Project: Rufus Restoration
 

After many years of talking to my dad about doing a joint restoration of a classic ride, it's finally becoming a reality. We came across a truck that had made its way around town to a few different owners, and luckily found it's way home. A tired and worn down 1970 GMC longbed 2WD. My grandpa bought this truck off a used carlot in 1971-72 and only kept it for a couple yrs before trading it in for another ride. During those 2 yrs this truck was used for several different things, including hauling manure to fertilize gma's garden. Long story short, I was given the opportunity to purchase the truck and couldn't pass it up. Up front, I knew it was a major rust bucket, and was going to need a whole lot of TLC and $, but you only live once right. The sentimental value alone was enough to justify the project. Even though I never got a chance to meet my grandpa before he passed, I know he would be excited to see the restoration.

We've been working on the truck off and on for about a year now so I'll try to bring things up to current speed as soon as I can. Until then, I'll leave you with a few pictures from the day I drove it home.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...m/DSC00522.JPG

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Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

I like the color combo, it maybe rough but they make just about every repair part for it.
Father & son builds are a good thing

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

I agree with Dave. Get you some repair panels, a mig welder, and you will learn some skills you will have a lifetime.

Steve

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Gonna need a lot of patch panels and you are gonna go through a lot of welding supplies but she can be fixed! :metal:

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Luckily, we've come a long way since those initial pictures, and to this point, I believe our ride is rust free. The truck began as a long bed GMC with a leaf spring rear. When I bought the truck, I also picked up a 72 Chevy shortbed with a coil rear, with plans of switching the good GMC parts to the short frame. Fortunately, my dad has his own body shop, which has played a major role in this restoration thus far. Unfortunately, his shop is located a couple hours away from where I live, so I sometimes have a hard time convincing him to wait around for my help. I've missed out on a large portion of the rust repair, but I try to make it home as much as possible to get my hands dirty and put in my $.02. More to come soon.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...m/DSC00523.JPG

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...050111_047.jpg

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Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...m/DSC00555.JPG

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Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...um/frame13.jpg

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...um/frame33.JPG

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...m/DSC00621.JPG

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Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

My first attempt at using photoshop. Had there not been so much rust repair, keeping the original color scheme might have been pretty cool.

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

love it thus far, i converted my leaf spring long bed over to trailing arms, I'm actually in the middle of that now. Im bagging it so it should sit nice and low. Like the color too bad you can keep the patina.

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

nice work being done Keep it up..

My Buildhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=468622

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

There you go! Looking awesome, keep going and you will be driving that thing in no time.

Steve

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Thanks for the kind words! If the pictures aren't obviously clear, I got a great deal on a LQ4/4L80E several months ago, and decided go with the LS swap for my drivetrain. The engine/trans came from a 2004 Silverado 2500 that was a repo vehicle. I was told that it runs/drives and has approximately 70k miles. The excitement got the best of me, and I bought some adapter plates/mounts and engine perches before doing much research, so it's been a bit of a hastle to get everything to fit. Long story short, I had to put the engine perches in the 6 cylinder location due to the adapter plates I was using. All was good until the headers didn't have clearance. Back to the drawing board to make some new adapter plates. These plates barely have the clearance to bolt to the block, but I think I'll be able to make it work. Finally got the headers mocked up and should be getting to the exhaust in the next few wks. Fuel system in a box and ready to be installed.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/.../DSC007181.JPG

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Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Haven't had much of an opportunity to get any work done recently. I did find a great deal on some truck rallys from a fellow board member though. Thanks Rick! Also had a couple pics forwarded from my pops of his recent work on the cab.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...um/rallys1.JPG

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/.../DSC006641.JPG

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/.../DSC006631.JPG

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

great looking build !

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Man nice build i liike that color!

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

looks good

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Thanks guys. Slowly but surely making some progress.

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Although not much progress, I did get a chance to get some fuel lines ran over the wkend. The AN braided hoses and ends went together easier than I had expected. Unfortunately, I didn't order enough hose ends, so it'll be a slight delay to get it buttoned up.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...m/DSC00747.JPG

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...m/DSC00749.JPG

Hope to have some more parts in this week to get started on the exhaust.

