Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Starting with two basically complete trucks and building them side by side is a daunting task for sure.

The plan;

Take one pretty much finished truck and convert it from a street and show truck into a world class Pro Touring truck to compete in the Optima Batteries Ultimate Street Car Championships. We will call this the "race truck"

Take truck number two and build a world class street truck using the donor frame and running gear (Minus engine) from truck number 1.

Before anyone asks, these two trucks are owned by two different people, so quit asking why we don't just build Truck #2 into the race truck.

The Trucks
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1504709569

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1504709569


The Shop



http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1504709569

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

nice shop.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

So begins the project. We built some needed equipment like a couple rolling carts to put the cab and beds on. A bed lifter to handle the bed-ectomies and modified my cherry picker as well.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Once the bed was off it was time to get that cab off.


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Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

There is a simple way to look at these tear downs. Just pretend you are back in Fremont California in 1964 and do everything in reverse. ( Both of these trucks were built there about 2500 units apart.)


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Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Now the actual tear down really happens.

Greg (The owner) is a very meticulous and intelligent man and spent the time cataloguing every single fastener, clip, and shim. He carefully marked its location, photographed it, then bagged it and stuck it in plastic totes.

We even laid every part out on butcher paper laid the parts out and marked the paper in groups/assemblies and took pictures of them. Then rolled up that piece of paper and put it in the tote with those parts. I told you he was a smart guy.



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Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Lots of parts to inventory, and catalogue but it might be a year before we go back together and my memory is worthless so documenting this as we go is very important.

The motor is out of the frame, the cab is stripped to nothing and is ready for media blasting. All parts are safely packaged and organized. and we even got the shop cleaned back up.

Next will be tearing down the Turquoise truck. It's owner ain't as smart as Greg but he makes up for it by being really grumpy. :metal:

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Having these racks really helps on this type of build.


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Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

here are some of the racks

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Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Nice

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

I would have bumped into the board and scatter those parts all over the floor. :rolleyes:
You are doing some nice work.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Well organized. I need more of that in my shop. I just have more crap than I need but don't want to get rid of any of it.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Wow, oh my and wow again are the words that come to mind. Very nice.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

I was looking again at the parts storage. I like that rack you made for the doors. I might have to do something similar for my next full build. That's an idea I'm gonna steal...

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

I bag my fastners and tag them plus take a picture on how they were used. But I like what you are doing with the ones your taking out. Keep up the Pictures just to keep me motivated Please!

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Started some actual repairs on the street truck. the previous owners must of had some problem with the passenger side rear spark plug so they cut an enormous hole in the inner fender. Then screwed a piece of tin on to close it back up, painted it black and left it like that.


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So I had a piece of 16 guage laying around and decided it would do the trick.

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Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

First thing I did was take a wire wheel to it to define the edge and see what condition the existing steel was in

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Then pulled the sheet metal screws and pulled off the piece of tin.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Now make a paper pattern of the patch panel I will build.

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Transfer it to the new steel

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and go ahead and clean up the area that it will be sitting in.


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Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Cutting the piece out was simple enough.

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This is the rough piece. Still flat (not even close to where it is going to live.)

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Now the real work begins (At least for me) Shaping steel to have all the same contours, folds and creases as the original steel .


I lined where the first fold needed to be, then using my break (Known as a big ass vise and a block of wood) I replicated the factory V fold.

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Then using several pair of welding gloves and a body hammer I was able to make the piece have the correct dish.


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Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Spent quite a while massaging and trimming the piece.

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Now I traced the piece onto the inner fender and carefully cut the fender to accept the new section.

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Then it was time to tack it in place.











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Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Lots of time here tacking this in so to control the distortion caused by the heat, but in time all the tacks became a ugly but continuous weld.


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Now I just ground it down with a flapper wheel and sprayed some primer on it till I am ready to prepare it for paint.


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I also welded in the misc. holes that were all over the inner fender where the previous owner had mounted God knows what. (looked like Swiss cheese)

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Tough crowd :lol:

I am in the process of building my very own frame jig, that coupled with the rotisserie we ordered (that will be here by the end of this week) we are making some serious headway.

Sure would like to be able to handle the sandblasting but the mess it makes is just not something I want to deal with. Does anyone have any experience with these dustless blasting systems? It is appealing to have them come here.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

The dustless sandblasting just uses water along with the blast media. What I have seen done, leaves quite a bit of caked on blast media in the corners and crevasses that is a bit of a pain to take care of. I assume that you are aware that not all blasters know what they are doing on sheetmetal and not all do a thorough job? Also I would not allow anyone to use silica sand as an abrasive. Reason being that not all primers, particularly epoxy, is compatible with a surface that has silica imbeded into the metal. Yes the silica does get into the base metal.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Mobile Soda blasting is what I was considering, however these dry ice blasters seem like the best of both worlds.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

What frame and suspension will be going under the race truck?

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

We will be building a mostly one off program. Rob @ No Limit Engineering has been fantastic in terms of technical knowledge and I bought the Fat Bar 4 Bar kit from him as a starting point out back. Moser Supplied a narrowed 9" and Rob's people welded on the tabs.

Truck will be on coil overs on all four corners. Penski will be helping us with some 4 way adjustable's too.

Up front The wide ride from No Limit with a splined sway bar as well as Wilwood on all 4 corners.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

I don't know anything about dry ice blasting. Soda does not remove rust very well and I would not use it for that and other reasons.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Greg and I decided that we would invest in building an actual frame jig. Something that will become a fixture that we can not only build a truck on it, but use it as a measurable apparatus to lay out and build our frames, suspension and exhaust systems on it.

I chose to use H-Beam with a 6" web over traditional I-beam as the flange is more suited to clamping being parallel with the top face. In this shot you can see one of the 6 legs. The Legs are 6" x 2" 1/4" wall mild steel tube.

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1 of the center legs with the adjustable pads I sourced from McMaster Carr

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The end legs will have offset pads to clear the lowering caster (you will see more of that later)

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The other end.

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Standing on its feet for the first time
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At 17 feet long and 4 feet wide it is a beast. It will consume some shop space for sure

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Here it is sitting in it's home.


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Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Details of the caster plates. Using an 8 ton hydraulic jack I can lock the casters in the down position, lifting the pads 2" off the ground. The casters are rated to 3,000 Lbs. each so this rig will roll rather easily even with a full size truck sitting on top of it.

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Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

I hope them trucks turn out as nice as that shop.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Awesome frame jig. Great idea using the jacks to raise it up like that

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

After all the work we put into building the shop, the truck builds are easy;)

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Thank you, simple ideas from a simple builder. :lol:

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Very nice shop.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Took delivery of the rotisserie yesterday. This is going to really help get things cleaned up. Being able to roll the cab and chassis to have access to the bottom sure does appeal to my old crippled self.


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Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

Lets get some chicken on that rotisserie and start cooooooooking.

Re: Two is easier then one 1965 GMC S/W/BB build
 

No Chicken, but how about some 1965 Sheet metal?

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Greg sure looks happy. ;)