Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

just here to say love the build, and love that color :metal:

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Thank you.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Great work on the truck so far! Your spray gun skills are showing big time!
Where did you get those rubber wire conduits for your doors?
Thanks
Evan Q.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Thanks. Conduits came with my power window kit from Nu-relics. I think you can buy just the conduit from them but Im not sure.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Some progress from the weekend.

Had to get the hood out of the paint booth so we put it on the truck, I had hoped it would stay on but Im out of adjustment side to side on my hinges so Im going to take it back off and slot the holes some. I only need to gain a 1/16 to an 1/8th so hopefully not a big deal, otherwise I think it will line up pretty good.

With the hood out of the way I got both bedsides in epoxy and then spread some filler on the damaged areas and a bunch of spot welds. While doing filler work I sprayed epoxy on more of the box, it was quite a challenge spraying the cross sills but I got them pretty good I hope. I still need to spray the inner fenders, hopefully some night this week I can work them in.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Crazy quality work!
Whose hood hinges are those? They look like a nice alternative to many of the more complex options.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Thank you.

Hood hinges are All American Billet. I really like them based on looks, and the little that Ive used them they operate nicely as well. Once modified slightly they should allow the hood to fit really nice from what Ive seen on some initial gap setting.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Been plugging away on my box, Im getting close to being done with body work. My plan is to assemble and paint in the coming days. Picture of one of the boxsides after filler and feather fill. This was sanded out with 120 and 180, I had a couple spots to fix, epoxy was spotted in and a little filler put on top of it. Once all that was done more epoxy went down to seal off the filler and 2k primer was blocked out with 180 and 320. I plan on going over everything with a hand pad and some 400 along with a red scuff pad before sealer.

I had one of my cousins machine my hood hinges, he slotted the mounting holes for the hood 6/32 on his mill. It worked great, my hood adjusted pretty good with the extra wiggle room.

When trying to come up with a game plan on painting my box assembled I coudnt really come up with something I liked that included the inner fenders installed. So I decided to paint them seperate and bolt on after the bedsides are painted. I finished them up a couple days ago, pretty happy how they turned out.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Over the last couple weeks I got quite a bit done. I assembled and then got base and one round of clear down on my box.

I was able to finally get my engine running, I had some issues with the ecm. Im not sure if the ecm was bad or the program wasnt right, but I ended up with a different ecm and now it runs. Ive been able to get it up to temp and run the transmission through the gears on some jack stands, everything operates pretty good. I have alot of tuning to do though. Im going to try and get a decent video of it running.

I was able to get my No Limit rear sway bar installed, it was all beat up from shipping so I re coated it with some epoxy.

I have been working on my bed wood off and on during the week. I coated the bottoms and sides with epoxy, and stained the tops black. Im planing on a couple coats of flattened clear on them yet, but so far they are turning out great.

I finally decided this last weekend to flow coat my box. I sanded and scuffed everything on it and gave it 3 more coats of clear. The end result was much better this time around with it. Things look so much better flow coated. I cant recommend SPI products enough, the fact that I can achieve something like this says alot for their products.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

The build looks great man. Keep up the good work!


:chevy:

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Lookin really good! Paint doesn’t even look like it needs wet sanded. I like the black wood, what stain did you end up using?

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Bed looks great! Can't wait to see the bed set on the truck and in the sun.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Love this build. Mine will start and idle, but needs lot of tuning still. I'm not sure I could get it on a trailer at this point, but we will find out this fall.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Thanks everyone.

For stain I used Speedball Black India Ink.

I know the feeling about poor running. When I first got mine going it wouldn't run with the MAF sensor hooked up and when shifted into gear would die, if you hit the throttle at all it would die. I eventually got it to start with the MAF sensor hooked up but it ran very poorly. I ended up changing a bunch of stuff in the tune and got it to idle decent, I think I ended up raising the MAF table 75% across the board. Im sure its still way off but at least its in the ball park now as it idles pretty decent and the fuel trims dont go way off. Im planning on upgrading my hptuners to the pro version and getting a wide band so I know where Im at before I do any driving.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Unbelievable job man, bedsides look fantastic. Keep the updates coming!

