness some of the dings and repairs will be hidden behind the chrome.

Well it isn't a show truck paint job but it is one built to drive and I plan on driving it a lot, that is when I can afford the gas.

[foosed]

wow that looks really good!

[Crumley]

Pulled the truck out of the home made paint booth and have started the assembly process. Here are pictures of the truck sitting outside with the tiny stock wheel and tire combo. The stock wheels and tires are lost in the fenderwells.

[Thealien]

Looks great!

[splehigh]

That looks awesome! I used single stage paint also. Dupont Imron 5000. Who makes the Chrysler paint?