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

wow nice work!

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

LOOKING GREAT ! killer set of headers !

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Thanks!

Thanks!

We've made some pretty good progress the past few months, but I've been slacking with updates and pictures. I will be in the shop the majority of the coming weekend, and I promise to have some new pictures and updates soon. I'll leave you with this crappy cell phone pic for now.

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Update!

I finally had a free weekend to spend some time in the shop. Since my last real update, there's been some pretty good progress. The cab has been set on the rails, and the interior has been painted. Doors and front clip have been fitted temporarily but still need adjusting to close up panel gaps. Dad got a jump start on the body work and it should be ready for some blocking before long. I purchased a hydroboost adapter and a brake booster adapter from Captainfab and got it all bolted in. I was able to get the hydroboost and hoses from the donor truck that I also got the engine and trans from so things went together nicely. Still need to change the pressure fitting on the line that runs from the hydroboost to the steering box, and lengthen the pushrod to bolt to the brake pedal. Also purchased a vent window rebuild kit, so I'll likely be diving into that before long. Enough of my blah blah blah. On to some pictures...

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

...

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

more.

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

looking good

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Great progress !!

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

At least one pic for finally making it to the 2nd page...

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Thanks!

Thanks 67cheby. Can't wait to see some paint on that cab of yours!

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

I don't want 2 sound like a know it all but in pic 7 the spring on the right looks to be a bit short, looks a lot like the new ones I just got and all 4 of mine are 2 short. can't wait 2 see how they look. Your truck is looking good and I like the color

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

I'm assuming that you're referencing post 7 where the 2 springs are sitting side by side on the rear trailing arm. The spring on the left is the stock spring that came on the truck and the spring on the right is a 6" drop spring that came with my ECE 4/6 drop kit. It really helped the looks of things, but I can not attest to how they feel on the road yet. Some day....some day. Thanks for checking things out. I always appreciate some feedback.

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

How is the hood clearance? I have the same setup with CaptainFabs bracket and a 2005 GMC hydroboost / MC combo.....

Also, what are you doing for a proportioining valve/block? I picked up a Wilwood adjustable piece because I swapped to rear disc brakes. That MC uses a 7/16x24 fitting and most are 3/8x24.

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

With the hood latched, there's enough room to stick the tip of your fingers between the fill spout on the MC and the bottom of the hood, so I'd guess maybe 3/8"-1/2" clearance. I'm going to keep the 04 MC for now but I've been considering changing to a more period correct MC for the hydroboost. I haven't decided what to do with a proportioning valve yet, but was considering the Wilwood adjustable that you used. Thanks for the heads up on the fittings. I was unsure of the size. What did you do for your hoses?

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

www.Kore3.com makes a really nice braided hose that I'll be using. I was thinking that I will probably run them from the proportioning valave to the frame as well to replace the coils in the hard line. It would absorb any amount of chassis flex and look cleaner. Still trying to figure out the specifics. AutoZone had a 3/16 hard line with the correct end on each side to go from the MC to the Wilwood valve....

Here is a link to some good brake tech ....CLICK HERE

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Kore3 makes some nice stuff. Did you make your own pressure hoses to run from your ps pump to hb to steering box? I was able to use the stock hoses but plan on taking the hose from the hb to the steering gear to a shop to have a different fitting put on to fit the steering box inlet. Thanks for the brake tech link...good stuff there.

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

My power steering hoses were hacked off. I ended up buying -6 AN fitting for the HB and steering box. I'll have a local hose place make some AN hoses when I get to that point....

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

No real progress lately, as things have been a little hectic. However, my soon to be grandmother-in-law, has temporarily handed me the keys to her 54 F*rd truck to cruise around in for our upcoming wedding. I know it's not a Chevy, but it does give me some motivation to get kicking on my own project and get it back on the road. Plus, anytime you can put some miles on a classic, it's a good day.

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Sweet...just keep the small projects going and eventually it will be done....

True

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Thanks! Still plugging away at it. Thanks for checking in.

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

nice lookin F*rd. May not be a GMC but I think I would drive it anyway, once in a while

Re: Project: Rufus Restoration
 

Like your project. Four eyes rule!