Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

I don't. I actually just signed up here. I work full time day (now lol) and at night help my bro-inlaw at his show building custom cars. I barely have time to take pics let alone post them all online. haha

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Sounds like fun building custom cars.

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Building in my 1 car garage. I used to share a 4600 Sqft shop but gave it up.


https://i.postimg.cc/FR10ST8Q/c10m2.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/DZDLPq34/c10rearbar.jpg

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Yea I love custom fab work. I used to have my own business building air ride mini trucks. Gave that up due to cheap people who had no money to pay for quality work.

Working on a 66 Nova with a 572 tall deck block right now.

Made some motor mounts which will weld to the aftermarket subframe.

https://i.postimg.cc/mkHXYLJR/572mounts.jpg

Had to rebuild a header to fit between the block and the frame/shock tower.

https://i.postimg.cc/vm0NMS5R/noveheader.jpg

After trying to fit the mini starter couldn't make it fit no matter how I configured the header. The 572 is taller and wider than a standard BBC and this aftermarket subframe leaves no room. Had to change tactics and ended up using this header with a welded on 3" outlet. Not optimal.

https://i.postimg.cc/VsrVQg6T/novaheader2.jpg

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

That looks awesome! I can't wait till I'm on frame and suspension. That will be alot more fun than rust repair. Also alot more $$$:waah::lol:

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

This was one of the first custom trucks I built. Seems like forever ago now.

https://i.postimg.cc/Kv9f1gRL/s15.jpg

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

I got tired of doing rust repair so I jumped on the frame. Keeps things interesting too. lol

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Right on man. Keep up the good work!

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Thanks. You too. Keep posting updates.

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Ok so things with my cab corner are getting a little Mad Maxish over here.:lol: I have been slicing and slicing and welding and welding then slicing and slicing....well you get the idea.;) I believe that I have the shape figured out now and all tacked up. My dad is going to come lay a second set of eyes on it to see if I'm missing anything before I weld and weld and grind and grind.:lol: What do you guys think?

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Well we looked it over several times and my dad didn't see anything odd with it so I went to town with the welder. Still have all the bottom Splices to weld back together then I can grind and ill be onto the rocker, which looks like it could be my worst fitting piece yet. Par for the course I suppose haha. Stay tuned to see just how much fun it might be....:lol:

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Looking real good. Looks like you have things well in hand. Keep up the great work.

When you're done you can come finish my cab. :lol:

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

:lol: seems to me that will be quite a while considering that there is still a whole rest of a truck to do;)

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Can't rush perfection right? :lol:

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Absolutely. I figure I have somewhere between 500 and 750 hours on this cab so far

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Cab corner is in and done. I stripped the remainder of the rear of the cab and got the rocker spliced and fitting. Turns out that 3 splices was all I needed to get the rocker fitting so that is nice. I do have to hang the door and fender to confirm that it all lines up at the front.

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

When I went to hang my door and fender to confirm that everything was fitting, I ran into an issue with the door. While the front and rear door gaps were nice, the top and bottom were skewed about 1/4". I tried several different door adjustments but was unable to find one I was happy with. Turns out my uncle (chewychevy67) had a spare door that fits my cab like a glove! Near perfect gaps all the way around. Thanks chewy!:metal:

I now can finish my rocker prep and get it welded in. Hopfully that will be this week some evening. Feeling very excited that it will be a complete cab again! :metal:

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Glad it works for you!

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Woo hoo! Milestone reached! It is officially a complete cab again with no more rust (or so I hope) :lol: Feels like I am actually accomplishing something now.:metal:

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

I took a break from all the welding and grinding tonight to try and work out an idea that a friend gave me. I was planning to remove my ashtray and smooth out the dash there and he gave me a better idea. Why not remove all the inner workings of the ashtray and have the door hinge down to house some aftermarket switches and stuff. I figured that was a pretty cool idea and I've been brainstorming for a few days to figure out what sort of hinge would work for this. Today I went to visit my dad and he had an extra glove box hinge for his 58 impala. Looked perfect for the job, it even has an offset so that the door swings out and down instead of just straight down, giving me a ton of clearance between the bottom of the door and the dash. After some modifications to the ashtray door and shortening the hinge to fit, it looks like its going to work perfect. The only thing I have to figure out now is how to keep the hinge from swinging past 90°, how to keep the door from just falling open and how to attach the hinge to the very shallow door.

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Cool idea

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Thanks man

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Ok so I'm finally finished the tedious task of welding that plate into the back of the ashtray door. It is quite thin so I had plenty of down time while waiting for tacks to cool. Once that was done, I had to weld all of the random holes in the hinge shut and drill proper ones. I made the mounting holes slotted to allow for adjustment depending how thick the ashtray bumpers are. I have yet to weld the hinge to the ashtray door because after alot of consideration, I have decide that if I can spring load the hinge, that would be the best option. I am bringing the hinge with me to work tomorrow to see if I can find something that will work for me.

