My 1971 c10...starting over

[pocoloco71]

Don't have much to report. Been studying on panel replacement. I have
made my some cuts back to good metal. I plan to cut the replacements to
match bolt or screw it together, check the door and fender for fit. It's a
slow go and since I have not done this, I hope I don't need a mulligan.

[pocoloco71]

Ok a little progress today. Bolted in rear support brace. Bolted on rear pillar.
test fitted rocker panel, not to bad. I am leaving old inner rocker panel for
now, cause I'm using it to place front fender mount. The next time I get to
work on it. I'll replace front cross brace. May use part of floor pan patch.
I'm opitmistic so far that I won't have to go begging some body shop to
finish it for me. So far so good. I'll get some sheet metal screws and fix
the rocker in place so I can check the door for fit. All I can do is soldier on...

[pocoloco71]

some more

[pocoloco71]

Haven't had anything really new to post. I did make one small bit of progress
today. I got the left rear b pillar patch panel cut to fit and welded in and
the left rear cab corner cut to fit and welded in. I have not done this
before so it kinda scary fun. Any ways best I can tell, so far so good.
I got a pretty good fit on the cab corner. I plan on finishing it Thursday
and hopefully move to the left front. Got a brace to do, small floor pan
patch, foot well piece. Then hope fully its on to re hanging door so I
can work on the rocker panel.

[pocoloco71]

One more of side view of cab corner patch

[RCbowtie69]

keep going don't stop now, i know it slow going but looking good, i have a 69 swb it going to need some patch work to, like the way you going with it, i may go the same way, keep posted with some progess, and good luck.

[pocoloco71]

thanks so much for the encouragement. I have gotten a little frustrated
with my lack of experience. But I usually just go work on something
else and come back later. It took me most of the day to fit this floor panel
in. I've got some pictures of the holes and the piece I whittled on to fit in
them. I only took out the bad metal. Some of the holes in the floor board, I
just ground out the rust and welded them closed. Now I'm not saying this
is the way it should be done or if its correct. this is something I just do.
I set the welder on 1.5, wire speed 50 and weld to the sheet metal till I
get weld built all around, then weld on the weld to fill in the hole. I increase
my setting on the weld to 2 as the filler can handle a little hotter setting. then grind it flat. I circled one spot I did like this. If this turns out, then
hope fully I can move on to the a piller support, the footwell patch, the
front floor support, the inner roc... and the beat goes on.

[pocoloco71]

side view

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by pocoloco71

Thank you. That mod you did on the 70 to 68 hood was something I'm still
thinking about. Only problem is I got lost somewhere on the front lip. I'm not
that far yet on the build. I'm not scared to try it, but I just can quite see it
in my head. It's certainly not your fault, I've read it 2-3 times and I'm just
missing something. I think if I got the 2 hoods and started looking at them
I may see it. Anyways I like the way you just try stuff to see if it can be
done.
Instead of the lead for smoothing, are you familar with a product called
Metal 2 Metal and do you think it would work on the hood lip. I have not
used it yet. But I got some to use on a gas cap plug. My brother-in-law
uses it at the body shop where he works. Thanks again.

I have never used metal to metal but I know their are alot of very strong fillers out their that would do the job well for the hood. As long as you do not close the front edge of teh hood on anything even regular filler would work. It will be very clear how I did the hood edge once you get both hoods and turn them upside down, line teh back edges of teh hood up with each other and you will see what needs to be done with the front. It is alot of work but one of my favorite mods on this truck other than the EFI/AOd set up

Your work is looking very good hard to belive you are learning to weld at the same time you are doing this for the first time. Your method of welding small holes is fine but would be even better if you cut out those small areas and patched them.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[BJA69C10]

Looks good! can't wait until you start bolting on some of those shiny goodies!

[pocoloco71]

thanks for the reply and the compliment, coming from u it means a lot.
The only thing I can say about learning the welding fast is I did practice a
lot and read many articles before I ever touched the truck. Plus I just love
this stuff. Its something I didn't get to do when I was younger. So you
might say its on my bucket list.
I did cut a small patch to fill in a small spot in the floor pan where I had mis-
calculated the larger piece and it was much easier & faster to fill in the hole.
Still a long ways to go. When I hang that door back up...

[pocoloco71]

Originally Posted by BJA69C10

Looks good! can't wait until you start bolting on some of those shiny goodies!

You and me both. I've got several nice parts stock piled. The street and
performance tpi stuff will be here in mid Febuary. But I can't get ahead
of myself.

