Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by 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.

Thanks Rick!

Well ask and ye shall receive. The bumpers look nice. They aren't as brilliant and have a bit of tint from the clear, but I like it. Pictures don't do it justice because it's glossy, but it does have the brushed metal look.

I got all the holes taped up so I could spray the back of both bumpers with corroseal and convert the rust.

All the areas that are dark or purple are rust that has been converted.

Once corroseal was dry I applied a heavy coat of corothane prime to seal out the weather. I love this stuff. It's like liquid caramel. Now all I have to do is spray the bed liner on the rear bumper's step and install.

While waiting for the corothane to dry I decided to try something and apply a little peel and seal to my door panels. They felt really flimsy. Well, it worked great. The doors sound completely dead when closed.

Next bumpers get installed and I will get the master cylinder on and brakes bled.

[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.

[mx289]

Your making great progress.

I really like the dash and steering wheel.Looks great.
Interior is really going to be sharp.

The brushed parts are really cool too.

[rgunlock]

Thanks for obliging! Bumpers do look like they turned out well, but I can't ever get enough Want to see them mounted on the truck!

[cmabolt]

Today I had a small break in the weather and just enough heat to get the bed liner on the rear bumper.

I covered just the diamond plate and bottom step where hitch ball screws in.

I was also able to prep and spray the shifters cover.

I unmasked after about an hour and it all turned out pretty good. Gonna let it dry overnight and see the results then install the rear bumper. The only bummer was the corothane worked it's way thru the masking in a few visible areas and stuck to the powder coat. I am going to have to try and get it off with a razor blade. That is testament to how sticky corothane is.

[cmabolt]

Had a little time on Friday so installed the rear bumper. It was like a jigsaw puzzle, but eventually got it figured out. It is going to be a pretty stout bumper.


I think it turned out pretty good and glad that is done. I need to finish putting together the front end before installing the front bumper.


Now the weather has changed so progress will slow, but I know this is that last winter it will be unfinished. Can't wait to drive her.

[Blown06]

Looks nice and solid, part of me wants to install a roll pan and do away with the bumper. Then I think that bumper might just save me if I get tapped from behind. That thing is much more substantial than the factory shiny bumpers.

[rgunlock]

Wow! That bumper really turned out well. Home stretch buddy! So are you saving the pictures where you step back and get the whole truck for a big reveal? Just close-ups for the last 4 pages

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by Blown06

Looks nice and solid, part of me wants to install a roll pan and do away with the bumper. Then I think that bumper might just save me if I get tapped from behind. That thing is much more substantial than the factory shiny bumpers.

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Wow! That bumper really turned out well. Home stretch buddy! So are you saving the pictures where you step back and get the whole truck for a big reveal? Just close-ups for the last 4 pages

Yeah, I spent a lot of time on this bumper because it's older and made well. Much better than today's bumpers. I am saving large view pics of the truck until she is under her own power. My garage is on a steep incline and it would be a task to roll it out and get it back in the garage. Won't be long though and she'll be rolling out on her own.

[cmabolt]

(((((COLD))))) Progress
Today it was biter cold and windy, but took care of a lot of odds and ends. I got the rear support brackets and splash guards for the bed installed.


I got the drivers door glass installed with all components and front fender back on.


Bed completely bolted down and got the rear speaker brackets fitted and primed.


I bench bled to master cylinder and a letting the rest of the systems gravity bleed.

[cmabolt]

Pre-turkey progress.

Well, I got my speaker panels painted up body color and got everything mounted into place. I used a little peel and stick on the backside to deaden the panels. They are after all sheet metal.

Here they are mounted

Now that that is out of the way, I got some help installing the cowl and hood. Cowl went in with no issues, but hood is wacked.


The ass end of the hood is too high. I have used the loosen and push up on the hood method, but not quite there yet. I elongated the holes on the hinges slightly to aid in adjustability. Hopefully another hour or so and they will fit well.
I also started wiring under the hood.

For the most part wiring the engine to harness was easy. I only needed to run the large red wire from bulkhead to starter to power the fuse panel, large purple wire to starter to activate the starter and my sending unit wires to the temp/oil pressure switches. I also hooked up the brake safety switch. Tac is dealt with inside cab from ECM. I still need to wire the front lights.