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Thanks.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Just re-read some of your earlier posts, are you in Iowa? Your truck before tear down was nearly identical to my '72, also an Iowa truck.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Sure am.

I found some of my running problems. Cylinders 6 and 8 arent firing, its odd because I have no code and it doesnt really sound bad, maybe that cam I put in doesnt have quite this much chop :lol:. I have spark so I am guessing a its a fuel issue and most likely a dirty or stuck injector as they have been laying unused for a long time. Im planning on sending them all as a set to be cleaned.

I pushed my box outside to get a little sun before I buff it. I absolutely love this blue.

Figured I would post a couple pictures of my exhaust rework. I gained about 3/4 of an inch of clearance above my trailing arm. I should have plenty of clearance for bumps now.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

That blue is a knockout in the sun, nice work. Every time I see a Grabber Blue Mustang I think of your truck.

What cam did you put in?

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Great build, thanks for bringing us along.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Who makes the rear sway bar you have? I have not seen that one and it would clear my stuff I got going on under the bed.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Thanks.

When I picked the color I had no idea it would transform so much in the sun, I really am glad that I picked it. I remember it being a hard decision and I couldnt be happier with the one I picked.

Cam is a Texas Speed 212/218 .600 lift 112 LSA

Sway Bar is from No Limit Engineering. I like it because its up out of the way.

I got about half of my bed wood cleared. I flattened the clear giving it kind of a nice satin sheen. This is the exact look I was after when I set out to stain them black.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

nice

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

That wood will look fantastic against your blue paint. What color/finish are you using for the strips?

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Thanks.

I held a small piece in place today and its really going to look good, this shade of blue and black really goes good together, its going to look better than I originally thought. Strips are polished stainless with hidden fasteners.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Got my exhaust finished up, I believe Im back to where I need to be with my tips so my box will fit. I got all of the exhaust back together only to decide to tear it back apart in order to install a couple additional o2 sensor ports for tuning purposes. Im planning on doing that sometime this coming week. All these little rework projects are adding up to a lot of time

I also sent off my injectors and got word back they cleaned up good. He said cylinders 6 & 8 were stuck, with the others showing flow loss. All of that has been remedied with the cleaning so I am glad I sent all of them as a set. Im pretty excited to get it back together and try running it again, I think its safe to expect quite a difference.

I started and finished buffing the inside of my box. I sanded it with some 2000 and then buffed, in hindsight I should have maybe gone a little more aggressive sanding as I have a little urethane wave. I wanted to stay on the light side of things as its a pain to buff with all the raised body lines. All things considered it looks pretty good for the inside, I plan on going more aggressive on the outside since it will be easier to work with. I set my wood in to see how it looked and I have to say Im thrilled. It finally felt like all of the hard work Ive put into this box has started to pay off, it feels like Ive been working on this box for a lifetime, lol, still have a long way to go too.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Just BEAUTIFUL.... ;)

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

I love the black wood against that blue. Awesome.

.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Did you have any issues fitting the new bedsides? I had lots of issues to get mine fitting well. Also did you paint the panels in separate pieces and then put together or did you paint the bed assembled?

Absolutely love that blue, might be my favorite color I've seen on a C10

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Thank you.

I did have quite a few issues with the box. If I remember right the passenger side I had to cut a 1/4 inch out of the front of the inside panel. It was almost like it wasnt stamped right. Along the top rail all the measurements were the same side to side, but along the bottom where everything bolts together they were off. I had to reposition quite a few holes or elongate them. Most of them that were elongated were welded back shut and drilled in the right spot. I had an absolutely terrible time with the rear splash guards.

