Blake's 67 GMC stepside build

[rusty76]

Well if you can handle body work I'm sure you can handle an house remodel. Great job on the doors.

[reaper71]

Doug and Rusty thank you!!


Pic #1. Back in primer..

Pic #2. 2nd view

Pic #3. and one more..

[yj4000]

Very nice work! Most door bottoms don't get that much attention. This type of detail is what set the nice trucks apart from the Excellent trucks.

Ryan.

[reaper71]

Thank you Ryan!!!
This was something Dad (oldman3)had taught me to do with thing's like this, Most people will never see it but it's the right thing to do..


Pic #1. Drivers side door's turn for TLC..

Pic #2. 2nd shot

Pic #3. After the blocking was done and ready for more primer.

Pic #4. This was after the primer was sprayed, I masked it off to keep from getting overspray on the backside of the door..

Mark...

[Advanced Design]

You know, if you and Jim ever host a body work/paint and interior seminar count me in!

[reaper71]

Haha, sure thing Doug!!

[rusty76]

I'd go as well. Might take me a little while to get there. Lol

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

You know, if you and Jim ever host a body work/paint and interior seminar count me in!

^^^ X2 ^^^. Awesome work!

[reaper71]

Thank's Guys...Too kind!!

Pic #1. So...Someone at some point it time thought it was a good idea to butcher up the hole for the antenna. (Needs help)

Pic #2. This was after I cut out the janky piece. (I rounded the corners to help keep cracks from starting)

Pic #3. The new piece ready to go in.

Pic #4. Tacked in place.

Pic #5. All metal finished, a bit of hammer/dolly and ready for poly filler and primer..


Mark...

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by reaper71

Thank's Guys...Too kind!!

Pic #1. So...Someone at some point it time thought it was a good idea to butcher up the hole for the antenna. (Needs help)

Pic #2. This was after I cut out the janky piece. (I rounded the corners to help keep cracks from starting)

Pic #3. The new piece ready to go in.

Pic #4. Tacked in place.

Pic #5. All metal finished, a bit of hammer/dolly and ready for poly filler and primer..


Mark...

On the antenna plate, any advice on keeping it from warping and changing the contour? I still fight that, still learning, i would to love to show a piuc that didn't have bondo slathered allover it someday, my gas filler delete plate i just did is a prime example..

[reaper71]

Swamp Rat... To answer that question, The cowl does have a bit of a compound curve to it so was a little easier to keep it's shape.
But for future projects what makes it easier for me is I tack it in the corners first and use a hammer and dolly to flatten the weld. Then put a tack in between these tacks and repeat. If the metal starts to move a little to much you can always grind the weld,cut and re do. ( practice on old pieces to get the hang of it, so take an old piece and remove a chunk and make a New filler piece and weld in)

Hope this helps, any more questions feel free to ask I'll try and answer the best I can...

Mark...

[reaper71]

Pic #1. This is the Running board..
As you can see a classic "cave & pave"

Pic #2. Here it is with the 1/2" of mud removed A snotted up mess!!

Pic #3. 2nd look

Pic #4. So first I removed all old welds. Then I made 2 cuts so I could start to pull it back into it's original shape.

Pic #5. After welding

Mark...

[reaper71]

Swamp Rat, To add to your question (forgot to mention) Invest in some small magnets and clamps they are a life saver!!

Originally Posted by swamp rat

On the antenna plate, any advice on keeping it from warping and changing the contour? I still fight that, still learning, i would to love to show a piuc that didn't have bondo slathered allover it someday, my gas filler delete plate i just did is a prime example..

[reaper71]

Pic #1. Here is another look after I pulled the steel back into shape and welded.

Pic #2. After spraying in Epoxy primer.

Pic #3. A shot in High build

Pic #4. after blocking

[swamp rat]

Could you do me a favor and put a straight edge across the lower body line on that door front to back and tell me if its suppose to have a bit of a curve to it? I assumed they were straight but never looked that close at them untill i took my door off and did a little spot media blasting, i thought maybe i may have stretched the door skin it but i checked the passanger door ( no media spot blasting ) and it was the same.

Guess i'm learning more and more stuff about these trucks every day.

[reaper71]

Yes they do!!! It is fairly slight.

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Could you do me a favor and put a straight edge across the lower body line on that door front to back and tell me if its suppose to have a bit of a curve to it? I assumed they were straight but never looked that close at them untill i took my door off and did a little spot media blasting, i thought maybe i may have stretched the door skin it but i checked the passanger door ( no media spot blasting ) and it was the same.

Guess i'm learning more and more stuff about these trucks every day.

[swamp rat]

Ok, maybe about 1/4" out in the middle or maybe less? Thanks!

[reaper71]

Yes, give or take...


Pic #1. Ok, as some of you may know the stock dash in these trucks are a bit Boring and the customer wanted to change it up a little but not go overboard!
Here is the old portion I removed and will be smoothed out and will have the radio and A/C controls in it's place.

Pic #2. The template.

Pic #3. Transferred to metal..

Pic #4. The opening that will be filled in.

Pic #5. New panel tacked in place..

[reaper71]

Pic #1. Another view.

Pic #2. All welded and ground.

Pic #3. Here is a shot after the radio slot was cut out and the new bracket was fabricated to hold up the back of radio.

Pic #4. Here is the radio installed as well as the A/C controls. The A/C controls did not have a mounting plate so I made one from a piece of Aluminum and will be polished later.

Pic #5. Another view.

Mark...

[Advanced Design]

Well that is cool!

[reaper71]

Thank's Doug..

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Well that is cool!

[reaper71]

On to the A/C setup...

Pic #1. I decided to go with round vents since they fit really nice in the lower section of the dash..

Pic #2. Showing the passenger side. It also shows the empty inside of glove box area where the new A/C unit will make it's new home.

Pic #3. This is the new A/C unit...It is made by Southern Rods (southern Air Maxi 1 unit) It is fairly small,all electric controls and full kit is $819 compaired to the V.A unit over a Grand...

Pic #4. Another view.

Pic #5. The brackets I made to mount the unit..

[reaper71]

This update is of an Idea I had for the "Transponder" for the GPS speedo from Speedhut. I didn't want the unit sitting on the dash and looking ugly so...

Pic #1. I removed the old section of speaker grill and made a plate to replace it.


Pic #2. This was after all the tacking was done and started to cut the shape for the Transponder.

Pic #3. Here the unit is being mocked up.

Pic #4. This is after the metal work was done and ground down.

Pic #5. Here the Transponder is in it's new home.
(The wire for the transponder will run through the hole in the back of recess to the gauge)

Till next time..
Mark...

[Advanced Design]

Looks good Mark. Great idea for the sensor. Did the ac package have patterns for positioning the vents?

[reaper71]

No Sir all My figuring.