Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Awesome. You can get the frame all cleaned up and ready to go before the body even goes on it.

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Subscribed
Looking forward to following the rebuild.

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Awesome news on the frame! Are you on the Northwest FB page?

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

So nice to see this one getting rebuilt. I always thought it had such a cool character to it with that particular color blue, black roof and slots. Just plain cool. Best of luck with the rebuild and glad to hear you made it through the accident all right.

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Great to hear about the frame and cant wait to see you rebuild, I hope you stay with this color, This is one of my favorite trucks on here man!!

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Turns out... the guy that has the frame has a body shop he runs with his dad and uncle. So for a few more bucks he's going to degrease/prep the frame and shoot it with a primer, and then with an automotive chassis paint! It will be so nice to take stuff from my clean truck to a clean frame!

I don't think I am... I'll have to go double check. Thanks! :)

Thanks you'se guys.. I am going to stay with the original "Medium Green" color and keeping the black top as well. It was originally White top/Medium Green body from the factory. But the Previous Owner painted the top black. It was one of the things that made me want this truck. :)

Oh... and here's an old guy tip for you younger cats... when tearing a rig down, get a couple boxes of Ziploc bags. I use sandwich size and quart size. Plus a Sharpie... to label EVERYTHING! Because after a project sit for weeks, months or years... you'll forget where things go. Also get some masking tape and mark all your electrical lines and vacuum hoses. You'll thank me later!

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Some more progress...

Now that the front clip is off, I can get to some areas on the frame with the camera. Also, now that the twisted sheet metal is off, some of the parts like the rad support are back in shape. I'll be able to reuse it, along with the mounts as well. I had replaced the rad support mounts back when I first rebuilt the truck 8 years ago.

Anyhoo... Here goes:

Pic #1 you can see the big tweak on the top of the frame rail with the paint peeling away.

Pic #2 you can see the paint came off where the frame tweaked right behind the power steering box.

Pic #3 you can see how the frame rail "rolled" and how the linkage for the TH350 is tweaked because of it.

Pic #4 is the young'un ('06 K2500HD) lookin' in on the old man... :)

The engine stands are moved (and I hope they are not bent), and the passenger side motor mount is broke. The battery tray is tweaked, I think because of the force of the heavy battery slammin' around. So it will need some re-tweaking and a few new welds to hold it all back together.

Progress is slow... but hey... it's progress. :)

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Hang in there! it will come together! When will the frame beer delivered?

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

[QUOTE=hugger6933;6575855]Shop owners aren't all jerks I ride all over the country looking at truck/cars parts whatever. I have driven a bunch a miles one way to write a free estimate I don't even write them as a normal course of my business. I usually don't do outside work, unless it is someone i have sold a truck to or someone that came to me on a recommendation. Lately though the wrecks have gone up so much [wrecked] and what I can get for them [done] is down] I'm doing more of the outside work,and part of my service in that is if somebody needs me to look at a dent or a wreck that they have had and the truck is 40-50 -60 miles away I'll take a ride. I don't know if it is so much customer courtesy with me or I'm just a nice guy almost to a fault.
Case in point I sold some friends a 07 Colorado Crew cab in 08 with about 7500 miles, it had been rebuilt by me. Right after Christmas, The lady called and said her husband had wrecked it and she was sending it to me for me to have. they had put tires on it in November and maybe I could use them or something off of it. She had given me the truck if I just would pay the flatbed ride to my place. well I did and the truck only needed a left 3/4 front on it,it was the mans only ride his wife had given it to me but I could not take it. Could you? I spent the next while chasing down some parts on the computer and fighting some of the coldest weather we have seen in a long time but I got all back together and spent long nights in front of this computer trying real hard to save every penny I could because the wreck was deemed his fault and his insurance didn't pay. So I got all done and delivered it to him 30 miles from my shop and gave him the bill and it was about $500 to $1500 short of what they were expecting to pay. I could have charged more but it ended up as shop filler any way so why. Ramble off I have to go to bed now. Sorry For long post.. Jim[/Quote You know they appreciate it. I try to help everyone i can most people don't but that's their loss.It is our duty in life to try and help i feel its a privilege my self.Awesome move on your part!

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Good to see it coming together I did the same thing on 1/2/14 but I jumped an embankment backwards and luckily my 3/4 ton frame wasn't bent that I can tell I dented my bedside and bumper but seeing you fixing yours that was damaged worse is very reassuring about mine keep it going I can't wait to see it back to roadworthy condition

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

How is the truck doing Gary?

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Thanks for the bump 'rat. I'm in "frame paint jail" right now. It's taking a little longer than I expected, but have been assured it's coming along. :)

I'll hopefully have an update soon with a pic of a new frame sitting in my driveway. :cf:

This weekend, going to tear the carb off and go through it to get it ready for storage. Drain the gas tank, and remove it since I'm going to put a tank under the bed..

