What I did today...

[TimE]

The patches all came from Classic Parts of America(Chevy Duty). The pieces that have been pictured are all Tri-Plus parts.

As for updates, I do have the panels fitted, for the most part, and ready to be "final fitted" and welded in. I didn't take any pics of this b/c it was just the same old stuff--put it all together, mount the door, take it all apart, adjust, repeat.

I'm still not fully satisfied with the front inner rocker to outer rocker fitment. There is a gap that I haven't been able to get rid of between them. It got late Friday, so I had to quit. I am off the next two days and plan to address this and get the drivers floor/rocker area completed.

BTW, thanks for asking.

[4dranch]

[QUOTE=TimE;3190233]
I'm still not fully satisfied with the front inner rocker to outer rocker fitment. There is a gap that I haven't been able to get rid of between them. QUOTE]

Tim,
Did you get the gap taken care of?

[TimE]

To be honest David-yes and no.
I got it alot better than it was initially. I could stick my finger in the gap, now it is closed completely except at the very front and it is pretty close to being closed.

Here's a couple pics of where I left it today.






As you can see, the pan is partially welded, the kick panel is installed and the holes don't line up. I also still need to trim the inner rocker at the front.

I ran out of wire this afternoon and was getting ready to go pick up some more in town and remembered I had a 10# spool of .023 stuck back for an emergency (Yea, I had completely forgotten about it) Put the new spool on, started welding again and about 20 minutes later the welder started popping. I looked at my gas gauge and I was out of Argon mix. I called the place that I get my bottles filled at and they said they close at 4:30. It was 3:56 then and the place is about 30 minutes away. I didn't even attempt it. I just went ahead and quit for the day.

I did figure out that a cold weld doesn't stick well. I was trying to stitch in the "spot welds" on the pan and they kept popping loose. Took me a little while to get the heat right and then things went a lot better. Wow, it's been a lloooooonnngg time since I welded. I felt stoopid!

Anyway, the replacement panels didn't line up very well. I made numerous "adjustments" to get them to fit semi-correctly. I am fairly pleased with the way the alignment is at the moment. With all of it mocked up and the door on, the gap looks pretty decent around the door.

I plan to go get my gas bottle refilled tomorrow so it will be ready to go when I get back to it. I will be working nights this weekend so there won't be any more progress for a few days.

On another note, I ordered two more bags (Dominators) last week to go on the rear whenever I get to the suspension. I already have a pair of Firestones for the front. After reading kizers write up on the Yorks I'm kinda leaning that way for a compressor but that is still a ways off for me to worry about right now. It'll be schraders for me initially.

I finally gave up on my b-in-law getting the motor mount adapter plates made for me. I went to a local welding shop and he didn't want to bother with them so I went by a machine shop just to see if they would even talk to me about it. The owner quoted me $65/hr-1 hr min. and I was like . We kept talking and he told me it would be alot more economical for me if he made more.

I'm gonna give him a call and see how many he can make me in an hours time, including parts and setup. I may have him make up a few extras to put on the shelf for future projects. What can I say, I'm cheap and I would feel better paying labor for 2 or 3 sets and have them on the shelf vs. the same $$$ for 1 set. Call me crazy...

Once I get the plates, I am going to set the motor in the frame and see how it looks. After the motor is placed properly, I will pull it back out and then start cleaning/prepping the frame in between working on the cab.

Well that about covers everything up to tonight...I think anyway.

[4dranch]

Looking good Tim, I agree with you, always get your money's worth..

[jason65]

Good to see ya makeing progress.

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by jason65

Good to see ya makeing progress.

Same here man......seems like I alway run out of gas/wire on a Sunday.

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by jason65

Good to see ya makeing progress.

+3

Nice looking work.

Mac.

[Alan's Classic]

X4 Your moving along one step at a time. That is what it takes.

[Captainfab]

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

X4 Your moving along one step at a time. That is what it takes.

X5just keep at it you're making great progress

[TimE]

Thanks for the encouragement guys!! It really helps in the old motivation department.

