51 GMC 'Project Why Wait'
Hey everyone, been lurking around for probably the past 6 months now but figured I'd start a thread because I'm likely going to need a strong community to ask a bunch of questions and all of you are pretty darn helpful from what I've seen.
About 2 years ago I had a bunch of money in a jar I was saving to do silly things (turbo) my Mazda 3 I had at the time. All the while my wife and I would go to classic shows and I would say boy it would be nice to have a project. She said Why Wait, why not now. And the name of the project was born. After years of blogging on my site stanceiseverything.com I've managed to make an awesome combination of friends who could also help make my first real project possible so the timing seemed perfect, they'll all get introduced as the project progresses. I am also documenting the build on said website here (Project Why Wait On stanceiseverything.com) if you want to see more pics that I have reposted. So with that said I started pretty actively looking for a proejct. http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-1-1.jpg After looking at a ton of vehicles here in Ontario that were far too much rust and bondo for far too much money my friend Blair (aka Taylor'd Customs aka where the truck is being stored and who I'll be building it with) found someone who picks up trucks from Saskatchewan where they don't use salt and thus things are in much better shape. http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-1-9.jpg http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-1-5.jpg http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-1-4.jpg [img] http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-1-2.jpg The truck actually arrived on father's day so naturally I plopped my little man in the driver's seat as one day it will be his. http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-1-12.jpg As I mentioned before through blogging I've met a lot of people and the McJannett family behind Performance Improvements are some of those people and they are awesome and immediately signed up to basically help me track down any new parts I need. I've been giving my wallet a work out with them the past few months, but we'll get back to that. Another friend Chris Piscitelli (Piscitelli Design I made lives out in Detroit and does wicked art work so I got him to do up a few renderings. [img width="960"]http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/roject-why-wait-Piscitelli-designs-render-2.jpg[/img] I wanted Astros, wife wanted steels, we both wanted a flaked roof and the door art is a tribute to her father so we are now building towards this currently, I might try and sneak Astros back in at a later date though. This will get framed and put on my wall in the near future. http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...dave-final.jpg Then I got to talking with my friend Jeff, who is also a GMC owner and wicked fabricator, and he mentioned that he might want to sell the chassis he started. At this point I was thinking s10 with a back half but his frame made more sense and we both like riding low and a lot of the same things so it made sense to keep the chassis in the family. So money and high 5s later... http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-2-1.jpg http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-2-5.jpg I'll be doing shock mounts, gas tank mounts, rad support etc with Blair but a lot of the chassis is already sorted out which is wicked. From there the truck sat all winter while I did grunt work on this. Great way to get exposure to a lot of different parts of a build. http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...t-part-8-5.jpg But spring came around and it was time to work on the truck, or at least tear it down so that's what we did http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-3-1.jpg http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-3-14.jpg I have since learned that the front end could have come off as one unit, but hey live and learn right? Found a few soft spots but nothing earth shattering http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-3-13.jpg http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-3-11.jpg More time passed then I found some time to pull the cab off http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-4-1.jpg and then of course slide the new chassis underneath http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-4-2.jpg http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-4-4.jpg Excited I cut the rungs out of the bed I bought (hey I bought a bed by the way!) and put it on the chassis to get an idea of what was what http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-4-5.jpg The bed is sitting on the axle and frame here so not really in place, nor is the fender hence the wheel base looking odd http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-4-7.jpg http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-4-10.jpg Still though, awesome. Natrually I took a pic of Ash and I in it http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp..._9835-copy.jpg The build is currently in another wait period (there will be many of these) but I just went on a bit of a shopping spree and now have -Fuel Cell -Front brakes (blazer 2 pistons and related accessories) -Fuel Cell -Shocks -Motor/trans (let you know what soon enough) I need a few more odds and sods but I have enough to get started on finishing up the chassis once I can free up some time. The goal is epoxy coated chassis bolted together before the year is out. Hopefully my calendar and wallet allow it. I will no doubt be asking a LOT of questions so you'll see me bouncing around threads. I was a bolt on guy so I'm not all thumbs but this is without a doubt the largest thing I'll have ever built. ...well I did help with a Fiero/Countach kit in higschool but that was a few moons ago... Also yep some of the pics are kind of big for the site on a desktop, I'll resize them all more consistently for future posts |
Re: 51 GMC 'Project Why Wait'
Subscribed
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Re: 51 GMC 'Project Why Wait'
Lost the window to edit the first post but if a mod see's this I can swap out the images if I can get back in there.
For anyone else interested yes it's the chassis from this thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?t=5625243 Jeff still has his cabs and bed and what not though. |
Re: 51 GMC 'Project Why Wait'
Very cool so far
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Cool build!
