The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun New 9ft bed progress!! & 1ton GMC build

Here are my rewired and refurbished headlight buckets ready to go. I still need to put on the end terminals but I will install them tomorrow. It went really well today.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/R3GRLy6actZg65vr2

Sweet looking bling there. What no pictures of your helper!

No recent ones of the supervisor! He's getting quite good at grabbing things now. Soon enough he will have a wrench in hand and will be turning nuts.

Today I put in the buckets and put the terminal ends on and then screwed them into the inner fender junction. Went well wiring but the bloody aftermarket headlight trim and rings sure were a BLEEP.... I'm sick of aftermarket reproduction stuff fitting like hell. You can't beat GM quality. Tried the old pieces and they fit like a glove.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1nGuGztdc6b7fpNv2

I just had to test fit the parking lamps. They look pretty sweet. I got so used to seeing the clip with no lights in it that it now seems strange to actually have the holes filled in. I still need to rewire the parking lamps with my new dual filament lights. I now know why these light sockets are always rusted out and garbage up north here. They have absolutely no protection . Mud, dirt, salt, snow, they could all get into the receptacle and wreck it.

Here are the lamps mocked in:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sKrZR4PFmINdGtLx2

I've been pulling wires and chipping away at stuff. Here's an update:
Majority of wires are in place and labeled. I haven't terminated them yet as I need to mount the front clip and run the wire in cloth covering for aesthetics, then trim and secure. I still need to test and double check some things, but should be close to putting the front end on soon.

In preparation to mount clip I have:
Installed choke and throttle cables.
Filled steering box with lube.
Installed temperature bulb in head.
Installed oil pressure line.
Installed heater core and fan.
Modified parking lamps for dual filament bulbs.
Installed GMC logo on grille surround. Not necessary, but I couldn't resist!
Replaced bulbs with 12 volt bulbs.

Tonight I half installed the headliner. It is going smoothly but it sure is tough on the fingers. Tomorrow I'll finish up the back half.
I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff but progress is still being made.

Hey Doyle, Howie,
That end of May deadline sure seems close now! I'd better get my butt in gear. I made a list of everything (I could think of) that still needs to get done and, boy oh boy, it is longer than I suspected.



https://photos.app.goo.gl/bHkcIA1OukKRtVeT2

Just keep plugging away and the light at the end of the tunnel will get brighter.
( this from a lazy sob enjoying the winter in So Cal.)

I have been planning what to do to the 62 when I get home, since I made the comittment to you
that it would be at the show in June. Replace the rusted fenders and get the out of prov. inspection.

The last year 261 runs well, all brake components are new, front end is tight, it should pass.
We are off to the truck shop in Orange in a few weeks, need anything? I am going to get a 18in
six blade fan for the 55 , it runs hot on a 28 / 30c day that might help.

You two guys each have "as new" trucks mine are more "as used".
But they are all Stovebolts!

Stay warm guys.
Howie

I don't need anything that I can think of right now, thanks Howie.

Here is this weekend's progress. I terminated some more ends. Fuel ground, sender, brake switch, dimmer switch. Going slowly but well. I figured I had enough pieces completed so I called in the crew and...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/N4I14nCJqYIH7fDO2

Woooooo doggy!

Looking pretty sweet Fox I did mean the helper picture of course lol!
The truck is looking great too.
I've been working on spring hanger bushings ( 2 won't take grease) and some minor finishing that I didn't get to because I was cruising when ever I could!
I got my confirmation from Reynolds a week or so ago, did you talk to Mellisa about registering? I would assume Howie should have also gotten his confirmation as well by now.

Thank you sir. Those bushings can be a real bear.
I have emailed her and I am awaiting her response with the forms.

Today I reinstalled the driveshaft, park brake linkage, terminated the headlights, park lights and got the signal light wires ready. Alternator wires terminated at engine and hood hinges loosely bolted in along with the fender to cab braces.

Sorry, late to the party. I haven’t read every post. Truck looks great!! Great craftsmanship. I really like the dual wheel adapters. I was interested in getting some for my 50 3/4 Ton... but didn’t. Did they come with the truck? Sorry if that has been discussed already.