[protrash64]

.....I can already picture the first smoky burnout video

[joe231]

Nice work!!!

[62 short step]

Looks good!

[TimE]

Originally Posted by protrash64

.....I can already picture the first smoky burnout video

Yeah. That'll probably happen when I attempt to crank it the first time...

Thanks for the interest/support guys!

[Alan's Classic]

Originally Posted by TimE

Thanks for the encouragement guys!! It really helps in the old motivation department.

That's what were here for.

[TimE]

I haven't worked on the truck much until today since the last update.

Last week, I did the 4 high/fog light mod to my Z28(All 6 lights are on when I turn on the high beams). Then I installed an electric fan in my '65 longbed. I actually bought one from the junkyard that I was going to use but there wasn't enough room because of the motor(I6) being too long. I had another one laying aroung that was in my '55 sedan years ago and decided to install it. Seems to work fine. I don't have pics of the fan but here are some pics of the truck.









I use it as a parts chaser. I still need to chase down some electrical gremlins but it runs like a top.

Anyway, on to todays progress...
I finished the drivers' floor pan for the most part, still need to do a little more grinding. It turned out decent.

Mostly finished pan



I was concerned about how I was going to make the filler piece to attach the pan to the trans tunnel. That piece turned out real nice even though it's hard to tell in the pic.

I thought that I had everything lined up but when I got ready to start drilling the holes at the bottom of the A-pillar, I realized that it was slightly crooked. I wound up cutting it loose on two sides and straightening it out. Wasn't a real big deal but it's frustrating to me to have to redo something.

Here's what it looks like now...





Now everything is lined up properly...I think.

I hope to get some more done tomorrow if the weather is decent.

[joe231]

I dig your parts chaser
is that an original rear bumper??

your cab is looking sweet!!!
nice work!
since your gonna be a pro soon,
i got some work for you on your "vacation"

[TimE]

I haven't forgotten about the 5.3. I hope the machine shop will hurry up on my motor mount adapters. I think I'll call him tomorrow. I would really like to set the motor/tranny in the frame. I am out of room!

I was looking back through the thread and realized that I had not posted pics pics of the donor truck as promised. Well here they are...











Do you believe that I cranked this thing up and pulled it into the shop for teardown??? (BTW, I cut the roof off so I could get in the dang thing without hurting myself. It was caved in pretty bad, as you can tell by looking at the drivers door.)

Since these pics were taken I have removed the master cylinder/booster, finished removing the wiring harness and pulled the gas tank. About the only other thing left to remove is the rearend.

[TimE]

Originally Posted by joe231

I dig your parts chaser
is that an original rear bumper??

Yeah, it is an OG bumper. I think it has been modified/beefed up where the ball mount is though.

Originally Posted by joe231

your cab is looking sweet!!!
nice work!
since your gonna be a pro soon,
i got some work for you on your "vacation"

I'm game!!

Oh, don't forget though, pros get paid the big bucks!

[Alan's Classic]

Originally Posted by TimE

Oh, don't forget though, pros get paid the big bucks!

Man, looks like you are doing an excellent job.

[TimE]

Thanks Alan!

[4dranch]

Originally Posted by TimE

Thanks Alan!

Dang Tim,
That donor truck is messed up.

you should have waited and drove up to the oklohoma meet in it

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by 4dranch

Dang Tim,
That donor truck is messed up.

you should have waited and drove up to the oklohoma meet in it

Yet again, you beat me to it 4D....I was thinking it would be great to run down to get a 6pack of barley pops in that and act like it was no big deal....run it thru the carwash.....

Looks like it would be fun to rummage around out on TimE's place for a day.

[jason65]

Barley pops. He better get used to Miller if he is comeing around here.
I would like to see the 5.3 sittin in there also.

[4dranch]

Originally Posted by protrash64

Yet again, you beat me to it 4D....I was thinking it would be great to run down to get a 6pack of barley pops in that and act like it was no big deal....run it thru the carwash.....

Looks like it would be fun to rummage around out on TimE's place for a day.

yeah drive through the car wash and break out the shampoo...