[pocoloco71]

I haven't forgotten my build. I'm actually working hard, still battling the
panel replacement. The a pillar, foot well panels are kicking my tail right
now. Hopefully I can post some sucess photos soon.

[pocoloco71]

good news today, the UPS man brought the tpi unit for S&P. 2.5 months
waiting time. I will really be fun to put this thing on top of the 350. I'm
getting the hang of this sheet metal welding. It seems more about
patience than skill after a while. Anyways heres a few pictures

[pocoloco71]

and a few of the not so glamorous

[pocoloco71]

Whoops forgot tpi.

[pocoloco71]

decided to take a break from the patch panels and worked on getting fuel
to the motor. I thought I would give a few facts on this and if anyone wants
to go this way, I have some info that may be helpful. I say that because it
ain't running yet. Any way I called ece and they gave me Hectors number
who works for Ricks Hot Rod shop in Austin and he gave me the AC-Delco
part numbers and other wonderful info. I called him back the next day and
he walked me thru adapting the pump to the ece manifold. He was one
nice dude.
Any ways S&P gave me a diagram via e-mail on one way to plumb your
hi pressure line and return line. I may not do the return line exactly like
this since it doesn't have to be hard line. I have learned a lot about
AN fittings, 37 degree flares, etc. -6AN means 6/16 or reducing the fraction
3/8th, -4an =4/16 or 1/4 and so on. I may be common knowledge but it was
wonderful info to me.
My brother law may get a chance to help me some this weekend with the
door. He came a couple of weeks ago and it was a blessing watching and
learning from a professional.
I have a few pictures to post. And like I said I may be able to help since
this is fresh on my mind
Well Img won't work, my paint software hid on me, too tired to figure it
out, Later on the picts.

[Cyclone44]

Looks like a nice build...And some bling bling

[pocoloco71]

In tank fuel pump put together and ready to be sunk in some gasoline
50 psi and 24 galllons per hour, how much is that at $4/gallon for a day.
I've ordered some hard line from summit plus the rest of the fittings from
S&P.

[pocoloco71]

Just about ready for motor mounts and the motor

[pocoloco71]

Thanks, Sadly most of it is still in boxes waiting for the day.

[pocoloco71]

Well I finally got a chance to start putting some things back on the motor,
plus I called the local tranny shop and the shop manger told me to cut
the tranny filter open and see how much metal was in it. There wasn't
hardly anything, he told me if it was working good perviously that he
would put it back in and run it, so I am. We'll see. I finally got all the
parts in to plumb the fuel lines. There will be some delay before the
motor can go in. I'm still working on the fire wall. I talked to a local paint
and body man who really likes these old trucks and I may get hime to do
the doors. I say may because there is going to be that wait time. We'll see.
Anyway here some pictures of hopefully this stuff staying on this time
The serpentine doesn't have the ac on because I still have to tap one hole
in the head for the bracket to bolt to.

[RCbowtie69]

looking good, keep the wrenches turning & the hammer a banging, alot work has been done can't wait to see more progress.

[Highsteel]

Originally Posted by pocoloco71

stainless steel in tank fuel tank, fuel injection ready

Nice fuel tank! Whats the capacity? Does it hang down very far? Are there any other views, side, rear?

Looks to me like your doing a great job! My 71 will need many of the same panel fixes, ie. rockers, cab corners, etc.

I dream of TPI and 4-speed auto but will prolly have to stay with 4-barrel and TH350.(Like thats a bad thing, LOL)

[pocoloco71]

I hate to get lazy on you but I actually took the gas tank back out and
covered it up. Its on a shelf in the shop wrapped in a tarp. I am still gonna do some more bead blasting on the firewall.I bought it from
early classic enterprises, the one thats fuel injection ready. Call Mark or
Terry at ECE. They are actually made by Rick's hot Rod Shop in Austin, Texas.
I actually called and talked to Mark and he gave me their number and told
me to talk to Hector,(I needed some ac delco part numbers and install help on
the pump) whose was very nice and knowlegeable. Anyways they
are designed for our trucks and no they don't hang low like the blazer poly
tanks do. Also you can check out rock valley's web site. They are so nice
you won't regret the money spent. Early classic also has all the patch panels
you need as well as Brothers trucks, a site supporter. I did buy some from
Year one also(very pricey). If you don't switch to fuel injection right now
at least think about switching to the 700r4(4l60) tranny. It's a great mod
and saves your motor plus gas. Anyway hope this is useful, and thanks for
the compliments.