'Wintergreen' 1969 GMC Build

[rusty_67]

For sure Barry, give me a call, I've got a decent amount left.

Not too much to update. Pulled the airbags off and installed there fittings then started running the lines.



Had the rad support, battery tray, etc sand blasted then gave them a coat of paint. Here is the rad support installed.



Started to layout the engine wiring harness. Wanted to make sure everything fit properly. Unfortunately it was close but no cigar. The wiring harness was made to work for the impala/camaro/firebird LT1 and since I had upgraded to the corvette accessory bracket, some of the electrical components, mainly the ignition module/coil, had jumped to the opposite side of the engine. So I had to rip apart my nice new wiring harness to fix that. So that's done know, but I still need to install all the sensors on the engine to make sure everything else is good.

[rusty_67]

Well not too much to report on the build. I've been over in Sweden the past few weeks. Finishing body work as begun though, and hopefully I'll have a painted truck sometime by the end of May.

I did however make another awesome purchase.



1972 3/4 ton Custom Camper. Runs and drives great, everything works, plenty of rust to go around. Bought it site unseen for $700. Drove it home from Vernon last night (~30miles) without issue. Its going to be my yardwork, reno, dump runner. I'll fix it up a bit as I go. The best part is, the guy I bought it off has the original camper it came with in 1972. Hes happy to give it to me for next to nothing, I just have to find somewhere to put it where my better half won't have to look at it!

[jkeating1]

what's happening w the 20? or the main build?

[cdngearhead]

Cool yard truck

[rusty_67]

Originally Posted by jkeating1

what's happening w the 20? or the main build?

I think you're right, its about time for an update. Well things hit a bit of a rough patch when my body man started into his work. He uncovered quite a bit of "cover up" work done by the previous body men. I was disappointed, but not that surprised given the way this build has gone to date, oh well. So I ended up buying a brand new floor (with braces/supports pre built), new doors, and new front fenders. Wish I would have done that right from the get go, would have saved thousands of dollars.

So new floor is in now:






Also patched up a the spot around the windshield (properly)



Still a couple more things to be done to the cab, but will hopefully be sprayed by the end of the week and I can start putting it together.

[rusty_67]

Cab is painted! I ended up changing the paint last minute, going to a Matrix Base and Dupont Clear. I changed colours a bit as well, dropping the metallic from the green lightening it a bit, glad I did. The colours are woodland green and bright artic white, kinda goes with the whole wintergreen thing.






Hopefully have the cab back on the chassis today, and start putting the interior together sometime this week.

[jkeating1]

Looks great! Good choice.

I have wished my defroster vents had been painted when the dash was. The black stands out against my red painted dash--you can really see them through the windshield. If that will bother you, you might want to paint a pair of them green while the paint is out.

[rusty_67]

Originally Posted by jkeating1

Looks great! Good choice.

I have wished my defroster vents had been painted when the dash was. The black stands out against my red painted dash--you can really see them through the windshield. If that will bother you, you might want to paint a pair of them green while the paint is out.

Thanks! Yes they will be getting painted, along with the AC ball vent housings.

[cdngearhead]

Color looks good

[Tom Vogel]

Beutiful Color!

[rusty_67]

Originally Posted by cdngearhead

Color looks good

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

Beutiful Color!

Thanks guys!


Spruced up my instrument cluster a bit. New bezel, new whitface gauge stickers, and painted a few parts. I like how the white brightens it up a bit. This was a pretty simple job all said and done and I think it came out great.

[Xeen]

Great job on the instrument cluster it looks very nice.

[cdngearhead]

Hey Russ
Where did you get the gauge stickers

[rusty_67]

Originally Posted by Xeen

Great job on the instrument cluster it looks very nice.

Thanks!

[rusty_67]

Originally Posted by cdngearhead

Hey Russ
Where did you get the gauge stickers

whitegauges.net $28 shipped to my door. If you decide to get some, don`t bother with the installation kit (spraybottle of soapy water, and a little plastic squeegee). I just used my thumb to squeeze the water out as I applied low heat from a hair dryer. Doing one at a time is key though.

[gdavis]

I like the white face. It will look sweet at night. You might want to take some pictures of the gages at night , lite up. and post them so we can see what it looks like at nite.

[rusty_67]

Thought I might as well update everyone on the latest.

Things went south with the guy that was painting my truck. He had had the truck for over 4 months, and it seemed like every time I went up there, very little was getting done. Yet every time we talked about budget he said that everything was 'on track' (I had told him my budget and absolute max for a finished product). Finally I started getting nervous and asked for some hard numbers on where he was at what it was going to take to finish. Initially he added up his hours and told me that we were sitting at $7500, a bit of a shock. The only other things close to paint were the box sides and tailgate, the rest he had barely touched. My absolute max for the paint (this is revised as when I had originally budgeted much less) was $10000. Judging by what was done and what was left, I couldn't see it being finished within my budget, but again he said we were on track and he'd work with me on it. I was worried, but I thought if I were to get up there and work on it with him, more would get done and we'd be able to finish it. Then a couple days later when I phoned him to see if we'd be able to get the box together that day. He said he had gone through the numbers again, and we were actually sitting at about $11500 before materials. And this is after I had already spent about $3000 on new parts and paint that he requested to make his job easier. I couldn't believe it, this guy took me for a ride. A half painted truck and he wanted $11500. After some argument, he threatened not to give the truck back unless I paid. I was caught between a rock and a hard place on this one. I managed to beg him down to the original $10000 (does that smell a little fishy?) and gathered up all the parts and pieces and got it towed home asap.

I don't expect people to work for nothing, and I certainly appreciate good work and am willing to pay a little more for it. What I don't appreciate is a lack of transparency when it comes to the work being done.

So down about $15000 and some dignity, its time to pick up the pieces and carry on. Looks like it'll be delayed another year though as I try to recoup some of the losses.

[cdngearhead]

That suckered rus.
that's why I do my own paint.
Easier to fix my mistakes stresswize than have to go to jail.
Give me a call if you need a hand.
I want to check out your exhaust setup before I start on mine

[rusty_67]

Originally Posted by cdngearhead

That suckered rus.
that's why I do my own paint.
Easier to fix my mistakes stresswize than have to go to jail.
Give me a call if you need a hand.
I want to check out your exhaust setup before I start on mine

I keep saying I'm just going to do that, but then chicken out. Although, I could have built myself self a nice little spray booth with the money I've already spent.

Should be working on the truck a bit this weekend. You're welcome to come by for a beer and check it out. Just give me a call or shoot me a text, 250-488-2796.

[rusty_67]

Had a little bit of a bright spot this week. Was visiting Winnipeg and decided to do a bit of picking around there. Found a set of inner and outer door handles in nice shape, as well as a intermediate steering shaft and a couple other odds n ends. All for about 70 bucks.

[rusty_67]

Since the truck is home, I can start working on the interior. Put down all the sound deadener on the floor.

[cdngearhead]

I'll bring my paint rollor!
Have to be next week
Got the Alberta s visiting all weekend!

[rusty_67]

Originally Posted by cdngearhead

I'll bring my paint rollor!
Have to be next week
Got the Alberta s visiting all weekend!

Haha, sounds good, just make sure its for stipple. I want that textured look!

[rwade]

What is the paint code or number for that shade of green? Love it!

Wade

[kitsbeach]

Nice truck.! Just bumped into your thread and see that you and cdngearhead are from Kelowna. I'm down in Vancouver but figured there has to be a few of us BC boys on this site.

Too bad about the paint fiasco but good to see it back in your garage and moving along.