Very happy I have no more body panels to install. Just a few more tweaks and should be good.

[rgunlock]

Your corner speaker mounts turned out great. One day, I'll be wrapping up loose ends like you - I'm envious! But, I'm making progress that I'm happy with on mine as well... just about a years worth of progress behind you

[swamp rat]

JL Audio too! The mounts turned out nice! that said i was wondering if they may need a little deadening material stuck to the back side for vibration?

Curious, did you lube up the hinges real well before you installed them? I think they should settle down a bit if you lube them up and cycle the hood up and down a bit.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Your corner speaker mounts turned out great. One day, I'll be wrapping up loose ends like you - I'm envious! But, I'm making progress that I'm happy with on mine as well... just about a years worth of progress behind you

Hey thanks Guys. I feel like I have been wrapping up loose ends forever. I have a feeling I'll be wrapping up loose ends even after it's on the road.

Originally Posted by swamp rat

JL Audio too! The mounts turned out nice! that said i was wondering if they may need a little deadening material stuck to the back side for vibration?

Curious, did you lube up the hinges real well before you installed them? I think they should settle down a bit if you lube them up and cycle the hood up and down a bit.

Hey Swamp Rat. Thanks for your comments. I love JL audio. I have had several systems with JL Audio. Very good sounding quality stuff. The peel and stick really deadened the panels. I did not want any rattling at all. The only negative to these speaker brackets is they crowd the seat belt bolt holes. Not sure if the shoulder harnesses I bought are going to work now. Gonna try and get them in there.

As for the hinges, I did not lube, but they do move freely. I will give that a try though. I'll try anything at this point. I'm gonna keep trying stuff till they settle in. They are original hinges and used with this original hood so I know they will eventually work.

Happy Turkey Day!

[cmabolt]

Well, after a lot of lubing of the hinges and adjusting/re-adjusting I got them very close. However, there is too much tension on the front of hood when closed and looks like the hinges are starting to bend. There is a fair amount of play in the rivers so went ahead and ordered a set from GMC Paul's with new springs. Hopefully this will do it. In the mean time, started wiring the front headlights. Should make some more headway tomorrow.

[cmabolt]

mo progress. Well, yesterday i made some good headway on the front light harness.

I didn't know how to route the wires so based on the assembly guide got everything loomed and attached to the core support.

I strayed from the install instruction slightly when extending wires to the passengers side. I spliced in and soldered the wires rather than doubling them in the connectors. I think it will be more stable and endure the test of time. I temporarily attached the front bumper to give me rough length for my wires.


Today i should have the truck wiring totally complete. "Oh what a feeling"

[mcbassin]

Very nice progress on the truck! Your getting close now.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice progress on the truck! Your getting close now.

Thanks Mike! Really the biggest hurdle on this thing was the wiring since I have never done anything like this before except car stereos. Now that I am done with wiring, I am going to go back and clean/up-redo a couple areas that could be done better. Next week I plan to pop in the fuses, hope there is no smoke and fire her back up.

[DWilbur]

1 fuse at a time set up a quick disconnect at the battery so you can kill the power quick.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

1 fuse at a time set up a quick disconnect at the battery so you can kill the power quick.

That's a good plan. I think I'll get an extra pair of hands as well.

[swamp rat]

Nice progress! I like DWilbur's advice too!

[mjensen]

Wiring has been a major road block on mine. Trying to figure out all the interior crap I can get rid of is killing me You're wiring job looks awesome!

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by mjensen

Wiring has been a major road block on mine. Trying to figure out all the interior crap I can get rid of is killing me You're wiring job looks awesome!

Thanks Mike! I think patience is my problem. I end up going too fast sometimes and then go back and redo to improve. I am sooooo glad I am at the end of wiring.

[ryanroo]

Originally Posted by cmabolt

Thanks Mike! I think patience is my problem. I end up going too fast sometimes and then go back and redo to improve. I am sooooo glad I am at the end of wiring.

That improvement thing is kicking my butt too. i keep adding things and circuits and modifying the factory style harness to make it better or safer. every time i think i am about ready to do something, i come up with a "better" plan that requires more parts.

that bumper looks very sweet. goes well with the paint color.