Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild

[mjensen]

Man that sucks!!

The rest of the truck is absolutely beautiful and I love to see the updates...well, except the carnage

[Blown06]

I have spent all evening reading through your build thread. You've done an awesome job especially with all the issues you've been up against. Top notch work on everything you've done, clean build and I like the root beer color.
Thanks for taking the time over the years to keep posting updates, it's a good reminder to those of us just starting a project that it will take years. None of this stuff happens over night. When I get frustrated with my lack of progress I look at builds like yours that have gone on for years but have turned out to be works of art. Thanks.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by Blown06

I have spent all evening reading through your build thread. You've done an awesome job especially with all the issues you've been up against. Top notch work on everything you've done, clean build and I like the root beer color.
Thanks for taking the time over the years to keep posting updates, it's a good reminder to those of us just starting a project that it will take years. None of this stuff happens over night. When I get frustrated with my lack of progress I look at builds like yours that have gone on for years but have turned out to be works of art. Thanks.

Thanks so much Jarrod for your kind words. This forum has also inspired me to keep plugging away on my project. This truck will get done come hell or high water. It's a dream that deserves my best effort. I worked on cars/trucks for a long time and know well that nothing with cars ever goes as planned. So I roll with it, stay patient and one day soon hope to enjoy the hell out of my truck.

[rgunlock]

Looks like you are on the home stretch with the wiring. Too bad on the broken clutch fork, but better to deal with it parked in the garage than for it to break when you are driving it! Now you have me wondering about mine - I didn't even know there were a bunch of measurements to make. My clutch fork ball isn't adjustable though, so I assume it's just the push rod from the pedal I'll have to worry about adjusting.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Looks like you are on the home stretch with the wiring. Too bad on the broken clutch fork, but better to deal with it parked in the garage than for it to break when you are driving it! Now you have me wondering about mine - I didn't even know there were a bunch of measurements to make. My clutch fork ball isn't adjustable though, so I assume it's just the push rod from the pedal I'll have to worry about adjusting.

Hey Rick, yup, just the front end needs wiring now. I am yet again waiting on some connectors. I decided to redo the rear light harness connector in a weather pack connector. That connector gets hammerd with water etc and the stock def needs upgrading. Most often measurements on the clutch were just for the throw out bearing length. Novak recommends doing this so that is what I did. I sure hope that the clutch will work as it's supposed to now.

[DWilbur]

Now I see the deference with my factory hydraulic clutch and the aftermarket one. my pivot ball does not adjust like yours. glad your able to figure it out.

[cmabolt]

On the road again!
Well, was in Savanna for the weekend, nice town, and while I was away the new clutch fork arrived. It is definitely a re-design. The fingers that retain the spring clip are much beefier and the spring clip is much beefier.
New at top, old on bottom.

A different rivet has also been used. Old first then new below.


Bottom line, the new fork fit tightly into the throwout bearing. It all went together nicely. I also discovered that the piston on the slave cylinder had moved all the way out as a result of the fork slipping off the ball stud. I had to crack open the bleeder and push the rod and piston back to recover some of the slaves throw. Once I did that and hooked everything back up I re-bled the clutch system. It now works absolutely perfect. Pedal feels very nice with a significant throw. I love it when a plan works. I also received all my parts to finish the cab so tomorrow, it will be done. Ahhhhh, the smell of victory.

After going through all this with the Novak hydraulic kit I am going to do some drawings and a write up to make it easier. There is definitely a gap between what they give you for installation and what is truly needed to easily understand how to make it work well.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by cmabolt

After going through all this with the Novak hydraulic kit I am going to do some drawings and a write up to make it easier. There is definitely a gap between what they give you for installation and what is truly needed to easily understand how to make it work well.

Did you ever get this info posted? Anything you would share with someone wanting to use the wilwood/Novak combo? Still working well?

Killer build, by the way. Hope you're enjoying her

[cmabolt]

Hi Chris. here are the drawings I did. Hope this helps. I thought they might be as confusing as the Novak site directions? My system is still working well. Best clutch pedal feel I have ever had.


Good luck Chris

[rgunlock]

Ok Chris, been some time since there's been an update on this thread. I need a little better closure on this I think you need to post at least a few pictures of how the truck's being used, or places it has taken you to. Help a guy out, please

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Ok Chris, been some time since there's been an update on this thread. I need a little better closure on this I think you need to post at least a few pictures of how the truck's being used, or places it has taken you to. Help a guy out, please

Hi Rick! Yeah, been a while. I got to 3 shows this year. The last of which was this past weekend of October 23rd and that is the last in 2016. I didn't ever intend this truck to be a show truck, but have really enjoyed the ritual of getting up early and getting to the shows, chatting with people at the shows and seeing what other people have done. Most of the shows are also donating for a good cause so there's that. As long as the paint holds up, I will keep going I guess. This past show I took home 2nd place in the 4x4 class. That was nice. My truck just can't compete with those trophies trucks that only come off the trailer to be parked and buffed.

