Hi ! Planning to restore my GMC 4x4 , many questions for you

[raymix]

This forum is incredible - Very happy to find it :)

My name is Ray, I live in Quebec, Canada and like all of you, Chevy trucks is the way to go.

I'm no guru , i'm still kinda newbie at restoration and "do it yourself" projects but passion is what it takes.
Many pics on this post, 56k'ers watch out.

First, I'll show you the truck I want to restore (no laughs please, its condition is kinda poor, that's why I want to refresh the look)

Pic when I bought the truck last year (yuck!) :



It has so much parts that came from other models, I'm not sure which year or make it is !

This is a 1986 (??) k10 with a 305 engine (engine was a 6.2 diesel before) - 4X4 with warn locks. New 31" Cooper discoverer tires with black steel rally wheels.



As you can see, the hood and doors came from another 6.2 diesel cuz the one I had on this truck were rotten as heck.

I bought a 1989 (???) 3/4 High Sierra for 600$ as a "parts" truck. Here's a pic:



Now my questions are:

- I want to install the grill from the High Sierra, will I have to change the radiator support ? I notice that screw holes are pretty differents and lights (and cups) are totally something else.
Here's a pic of the front :



- My high beam switch on the steering doesn't work anymore (always stays on "highs" and I'm blinding everyone on the road ;)
I know there's a thread about this problem on this forum but I thought going the easy way and bypass wires to an external switch. How to rewire from the light beams to the switch ?

- My truck has dual tanks but I'm using only just one (passenger) - I want to remove the other one. Is there something special i have to know before removing it ?
There's a tank switch on the dash panel but i'm afraid to fiddle with the wires. Also, when removing the tank, what do I do with the gas lines left ?

- I'll take every parts I can use from the High sierra (almost no rust, easy to prepare and prime).
Bed, doors, fenders (even inner fenders) are good.
My question is, the metal panel just between the hood and the windshield (sorry dunno what's the name of it) is the same on all model ? There are 2 screws holding at the front and 2 pins right next to the windshield rubber.

- I got a 1987 Caprice station wagon with velvet bucket seats. Is that a big problem trying to fit these seats into my truck ? Metal mounts and slide are very very differents and shorter than the ones on the truck.

- I want to switch valve covers on the motor because it's a pain to add oil - The oil cap is near the firewall and everytime I add oil, it's a mess. Is red gi-temp gasket maker is okay to seat back the covers ?



- I see many Cowl induction hoods (which are expensive) so I had this crazy idea, is it possible to create one by myself with fiberglass then add it to the stock hood ? I would need some kinda mould to create it, someone know where I could get infos about that ?

- I plan to add a 4" lift kit (front and rear leaf) , Is it too much for 31" tires ? Will it improve the suspension or it will be stiffer ?

- I got this fiberglass sun shade from the High Sierra that I would add to the truck. It was mounted with only metal screws and tiny nylon spacer (and plastic caps to hide screws) - Is there a better way to install this ? (to prevent rust around the screw holes that I will make)

- I want to add a tach (my truck has the big fuel gauge, no factory tach) - Any suggestion on which one I would buy ?
Is it hard to install ? Just a little one will do the job. I don't want a monster tach.

Here are "some" of the chevy I got (told you I love chevys !)



Thanks and sorry for the picture flood !

Friendly,

Ray.

Edited by: raymix at: 5/20/06 1:32 pm

[shaved80]

wow..you weren't joking when you said many questions..

i'll say what i know..

- I want to install the grill from the High Sierra, will I have to change the radiator support ? I notice that screw holes are pretty differents and lights (and cups) are totally something else.

yes. but that truck has the front end swapped. the trucks were only made to 87, those grills were on the newer blazers/subs, 88 or 89(?)-91

- I'll take every parts I can use from the High sierra (almost no rust, easy to prepare and prime).
Bed, doors, fenders (even inner fenders) are good.
My question is, the metal panel just between the hood and the windshield (sorry dunno what's the name of it) is the same on all model ? There are 2 screws holding at the front and 2 pins right next to the windshield rubber.

thats the wiper cowl, and as far as i know, yes they're the same.

- I got a 1987 Caprice station wagon with velvet bucket seats. Is that a big problem trying to fit these seats into my truck ? Metal mounts and slide are very very differents and shorter than the ones on the truck.

any seat swap is gonna be a bit hard, but it's possible. just place them where you want and drill new holes.

- I see many Cowl induction hoods (which are expensive) so I had this crazy idea, is it possible to create one by myself with fiberglass then add it to the stock hood ? I would need some kinda mould to create it, someone know where I could get infos about that ?

i think summit and jc whitney sell cowls that you can add to the stock hoods, no not just the tape on ones, but weld in ones.

