Houston 64 GMC (Big Blue)

[FetchMeAPepsi]

Originally Posted by Chad215

I made my electrolysis vat this weekend. So far it looks like it is going to work well.

Details? Pix? Step by step?

And - Subscribed!

[Chad215]

Thanks-There a lot of tutorials on the web that will explain the electrolysis way better than I could ever. Try this- http://antique-engines.com/electrol.asp

Update for anyone still watching-
Between the wife losing her job a few months ago and the Houston heat, humidity, and mosquitoes, the project got put on hold, at least till the temps go back down around the end of September. I had a heat injury years ago, and it doesn't take much to put me out these days. I just seem more susceptible to the heat than I used to be.

Also- I was in an accident a few nights ago and flipped my DD. (03 Silverado) It was pretty intense, and I consider myself lucky to have hobbled away from it. The next time I see an animal in the road, I think I'll just hit it instead of swerving at speed.

word of advice, anything that is not secured inside your truck WILL fly around and knock the heck out of you. Keep the amount of loose stuff to a minimum. I had a socket set and a few other tools in my floorboard, and I'm pretty sure I have a 9/16 size bump on the side of my head now.

[Chad215]

Alright- I'm reviving this old thread. I'm still plugging away at the old truck when I get some time here and there.
Updates-
Recovered from my accident
Started a new job
Wife started a new job
Bills are getting paid again (WOO-HOO!)
time to put some money in the truck

I've decided to go ahead and get the early classics disc brake kit due to the high recommendations on this forum. I was *this* close to getting the CPP kit, but I've seen too many people that have had difficulties with them. With my luck I'm sure I'd be one of the people that had a problem. I'll be ordering around the middle of January.
Before I can do that I still need to paint the frame.(cab staying on)
..and before I can paint the frame, I need to finish welding the firewall holes.
...and before I can finish the firewall, it looks like I'm going to need to reach out to the forum for help.

So here goes- I'm looking for a small patch for my firewall if anyone has a junk cab laying around-
When the PO made the holes for the AC, he really distorted the area and I can't seem to get it back in shape. It doesn't look like it in the pic, but the area in the box is really distorted. The problem area is that top left raised curve and the area right below the spot welds. I've tried (and am still trying) to make my own patch, but I'm still a novice when it comes to metal work and I can't seem to get the contours to match.

If anyone can help me out, I'd be extremely grateful- send me a PM with your price and shipping to 77429. Thanks in advance to anyone looking-

[Chad215]

and if anyone is curious - this is what an 03 silverado looks like after it tumbles in a ditch doing 50MPH. Stopped rolling on it's roof, so I was got pinned inside upside down (leg somehow got tangled in the steering column/wheel). Held up better than I thought it would, wish I would have been wearing a seat belt though. (I wear it now!)

side



roof

[Chad215]

I've got someone helping with the patch after only about an hour or so after posting- I really appreciate this forum.

[custom97]

Good thing you are ok. What happen to the truck?
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[Chad215]

I let the insurance company have it.

[Alan's Classic]

Glad your ok and back at it!!

[custom97]

Would've made a good LS swap donor....
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[Captainfab]

That's what I was thinking too.........

Originally Posted by custom97

Would've made a good LS swap donor....
Posted via Mobile Device

Glad to hear you're OK and both you and your wife are working.

[Chad215]

Glad your ok and back at it!!

Thanks Alan, so am I!

Would've made a good LS swap donor....

That's what I was thinking too.........

Yea, that would have been nice, but I needed the insurance $$$ to get a different truck. Bought a used Z71 Sierra.

Glad to hear you're OK and both you and your wife are working.

Thanks Captain, having both of us working again really improves my morale, and motivation for the truck.

[Chad215]

Been working on the truck a little bit here and there. I guess some progress is better than no progress.

Got the passenger side of the firewall welded up and ready for paint. Still got to go back and clean up the lower part though. Did a lot of patching on this side. I also need to say thanks to Travz500. He responded to my need for a firewall patch very quick and cut out what I needed and got it shipped within a few days. He really helped me out.





Got my crossmember sandblasted. Paid $60. Seemed like a good deal to me. He got in the bottom areas and did a pretty good job.



Stripped the driver side. Found a few more holes that had filler over them.

[furrydice79]

I was wondering where you had gone, keep up the good work... my 66 is in the garage, i havent even looked at her for 6 months , i figured I'd get back on here for some motivation!

[ChefCy]

updates?