I try and drive the truck at least 2-3 times a month to keep it happy and enjoy the fruits of all those years labor. I continue to upgrade when time, but just had a little one, my first, and time is less of a surplus than before her arrival.

I did get a square body sway bar setup for the truck and plan to install as soon as I finish rebuilding my jeep's motor. I also still intend to upgrade the interior with more woodwork, but that will have to wait till next Summer. With the miles I have put on the truck I have had zero issues. It rides great and runs smooth as can be. The motor could use a few more horses for my taste so a cam will likely be put in this coming Summer as well.

So here's some pics of the summer fun.

[Blown06]

Man that's good news, glad they made it right. The new piece does look beefier for sure.

[rgunlock]

"so tomorrow, it will be done"

The whole truck? Done? Woohoo!!!

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

"so tomorrow, it will be done"

The whole truck? Done? Woohoo!!!

Yeah I wish. Nope, just the cab. I still have to get the trans crossmember back in
and fuel line back on etc. before I can get the front wired. Still... not too far off.

[cmabolt]

Got the trans back in and everything hooked back up. Glad that little detour is over.

The dash is back in for a bit and to my joy bolted right in with no issue. I can't wait to see it lit up.

I pulled the grill down from the dusty loft in the garage and pulled it apart. It's in need of a little tlc. This is the inner grill re-painted and disassembled from the outer grill.

I replaced the Bowtie as the old was cracked and weathered.

I spent the rest of the day getting the oxidation and chrome off the aluminum outer grill. Pain in the rear, but it is coming along. By the end of the day I had it pretty cleaned up. I still have a little cleanup, need to paint the headlight bezels and then a final polish. The first polish was good, but needs more for the brushed look to match the rest of the trim pieces.

[cmabolt]

****Bumper help please ****

Well, I didn't remove the bumpers, the original body shop did. I am having a hell of a time figuring our the brackets I have. Specifically, the outer front bumper brackets and the orientation of the rear step bumper brackets. On the rear, I only have one bolt that lines up on the frame. It should be two bolts according to the assembly manual. On the front both my outer brackets correspond to a slotted hole in the frame, but that only work on the passengers side. The steering box is in the way on the drivers side. Anybody have pics that could make this a little less of a guessing game? I would really appreciate it.

Chris

Here are pics of what I have.
Rear bracket

Rear frame. Rear lower hole lines up. Nothing else does.

Front outer brackets

Front passengers frame area with slotted hole?

[Trixxterr]

The pic you have labeled "front outer brackets" look just like my rear brackets on my 80.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by Trixxterr

The pic you have labeled "front outer brackets" look just like my rear brackets on my 80.

Thanks for your comments. I have gone ahead and ordered new front brackets and after checking based on your thoughts, it looks like the rear bumper can utilize the rear brackets I have.

Chris

[mcbassin]

Those brackets you have pictured look different than my front brackets. :PIC HERE
You can see my outer and inner brackets at the bottom.
FYI, I did have to grind some clearance on my driver side bracket where it was hitting on the power steering gear box if I remember correctly.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Those brackets you have pictured look different than my front brackets. :PIC HERE
You can see my outer and inner brackets at the bottom.
FYI, I did have to grind some clearance on my driver side bracket where it was hitting on the power steering gear box if I remember correctly.

Hey thanks Mike. You are correct. I had to order new front brackets. I am now finding out that many parts I had, never made it in the truck on it's journey home from out west. I am left with figuring out the missing pieces to the puzzle.
Thanks for the pics.
Chris

[CUSTOM/10]

Hey Chris !

This is what your front brackets should look like. 71 & 72's have this indent in the bracket to clear the directionals in the bumper. I don't know what the rears should look like for a step bumper.
Gary

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by CUSTOM/10

Hey Chris !

This is what your front brackets should look like. 71 & 72's have this indent in the bracket to clear the directionals in the bumper. I don't know what the rears should look like for a step bumper.
Gary

Thanks Gary got'm on order.

As for progress I dropped off the bumpers for clear powder coat today. Hopefully they turn out good and that will preserve the raw metal look. In the mean time I have been focusing on the doors. I got the door panels dyed up and passengers door with all internals put back together. It looks like the door glass was dragged down a gravel road. Very scratched up and in a couple places deep scratches. Bummer. I know I made some of the scratches, but there must have been plenty from age and disassembly.



Steering wheel installed

[IMG][/IMG]
On this pic you can kinda see the brush work I did on the chrome. It just tones everything down a bit.

today I also received my grill center support which didn't make the trip from out west. Once I finish brushing the outer grill that can all go back together.

[rgunlock]

Interior is coming along nicely, and I really like the brushed look on the mirror. Its probably not the right term, but it looks kind of "antiqued" in the picture with the darker areas around the rivets and all. I'm anxious to see how your bumpers turn out with this treatment.

[Blown06]

Those bumpers turned out nice.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by Blown06

Those bumpers turned out nice.

Thanks Jarrod! I can't wait to see them installed.