Dad's 1979 GMC Heavy Half Transformation

[RyanNewberry]

Jayson, what type of grinding wheel/disk do you use to get your welds ground soo wickedly clean? Looking for the best option to clean the welds up on my rockers.

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by RyanNewberry

Jayson, what type of grinding wheel/disk do you use to get your welds ground soo wickedly clean? Looking for the best option to clean the welds up on my rockers.

I use a compact right angle die grinder, with 2" 36 grit roloc discs.

[RyanNewberry]

Originally Posted by Jaysonb

I use a compact right angle die grinder, with 2" 36 grit roloc discs.

Thanks man, great work!

[Dads79GMC]

If you caught the change, I was planning on bringing the truck home and do all the finishing work myself, but since Jayson talked me into swapping in the original parts (engine/trans and everything associated with that), I've ignored the 78 build for almost a week now and have been on the search for all the scattered parts for the Dad's 79 GMC. Believe me, they are everywhere, in boxes, buried in cabinets, in the attic, in the barn, in the basement, in bags, tubs, you name it, it's everywhere. The rear end is finally complete, however, I will re-work my 56" HD springs by removing a few leafs and putting them under the axle and bolting everything together so that it'll make swapping the rear end quite easy, of course I'll put on the wheels and tires. Here are a few pictures of just a few of the items I've run across. Still looking for the gas pedal!!!!!

Pictures:
1. Rear end parked for now behind the 78 cab.
2. Found two GMC horn buttons, this one is pretty damn nice.
3. I had two core supports up in the garage attic, this one went to the blaster today along with three 7" rally wheels.
4. Brake Pedal and Parking Brake assemblies need cleaning!!!
5. Power steering pumps. It's amazing the differences. Far left = 78 w/AC, middle = 79 w/AC, far right = 77 w/out AC. 78 and 77 have the same pump. All three have different attaching brackets. Destroyed the 79 two-groove pulley trying to get it off and was able to get the two-groove off of the 78.......!

Thanks Mike

[Jaysonb]

I'm going to be working on getting this cab back on the frame for the next couple nights. I sanded, buffed, and polished the roof whIle I had easy access to it. Now I'm going to put the cab on the lift, clean up the bottom, and get some undercoating on it. The top of the cab turned out ok, if your into that super wet, mirror finish look.

[Dads79GMC]

looks most excellent!!!!

[Jaysonb]

When I finished up with the sanding and buffing, and cleaning up that big mess, I sanded the bottom of the cab, I also seam sealed all the repair areas, primered, and undercoated. It turned out looking very nice.

[Jaysonb]

When it dries up a little, I'll slide the frame into place, and set her right down into place.

[Dads79GMC]

More than nice Jayson!!

[Dads79GMC]

Fabulous!! Next week we plan to swap out the LS with the original 350/350 and the rear end - I’m getting behind on finding parts stashed around here and reconditioning them!!!!

[Jaysonb]

No more rigging up stands to hang and paint the doors, and fenders! I got these sweet paint stands delivered today. I'm pretty excited, they are super adjustable, very heavy duty, and will save me a ton of time! It will be easy to make a tailgate adapter for them, and handy for painting small parts as well.

[StorminNorman]

Originally Posted by Jaysonb

When it dries up a little, I'll slide the frame into place, and set her right down into place.

That's a nice garage setup you have there. How big is the floor area and ceiling height ?

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by StorminNorman

That's a nice garage setup you have there. How big is the floor area and ceiling height ?

Thanks! It's 26x40, and the finished hight inside is just over 10'. I hope to get some organization going on in here between truck projects some day.

[StorminNorman]

Looks like that MaxJax setup suits it well. Want.

[Dads79GMC]

Moved my last two posted to my 78 build thread so as to not confuse anyone (post reference paint exhaust setup). Thanks Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Tonight I accomplished a few things. I painted five 7" rally wheels; two coats of satin black and two coats of gray/silver on the front. Also buttoned up the the 350; will put it on a dolly tomorrow and setup the trans etc and get it ready for the trip north to meet up with the frame next week hopefully.

Also, got a GREAT pic from Jayson tonight as well. He doing awesome work!!!

Thanks Mike

Pictures:
1. Update from Jayson on some trim and paint work.
2. Rally's that will soon make their way to MN with new 5/8 white wall 225/75r15 tires, NOS caps and new trim rings.
3. Rally's with silver
4. Engine buttoned up
5. More parts; it's killing me!! Lol! And there is more in the basement!!!!!

Thanks Mike

[Jaysonb]

Nice touch on color matching the motor to the truck!

[Dads79GMC]

Funny

[Jaysonb]

Got the front fenders ready, drilled all the holes for the trim, and shot them with some primer.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by Jaysonb

I'm going to be working on getting this cab back on the frame for the next couple nights. I sanded, buffed, and polished the roof whIle I had easy access to it. Now I'm going to put the cab on the lift, clean up the bottom, and get some undercoating on it. The top of the cab turned out ok, if your into that super wet, mirror finish look.

This looks fantastic. Usually good paint will show a good reflection of the lights. This not only shows a reflection of the lights, it shows a reflection of the reflection of the lights on the ceiling!

Nice work.

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

Tonight I accomplished a few things. I painted five 7" rally wheels; two coats of satin black and two coats of gray/silver on the front. Also buttoned up the the 350; will put it on a dolly tomorrow and setup the trans etc and get it ready for the trip north to meet up with the frame next week hopefully.

Also, got a GREAT pic from Jayson tonight as well. He doing awesome work!!!

Thanks Mike

Pictures:
1. Update from Jayson on some trim and paint work.
2. Rally's that will soon make their way to MN with new 5/8 white wall 225/75r15 tires, NOS caps and new trim rings.
3. Rally's with silver
4. Engine buttoned up
5. More parts; it's killing me!! Lol! And there is more in the basement!!!!!

Thanks Mike

that's just about as well thought out as it gets! VERY nice job!!

[Dads79GMC]

Thanks Chief!!

[MrFinland]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

Tonight I accomplished a few things. I painted five 7" rally wheels; two coats of satin black and two coats of gray/silver on the front. Also buttoned up the the 350; will put it on a dolly tomorrow and setup the trans etc and get it ready for the trip north to meet up with the frame next week hopefully.

Also, got a GREAT pic from Jayson tonight as well. He doing awesome work!!!

Thanks Mike

Pictures:
1. Update from Jayson on some trim and paint work.
2. Rally's that will soon make their way to MN with new 5/8 white wall 225/75r15 tires, NOS caps and new trim rings.
3. Rally's with silver
4. Engine buttoned up
5. More parts; it's killing me!! Lol! And there is more in the basement!!!!!

Thanks Mike

Awesome work!!! I like very much!

[Dads79GMC]

Thanks Ilkka!! This build is happening in two location simultaneously! I've been on the hunt for buried parts for days; I don't like cleaning parts and I didn't a terrible job ten years of bagging, marking and storing parts!!!!!!!! Trying to keep up with Jayson! Hopefully we are synched in our efforts!!! We are - Lol!

[Jaysonb]

Trim holes, and mirror holes drilled, and primered.