1985 GMC K10 build

[1967KaiserM715]

for the cab mount?  I guess if you are so inclined that would be fine but how long was it together prior to now?

it could have been original for all I know, but with the lack of rust, I would say this wasn't a northeast truck,-or at least not winter driven- and everything that is rusty now was probably the 5 years the PO drove it. the rears are so far inside the frame rails, I'm not worried about those, but I broke front one, and the other was very difficult to remove. this will be a daily driver, so anything I can address now and modify, hopefully to benefit me at any point down the road, is a plus

[1967KaiserM715]

Had to drop cab back down, ended up being way to unsteady to work on.

drilled out kickpanel, test fitted floor and inner rocker.

I had to remove the cab mount brace, I couldn't fit the inner rocker after I put the kick panel in, the way the flange works, It wouldn't go past the brace correctly to sit right.

I also removed the dash, cluster and steering wheel, found  a fair bit of sand coming down, so figure better safe then sorry










how important is that extra piece of metal under the floor? the rectangular piece that sits above the cab mount. leaning towards making one, but??maybe not. I assume it helps spread stress from sitting on the mount, which is why I am thinking I should just make one

[87fleetside]

 They make oem style ones, I want to say there in the 14 to 20 dollar range. The flange on mine had to be reworked a bit but they look factory, a small investment if you plan on keeping it any length of time. Just my opinion, I'm redoing my truck 12 year's later for this very reason I wasn't happy with the work I initially did. Not to say you can't fab them and look ok.

[87fleetside]

Re read your post.  If you're talking about the flat part that sits on top of both braces just make one. I'm using 16 gauge.

[1967KaiserM715]

yeah was talking about that flat plate, was just trying to see if I really needed it so I didn't need to cut into my stock pile of steel, but I'll probably make one anyways, it should put less stress on the floor(which is a little thinner then I like)

[blazer74]

Added structure holds the cab support to the floor support running lengthways together.  Helps prevent flex and oil canning.
I did and would use it.  It's there for a reason.


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[1967KaiserM715]

made that(well two) reinforcement plate, 14 gauge, 8x6 inches

used my dad's plasma cutter for the rough shape, grinder to smooth it up, and my home brewed Metal Brake







the Sheet metal brake, can bend a full 38 inches of 18 gauge, haven't pushed it for anything else yet


if tomorrow is nice, I'll hopefully get floors and cab all welded up

[1967KaiserM715]

got plate welded in, should be able to fit cab support in after, seemed like it would work(tried it when it was just clamped.)



and kick panel 75% in, got a few spot welds to finish up, got cold and windy fast. plus a little darker too.

[blazer74]

How do you plan to get everything squared up correctly with your sheet metal removed to such extent.?


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[1967KaiserM715]

I took a bunch of measurements before cutting, and everything is still within spec or close enough I can tweak it just a little. You can see a jack under the rocker, had to lift just a little for floor under seat to drop the proper 1/4 inch, of course only thing would be if it was already out of spec from the rust

The outer rocker was solid enough that it helped keep everything square.

[Engineer]

I approve of this build.

[1967KaiserM715]

floor partially in, the section under the gas pedal needed some help, so I did what I normally do when I can't form metal close enough to use screws or clamps, start on one  end and work my way around, that normally gives me the best fitment as I rework the metal, so far its worked out pretty good, well all except for a section above the reinforcement plate, the curve in the floor wouldn't line up, so I had to majorly rework it, something I didn't see until I drilled out panel for spot welds(about 3/4 of the plate sat flat with the floor, the floor ended up leaving 1/2 inch gap in the upper right, because of were the floor was curved wrong)



more to come

[1967KaiserM715]

Got inner rocker/outer floor section in last night, still need to make a small section to close up the floor-I cut out the minimum amount of rust, and horrible welding I dared, but needless to say need to work some metal.

rocker, and the start of a spacer piece
 

underside view


Today I took the day off, got cab off frame to start blasting frame


pretty easy with a small loader tractor, picked up rear of cab by hand, stuck a long board under, then lifted the front with the small tractor, set another board under, then rolled frame out

frame 1/2 done, need to do front, and under side-gonna put one side up on blocks to make it easier to get to the under side



Also playing with color ideas, really like the two tone burgundy/maroon and grey, but the hunter green looks like a good backup color, although maybe just a tad darker green.




Ok, look more red on the computer, but it is probably close to the burgundy/maroon interior colors one would see in these trucks


I am going something called Zero-Rust on the frame, it is like POR-15, but I have had loads better results over POR-15. After blasting all I do is spray something called Metal Prep and it prevents flash rust for up to 30 days, it also cleans the metal for paint, so no extra steps for cleaning, just blast a majority of the sand away with air, final vacuum to get remainder, then wash down with Metal Prep solution, wait till it dries, then paint. Easiest way to do a frame ever IMO.

More Later

[1967KaiserM715]

There is a bracket/piece of a cross member behind the rear cab mount cross member, does anyone know what it is or for? Mine looks cut, and I would post a pic right now, but my phone can't take small enough photos to upload.

[87fleetside]

Kaiser, that plate looks pretty stout it outta help for the thinner China man floor pans you dislike. Are you using the floor brace that ties the inner rocker too the longitudinal brace that runs the length of the floor? Most guys plug weld that plate you made to that along with this brace before they fit/weld in there floor pan.