1965 GMC build

[Robert Haas]

Now we un-boxed the radiator and test fit it, the cap penetrates the top cross-member but is reinforced with a piece of 12 Gauge stainless steel exhaust pipe. Will be trimming the top to flush out with the tin we are building that covers the top. (More on that later)

 

[Robert Haas]

So for the first time in many many months we set the truck on the ground. This is the first time the front sheet metal has all been on the truck in 17 months.

Nothing is actually bolted up or adjusted. this was about confirming all the modifications worked with one another,.. and yes, they all do. We also are starting to get some preliminary ride height set ups now that the majority of weight is going back on the truck.

 

[Robert Haas]

Core support complete

 

[Robert Haas]

That is about all I have, gonna take a couple weeks off to work on some other stuff. Thanks for lookin in.

 

[zmotorsports]

Nice work on the core support. Turning out very nice.

 

[Robert Haas]

Nice work on the core support. Turning out very nice.

Dang nice of you to say.

 

[Robert Haas]

Not sure if I posted this in this thread but we hung a partition curtain between the fab area and the "clean" side of the shop.

Now that I am fully into sheet metal I will be using body fillers and shooting primer so it was important to protect my "Garagmahal"

 

[zmotorsports]

Nice curtain.

I contemplated doing something similar for paint & body work but then just decided to not do any of that in my shop. I don't miss it all that much and the little bit I do I merely push it outside when spraying paint and/or primer.

 

[protegeV]

Very slick. I can see installing something like that in my shop, down the road.

 

[xtremek]

Nice work as always. Do you have a fan or something to keep the "stuff" from going over the top?

 

[Robert Haas]

Nice work as always. Do you have a fan or something to keep the "stuff" from going over the top?

just gravity. the curtain is 12' tall so the vast majority of dust and **** rarely gets more then 10 feet off the floor.

It has been up for a few weeks now and it does make a big difference, huge.

 

[Robert Haas]

Further progress on the core support.

We are running a Vintage Air system so today we got the condenser integrated.

 

[jhn9840]

Nice work, you always make it look easy.

jhn9840
John

 

[Robert Haas]

Nice work, you always make it look easy.

jhn9840
John

Wow, thank you, It is real easy for folks that know what they are doing, For me?,... well by the way my broken body feels after a couple days on this build,.. It sure ain't easy for my limited skills and old man's body

 

[Parttime1017]

Great pictures and videos. I'm 75 and still enjoy your kind of talent.

Great work.

 

[Offcenter12]

Another fan of this thread, just great work all around. Appreciate your efforts and build info, thank you!

John

 

[iajonesy]

I can't get enough of you and Robert @ MP&C

Mike

 

[Robert Haas]

Fabricating the valance that sits in front of the core support and covers the top of the radiator. This is pretty straight forward but it does have a few tricky parts to it. I want to do quite a bit of bead rolling on this and it is more then 5 foot wide so I need to build it in halves then weld it together after I roll it and brake it.

So I needed to mock it up in cardboard, not as easy as it seems.

 

[Robert Haas]

Then transfer it to some 18 gauge and lay out the bead rolling patterns





I will start on the bead work, brake work and welding in the morning.

 

[Robert Haas]

Got the lions share of the valance finished.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Those beadrolled insets are wicked.

 

[Robert Haas]

Those beadrolled insets are wicked.

Nice of you to say. That machine is getting a lot of work. My best friend and actual owner of this truck we are building is doing all the bead rolling. We design and build with a plan to use the bead roller more and more often now.

 

[caesar2001]

Thank you for sharing the steps you're going through (with photos) on this build. I am a big fan of your work, and look forward to your next update.

 

[wyliebrent]

Thank you for sharing the steps you're going through (with photos) on this build. I am a big fan of your work, and look forward to your next update.

Exactly what I was thinking. Excellent work

 

[Robert Haas]

A little video update



youtube link

 

[Robert Haas]

Details on the "tilting core support lid" Our own little design that solves several issues in regards to hiding stuff.


the hinge allows the part to lift as it opens thus preventing any unwanted paint removal.

we built an exact "buck" of the custom aluminum radiator to allow us to build the core support and orient specific parts. I have in the past bumped into the new radiators on other builds and left witness marks to my clumsiness. The plywood mock up doesn't mind me welding or grinding right next to it.













I have some real clever latches I will be using to hold the cover in place.

 

[Robert Haas]

First time the truck has sat on its tires in a very long time. We even pushed it outside

 

[Robert Haas]

This my best friend, this is his truck, his money and his dream I am lucky enough to help him create here.




Here let him give you a tour of the build

 

[jhn9840]

Very nice job as usual. The color combination really stands out. Thanks for sharing.

jhn9840
John

 

[Robert Haas]

We will be painting it blue. eventually. should look like this

 

[rattle_snake]

Sweet! nice work.

I like the 'bucket' seat.


Good to see an ol' BBC instead of a late model ls.

 

[FANTM58]

WOW sweet build, fantastic skills,
She looks killer....

 

[Robert Haas]

Seems like 10 years ago we were right here

 

[WoodsTruck]

Would painting the back half of the wheels body color look gawdy when the truck is parked? I think it would look interesting when moving given the shiny spokes.

 

[Robert Haas]

Would painting the back half of the wheels body color look gawdy when the truck is parked? I think it would look interesting when moving given the shiny spokes.

You do it on yours first.

 

[xtremek]

I did something similar to that on is now my daughter's truck. Turned out pretty nice. For this, I'd get some of that blue masking tape and put it where I wanted to paint it and see how it looks.

 

[Robert Haas]

oops

 

[Robert Haas]

Added some photos so folks know I am still working on it.

never mind, how about some radiator fab?

Bent up some aluminum and built a shroud to mount the twin hyper cool fans to.

 

[zmotorsports]

Nice job on the shroud and fans.

 

[Robert Haas]

On our build I have been getting the radiator completed. This consisted of mounting the fan shroud I built and the mounting tabs also built here in the shop. This weekend I undertook the labor intensive creation of custom weld on mounts for the overflow tank. All in I have about 6 hours just in these two brackets. It is an interesting process that requires the use of both my lathe and mill. Both machines had to have several systems utilized and I thought you might enjoy seeing how this went together.




Start off with a chunk of 6061 Alloy




cut it into two pieces at a rough size on my chop saw




square all surfaces to size on the mill, first get one corner square with an end mill.



now with both pieces with a square corner, I can put them in the mill vice and finish milling them to a finished size at the same time. I am using a 6 Inch face mill with 13 carbide cutters. A very nice piece of kit that delivers amazing finishing




This process is continued on every surface until the stock is perfectly square and ready to be laid out.