TA_C10: Stage 1

[MDPotter]

Looks good man! How does it feel to have the cab painted?

That color is different, I like it. I'm interested to see how it looks in the sun. It almost looks like lizard skin, but smoother and with a low level gloss.

[TA_C10]

And the next day I had some friends come over to lift and we dropped the cab on frame. Then, last minute we decided to go grab the bed and drop it on too just to get it out of back yard and see what it looks like. I am super excited.

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

Looks good man! How does it feel to have the cab painted?

That color is different, I like it. I'm interested to see how it looks in the sun. It almost looks like lizard skin, but smoother and with a low level gloss.

It feels amazing man. Huge relief. More motivation to hurry and finish this sucka!

The paint is awesome in the sun. Pics don't do it justice. I got the HRF gun metal gray metallic in a Satin finish. No polishing, no sanding, just spray and go. boom.

[SCOTI]

The recent pics aren't showing up for me??

[TA_C10]

Fixed the pics again. What a pain this is.

[cornerstone]

Picture no worky for me!😥

[TA_C10]

Update - Starting Vintage Air Install

Vintage Air inventory:
VTA-941170
VTA-150001
VTA-246780


Started the install. Box was the hardest thing to install. Had to remove the front bracket and control module on top to get past the dash. Then I reinstalled them after I got the holes drilled and mounted. Other than that, everything has been going pretty smooth.

I'm using new method to post pics. Let me know if you can't see the 3 pics below.

[MDPotter]

I don't see the pictures.

[TA_C10]

Update - Steering Column, Windshield Wipers, Windshield Washer pump, Brake Pedals

Got all the pedal assembly's and bagged hardware out. Took a day to clean scuff and paint everything. Got my parking brake, regular brake pedal assembly and all the hardware installed. Brake booster bracket and steering column installed too.

The steering column I had a member rebuilt a newer unit for me. It's been shortened 2 inches, completely rebuilt internals, tilt, auto indicator, and cruise control wiring and turn signal lever option installed(This will be wired into the DBW TAC module later).














Here is new brake switch(I'm LS swap so I'm using the 3 pin).

[Jason Banks]

I do see your latest pictures where you use imgur ! sadly most of the earlier ones are gone

[SCOTI]

I can see pics now. Looking good!

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by Jason Banks

I do see your latest pictures where you use imgur ! sadly most of the earlier ones are gone

Thanks for letting me know, glad they are working. As for the old pics, it's going to take me a long time to fix all of them. I'm too busy right now to get to them but I will post updates from now on each time I complete a whole page of fixed pics.

.

[cornerstone]

It's great to see what you've got done. Looking good man.

[1971Stepside]

Tons of progress! Rolling around in that cab floor installing all the various components makes for a sore back. Almost there! Keep going.

[TA_C10]

Thanks guys, mucho appreciated. QQ. What are you guys doing for a bulkhead connector at engine bay side of firewall? I got the American Autowire Deluxe harness and it didn't come with the bulkhead for our trucks...

.

[MDPotter]

I got their classic update kit and it came with it...I haven't heard of a deluxe kit, what is it?

[TA_C10]

This is what happens when too much time goes by and my plans changed and didn't update my parts list numbers... It appears I bought the universal 20 circuit deluxe kit instead of the full wire harness for our trucks. I may be shaving the firewall hole. Or maybe I can reuse the old bulkhead connector...

[MDPotter]

It looks like that kit has the same style fuse panel, but probably doesn't have the same connectors. You could mount it in the driver side vent and run the wires through the cowl to the engine bay, it's a pretty clean look. But if you want to have a disconnect in the wiring from the engine bay to the cab, you would have to do something. American Autowire has other bulkheads available that might have the capacity for those wires.

[1971Stepside]

You could mount it in the driver side vent and run the wires through the cowl to the engine bay

This is what I am doing with my wiring harness. I do plan on buying the kit that Potter purchased though.

[TA_C10]

Update - Brown Truck Goodies and Brakes

I love what brown can do for me

I found a mucho cheaper SS battery drop box on amazon that I will mount on passenger side frame rail to relocate my battery. Looks like great quality too so I am really happy with this purchase.

I also got a lokar kit for 4l60e trans to our steering column types. Same kit everybody else seems to be getting.

I'm rebuilding my rag joint too for the steering shaft to steering gear connection. I finally found a new rubber seal for the shaft! Took me forever but they sell them for the Nova's and Camaro's all day long and they are the same steering shaft we have

And then I decided to grab a new brake booster after all. I planned to reuse the old but it was in such sad shape and everything else looked so nice I couldn't do it. Plus that big sucker would have been really close to the LS coil packs. So I grabbed a new one I found on ebay. It's an 8" dual diaphram designed for our trucks. I love the upgrade. It has an adjustable heim joint that replaces the exisiting rod and makes it easy to adjust. It also has a much shorter bracket that brings the whole unit closer to the firewall. I just need to find a grommet to fit the firewall as it didn't come with one and I don't have the old one anymore. Speaking of grommets. I also need to find 2 new grommets to go around the heater core pipes/holes in firewall from the vintage air kit. It also didn't come with those 2 grommets for some reason...

[TA_C10]

I also decided to tear down my bed for several reasons. The sandblaster is coming on Wednesday to do all the rest of my parts. Should make it easier for him to blast, easier to transport, and easier for me to prime and paint.

It was really easy to tear down. It's held together by bolts that I just cut as I'm replacing them anyways. They were all frozen from 50 years of rust... The upper bolts in front panel to side panels were easy to get out however. And there are 4 small tack welds as the rear of bed near tailgate. Easy Easy Easy.


Before and After

[SCOTI]

Lots of progress!

[TA_C10]

Updates - Booster Vacuum Check Valve and Steering Shaft

Got the steering column painted and rebuilt. That new steering shaft boot was perfect fit. Little grease and it installed without issue. In the kit you had the option of using 2 studs with nuts, or 1 stud with nut and 1 press-in stud. I chose the press-in stud for the side that the bolt goes in to clamp holding it to steering gear. The reason being is if you use the stud, you have to put a nut on the end and it would get in the way of the bolt head you tighten to the steering gear. See third pic below.









The brake booster and intake vacuum connection. So my LM7 intake had a plug installed in the back of intake vacuum port. I found the part number to convert the pug to barb fitting. I also found the part number to replace the check valve in the booster to match the vacuum port size in LM7. Boom. Done. Ready for vacuum hose.

Intake Barb for LM7 truck intake = GM 12559760










Booster Check Valve = GM 15823207




Comparison between the old 3/8" valve to the new 1/2" valve.

[TA_C10]

And I fixed page 14 pics. Some exhaust pics there and other stuff. For those that were asking for those pics.

[Scurry67]

Man you're getting some stuff done! You'll be on the road before you know it. How'd the sandblasting go? Nice work!