1976 CCSB Duramax Project #trucknamedsue

[RADustin]

Originally Posted by Devilman

Bump!!!! It's time for some updates!! Hopefully you're done with my copy of your suspension

I'll get an update put up. Been working off the list everyone hates- all the small detail/odds/ends parts.

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

I've seen some cool updates on instagram! Hoping they make it here...

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Amazing work you're doing here! I'm really jealous of the 3d scanning and the planning it all in solid works. You are doing an awesome job and your fab work is excellent! Do you work in a body shop full time?

Thanks! No I have access to a body shop(my fathers) but I don't work there. I worked summers growing up but my day to day is design engineering.

I treat fabrication as a craft and a hobby. It's something I'll never be good enough at and always push to get better. At the same time, I'm not sure yet how to sustain my current income and do it as a job- so it remains a hobby.

[Dieselwrencher]

By looking at your work I'd beg to differ that you couldn't do it for a living. But I know all to well what you mean. The costs of equipment to get going is no cheap deal nor a small feat. Either way, keep up the great work!

[SBTork]

Awesome work! Love the fab work

[daddyjeep]

I will certainly follow along with this one. That is the suspension that I will build some day. I am sure mine will net be as pretty though.

[RADustin]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

By looking at your work I'd beg to differ that you couldn't do it for a living. But I know all to well what you mean. The costs of equipment to get going is no cheap deal nor a small feat. Either way, keep up the great work!

yep! and I have a certain way I'd want to do things- and being picky costs even more $$.

Originally Posted by SBTork

Awesome work! Love the fab work

thanks

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

I will certainly follow along with this one. That is the suspension that I will build some day. I am sure mine will net be as pretty though.

you may be able to buy this exact setup, with instructions on the installation

[Low Elco]

Fantastic update! I love this build.

[RADustin]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Fantastic update! I love this build.

stay tuned, more to come!

[RADustin]

Time for a update! Way over due as usual!

Finished up some final suspension/frame pieces.

first up was a little spreader bar between the 4-link mounts.




then I worked on the spare tire carrier and rear frame supports. I wanted to tie the hitch in well, and have a spare tire winch. I designed around the 2014 donor truck winch.






finally found the set of wheels I've been looking for. 20x10 Weld Racing Cheyenne wheels. in 8 on 170 pattern. I will convert the rear to work, front will remain stock. This is due to the rear hubs being a non-wear item but the front unit bearings are. I just peaked in the wheel boxes and put them in storage.


finished out front crossmember and steering box supports. This will give me a ton more lower radiator clearance and be stronger than the OEM piece. It also integrates and shares a bolt with the sway bar mounts.


notched the tie bar in the front to clear the master.


then I started the massive journey of the exhaust and hangers and such. I did a 3" out the turbo and merged to 4" along side the transmission. 20" magnaflow muffler and a 5" dual wall tip. The dual wall tip is not just for looks but also so the tip doesn't drone and magnify the exhaust note. I don't want a loud truck, but some good sound should be nice. Used all the rubber hangers from the donor truck to hold the exhaust firm in place, but let it live.

started at the front using a stainless ebay downpipe. Cut off the 9th injector bung and fabricated a new lower downpipe mount since I rotated the downpipe in from factory position. also cut off the factory bubble flange.




making my way rearward-










welding out-




bent up a front hanger-






hung muffler up tight-




exhaust hanger bent up-


exhaust hanger on the muffler, ready for welding


hung


final rear section over the axle-












welding out the rear-






rear hanger

[RADustin]

The steering column finally came in. Beware ordering from IDIDIT. It will take WEEEEKS. but it does look nice when it comes in.


planning out my steering wheel angle sensor-


got the brake position sensor mounted in. studied the stock setup from the 2014 and mimicked it.

machined a pin for the brake arm.




welded to a plate to bolt to the arm.




everything fit up-




welded-


in the truck, clears the column and brake arm well.




and it works-


then I started working on the front fenders. I wanted to knock out some body work to keep it from piling up at the end.

I decided it was best to pull the fenders apart and take the skins off. Then I can fully blast and prime every surface and fix all the damage much easier.

separated-


nasty inside, and lots of damage.








fixed-


inside of the inner/outer, primed and blacked out with weld thru on the edges.




back together- took about 3 hrs to take apart, 3 hours to put back together, about 2 hours to fix all the damage plus blast and prime work. So no small feat.


I'm currently working on the passenger fender. Got it ripped apart and ready for blasting. And I'll be working on body work for the drivers.


Hope yall enjoy

[SBTork]

I really like your exhaust work and usage of oem type hangers. Phenomenal work!

[Devilman]

Oh man soooooo much awesome fab work!!! Please hurry up and get done so you can build replica parts for me!! LOL but seriously

[LT7A]

Man. So methodical and precise. But great progress as well. Thank you for taking pictures in little steps along the way and posting them.

[RADustin]

Originally Posted by SBTork

I really like your exhaust work and usage of oem type hangers. Phenomenal work!

thanks! yeah I really think the OEM hangers are the best available. I cut all the forged stems off the frame as well before it was scrapped, so I could use them. Worked well.

