Refining "Sierra"

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Nice Progress! I looked at a nice 2 owner '84 Chevrolet C10 Silverado that is nearly all factory with only just tick under 80k miles. I'm ok with the stuff that is not factory anymore, but concerned on the value of the truck and his asking price. I have known him for awhile and he just does not want to fix the little things anymore on it and wants it to go to someone who can take care of it. It was his Grandfather's truck that was not really ever abused, but just has the wear and tear of being 32 years old.

If I get it, it would be for a daily driver and I would do about what you are doing to this one.

Just 18 more days to LST...

It sounds like a nice truck, especially if thats what your looking for. I'm not a purist, so I dont care about retaining everything original under the hood.

Yes, I know all to well the LST crunch is real.

[N2TRUX]

Last night was one of those 2 steps forward and 3 steps back days that come with every build. I have to continue to remind myself that this build has a deadline. It kills me when I cant take details to a higher level, but time simply allows only so much.

I had some paint reaction on the fenderliners, so I wet sanded and top coated. Unfortunately my sanding cut through to a previous layer of paint and I had a major blow up. Atleast 30% of what I sprayed reacted and needs to be sanded again.
I picked up more undercoating to line the outside of the fenderliners. I found a sale on what appeared to be the same as what I had previously shot. It was not, and dryed chalky brown. Now I get to sand that and recoat it with the correct part #. Grrr!

Ok, at least I have a progress report on something. I sent the breather lid home with Johnny C to have him add some custom touches. We had planned to use his oval dies to punch some holes, but the wouldnt fit. Instead we went with round holes N2billet style. After some touch up Johnny C added a bit of color to the top. Simple, subtle, and exactly what I wanted.

[Greenlee]

Wow. I like that air cleaner!

I still have a stock air cleaner. I need to make friends with Johnny C!

[Palf70Step]

Air cleaner looks good. I am living the 2 forward 3 back today. Hope your day goes better.

[Greenlee]

Ha. I was making a joke, and then I realized I have met Johnny C. Sometimes on Saturday nights I go over to the informal car show at the Home Depot in Kemah. I was admiring his blue and white Chevy and he walked over and said hello and turned out we were both members of this forum.

N2trux, you should come down sometime. When the weather is nice there is usually a pretty good turn out. I live not far from there and try to plan my trips to Home Depot for Saturday evenings.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Greenlee

Wow. I like that air cleaner!
I still have a stock air cleaner. I need to make friends with Johnny C!

Johnny C is very talented. Not only an excellent automotive artist, but very good at metal art and fabrication.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Air cleaner looks good. I am living the 2 forward 3 back today. Hope your day goes better.

The sad part is, it got worse before it got better. I spent an hour stripping off the undercoating that didnt cure over night.

Originally Posted by Greenlee

Ha. I was making a joke, and then I realized I have met Johnny C. Sometimes on Saturday nights I go over to the informal car show at the Home Depot in Kemah. I was admiring his blue and white Chevy and he walked over and said hello and turned out we were both members of this forum.

N2trux, you should come down sometime. When the weather is nice there is usually a pretty good turn out. I live not far from there and try to plan my trips to Home Depot for Saturday evenings.

Johnny and my buddy Stephen both tell me good things about the car cruise down there. I plan to make it happen this Summer.

[N2TRUX]

Despite more setbacks, a big day of progress was had on Saturday. It started slow with me stripping undercoating off of the fenderliner that didnt cure over night. A solid hour with a wire brush and it was down to metal again.

We masked and painted the last sections of the frame and front suspension. I truly wish time had allowed me to take the front suspension apart, but it did not happen. I had to settle for a visual inspection and a thorough cleaning. .

It may look like total chaos, but this method of masking effectively allowed us to isolate each section to clean and paint with out complete disassembly. It's not pretty, but it does work.

[N2TRUX]

Slow and careful removal of the masking I'd required, but I still had some lifting of paint on the firewall. That will be blended in as time allows. Now it's time to focus on detailing and reassembly.
I forgot to get a pic before I removed the stock valve covers. I wanted to keep them, but the wire brackets hade to go. I ordered a set of replacement covers from Speedway Motors. They are extremely well built including all the internal baffles. They come with a very nice powder coat finish too.

