Lurker OrrieG Progress Pics

[my67chevytruck]

nice progress.

[OrrieG]

Getting close on the fenders and doors. Once fender was ok, no dents or rust. One door just needed a little bondo at old mirror attachment holes. Here are shots of the driver fender (eyebrow, bottom at back brace and other dents) and passenger door (some one dropped something at one time on the door, it was originally a service truck and I think something may have fallen off or a fork lift or dock on to it). One more bit of sanding and they should be done too. Also cleaned up the drive lines and primed them and finished the mods to the bed cross brace at the new gas tank (added an angle to it) and primed it.

[OrrieG]

Finally back to it. Realized that I was spending too much time on blocking, etc. that can, and probably should, be done with body assembled on the frame. So doors, cab and fenders are 95%. I removed the cab from the frame so I can finish all the small stuff and get the interior of the cab painted without worrying about masking and overspray on all the new frame stuff.

Except for exhaust and wiring everything under the cab is done. Booster vac line installed, brake pedel return spring, emergency brake cables, trans vac line (see photo) and trans cooler (see photo). I plumbed in a tee for a trans temp gauge. Also note the cool trans line bracket. I got it at the hydralic supply store for $5. It is split plastic with metal base/captive nut and metal cap with bolt that goes through the plastic. I welded it to an angle which bolts to the frame. Not quite at spiffy as the $30 billet ones but I like the idea of the plastic instead of metal to metal. They also come set up for use in Unistrut and punched square tubing support systems.

Next is the fun stuff, cleaning up the donor engine and installing it.

[OrrieG]

Checked to make sure the vacuum booster works, hooked up my air hose to Chevelle vacuum on manifold and ran to the booster, works great. Ordered my EZ Wire harness, in the proceess someone snagged my Mastercard number I use for online stuff and tried to buy some stuff in Italy. The amount exceed the available balance and we have a zero overdraft set up on the card so the bank called and we cancelled the card. Also learned that Rage Gold flashes in about 60 seconds at 94 degree air temp. Tried twice last night to do some plastic work and only got about a minute of board time, so that is on hold until it cools down. Got the 74 engine ready to pull, today the mock up engine comes out, goes into storage and the 350 comes out for prep and painting. Supposed to be over 100 and is alread 95 before noon. Frig is packed with good microbrew beer so all is well. Take it easy Orrie

[OrrieG]

Mockup engine is packed away, its .030 over pistons will be used for rebuilding my 64 Chevelles original engine. Pulled the donor engine, pressure washed it and stripped it down to paint. I stoked this feels like progress. Need to choose some valve covers and have a vintage Edleblock dual plane manifold for it. Also need an HEI, anyone have any good ones for reasonable price?? Heres some pics.

[bensimmons_05]

Did you use rattlecan clear after ther color?

[OrrieG]

No, didn't think about it. There are some areas I will need to touch up after installing the accessories, hard as I try to be careful the water pump got dinged.

[jjjmm56]

Just for an idea ,when I mounted my fuse block I first mounted a 16ga plate to the back of the fuse block. Then I used a strong magnet to mount the block to the firewall. This way if I need to wire in more circuts or check fuses I can remove the block and set it on the floor. I'll post a pic tomorrow

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by jjjmm56

Just for an idea ,when I mounted my fuse block I first mounted a 16ga plate to the back of the fuse block. Then I used a strong magnet to mount the block to the firewall. This way if I need to wire in more circuts or check fuses I can remove the block and set it on the floor. I'll post a pic tomorrow

Great idea, I have just started thinking about the location. I was going to put in on a hinged panel. Did you use earth magnets or regular? Because of the potential jostling off road I would make provisions to use some zip ties as emergency restraints in case it gets shook loose.

[bensimmons_05]

it's not bad that you didnt use clear, you just seemed to get more shine out of yours than most so thought you might have, but as it turns out its just your MAD skills!!!

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by bensimmons_05

it's not bad that you didnt use clear, you just seemed to get more shine out of yours than most so thought you might have, but as it turns out its just your MAD skills!!!

The Duplicolor seems to flow and fill better than Kyrlon or Rustoleum, you just have to build it up in slow coats so it doesn't run.

[OrrieG]

Progress since the last post has been small stuff, plumbed the engine, mounted the alternator and ps pump. hooked up a battery and tested the starter, the donor truck was having issues and I wanted to make sure it was the flywheel teeth and not something else, it worked fine. Other small stuff like heater hose fittings, tranfer case shifter and rods, auto trans filler tube. Have also been back on the cab tuning up the body work, seems like every time I think its done, I find something else I don't like. Nice thing is it has cooled down so the plastic is not flashing in 30 seconds.