Originally Posted by Devilman

Oh man soooooo much awesome fab work!!! Please hurry up and get done so you can build replica parts for me!! LOL but seriously

I'm rolling just about as fast as I can. I'm long ready for this truck to be on the road.

Originally Posted by LT7A

Man. So methodical and precise. But great progress as well. Thank you for taking pictures in little steps along the way and posting them.

yep- I have more pictures than I post as well. Let me know if you want to see something in more detail.

This truck was on the drawing board for a long time before any metal was cut. I think that's one reason for steady progress. I never go to work on it and sit and scratch my head- its usually already planned and I just have to do it. I keep my planning and part ordering about 2wks ahead of my actual progress.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice work! There are many, many hours in these pics! The exhaust turned out awesome! You have some skills sir!

[RADustin]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice work! There are many, many hours in these pics! The exhaust turned out awesome! You have some skills sir!

thanks! it is crazy how a single picture can represent so much effort.

BTW- I'm still working on getting the picture sizes to work correct. photobucket was so easy but since their screw ups I been trying to use imgur.

[daddyjeep]

Originally Posted by RADustin

BTW- I'm still working on getting the picture sizes to work correct. photobucket was so easy but since their screw ups I been trying to use imgur.

I think your picture size is just fine.

[BIGglaSS]

Nice work on the exhaust!

[Dads79GMC]

Awesome build!!!

[RADustin]

thanks guys. I figure I'm due for an update.

got the fender body worked and shot in poly primer, followed by blocking it back out and getting it shot in some urethane.









sent a couple days getting the bed straighter than it was, blocked out and primed twice more. It now awaits final block and paint.





got the gooseneck holes cut. it was hard to cut into a perfect bedfloor.


front brake lines came in from crowne. They are stainless but I had them covered in a black rubber slip. That way they aren't too bling bling.



then I started working on the column. First order of business was to move the mounts up 1-7/8" to shorten it.

where I started-


housing marked with tape and cut




I cut off one mount at a time, welded up any cut-off tool grooves and ground back flat, then used the stock mounting bracket to realign the mount 1-7/8" forward.







eventually got both moved up forward.


I've been working on the steering wheel angle sensor for a while now.

this is the general idea. to split the column tube to house the sensor.


sent the housings out to get made. they are cut from stainless.










the machine that cut them . a 5axis dmg mori.


sensor fitted in housings


I had models 3d printed that are split in half so I can slip around the OD of the column to find the best spot for the sensor.


I can tuck it right in up top in the dash. so it should be unnoticeable.


with the location figured I got the model built out will all the lengths figured.


cut the column housing. also hard to do, these things aren't cheap.


and cut the lower column shaft. and weld preped it for a full-pen. I will machine a slug to go on the inside to line everything up and add in some plug welds.




getting the sensor fitted to the column housing. used the big lathe and a dial indicator to set run out.






also worked on the sensor key in the bridgeport. This piece will key the sensor to the steering column shaft.




for the turn signal I am using late model GM parts to gain the 7 position wipers and cruise control. I bought a few stalks and figured out how to take them apart with breaking them. Then I measured up the OEM parts and redrew them to interface with the IDIDIT column. printed some test parts out of ABS.


here is the stock stalk and the one I made with the pieces on the end. I will have the final one professionally printed.


that's about where I'm at right now. Have some more work on the column then I'll prime the housings and put it all back together. Getting closer to knocking out some of these smaller projects and then it'll be time to paint the frame and all the components.

[Ofnaman1]

Incredible work!

[aggie91]

Wow, just WOW...

[Low Elco]

Daaaaaannnnnng! That's some high end stuff! This is gonna be cool.

[83GMCK2500]

I can't tell you how great it is to catch updates here and on IG. Someday I hope to be able to put this much time & detail into a build. Great work!

[daddyjeep]

Steering wheel position sensor... in a square body. I assume that you are going to adapt all of the ABS stuff and even ESC?

[RADustin]

Originally Posted by Ofnaman1

Incredible work!

Originally Posted by aggie91

Wow, just WOW...

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Daaaaaannnnnng! That's some high end stuff! This is gonna be cool.

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

I can't tell you how great it is to catch updates here and on IG. Someday I hope to be able to put this much time & detail into a build. Great work!

Thanks guys! It's yalls support that keeps me moving.

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

Steering wheel position sensor... in a square body. I assume that you are going to adapt all of the ABS stuff and even ESC?

yes I am keeping all the GMT900 BCM, EBCM and the pitch/yaw sensor. So the truck will have ABS, stabilitrak, integrated trailer brakes with trailer sway control and anything else a 2014 has. I will be keeping onstar as well and using the newer style rearview mirror with backup camera in the glass.

One of the reasons I chose the LML duramax was the body electronics side of things. I could have much easier and cheaper used the LBZ but the older ABS was crap compared to the GMT900 LML.

This truck I'm building will have all the safety features a new truck has minus airbags and restraints control. The goal is to stuff all this new technology under the cover of the '76. I want the dash to remain as stock appearing as I can. This is why I worked to hide the wheel angle sensor, and the brake position sensor. If the average person doesn't notice anything out of place, that would be perfect.

If later I feel like drilling the bumpers for the sonar systems I can custom flash the BCM and do adaptive cruise like the tahoes have. That would be pretty cool as well.