My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble

[Bomp]

Looking pretty darn good.
It takes a patient person to be able to work through issues when things don't lay out perfectly. ie. cleaning bugs and junk outta a 'finished piece'.
Hope you had a Happy New Year.

[y5mgisi]

Awesome!

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Looks awesome, Rick. One step closer...

Thanks Marcus! Steps like putting in the glass or mounting up the "real" tires are the first ones in this build that feel like "final stretch". This is likely to be a fairly lengthy final stretch, but these accomplishments are the ones really motivating me. BTW, hope the steps you've ordered mount up easier than mine did

Originally Posted by Bomp

Looking pretty darn good.
It takes a patient person to be able to work through issues when things don't lay out perfectly. ie. cleaning bugs and junk outta a 'finished piece'.
Hope you had a Happy New Year.

Thanks, I'm not sure if it is patience, or just stubborn determination. But then you wouldn't know anything about that would you Bomp Does feel good when something like your bedside re-do comes out really nice and justifies the extra effort, doesn't it.

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Awesome!

Thanks y5mgisi! Hope your kitchen remodel goes quickly because I'm ready to follow on your 4x4 swap.

Happy New Year!

[swamp rat]

Getting closer and your worried about dirty new glass for pictures?? <snicker>

[boynton]

I'll sneak in a picture

[boynton]

Rick is doing some amazing work with this truck. I can't wait to see it finished.

[rgunlock]

Thanks Boynton! The help I'd thought I was going to have this past week didn't happen. I made a lot of progress, but didn't finish. Cab, bed, tailgate and doors are mostly done. Haven't started front fenders or hood.

[mjensen]

That is looking real sharp!!! Good work Rick!

[Chevrolado]

Wow.. I just found this build and wandered through all 20 pages so far.. What a build! You've done amazing work and its extremely inspirational on someone like me who is about to start a restoration/build. Great job. Looking forward for what seems like the final steps of this build. Subscribing for the finish.
Nice job!

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by mjensen

That is looking real sharp!!! Good work Rick!

Thanks Mike! Bummer about your cross member interference issue, but sounds like you have a plan and its just good to see you making progress.

Originally Posted by Chevrolado

Wow.. I just found this build and wandered through all 20 pages so far.. What a build! You've done amazing work and its extremely inspirational on someone like me who is about to start a restoration/build. Great job. Looking forward for what seems like the final steps of this build. Subscribing for the finish.
Nice job!

Thanks for the compliments and for checking out my build Dave. Found your build thread from the link in your signature. That's a really nice truck you have - looks like a much better start than I had! Good luck with your restoration. I'll be keeping an eye out for your updates.

[rgunlock]

Still working at the cut & buff. Got the driver's side fender done, and also polished up the rear bumper and mounted it. I'd used a torch on the bumper when I was trying to straighten it out. The heat discoloration did not polish out, but I think I'll live with that anyway.

[rgunlock]

Working on the pedal assemblies now. Cleaned up and painted with Rustoleum hammered black, just because that's what I had. Anyone know where the piece in the last 2 pictures comes from? A couple years ago when I disassembled this I just labeled it "fell out of the pedal assembly". If anyone has a picture of it in place it would help tremendously.

[rgunlock]

Also trying to figure out what to do with my steering column. While its out, I'd like to replace anything worn or likely to break. I've found a number of threads about fixing this or that in the column, but have not found any about rebuilding the column. I know I want to replace the boot on the shaft coupler, as well as the rag joint. Anyone know if this pin is supposed to come out so I can put a new boot on? Tried hammering and pressing out in vise but it doesn't budge. Any links to column rebuilds would be appreciated.

[swamp rat]

Clutch or brake light switch spring bracket? I'd hit Ebay and search this...... "73 87 Chevy Truck Clutch Pedal" ....... and start scanning pic's. Or is there a chance it was bolted elsewhere in the truck and a spring runs from the brake or clutch pedal to the bracket?

Not much help with the steering column..

[rgunlock]

Been making some piddly progress. Got my passenger fender cut & buffed (2nd picture), but I really should have taken a warning from swamp rat's hood mishap. Saturday I'd been in the shop like 5 minutes and hear a big crash. Gust of wind had knocked over the driver side fender that I'd already finished (but not mounted). It fell flat onto the concrete. I don't think it dented or dinged, but not sure that this will buff out. This may just be the excuse I need to figure out spot repairs on the paint.

[rgunlock]

Also got some pedals hung, and mounted my new brake booster. I still have a couple brackets that go in there somewhere. I've got a factory assembly manual for 82 c/k trucks coming that will hopefully show where they go. New pedal rubber from LMC - fit just fine.

[rgunlock]

Also got a pair of door bumpers from LMC so I don't have worry about metal on metal when I close the doors. Made a gasket to mount the fuel filler tubes. Cut new filler and vent hoses to size. Another little project DONE! I like this phase of the build where some things are finally done

[y5mgisi]

Nice!

[swamp rat]

A Jig saw puzzle!

[dug224]

Rick: Took a year (+) off from all the truck stuff. Finally caught up on your thread. Great testimony for staying after it. I'm partial to this body style since I had three of them while in High School. Paint turned out great! Looking forward to the "59 Chevy SWB Stepside (next in line)". dug

[BossH0G]

Good job it's a nice looking truck so far. As far as steering columns go if they ain't broke don't fix em.

[y5mgisi]

Is that a non tilt column? Might be better off to start with tilt.

[7dee2]

Holy Moly! Just kidding I'm sure it'll be like new in no time.

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Hahaha no going back!

Well, I may have to be more sober to get it back together than I was taking it apart

Originally Posted by boynton

Hahaha it better go back

Sure hope so!

Originally Posted by swamp rat

A Jig saw puzzle!

Took a LOT of pictures while disassembling - I'm finally learning If all else fails, there is a guy name milkcrate82 that has a great series of videos rebuilding his C10 column that I'm sure I'll be referring back to a couple of times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W4Ly0m01LE

Originally Posted by dug224

Rick: Took a year (+) off from all the truck stuff. Finally caught up on your thread. Great testimony for staying after it. I'm partial to this body style since I had three of them while in High School. Paint turned out great! Looking forward to the "59 Chevy SWB Stepside (next in line)". dug

Thanks dug! I can't wait to start on the 59 but I'm afraid I'll have a lot of wife projects to catch up on after finishing this truck. Her patience will only go just so far being put on the back burner for her stuff You need to get back to work on yours!

Originally Posted by BossH0G

Good job it's a nice looking truck so far. As far as steering columns go if they ain't broke don't fix em.

Thanks BossH0G! You know, I always thought that I subscribed to that philosophy, but this whole project tells me I've been wrong about that. Its that whole "while its out of the truck anyway..." problem I have.

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Is that a non tilt column? Might be better off to start with tilt.

Yep, its a non-tilt. Too late now to start with tilt - this one is already fairly well started

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Holy Moly! Just kidding I'm sure it'll be like new in no time.

Thanks Brett, just need to order a few things for it "while its apart anyway".

[rgunlock]

Ordered a factory assembly manual for 1982 C-K Models Pickup Blazer and Suburban that just showed up. Thing has to be 4 inches thick, and it is printed double-sided. Tons of great illustrations, but you can't read the index. I'm hoping it will help me figure out where some of the mysterious small parts go that I took off years ago, but its going to take some time to find what I need