[Greenlee]

Looks good. I'm going to steal the tin foil idea next time I need to paint.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Greenlee

Looks good. I'm going to steal the tin foil idea next time I need to paint.

I have used that method for years to cover things when washing motors. My buddy n2billet showed me how well it works for masking odd shaped parts.

[N2TRUX]

While the paint on the firewall is being repaired, Chris focused on the suspension. He used a wire brush and Scotch Brite to clean as much as possible since we didn't have time to completely dissemble. It cleaned up nicely, and a coat of high temp brake paint was applied. Big difference that can be seen through the wheels.

[aggie91]

Nice progress.

I had the same paint issue happen this weekend on a go kart frame for my youngest son. He was mad that all his work sanding it to get it ready for color was wasted. Got is sanded out and shot some primer sealer over it, seams to be at bay now. More color tomorrow for him!

[N2TRUX]

I spent several hours under the truck last night with not much to show for it. Cleaning wiring and detailing lines and small brackets is slow, but makes a big difference where it shows. I rerouted the positive cable to the starter and sanded, and painted the transmission cooler lines that run in that area.

I plan to add more line clamps later. I just realized my inventory was depleted. Its hard to show, so look close.

[N2TRUX]

I'm still working on the rerouting of the fuel, tranny lines and power cable where it exit from the front of the block. Its slowly starting to show some results of my effort.

[N2TRUX]

After spending several hours in the engine compartment last night, I decided to do something different tonight. I wanted to take on a task that I could complete in the allotted time for this evenings session. I needed to pull the rear wheels to polish them, and allow access to the drums. I could see that the drums had been painted several times, so they made a trip to the blasting cabinet. Once I had several layers of old paint off, I hit them with Eastwood high temp caliper paint to match the front rotors.

[N2TRUX]

I worked late last night, and had family visiting so no shop time. I did manage to get my new valve covers painted. I picked these up from Speedway Motors because the factory covers have stands welded on for the plug wires. I plan to route them differently, so the easiest solution was new covers. These come powder coated in several colors and the quality is impressive for the price.

The plug wires that were on the truck were decent quality 8mm wires, but they were a boring color so they had to go. I picked up a set of MSD 8.5mm wires that will look nice and ensure plenty of spark.

[N2TRUX]

The plug wires that were on the truck were decent quality 8mm wires, but they were a boring color so they had to go. I picked up a set of MSD 8.5mm wires that will look nice and ensure plenty of spark.

[N2TRUX]

So its been a real rough week for me with a load of negativity falling on my head, but that part of life. Tonight I got home late, but the full on thrash has begun. If I dont get it running by Sunday, I'm probably not going to succeed. Tonight I was determined to install the vent windows so we could seal the cab up and get it cleaned up inside.

The new seals that were installed on the vents made them extremely tight going in. I fought for quite some time before I found the key to getting them back in position. Once they were installed I added the latch assembly and closed one side nice and tight. No more leaks.

Since I had added sound deadner to the door skin, I wanted to take another step to help seal the door and make it quitter. I took an idea from the new cars and added a heavy plastic skin inside the door under the panel. I used double sided tape to set it in place, then added a layer of duct tape to close it tight. It's not airtight, but it close.

[ironroad9c1]

Nice work man, Gives me motivation to work on my 85...Any measurements you can share about that rear storage area behind the seat?

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by ironroad9c1

Nice work man, Gives me motivation to work on my 85...Any measurements you can share about that rear storage area behind the seat?

Since it took several attempts to get it where I wanted, I did not document my changes. I plan to build another on for my 77. I will make a blueprint then.

[N2TRUX]

I finally got some quality garage time this weekend. Unfortunately a lot of what Chris and I did might not be as noticeable unless you compare before and sfter.We spent a lot of time cleaning and re-taping, and rerouting the wiring. It was a greasy mess, that needed a lot of attention. It's still not finished, and I am concerned that I may not make it, but I won't give up.

[N2TRUX]

We did get the accessories hung once the wiring was routed. I'm slowly working my way to the top of the motor. I'm leaving it till last because we may have to change plans as we go with the wiring, vacuum lines, and plug wires.

[carboncrew]

It's all in the details. Looks great

[Low Elco]

Lookin' good! You'll get there.

[aggie91]

I update look good. I have faith in you Ken, you and Chris are doing a great job. I think you are going to make it. You have enough time, even though in my need to be some late nights...