Thanks Frank,

Yes, the adapters came with the truck. I had never seen any like them before. I suspect they were solely for a little extra "footprint" and weren't designed for high speed. I won't be driving this truck with the adapters on at high speed. One day I might swap out the rear end for a 14 bolt.

I think JC Whitney and others used to sell them. Another poster has/had a AD 3/4-ton flatbed with those type of adapters. I don't think anyone sells now. And I don't think they can increase the payload any. I just think they're cool.

This is the 3/4-ton I mentioned: https://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/merritt_jim_1953.htm
I don't know if Jim is still active on the forum or not.

It has been a while! I haven't got as much done as I wanted but progress is progress.

Window felts on door windows installed.
Heater motor switched out for a 12volt version.
"Voltage Regulator" Fuse Box completed and mounted. It's not hooked up yet, though.
Door access panels installed.
Right cowl vent access panel in.
Alternator bracket in process of being modified for last time.
Front fender support brackets (from behind the wheel to the lower cab front) fabricated and installed.

Hopefully be on the road by June!

It's getting closer, see you in June.
Doyle

Heater ducting installed.
Glovebox installed.
Tested the heater switch I bought as well. That new 12volt motor blows hard. It's a bit loud but should heat the cab nicely.
I also began to fabricate a bracket to hold the aftermarket volt meter I will install under the dash. I'm going to mount it under the light switch using the two bolts that are on the dash under side. It will be visible, yet "hidden" and will allow for an easy tie into the gauge lights for illumination and the fuse panel.

There are 8 more school days until our Spring Break. Then, I want to hit that truck hard and get a lot done. I do have a "Honey, Do" list, but my wife has also said that she wants me to work on it steady for a few days to see how much closer to done it can get. What a gal. 😃

Hooked up the tail lights to the headlight switch. Ran power to switch, pulled and YAY! Tail lights are done and working. Dome light also works.

Another item...check.

😃🐺

Update:
Signal lights are working front and rear.
Flashers work.
Headlights work.
Running lights.
All are on a fused system.

Cigarette lighter tested, 1/2 installed. I still need to hook it to ignition and fuse it. What amperage should I use? (30?)

I finished building my volt meter bracket. Wired it and tested. I ran the positive for the light into my gauge lights. Still have to run the gauge positive to the ignition post.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1odPO4w3ng5NQfSF3

Alternator bracket rebuilt and installed.

Any help on how to complete my alternator wire hook up would be appreciated. It is the last major thing to do. Hook it up to ammeter on a single post? Run it to battery and the light switch?

Thanks Bolters.

Still fighting to get the gas gauge reading accurately before I install the sender permanently and fuel it up. I also have to redo the fuel line from the pump to the carb as I can’t get the silly sediment bowl to seal up ( I just liked the look of it) before it enters a small inline filter. The sediment bowl is going bye bye. These two things are holding me back so to speak but I did hit a major milestone yesterday:


https://photos.app.goo.gl/urzr2esjI13hjWtd2

She’s alive and sounding pretty good right now!
Here’s what’s left to do (so far because we all know how the lists transform and then regrow!) in no particular order:
Fine tune engine.
Finish gas gauge
Sender
Reinstall gas gauge
Set hood and front end.
Tighten front end
Steering wheel and horn
Get seats redone (eventually as a seat cover will work for the time being)
Install handle led and cranks, trim, etc.
Exhaust heat shield
Alignment and tie rod adjustment.
Recheck rear diff oil level. (I can’t remember if I topped it up or not.)
Bleed brakes.

Closer, closer, closer.

It does sound pretty good and looks great too.
I've had my sending unit out 3 times and I'm still trying to get it to read accurate, a little bend on the float arm each time to make sure the float is free and reads more than 1/4 tank. I ran separate ground wire from the sending unit to the frame and also from the gauge to the frame.
I'll know this weekend when I go to fill it up YIKES I'm not looking forward to that at 1.50 a litre for V power oh well we could be on the west coast LOL.
The sediment bowl is a pain to seal I made a gasket using double thickness with Gasgacinch sealer between and seemed to work for me no leak.
All that little stuff takes time and perseverance but it'll get done. You still have over 6 weeks before Reynolds!
I think your helper was impressed too, I meant the young one by the way!
Great job

Thanks Doyle. I think I got it figured on the gas gauge front tonight. It’s working and out of the cluster. Bad ground on back side. Mine was reading similarly to yours. A slight flicker up towards about 1/4 and nothing. It pegged back and forth tonight after the shine up.