- I want to add a tach (my truck has the big fuel gauge, no factory tach) - Any suggestion on which one I would buy ?
Is it hard to install ? Just a little one will do the job. I don't want a monster tach.

once again, check summit and jc whitney. i used to have one, it was only 3 wires i think, ground, power, and one going to the tranny

[raymix]

Many thanks for your feedback shaved80 !

About that tach answer << it was only 3 wires i think, ground, power, and one going to the tranny >>

I always thought tach were connected to some electrical places like distributor or God knows (told you i'm a rookie) ...
Tach are hooked to the tranny ? Didn't knew there was an electrical circuit on it.

Oh and sorry about the front grill I want to add on my truck,
forgot to add the picture.

I just lay down the 3 parts together for y'all to see what I mean.

That's what I want to add :


Ray.

[1980cdeluxe]

I'm pretty sure shaved meant distributor/coil, not tranny.

[shaved80]

eh you're right, i was thinking the speedo..  

[Lt.Del]

Yeah, tach is easy.  Get one that is lighted when you turn headlights on. Green wire goes to distributor. You should have a white wire and red wire and ground, along w/ the green. White goes to headlight switch, red hot, black ground, green dist. If i remember correctly.

NIce grille.  Check out my 91 GMC sub

SgtDel

[raymix]

That's exactly the same grill I got.

Very clean truck indeed, specially the motor area.

We don't have that chance here in Quebec to have rust-free
classic like this. I know when I'll finish the body restoration, I will have to take extra care to keep it "decent".

Got many unpaved roads where I live (yup, i'm in the northern part of Quebec living in the middle of nowhere) so I was thinking of some kinda of protection for the bottom parts of the body.

On your burb description, you said you add a Lund sun visor recently ... did you just screw it to the body like everyone seems to do ?

That burb seems your pride - Thumbs up for keeping it classic

Ray.

[Blazin]

Welcome from N.H. Ray

[Lt.Del]

Yeah, the lund is just screwed on, like 6 or 8 big screws.  IF you are planning on one, it is very important to fit it in  place first, step back and make sure it is aligned where  you want it B4 drilling.  It seems obvious, but i have seen so many slanted to one side or another, or tilted downwards toward the front, etc.

thanks for the compliment on the blue burb.  When i saw that it was from Arizona, from the desert, i picked that joker up in a heartbeat.  The undercarriage, motor compartment, etc looks so new after 15 yrs.

SgtDel

www.delbridge.net  

[78rustbucket]

sweet deal on the trucks, can say ive paid more for worse. ive only had 2 trucks with sunvisers and both roofs had tears in the metal from a few screw holes. prob best idea for that would be to use the threaded rivets like the oem use for the door mirror mounts.

[DnStClr]

Ray, I have seen cowls where you cut a hole in the original hood and install just the cowl. Some of them have pins that you put the cowl on. Don't know about makin your own tho-
In the "Body" forum there's a recent thread about cowl induction hoods. Those Reflxxions are nice! And of couse, roundedline has a good one on the web page that he sells. I think we should support this site when we can.
You have an ambitious project going on there.Be sure to keep us informed! BTW, did you see the project that 123Pugsy recently did? Yelerbnana, or whatever he calls it/  man, what a nice resto it turned out to be.

[raymix]

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[raymix]

@78rustbucket: I did it the "old school" way by drilling holes and add screws , hiding them with chromred cap. When the final touch comes, I think I'll add a dab of silicon on the threads to make it sure water won't get in.

@DnStClr: Maybe I have an ambitious project but it won't be as perfect as 123pugsy you know ... far from 'show' approven state. I'm doing it for pride and self-esteem, doing it by myself (with the help of mates from this forum of course!)

I like your idea of the cowl induction hood by cutting an hole and fit the cowl in the stock hood. Buying an full cowl induction is too expensive for me but sure looks killer.

Sure will keep you posted about things going on but don't have much free time (only on weekends, day time job !)
and gotta take care of my 10 years old son (but he likes to help me, like sanding the bed last week )

[raymix]

Almost forgot !

Quote:Blazin said: Welcome from N.H. Ray

Thank you Blazin , same for you from Quebec ! Home of the froggies :lol

[raymix]

Some folks here wanted to see my progress on the restoration, so here they are.

Mind that I only have the weekend to work on this and I'm TOTALLY newbie at this so bear with me.

These parts came from the High Sierra going to my ride.
(only primer base coat for now).















Next weekend will be the differential cover to be painted and a twin-glasses sunroof

Ray.