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Got a pic of the frame before it goes in to prep for paint. Gettin' closer! :)

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Awesome! That frame came out really straight, looks like it was never wrecked ;) Nice to have an abundance of these trucks around to get parts from. Best of luck with the paint!

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

It is nice there is still a decent amount of used parts available for these rigs. Thanks mang! Funny how now that my truck is apart in a bazillion pieces... I'm rethinking my build already... ;)

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Well, now you've got a hobby! Good luck!

On the subject of shop owners, if you get to the point you need mechanical work, check out rpmdyno.com (Preston Automotive) here towards Seattle. Not exactly local from Whidbey, but close enough.

They do only classic and musclecar and customs, and they're honest and friendly. And the owner has restored a couple of his own 67-72 so he knows them well enough.

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

A little slow on the roll here... I got my frame about a week or more ago. Turned out exceptional! The cat did a bang up job, on the prep and paint.

With it being the summer, and camping/boating and all the other summer stuff... finding time to get to it has been hard. I don't want to rush it since I have a few things I want to do to the truck before it's back on the road.

I do need to cut the rust out of the rockers and floor and replace with patch panels. Would you cats suggest I transfer the cab to the new frame first before I tackle that? Just in case the old bent frame is wonky enough to screw up my panel alignments?

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Forgot the pic... lol... :)

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

A lot of people are just removing the cab altogether and making something to put it on, a crate or blocks of wood ect. Or even rolling it on its firewall or back of cab but i don't know how they would be protecting the cab when this is done. Some have gone to the extent of making a metal framework that uses the stock cab mount locations to bolt it too, the framework allows you to ether have it upright or roll it on the back or front depending design without having the cab touch the floor.

Just as important take some scrap metal and weld bracing across the door opening so when you cut and remove the rockers the front and rear of the cab don't separate or spring apart making the door opening too wide, also a brace from side to side to keep the cab corners from moving..

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

I would transfer to the new frame first. Mostly because if the cab was tweeked with the old frame, you'll know about it by seeing the difference on the new straight frame. Then after you're done with the install (wether you have to untweek it or not), you'll be braced by the frame so you shouldn't have any movement. Glad to hear everything turned out good.

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Wow... bumping a year old thread. Hard to believe it's been almost a year since the hot rod went for a ride in the ditch. :(

So... life happens. Busy summer last year. Getting our little house prepared all fall and winter long to try and sell very soon so we can move into a bigger place. The truck has been torn down part way and forgotten since last May. Only remembered when I have to trip around it to get to things out in my tiny garage. But... times they are a changin'. :)

Lots has been happening. The highs and lows of a project that came to a screeching halt (literally) and back shelved as life revolved around us. Almost selling it "as is" and taking a huge loss in the process. Twice. I have to give credit where credit is due... to my wife Angie and my best friend Matt. With those 2 keeping the fires ever so lightly lit... they kept hope where I was hopeless. They talked me away from the ledge as I had all but given up. As so many of you know the exact feeling as a project just seems overwhelming. But... I weathered the storm and am now starting back at getting this thing on the road. To do tasks I have been meaning to do, like tackle all the rust, move the gas tank under the bed, and lower the truck with a 4"/6" drop.

There is a lot of work ahead. I am still readying our house to sell as well. Then I will have to move this project to new digs in the near future. But I accept the challenge. :)

I have been absent from the board for quite a spell as I lost the desire for my truck. Cruising the board only made it worse for me. But that changed as well. I'm back and participating and have a new found joy in my truck and my truck friends. :)

Anyhoo... here it sits. Just as I left it back in May of last year. Notice the spark plugs not in their holes and the uncovered exhaust ports? Yeah... me too. Stupid thing to do over a damp PNW winter. But, it was a mistake I made out of haste and really not caring anymore. Will it cost me? We'll see. I squirted some 30wt in the holes and let it set over night. The engine turns easy by hand... so all should be okay.

Glad to be back. Ol' "Creeping Death" will roll again.

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Glad to see you are still in there and swingin' at this project. I was wondering how that was coming along after the 'event' last year.
As for the project part of it....well think of it this way.....1 year from now (maybe 6 months) what it will look like or drive like if it is simply taken on in small increments every week or every few days.
Try to not to focus on the minute by minute progress...nothing moves much under those circumstances and if viewed that way its often a downer (ask me how I know...I'm renovating my basement...lol).
Think bigger, slightly more distant future and look back. It already looks waayyy ahead of what it was last year at this time.
All Good, Good Luck..and keep at 'er.
Coley.

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

-
Glad to hear you are going to try and finish it up. It can be a daunting task but you will be glad you did in the long run. Good luck with it.

LockDoc

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Thanks you guys. :)

So I tore off the old seat cover that has been on the seat since I bought the truck. Figured there would be houndstooth cloth panels in the original seat. But to my surprise there is a scroll pattern. :) Is this original?