I can’t believe how fuel spikes. Irritating, especially as we are the country’s biggest supllier. We need to go Saudi style and offer our home brewed fuel at home brewed prices. Yeesh.
Perhaps I should pull the 261 and install electric motors! An electric “motor that looks like a stovebolt? Hmmm.

The sediment bowl has gone back on my parts shelf. What a pain. I think that’s part of the reason they stopped putting those on vehicles and tractors.

That 6 week window sure is closing rapidly. I still need to get it inspected and insured! I’m skipping the seats and door panels for now. If I sent them in they may get delayed and then I definitely won’t be attending.

It was fun starting up the GMC. I had my dad there and my little guy. It was special doing that together with my wife supervising.

I tried to move the ole girl under her own power tonight but no luck. I need to adjust the clutch. I tried to shift and GRIND! Hopefully an easy task...😉 I had 180’F on the temperature, 30lbs of oil pressure and only a slight fuel leak that will be remedied with a quality flaring tool soon. I realized tonight that I installed the wrong oil pressure numbers in my gauge! The gauge under hood is correct, while the dash gauge reads more than 30, despite being a 30lb gauge. Oops. Oh well.😃
I do believe I can call the wiring completed. I installed the radio grill tonight as well. Rerouted to cigarette lighter wiring and tidied up the shop a bit. I like crossing things of my list. Everything worked with the truck idling. EVERYTHING! Yay!
Next up:
hood install/adjustment
Brake bleed
Clutch adjust
Tune carb- it has a slight stumble off the bottom. If you ease into it it’s fine, quick pedal and it will stumble hard.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2gZBue306ydHUuYw1

Nice job, really like how your doors close. What weatherstrip did you go with?

SStock,
Thanks. They close so nicely now. THUD. I used the stripping from Classic Parts. Their stripping fit really well and didn’t need to be “super compressed “ to get the doors to close.

Here’s what happened Monday...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GpHoVnWpfToDwkDj8

Lots left to do but that sure was a lot of fun! 🐺

Now that is impressive. Well done love the fuel tank! Good thing the local constabulary wasn't around.

Wow, what a milestone! Running under its own power, and stopping!! As always, extremely excellent work Fox!!
Congrats!
Jim

Thanks guys but....

I had a major setback tonight.

I began to bleed my brakes. I drove it in 2nd gear only on test drive and used the park brake to stop. Whilst bleeding, that bloody cheap double flaring tool has bit me in the rear. I have leaks. A lot of leaks. Slow ones, fast ones, big ones. Ugh.

So now I’m awaiting my Eastwood flaring tool so I can repair 50% of the flares I made. 🤬


Setback number 2.
I pulled the differential cover to take a peek. I plan on changing it out for a 4.10 but still haven't located one. I thought I’d just change the oil until I did. Well, there was shrapnel in the bottom of the pumpkin. A lot. Little pieces, big pieces. I am now doubting the completion goals I have set. I could drive it as is but suspect it might pile up on me somewhere along the way. Pretty frustrated tonight. Everything was going so well.

Setback 3:

Installed door lock. Of course, it’s repro and doesn’t actually have the length needed in the push rod to disengage the door striker. I darn near locked both sets of keys in the truck on top of it. The passenger window was down just enough for me to be able to grab the latch.

Tonight really was discouraging.

The brake lines you can fix without a lot of trouble. Also sometimes loosening, repositioning, and retightening will often fix a slow leak.
With your new flare tool don’t fully squish the second operation, form it fully enough it looks right, but don’t squish it flat. Leaving a very little give in the double flare let’s it better conform to the seat in the real fitting in use.

The rear axle you could find another center section quickly for 4.56 and probably free or real cheap which would be some improvement while you wait for the magical 4.10 to fall in your lap. You can do that swap in an evening.

Can you cut and weld to extend the latch, or mix and match old and new parts?