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why indeed? great start!
the gmc front ends are my favorite AD |
Re: 51 GMC 'Project Why Wait'
Nice work!
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Gotta luv them :gmc2:!!!!
getting that frame and making it work will save you tons of time. Welcome aboard! |
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I don't plan to so we're good! Quote:
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Just realized I can attach images directly to this forum, so I can add some of my cell pics too, these are all from the day we moved the cab over.
Next time I am out I am going to be cutting the bed sides and bed to get it to fit then work on mounts. The plan with the bed is to fauxtina it eventually, and maybe find a GMC gate, everything here is pretty solid considering so I might not immediately worry about that. |
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I'm off work this week and had grand plans of getting a lot done, but things didn't quite go to plan with my schedule and the weather. However still got a few things done.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1471434493 The first thing, and it's not a lot to tell from the photo above, was that I moved the cab mounts from my old frame to the new frame. This helped sort out the wheel base, the bed is still slightly out of square in the photo above but that will come together when I make the rear bed mounts, the front is mounted. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1471434493 Used a plasma for the first time on the bed sides, rough cuts I'll smooth out later with the bed and fender off and put a trailer cut trailer fender over. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1471434493 For now it's clear of axle and caliper so I could lower the rear of the bed down and measure for mounts, which I did and I made a mock up. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1471434493 Diaper wipe boxes come in really handy, who knew, these will be mounted to the side of the frame and use the factory rear bed mount boxes. I'll take pics once they are back, welded, and on of course. I made another, rechecked (then rechecked) my measurements then sent them off to get laser cut along with front shock mounts. |
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While I was aligning the cab we tipped the bed on it's end, bit of a parallelogram.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1471435198 The shop is really busy right now so we moved the truck back to it's storage spot which is behind one of the barns. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1471435198 Till next time! |
Re: 51 GMC 'Project Why Wait'
Wicked start dude!!
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Re: 51 GMC 'Project Why Wait'
Wow some really great shots of your truck there....
This one here is PRICELESS!!!! and will be a lifetime image of your familys' legacy with the truck passed on to generations to come!!!! very nice! http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-1-12.jpg I have one just like it with my grandaughter.... Whom I hope to teach to drive my truck one day! https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...69&oe=585749E8 |
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I agree, my 8 year old twins are already telling me what they're going to change when they get my truck, and it's only been on the road for 2 months!
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Yeah, I'm really looking forward to have him grow up knowing the truck. My dad always had a few cars (nothing overly special) but knowing he saw them as more than just transportation certainly had an influence on me.
Your grand daughter looks right at home in it! |
Re: 51 GMC 'Project Why Wait'
Boy, been awhile, had a tough go for awhile with the weather (I've only got outdoor shop space until the snow flies) but managed to dodge few showers and knock a few things off in the rear of the truck.
Made those carboard mounts into real mounts, got to lay my first TIG welds. http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-4-19.jpg Had Blair zap them on since more experience with the TIG than I, the bed is pushed off to the side here so that's why the mount on the bed isn't sitting completely on the one on the frame. http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-4-13.jpg Next we ran a few more welds over some of the bars that were not welded all the way around and added the rear shock mounts which are speedway studs welded on. http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-4-12.jpg I had made a cradle for the fuel cell a few weeks prior to my last visit so we welded that on as well http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-4-11.jpg http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-4-15.jpg The C nothces are pretty high so the fuel cell didn't need to sit particularly low to be under the bedfloor I'll be making awhile from now http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-4-16.jpg The lastly we started on the shock mounts for the front. They were back ordered so we got a local waterjet guy to cut some pieces which we welded together. http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-4-2.jpg I got reaquainted with the MIG welder (over ten years!) on the back side but Blair did the front with the TIG http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-4-4.jpg http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-4-6.jpg That's pretty much it for now. The plan is to finish the shock relocation up front next visit then tear it down for sand blasting and paint before the chassis comes to my garage over the winter where I can pluck away. Winter's coming fast so I have to get my garage free of kitchen reno crap ASAP. Couple more progress photos are here if you're interested in a little more. |
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Awesome. I'm glad you're starting a thread on this truck, I have followed "Stance is Everything" on Facebook for some time and always dug this project. That frame is sick!:metal:
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Thanks! Yeah I started a build thread so I could better ask questions to those who have built them before as I'm learning my way through this as the process continues.
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http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...tbareframe.jpg
Busy, busy day yesterday. Off to the sandblaster and coater soon! |
Re: 51 GMC 'Project Why Wait'
looks like a really fun build! Good work!
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It will be so nice to have the frame cleaned up and coated!
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Good progress Dave!! So is it going in your garage at home or at Taylor'd?