[Chad215]

Image test

[Chad215]

ok sorry for last post- I haven't posted in awhile and was trying to remember how to post images.
That's right- I'm not dead! seeing now that its been almost 5 (!) years since my last post. I've been lurking on and off since then trying to get motivation, time, and money to get going again.
Updates? Well....I just got the Early classics 2 1/2" drop disc brake kit and looking forward to installing ASAP.
Since my last post... I've lost a job, my wife lost hers (oilfield), I completely shattered my leg falling from a ladder, spent the better part of a year in a wheel chair, We've have a baby boy, and numerous other life experiences. But I'm back in gear and ready to get Blue up and running the streets again.

[Chad215]

I'm currently letting the paint on my Xmember dry before installation and starting looking through my bags of bolts.
You know, the ones we make that have labels that remind us where everything goes?
Well, it looks like during the last 5 years or so, several have ripped open during movement and I now have a couple of trays full of plastic bags, bolts, nuts, and labels but nothing holding them together.
I'm looking for bolt info for the cross member to frame. I've seen a lot of people posting from what looks like an assembly manual. Is that available for me to purchase anywhere? I'm looking for bolt lengths, required washers, torque info, etc...
If anyone could point me in the right direction I would appreciate it.

[Chad215]

just saw the manual on amazon. I thought it was some super secret file being shared among all the cool people here. Guess I should have looked before posting.

[Chad215]

I decided my garage was too full of stuff, so I decided to build a nice shed in the back to house a lot of my wood working tools. My background is in carpentry so I have a lot of stuff that takes up a lot of room.
After we found out she was pregnant (during construction), it suddenly turned into a storage shed. I modified my plans to still give myself a small tool room.
While working on the roof, my ladder shifted and I fell.

Ladder safety is no joke.

After 2 surgeries, 2 plates, 14 screws, 6 months in a wheel chair, 2 months on crutches, and another month with a cane, I can finally walk again. My tibial plateau shattered and the tibia split lengthwise. It was not pretty.

But...I got a shed.

[Chad215]

back to the truck...
I made as stop at Fastenal yesterday and picked up a bunch of grade 8 bolts.
(25) 7/16-14 bolts with nuts, washers, and lock washers for ~$30. Just FYI for anyone looking to replace bolts. Wayyyy cheaper than the hardware stores.

Got the cross member mounted back up and started installing my control arms. I thought I had painted both of them, but when I went looking I realized I blasted one but never painted it. And both of my lower arms haven't been touched so I need to clean them up.

It was a good feeling- these parts haven't been together in ~5 years. I was pretty excited to get the crossmember back on the truck and off my garage floor.

Ignore the tan radiator support. I toyed with the idea of painted the frame tan at one point but after spraying the rad support decided I didn't like it. I'll pull it back out and repaint before final install.

[Chad215]

And I've decided I'm going to pull a strong 350 out of my boat to put in the truck. I bought the boat used and cheap and put a lot of work into it but was plagued with issues with rot but the motor is great. The boat has been sitting in a barn for 6-7 years now and not being used. I've been keeping it thinking I would sell off the lower unit and keep the motor and trailer to fab into a utility trailer. Lots of projects going on.

[Captainfab]

Wow. It sounds like you have quite the series of events. Glad to hear you have recovered and are able to get back on your truck.

Yeah, it isn't a bad idea to replace some of the critical hardware with new. Fastenal does have better prices than your typical hardware store.

[Chad215]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Wow. It sounds like you have quite the series of events. Glad to hear you have recovered and are able to get back on your truck.

Yeah, it isn't a bad idea to replace some of the critical hardware with new. Fastenal does have better prices than your typical hardware store.

Hey Captainfab- hate to sound as inexperienced as I am, but what are the benefits to using your steering bracket? The PO had some plates bolted on the inside and outside of the frame where the steering box goes. I don't recall having any issues when I drove it last (but that was ~1995!). I've seen a lot of people using them, but I'm not sure I understand the logic behind it. Just thinking ahead...I'm going to be ready to put my column and steering back in before too much longer.

[Chad215]

Not a lot accomplished on the truck last night. Cleaned up the other upper control arm and got it painted.

The woman went out with a friend so the boy and I watched a movie together on the couch. Last night it was "Platoon" Had to get him in character.

[sixty4bigwindow]

Just read through your build, and I love it so far. Crazy how life takes the drivers seat some times and our rigs get put in the pan storage, not even the back burner lol... Glad to see you back and with a new little one! Sorry to hear about the major injury, I hope there aren't any long lasting effects. And as always, can't wait to see some updates on the rig