I have decided to do the firewall and inner fenders in semi-gloss black so I can keep moving forward with low cost stuff. Tomorrow I plan on painting those plus radiator support and radiator. Then the cabs is going back on. Unfornately primer is all the interior is getting for now till work picks up.

[OrrieG]

I'm going to give it a break. I've been pushing pretty hard, at start of summer I wanted to have it running in primer by Aug. 29 for a private car show I get invited to each year www.hotdayscoolcars.com

That's not going to happen so I have to take some time to get my 64 Chevelle cleaned up so I can take it, last year I won Kids Favorite Award! I'm going to put on all the new front end stuff (bumper, grill, hood (used but perfect), horseshoe and straight trim), new back bumper and clean up the interior and freshen up some primer.

On the truck I got the tranfercase shift linkage in, fluids in everything except for water, front drive live in and ordered some replacement parts for the Vintage air ac. I also replaced the brake master cylinder AGAIN and now have a habit of giving it 10 pumps everytime I go in the garage to keep the seals tight. I also need to go to El Paso on business for a while.

[Bigblue29]

Nice. good luck with the show.

[70gmcjimmy]

Hello Orrie,
You have a great build thread here. I have not had time to read all the pages in detail but there is a lot of cool innovation that the working man out in his garage can do and not have to spend piles of money to solve some of the issues! Your writing is clear and you dont use a bunch of abbreviations that old guys like me don't get. You almost talked me into taking the drive train out of an '89 K1500 Suburban I have to convert my '55 to a 4x4 but I better not rush into any decisions yet. I really would like to keep it a 6 banger 4 speed since my other trucks have small blocks.

I have to appreciate long time truck owners, as I tend to do the same thing. They are part of the family!
My Mom drove the same K5 Jimmy for 30 years. I guess thats where I got it from.

Keep up the good work!

Later---DAC

[OrrieG]

Thanks DAC. For the first ten years of its life my truck had a 235/sm465 combo with 4.10 rear end. Not fast but even with a fully loaded 8' camper would climb just about anything, the engine had lots of torque and granny gear maxed out at about 8 miles per hour.

[OrrieG]

After spending a week or so in carb H*** with my Chevelle am back on the truck. This weekend got the front panel and drivers bed side down to metal. Passenger is in progress. Luckily I did all the welding, patching, etc. except for stuff related to deleting the chains before I stored them. Plastic should go fast. Also rounding up stuff for the bed (3/4" plywood with metal on each side).

[dug224]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

After spending a week or so in carb H*** with my Chevelle am back on the truck. This weekend got the front panel and drivers bed side down to metal. Passenger is in progress. Luckily I did all the welding, patching, etc. except for stuff related to deleting the chains before I stored them. Plastic should go fast. Also rounding up stuff for the bed (3/4" plywood with metal on each side).

OrrieG: How did you strip the panels and doors? Media blast? Chemical? Sandpaper? I have surface rust in the doors and under the dash that I need to address. Did you treat the insides of your doors and other interior cavities? Thanks...

[OrrieG]

by hand. Aircraft stripper, then DA sander with 80 grit and air sander with 3M Purple Shredded wheat stripper. Some fine stuff used a small wire wheel. Dental pick for cracks. Lots of work, but I have been leary of getting stuff messed up with the wrong blasting technique, and I have more time than money.

For the hidden hard to get to rust I used POR system to convert, clean and paint. On the inside of the doors I am going use roll on bedliner/undercoat stuff and then stick on sound deadner. You probably saw that after the por under the dash and inside cab floor I painted it with Rustoleum brush applied industrial enamel paint. Makes for lots of reflection to see better and will not be see when covered. Figure it will last another 25 years then its my great grand kids problem, if one comes along interested.

[nickp51chevy]

Nice. I totally dig those ram horns.
That sucks about the flu

[OrrieG]

Have the bed sides and front down to metal. Primed the inside with Rustoleum brush paint and will undercoat. It warmed back up so will get the etch prime and primer on Saturday for winter body work. Also going to get the PS pump lines in. Money is tight so I don't know if I'll get the cab firewall and inside painted and back on or will have to wait until spring.

[1985-GMC]

Wow I should have looked for this build a long time ago, I saw your avatar but never saw the build of your truck. That's gotta be one of the sharpest looking body styles they ever made . It looks awesome, good work!!!

[bensimmons_05]

Primer IS major progress... o for me to be there now.......

Can't wait to see more pictures, this is going to be an awesome truck.

[OrrieG]

Photos of bed parts primed and redo on the dash, firewall and back of cab.

[OrrieG]

Slow going, got side tracked putting the property to bed for winter. Did get the ps pump aligned and plumbed to the steering box. Also have been doing the major body work on the bed sides, so far going better than anticipated. Should have them done this week, then starting on the tailgate. I want to recess some back-loading lights and third brake light flush into the upper tailgate, has anyone done this???