Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab

[sparkydog]

Originally Posted by fryer1979

Cool progress pictures. Allow me a simple question if you would; why is it that the GM center belts won't work with the IH bench? An answer might help locate a suitable replacement.

My donor GM XCab had bucket seats. The buckle units (in the middle) are made from heat treated steel strapping with a shroud of plastic around them. They aren't designed to flex and twist. Routing them up through the bottom of the IH bench seat orients them the wrong way.

The fabric style (like in the earlier picture) will work great, but I have to have longer ones. The pair in the picture came off the rear bench seat and that is where they will be going when I put it back in. So I need something similar to them but longer. And also not in a combo unit but as individual units because the mount locations are wider apart.

EDIT: here is a picture of what I mean by the steel strap wrapped in plastic style looks like. This is the right length but because it isn't cloth it won't flex up into the bench seat. It was made to go along the side of a bucket seat.

[fryer1979]

That's right. So then a center belt section from a square-body (73-87) with a bench seat should do perfectly...if they were longer. One idea is most auto parts stores stock those seat belt extensions, most I've seen are about 10" long or so. Another suggestion is the aftermarket lap belt assemblies. IIRC they are quite long, are offered in a few basic colors, work as a stand alone unit, and are fairly inexpensive. Again, any local auto parts store should stock them at about $25 or $30 (maybe less, it's been a while since I last purchased some). For a junkyard score, how about pre-87 Chevy fullsize vans? Or maybe an early lap/shoulder combo, and just cut off the shoulder strap? Just throwing ideas out now...good luck with the belts.

[1985-GMC]

You could use your fabric seat belts and order some seat belt webbing, then take them to a upholstery shop and have them sew them back up to the length you want. Look here http://www.strapworks.com/Polyester_Webbing_p/sbw2.htm though there are several other places to order it from.

[89muscletruck]

For the seatbelts, you might be able to use the middle belts out of a GM 88-98 truck that did not have the bucket seats. These ones still used a braided steel wire, they lacked the plastic piece around them and were much more flexible.

[sparkydog]

Originally Posted by fryer1979

That's right. So then a center belt section from a square-body (73-87) with a bench seat should do perfectly...if they were longer. One idea is most auto parts stores stock those seat belt extensions, most I've seen are about 10" long or so. Another suggestion is the aftermarket lap belt assemblies. IIRC they are quite long, are offered in a few basic colors, work as a stand alone unit, and are fairly inexpensive. Again, any local auto parts store should stock them at about $25 or $30 (maybe less, it's been a while since I last purchased some). For a junkyard score, how about pre-87 Chevy fullsize vans? Or maybe an early lap/shoulder combo, and just cut off the shoulder strap? Just throwing ideas out now...good luck with the belts.

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

You could use your fabric seat belts and order some seat belt webbing, then take them to a upholstery shop and have them sew them back up to the length you want. Look here http://www.strapworks.com/Polyester_Webbing_p/sbw2.htm though there are several other places to order it from.

Originally Posted by 89muscletruck

For the seatbelts, you might be able to use the middle belts out of a GM 88-98 truck that did not have the bucket seats. These ones still used a braided steel wire, they lacked the plastic piece around them and were much more flexible.

Awesome guys - thanks for the ideas. I'm sure one of these will work out great.

[Frizzle Fry]

You could always switch to laser beams...
Posted via Mobile Device

[ERASER5]

Or sharks with freaking laser beams on their heads!

[sparkydog]

Originally Posted by ERASER5

Or sharks with freaking laser beams on their heads!

Oh yeah... maybe with girdles holding the laser equipment onto their pudgy shark heads?!!

[sparkydog]

Here are some shots of what I did to get the IH defrost duct nozzles to work within/around the GM cowl and dash. The sheet metal was riveted onto the plastic nozzles to give them some strength after I cut them up and increased their bend angles.

And yes that is indeed a LOT of duct tape that you see in pic #3. I feel that it is OK to use duct tape on DUCTS!

And the last shots are of the happy nozzles all tucked up inside their homes hiding out waiting to see how the h*** I am going to get a hose attached to them!

[sparkydog]

Does anybody know what this little thing with the circuit board inside it does? On the stock GM wire harness this was wrapped up into the main trunk of the harness near the brake pedal pivot pin - sort of like they wanted it hidden and protected and not accessible? Does it contain the ICBM launch codes or something?

[Pop's C-10]

This is tha best puzzle ever...nice work fam

[6772owner]

Looking good man, good to see some more progress on this build.

[newagecustom]

I just found this and read through it all. Looks really good. What is the international forum you have been on?

[sparkydog]

Originally Posted by newagecustom

I just found this and read through it all. Looks really good. What is the international forum you have been on?

www.binderplanet.com

[strokerPop]

Read thru your build thread today. What a humongous undertaking. Fell of my chair laughing about the cart running down the driveway. Your sense of humor is great.
Very impressed with your williness to take on anything and do it on a budget. And using that Oregonian ingenuity to solve problems. I admire that. (I lived in Albany/Corvallis for a few years)

Subscribed.

[sparkydog]

Originally Posted by strokerPop

Read thru your build thread today. What a humongous undertaking. Fell of my chair laughing about the cart running down the driveway. Your sense of humor is great.
Very impressed with your williness to take on anything and do it on a budget. And using that Oregonian ingenuity to solve problems. I admire that. (I lived in Albany/Corvallis for a few years)

Subscribed.

Thanks for the kind words! I just drove up your way yesterday afternoon with my trans. The guy who is rebuilding it is in Corona.

[Palf70Step]

What? You don't get to taste the bugs no more while driving it?


Looks good. Time to cruise!!

[sparkydog]

Happy Birthday to ME! Happy Birthday to ME!
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday....

Hap - ok you all get the point. Today I put 25 miles on Halfbreed and nobody had to tow me!


EDIT: I just checked my blog on Binderplanet and it was this week 1 year ago that I started tearing down the IH Travelall that kicked off this build.

[NONHOG]

Originally Posted by sparkydog

Today I put 25 miles on Halfbreed and nobody had to tow me!

Awesome! I always think about my route, is the cell phone charged?
How long till AAA can get me?

Nice work and its looking real good in that picture!

[Palf70Step]

Happy birthday to you and congrats on your first long maiden voyage1!

[low'n slow]

Cool. What a feeling it is to have that maiden voyage. I'm digging the truck.

[Effeckt]

Congrats Sparky! Your hard work finally is paying off! Truck looks awesome.

[sparkydog]

Thanks for the kind thoughts everybody!

I have a small embarrassment - these two bolts are left over after the transmission swap. I cannot figure out where they went. They came from the passenger side. Does anybody recognize them (from their GM equipment)?

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by sparkydog

Thanks for the kind thoughts everybody!

I have a small embarrassment - these two bolts are left over after the transmission swap. I cannot figure out where they went. They came from the passenger side. Does anybody recognize them (from their GM equipment)?

I have parted a few 88-98 GM trucks. Possibly crossmember bolts (?)

[sparkydog]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

I have parted a few 88-98 GM trucks. Possibly crossmember bolts (?)

Thanks - I still haven't figured it out.
I keep thinking they were holding a heat shield onto the tranny cross member. They are the same style as the other bolts around the engine bay that hold heat tin on. But I can't see where I missed anything.... and I don't have an extra heat shield left over.