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I've spent a little bit getting the garage ready that I'll get into more in a future blog update but basically I bought tools, modified a work bench someone was givng away and did a lot of clean up so expect a lot of updates from this bench right here: https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0...b6&oe=58DF4A95 In the photo above is my entire front end. Pro Forged Center link, idler arm, and super travel ball joints Moog Bushings, lower ball joints, end links Allstar Upper control arms Engery Suspension sway bar end links Msport pads and rotors Belltech Blazer Drop spindles The whole kit and kaboodle came from Performance Improvements who I can't say enough good things about. I've already started putting a few things together too. https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t5...Mzk3OA%3D%3D.2 I loaded everything up a few weeks ago to go to Stripping Technologies in Cambridge Ontario who's a friend of mine I wanted to work with for awhile. https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/l/t1...fb&oe=591D5C98 https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0...80&oe=58D7B116 The frame is going to be blasted, coated with POR then painted, here's it in POR https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0...80&oe=591F6F11 I know there's a ton of holes in the front clip that would have been sweet to shave but to keep progress trucking along we focused on making the visible back half as clean as possible, this isn't a show truck so once the front ends on it will all be gravy :) The chassis should be back within the the month then I can start putting suspension and brake stuff on it to reunite with the body panels in the spring at Taylor'd. I'm missing a few things in this quick update but I'll get into it more the next one on my site, also high res photos too. I am going to have about a million questions (though I've searched quite a bit) once I start bolting stuff together so be warned guys! |
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Like the build. Like the pictures, especially the picture with your son.
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Looking good Dave!!!! Having all new bushings and steering is such a great piece of mind when you start to drive the truck for the first time.
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Now having the new parts in my hand vs the old I can tell just how worn the were. Looking forward to go cruising with you when its done! |
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haha I saw this and immediately thought of the naughty pamphlets they pass out in vegas (and other places). glad you cleared it up, and glad to see you working on it again! |
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That would be awesome to cruise around together, we just have to be careful we don't cause any accidents from gaukers LOL.
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Since all my components will be black steering box had to be too... Duplicolor caliper paint worked great. I know super boring update but doing what I can with what's at home now. |
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New update is up on stanceiseverything.com but for those who only follow here I thought I'd show you where I'll be building the truck over the winter:
http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...5-garage-2.jpg http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...ge-collage.jpg It's just over half of a standard 2 car garage, not large enough to fit the body panels with everything off the chassis but more than enough space to build the chassis. The reason I'm doing it at home is because Blair's shop is currently really darn full. https://scontent-ort2-1.cdninstagram...MDUxNw%3D%3D.2 And since I don't need anything much beyond basic hand tools right now I can work here until spring/summer rolls around. I picked up a bunch of parts as I said before, I go into more detail about them here but I am pretty excited about these super travel ball joints from Proforged http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...ll-joint-1.jpg And my new Allstar performance upper control arms http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...ms-new-old.jpg I'm patiently waiting for the frame to come back but here's a better look at the steering box before/after http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...re-after-1.jpg Soon, soon soon I'll have everything I need to get my hands dirty again and ask a ton of questions. |
Re: 51 GMC 'Project Why Wait'
Keep it going man!
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Looking good!!!!! I too am working on a 51 GMC. What fuel cell did you put in there?
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It's an RCI fuel cell. I bought it based on the dimensions, I'll be putting an aeromotive stealth pump in it.
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You clean up real good Dave! I mean you cleaned up a nice space, looks like the size of my garage. Bet you are really excited to get your frame back.
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Hi guys, been awhile but the chassis is back in my garage!
http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-6-1.jpg http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-6-2.jpg I chose gunmetal for the chassis color because everyone seems to go with black and this was a good neutral color that allows me to paint the body one day if I stumble upon some money. My suspension and most other components will be black so here's a photo of the two colors together http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-6-6.jpg Also got my rear end coated. http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-6-7.jpg Sadly its a bit wonky right now (missing shims someone has been in it) so I'm getting it looked at hopefully Monday. If anyone has 9 bolt GM rear end parts kicking around let me know! http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...update-6-9.jpg Looking for something to do I made some tank straps http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-6-16.jpg http://www.stanceiseverything.com/wp...pdate-6-14.jpg After my fuel pump arrives (Aeromotive Stealth) I am going to paint the straps the color as the frame and the fuel cell black. There's a larger update on stancesieverything.com with higher res photos if you want to see more! |
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The frame looks good. I was thinking of going with a gray myself. Is it paint or power coat? Looking good.
Marc |
Re: 51 GMC 'Project Why Wait'
Thanks, it's paint over por 15
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Re: 51 GMC 'Project Why Wait'
Nice!!! Not going black will give it a little extra kick.
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