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Another pic of the scroll pattern in the vinyl that is between the cloth panels. Looks original to me. But I've never seen the cloth with a "scroll" pattern like this.

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

I'm pretty sure that's original...and apart from needing a good cleaning it looks to be in pretty good shape. I'd take that out of the truck and work on giving it several really good shampoo/cleaning treatments. Hard to find those seats with that fabric these days....certainly in good condition.
Coley

OOPS...quick update I didn't take a look at the driver's side which looks like it could use a little work.

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

LOL! :lol: Yeah... the drivers side is completely shot. I know that houndstooth upholstery is available, but not sure if this pattern is. :)

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Yep, that's the original "Custom" trim level seat cover. The cloth material and correct scroll pattern are available from SMS Auto Fabrics.

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Chris, thanks a ton! I just sent them an email with attached pics to see what matches.

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Hey Gary, no problem. I did the same thing a while back they mailed me an envelope with fabric samples and prices. There are a few threads on the forum where people have recreated the original cover using SMS materials. Certainly not the cheapest endeavor. My biggest concern is that every one of these original cloth/vinyl seats that I have seen has had the same type of splitting wear in the cloth sections (mostly the driver's side). It makes me feel like that material is too delicate for normal use. I do dig how original it looks though. I'd actually like to find a place that repops the original base model vinyl seat but no one does.

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Nice to see the progress, looks like you're getting a lot accomplished. Best of luck with the house sale and the rest of the truck! :metal:

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Welcome back! so the cab and bed are still on the bent frame correct? Still have that nice roller stored away. I'm glad for you that your wife and best friend talked you into not selling. Now get at it! :)

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Welcome back, sometimes a break is a good.......

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Chris, SMS is sending me a couple of cloth patterns to see what matches up with what I have. Yesterday I found out there is a local upholstery shop here that does fantastic work. A friend of mine is restoring a 1964 Bonneville and he had this local guy reupholster his seats. Very nice work! So I'm going to check with him too to see if he has availability to the cloth as well. If not, I might just order some from SMS and then have the local guy redo the seat. Thanks again for the lead!

Thanks lefty! The house has been a monkey on my back for well over a year. Wrecking the truck when I did was the worst possible timing. But things are rolling along!

Thanks Rat! Yeah... the cab and bed are still on the bent frame. Hoping to get the frames switched out soon. Today I have a buddy coming over to help with getting the seat, gas tank, steering wheel and brake booster/MC off of the cab. Then this weekend I'll strip the doors off. Pulling the engine and transmission next week. Then after that I will make preparation with a few buddies to help move the cab and bed to the new frame. :)

I am glad they kept me thinking straight too. I was totally dejected and wanted to wash my hands of the whole deal. Boy am I glad I still have this truck! :)

Thanks Lee... I got a lot accomplished in the time the truck was "forgotten". But now it's moving from the back burner to one of the side burners. After we move... it will be on the front burner. :lol:

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

I remember when this happened and had forgotten about it until you came back ,welcome back to the madness .I look forward to hearing about you driving it again after the reconstruction ,it will be worth it .

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Thanks flashed! Really looking forward to that da. But for now... baby steps. :)

Made some more progress today. I'm working swings so I had some time this morning to mess around. Got the seat out and the steering column out. Also removed the old crappy Kraco stereo that was in there.

I also got under the dash and started yanking a lot of dead headed wires out from who knows how many PO's before me. Anyways... I ended up carefully pulling out the intact wire harness that goes to the dealer installed cruise control from 1972. I still have all the parts from the whole unit. I am not 100% sure it even works. But I have all the parts. I am thinking about getting rid of it as it just takes up more room on the drivers side under the hood. That area is already busy enough with the alternator, power steering pump and power brake booster all located over there. So if there is an interest here I am probably willing to sell the whole get up. Not sure what it's worth but will let any interested if I decide to cut it loose. :)

Gary

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Hey Gasoline,
Glad to see you back. I've been as bad with my truck. I didn't do any of the things I'd intended to do to my truck last summer, and now wish I had. I have piles of new stuff ready to go on her, and just never seem to have the time, or the desire to dig in and get it done.
As for the cruise control, I'd probably hold onto that. It may be something you want to refurbish and re-install later. You don't see that option very often, and down the road you may say to yourself..."why the heck did I get rid of that!" Just box it up and set it aside.
Good luck with your house.

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Yup, it's factory, heres mine. A little different design, but mines a 69..

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Hey Joe,
yours is different. Your scroll is squared off and his is rounded. Also, your cloth is a different pattern. What year truck is your pic from?

Re: Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)
 

Funny you mention that. My good friend Matt and I were talking about it at work last night. He said the exact same thing but added "Mark my words..." at the beginning. :lol:

So I took the harness and threw it in the box in the shed with all the other cruise control parts for a later date. Maybe even on a different truck. :)

Gary