Hang in there,

Grigg

Thanks for the support Grigg. My wife made the same suggestion about the 4:56. What a gal!
I solved the door latch last night. I cut a piece of stainless brake line, flattened it slightly in the vise and then hammered it down over top of the piece of push rod that was sticking out. I made the piece 1/8” longer than where the push rod stops. Works fine now.

The truck gods might be smiling on me today. I searched my local classifieds last night and found an ad that has a “60’s GM 3/4 ton rear end with a 10 bolt pattern”. Fingers crossed it’s the 4.10!

I’m looking forward to getting those brakes completed. Grrr.

Truck gods indeed! No word yet about the classified ad as the fella hasn’t returned my calls. 😕
However...
I dropped my seat off yesterday to get steam cleaned before installation. It was a 20 minute drive from home. I dropped it off and decided to take the back roads home. Unfamiliar roads are fun to spot old trucks hiding in the trees!

Anyway, I passed an acreage and I spotted a couple chassis with cabs sitting on them a ways off the road. I recognized the rad support from one as a 67-72 gmc. Skiiiiiiddddd. I stopped, turned around and drove into the yard. As I drove in I spotted more Chev/gmc 67-72 trucks and parts around the yard. One in particular caught my eye. A 3/4 ton with a shifter on the column... auto ? Manual? I couldn’t see from the distance.

I knocked at the front door. No answer. A newer truck was parked there but no answer. So I got out a notepad and wrote a detailed note about me, who I am, my project, my search, etc. I stuck my note in the door crack and left.

Well, I got a text message today from the fellow and he says that he very likely has that 4.10 gear set somewhere and he will let me know tomorrow!
Fingers crossed!

Nice find
I've been watching and digging into the classifieds for a while still looking!
Keep me in mind if you find another

I will, Doyle.

I haven’t heard from that fellow as of today. I don’t want to pester him but I’m very eager to hear word, whatever the outcome.

i picked up my seat and wrenched on the truck this evening. The seat looks really good and my wife helped me install it. She was eager to sit up at the wheel and found the position quite comfortable. I also worked on the front end. I wanted it save it for last but I just couldn’t wait:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YHkQiZ9PXQvBto539

Everything went very smoothly tonight. The To-Do list on this truck is so short now I could cross the finish line any day!

Whoop! Whoop!

Very nice looking seats, Fox

Yeah ,look like the seats in my pop's 90 chev truck, were very comfortable.

Same seat I put in my ‘62 C-10. Nice thing is covers are readily available.🛠

Thanks! I always liked this style of seat. They are a little wide and fill the cab door to door but are pretty comfortable. When I was doing the metal work, I removed the original seat frame riser, built a 1” riser for the 90’s seat and then bolted it down. This set up also gives me access behind the seat and under it. It clears the gas tank, rear window, just squeezes in between the doors and also gives you tons of head room, leg room and is the perfect height to rest an elbow out the side windows. My wife noticed this when she got in. She said, “I like how roomy it is.” Compared to the original seat, it really is! With the larger seat you’d think not, but with it being lower, thinner and moved back the cab is quite comfortable now. 😃

Tonight I just sat in the truck and had a “zen moment.” And, of course, I played with the lights and horn!

Eastwood flare tool arrived. I’ve begun reflaring each end of every line to put my mind at ease.

No word on that 4.10 yet. Deadline approaching and I need to drive it a bit to gain confidence and to iron out potential bugs.

Still 4.10 hunting...ugh.

In the meantime, I’ve reflared all my lines (and replaced a couple that were suddenly too short...weird) and I am now ready to bleed these brakes and hopefully I have no leaks.

I also built a door panel for the interior out of “puckboard.” The white, hard, flexible plastic that hockey rinks use. I will have it padded and covered and then installed.

Just wish I could get that rear end.

Brakes bled. I had a couple drips. I tightened them up and it all seems to be holding pressure. My pedal firms up about 1/2 through its stroke and is solid by about 3/4 to 7/8. My Dad and I spun the tires as fast as we could by hand, he hit the brakes hard and BANG! They locked up! Being that I’ve never driven one of these AD trucks with brakes of any kind, is this about normal on the pedal stroke?

Still no word on that rear gear.

My puckboard panel looks pretty good.