The last picture shows the access hole I choose to cut so that I could drill the holes for mounting the hinge. I was planning to remove the speaker grill anyway and smooth out that section of the dash.

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Well the spring loaded hinge is a bust. I found some springs that I thought would work but they just bent when I tested them. On the plan B I guess.:waah:

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Got the small slice that I had made in the ashtray hinge for the spring to sit in welded shut. I then welded the hinge to the door and put it in. Super happy with how it turned out. I still have to make the stopper/latch so that it doesn't just fall open while driving. Dare I even say that the hinge looks factory under there.;)

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

What will the aftermarket switches control?

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

I plan to run some lighting in the engine bay and possibly the undercarriage for when I have it at a show. I'd also like to put a neutral safety kill switch as well for an added level of security. Im sure there will be some other ideas that come up as well as the build progresses. I was originally going to have them hidden under the dash but when I thought about it, I wanted them to be easy to access and since the ashtray does nothing for me, it seemed like the perfect place.

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

I made the arm that I needed to keep the ashtray latched and from opening too far tonight. It was alot of trial and error. The arm looks bad in the picture but with a bit of refining and once it's all black, I think it will look just fine.:metal:

If you look closely, you can see a magnet tucked under the corner of the hinge. That is what keeps it from coming open. I will need to get a smaller magnet though as that one partially covers a hole that I will need when I build the switch mounting plate.

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Tonight I made the mounting surface for the switches. I will not drill the holes for them until I actually get the switches which won't be until I'm into wiring, so that is the end of that mod for the time being. I plan to use a push button style switch. I should have room for 4 switches which should cover anything aftermarket I plan to add. Now it's back to filling my door jambs smooth and smoothing out the rocker.

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Would be a great spot for a Zoomie button for exhaust cut outs. I like the idea of some type of kill switch also.

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Looks great, nice mod.

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Thanks guys! Exhaust cutouts would be wicked

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Well working with the ashtray mod was a nice break from all the extreme welding and grinding. Now that I've taken a bit of a break on all that, I'm feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of this door jamb!:metal:

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

My door jamb is now finish welded as well as the rocker. I have started the long process of the good ol 80 grit rub down in preparation for primer. There will be a few spots to pull with the pinner yet but maybe if all goes well, I can prime next weekend.:metal:

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

80 grit sounds really rough. I use SPI and I think they call for 220-320 grit scratch. Truck is looking good

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

It does seem rough but I find that a peice of 80 grit against bare metal very quickly become alot finer, I'd say at least 180. My paint stripper wheel that I use makes some pretty deep scratches and the 80 grit seems to take them out nice. I worked in a body shop out of high school for 2 years and I thought that is what we did but maybe I need to refreshmy knowledge? Thanks for the compliments by the way. I've been working alot of hours on the truck while I can before the baby comes. Hoping to get it into primer before then.

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I talked to a friend of mine who works in a body shop and has for many years and he told me that 180 is what I should be taking it to before primer. 80 grit is what I want before I do any body work. He also told me that it is not recommended to have any body work over top of primer so you may have just saved me a TON of extra work. Just another example of the amazing amount of knowledge there is on this board. Thank you sir!

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Sanding and sanding tonight.:lol: I sanded more sheet metal until I ran out of sandpaper, still plenty left to do. After I ran out of disc's for my DA I started doing some hand sanding in some tight spots. Around the driver side cowl and outer kick areas were not being friendly and it kept biting me.:waah: I got them sanded pretty good but there was still a small amount of surface rust in some areas so I decided to spray those areas with rust converter. I guess a trip to the auto body supply shop is in order.

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Cab is all sanded down in 80 grit, I have sprayed most of the floor pan with rust converter, the rest was sprayed with what was advertised as the same thing I've been using but it is not. It goes on like a clearcoat and then takes 24 hours to dry before you can prime it. I think I will be going back to the other stuff I was using. Here I was hoping to see the floor pan all one colour tonight.:waah:

I do have a bit more exciting things going on though. After a few trips to the autobody supply store, I was able to get most everything I need to do body work so I put the first coat of short strand fiberglass reinforced body filler on the passenger cab corner where it was a little wicked.:devil:

Re: My 1970 GMC Project
 

Got the rest of the cab floor sprayed black. Felling like a complete cab more and more each day. I also got the rest of the "marglass" as we called it at the body shop I worked at more that 8 years ago applied and sanded on the lower back section 9f the cab. I need to apply more marglass in the door jabs and the room seam I welded shut as well as the bottom of the rockers and then I will be able to get out the regular bondo and see how my body work skills have held up after all these years.:lol:

I also took out my pinner and pulled the dents on the drivers side of the cab corner where the box had obviously slammed into the cab. I'm thinking this cab was involved in a wreck possibly at some point. Would explain the hulk status of the vin that came with it.