I did 95 percent of my body work with the box apart. I sprayed epoxy on everything, and then on any bolt flanges I taped off to keep build primer off of them and leave only epoxy. I bolted it together once I was ready for sealer. I then assembled the 2 sides, front panel, and rear cross sill. Those were all sealed and base/cleared together.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Thanks for the good explanation, that's the info I was looking for! I had planned to paint mine the same way and had to do similar work getting besides, front panel and rear cross sill to fit.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Real nice truck, I sure hope mine turns out this nice.
How did you do the VA firewall cover panels from VA ? did you just weld over or did you cut out the fire wall ? I am getting ready to install mine.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

I got this one sprint_9... I asked him the same question, see post 245 in this thread. There is also a thread called "smoothing the firewall" that has some close up detailed pictures that may help you.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

I remembered answering that for someone, hard to believe it was that long ago. The short answer is I welded the panel on top of the firewall. I think its probably fine either way though, maybe a little stronger leaving everything intact and welding over it, and probably a little less body work.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Tied up some loose ends over the last couple weeks.

I started off reassembling my engine and working on my exhaust. I added an o2 sensor port for a wide band o2 sensor in my drivers side header. Once I had that welded in I installed my wide band sensor and wired it up in more of a temporary setup. The gauge for it just sits in a cup holder, but the main use will be interfacing with hptuners. With all that completed I fired it up and as expected it sounds much better. Running a bit lean according to my new gauge so plenty of tuning work to come.

After that was operating without any major issues I moved on to completing the front end of the truck. I started off assembling my grille, and then installed it. Talk about a pain to install, it eventually went and I got all the bolts in. From there I moved to the bumper. I bought a premium chrome bumper, which I think is a reconditioned original, and I have to say the chrome is really nice on it.

I also sprayed the inner fenders for my box with raptor liner

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Ran out of room for pictures and wanted to post one of my parking brake setup. It is a Wilwood universal kit for the rear, and an oem replacement for the front. It doesnt work too bad but Im not impressed with the oem replacement cable, I might try finding a better one.

One more pic of the front end, Im so happy with how everything came out. I was smiling from ear to ear when I set it down off the jack stands.

If all goes well I should be able to install the box next weekend.:metal:

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

That is really looking good man, I agree. I would be smiling ear to ear too. That's an interesting ebrake setup, gonna have to look that one up.

.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

That looks so nice! I like the emergency brake set up. I need to look into that as I don't like the original set up.

Did the aftermarket grill surround fit the fenders? I like those chrome surrounds, but have heard they don't fit very well. From the pics it looks fantastic.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

Thanks.

The e-brake would work alot better if the oem replacement cable had a decent clamp where the pedal pulls on the cable. I used the original clamp from the original cable I had but with the replacement cable having a black outer jacket it just slips on that. I looked today and didnt really come up with anything better. I might end up fabbing something up to hold the cable in place.

I was worried about the chrome one fitting as I had seen some of the bad press they had. But the grille seems to fit ok on the fenders, it could be better. I actually had an aluminum replacement but after taking it out of the box it was dented in a bad spot. I did mock it up and I think it fit equally as poor when compared to the chrome one. I think some of the difference in getting them to bolt up is the fact that the aluminum ones can be manipulated easier since they are so flexible. Probably the biggest issue for me was that it was a little too wide on the mounting holes, I really had to force it. And the bend in the center was a little too shallow to match my hood, but I pulled that into place and bolted it so it clears. So all stuff that can be worked around.

One thing I did that turned out nice was bolting the brackets to the grille. Instead of rivets I went and bought some nice button head allen bolts, I thought that was alot nicer way of doing it.

Re: sprint_9's 72 C10 Project
 

I have a question about your grille and insert. You mentioned it is a chrome piece, is it made by Counterpart? Also is the plastic insert the original argent color?... that's what it looks like to me in the last picture. I bought the complete chrome grille surround with the chrome insert from The Truck Shop at a local swap meet and I still can't decide if I like the chrome insert enough to use it. I'm afraid it may be too "blingy" for my liking. I still have my original in good shape so I still have a choice. I really do like whatever you have on yours at the moment.:metal: