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Continuing to work on doors and bed sides but got my order from Mar-K for all my bed related parts (cross sills, bed side angle brackets, rear stake pockets, wood, strips, etc. so I needed to make sure everything was as expected.

Did a preliminary layout of the cross sills on the frame and then laid the bed wood out and all looked good.

I welded the rear stake pockets to both bed sides and did a preliminary installation of the bed side angle brackets using the fender mounting holes that intersect. Angle strips are very tight on top of the edge boards, especially toward the front so I need to try and raise them slightly when drilling holes for the strips to be bolted to the bed sides (planning to bolt rather than weld to provide a little flexability if needed).

I proceeded to mark and drill all the holes in the edge boards for the angle strip bolts then marked and drilled holes to mount the angle strips to the bed sides. There are going to be a few bolts showing between the front stake pockets but most of the bolts will be either under the fender or in the stake pockets. The rear strip to side bolt will need a weld nut inside the stake pocket as there is no reall way to access a loose nut on the inside.

I marked the passenger bed side for the fuel tank filler pass through and the driver's bed side for the fuel tank vent line.

Now I need to take it all apart and continue work required on the bed sides.

Continuing to work on multiple sub-projects.

I have bed sides have been set aside after the angle strip bolts have all been located and weld nuts for the rear most bolts being installed. Holes for the fuel filler tube and tank vent tube have been cut into the respective sides.

Started working on the passenger side inner front fender, replacing a weld nut and welding up and redrilling holes where the front edge inner and outer fender meet that were broken out. Primed and painted the inner side (toward engine) but need to strip undercoating or ?? from the wheel side before I can paint.

Fabricated a fan shroud that mounts with the radiator mounting bolts and supports the electric fan. Still needs some work but I did an intial fit check to confirm that the electric fan clears the engine pulleys. The radiator support may move up for fender alignment and will be stabilized side to side when the inner fenders are attached but clearance looks good.

I decided that I should finish the wood (pine) for my bed even though it will be a while before I am ready to assemble the bed. I am using an original treatment of penetrating epoxy from Smith & Company followed by a spar varnish. It is taking a while as there are a number of coats to be applied ot both sides of the wood.

Took advantage of the recent warm weather (it is suppose to snow tomorrow) to make a junk yard run. Picked up a gas pedal and cable, a fuel filler, a horn, and shifter boot all of which will require some adaptation but at least give me something to start with. Still a little hard to visualize how I will fashion the fuel filler into the rear fender but hopefully it will become clearer when I can mount the bed side and fender to get a better idea of the spacial relationship between the fender and the filler hose pathway.

I'm not familiar with you year, but do the wood planks require an special edge that goes under the metal strip that connects the edge of the boards? I had to create that edge so the metal strip sat properly on my 1940 Chevy PU.

I used a penetration epoxy covered with a UV protector and worked fine. Just pay attention to the ends... It soaks up a lot if it's dry..

I also found that assembling the bed before I finished the planks saved a lot of Hassel when they didn't fit as I thought they would and I had to modify them, screwing up my finish and the seal.

Mike

Paul’s gmc parts site has all the lumber dimension.

Yes the board have a feature on the edge that is clamped by the strip that provides for the edge of the strip to engage and provide clearance for the strip material between that feature and the edge as shown in Kevinski's pictures.

Finished the top side of the bed boards and put them back into storage as it will be a while before I am ready to assemble the bed.

I think I will prime and paint the bed cross sills to get them protected while being stored waiting for the bed assembly process.

Back to working on the driver's side inner front fender with the hopes of getting the front assembly of the inner front fenders and radiator support completed knowing that I will need to adjust the radiator support mounting when it comes time to install the front fenders.

Still seems like I am heading in six directions at once but it all needs to be done sooner or later so as long as I can manage my expectations it should be fine.

"Short" list of pending "to-do" items includes inner front fender installation, painting interior of the cab (including inside of doors), exhaust system, painting a top coat over Por-15 on rear axle, rebuilding instrument cluster, refurbishing and installing heater, etc. etc.

I fully understand that feeling, it seems like I never complete any one project before starting another. I'm working on so many different things on my truck all at once.

I got the driver's side inner front fender cleaned up, painted, and installed. Everything will need to be touched up but it felt good to have things going together.

My thought process being that with the inner front fenders, radiator support, etc. installed I should be able to start to layout the electrical system, plumb the cooling system, etc. However, before I can start those processes I need to get the heater refurbished and installed and the interior of the cab painted.

I started painting the bed cross sills to help preservee them until I get to the bed assmebly stage (a ways down the road).

Heater core is in poor condition so a recore is in process (pricy to be sure).

Primed and painted the bed cross sills with Rustoleum except the exposed portion of the rear that was primed only.

Started stripping the outside of the driver's side door to prime before I paint the finished color on the inside.

Project is on hold for the moment as we purchased a 1997 Chevy 1500 for my grandson (just turned 16) that needs the engine rebuilt/replaced. I may take this opportunity to get the truck to the exhaust shop for the exhaust system to be formed/installed.