1965 GMC build

[Robert Haas]

I then debur all edges and I end up with these



Now over to the surface plate to do the first of several lay outs that I need to do.

First comes the lay out fluid, a simple type of ink that does not wash off with coolants or cutting fluids, the 12" Mitutoyo height gage with scribe attached is how I will lay out the first of several "lines" these are mostly just visual reference points. All actual dimensions are measured and confirmed during machining.



Here is the center point of the bore laid out.




Now onto the lathe. I will use a four jaw chuck as the part is to be bored off center.



I confirm center with a dial indicator then begin the boring process. First is a series of holes using progressively larger drill bits to allow the boring bar to be used.

 

[Robert Haas]

Stepping up to larger and larger bits



last hole is 1"




The boring bar is now installed in the quick change tool holder.





And the arduous process of boring to final size begins.



final size achieved.



That gets us to here, Lathe work completed.

 

[Robert Haas]

Now back to the surface plate and lay out for the mill is completed

I did one other process on the lath and cut a plug that fits the spindle on my rotary table





Several individual tool paths are plotted and carried out.








final profiling and cutting to final. note the thin (.0675") fin I will leave to weld to.

 

[Robert Haas]

Here is final mock up. will still need to drill and tap each piece for the 10-24 set screws that hold the tank in the brackets










welded and mounted







It was a fun enough project and it came out exactly the way we needed it to.

 

[zmotorsports]

Very nice job on the surge tank Robert. Turned out great.

 

[Robert Haas]

Am I in the wrong Forum?

 

[jbmatth]

That is some pretty incredible work for a "simple" surge tank bracket. Just one of the many little details you've put into this build that will put it way over the top.

JB

 

[stinkity stoink]

Wow ,Great work !!!! That is definitely something most people will not pay attention to with the hood up , let alone realize the time and effort that went into making it.

 

[Robert Haas]

That is some pretty incredible work for a "simple" surge tank bracket. Just one of the many little details you've put into this build that will put it way over the top.

JB

Thank you, not so much over the top as not just some check book build.

 

[Robert Haas]

Wow ,Great work !!!! That is definitely something most people will not pay attention to with the hood up , let alone realize the time and effort that went into making it.

For the few people that know what they are looking at, this build is like an easter egg hunt to the few that look at it for more then a glance.


I am building a bolt on bracket for the AC drier today. It is pretty cool but I won't boar everyone with another self serving pictography of the process.

 

[zmotorsports]

For the few people that know what they are looking at, this build is like an easter egg hunt to the few that look at it for more then a glance.


I am building a bolt on bracket for the AC drier today. It is pretty cool but I won't boar everyone with another self serving pictography of the process.

Keep the pics of the little details coming Robert. Personally, I like the easter egg hunt of details. All of my builds have been the same way with the mindset of hiding things in plain sight. To the average person they look like they belong but to the trained eye they jump out and then lead to the next and the next and so on.

The devil is in the details.

 

[iajonesy]

I too like the photos and the little details I have seen in both of the builds. I get a lot of good ideas from your labors and appreciate your efforts to provide us with step by step photos and text. Keep posting and I'll keep stealing. Thanks.

Mike

 

[Chateau Slate 66]

I do as well. I prefer not to clog up your thread with a bunch of "great job" posts, but rest assured that myself and many others follow your posts closely.

 

[Robert Haas]

This build will have AC so I built a hanger for the drier. Bored this part on the mill. had a lot of chatter but it cleaned up by the time I got to final.

Did add a small detail using a ball end mill.

 

[KMScott]

I enjoy seeing the old school rotary table work. Been watching your build since the beginning. Don't quit now. Some of us old timers appreciate builds like this.

 

[Robert Haas]

Have not posted much as I have been pretty ******* with other projects. However I have been getting a lot done on the GMC and as of late I have gotten into the plumbing and it has been enjoyable.

Start off with;

I re-did the exhaust system too. Using a different type of joint now as well as added a flex pipe to help isolate the system even further.

 

[Robert Haas]

Built a mount for the transmission cooler and built all the lines, as well as the mounts for the lines that bolt them to the chassis.

All one off just for this build.

 

[Robert Haas]

I scrapped the Stainless steel fuel tank. I built an aluminum one, that is now fully plumbed too.,

 

[Robert Haas]

So here are the overview shots.








Thanks for lookin'

I'm tired and heading home to take a nap

 

[vwracer]

Truck is going to be sweet!! Nice job Robert

 

[xtremek]

NIce work.

 

[Robert Haas]

Time line has been accelerated. Owner has reqested a fire up and test drive by June.

I feel the pressure building.

 

[larry_g]

I sure the hell hope that your planning a glass floor in the bed so all this beautiful work does not get lost...

You also cannot post to many of the machining and detail work pictures.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Robert Haas]

I sure the hell hope that your planning a glass floor in the bed so all this beautiful work does not get lost...

You also cannot post to many of the machining and detail work pictures.

lg
no neat sig line

Yea this truck will be a Easter egg hunt for folks that actually take a minute or 2 to look at it.

As far as a detailed posts with some fabrication you are about to get bored to tears. This week I will begin the process of manually machining a full billet dash panel. out of a 35 LB chunk of 6061 Billet Aluminum.

I am going to set up a go Pro camera and shoot some time lapse.

I expect it to take me between 12 and 18 hours total mill time to widdle it out. I estimate the finished part will weigh less then 2 Lbs.

 

[zmotorsports]

Chassis is looking great Robert.

 

[Robert Haas]

The one problem with building a first generation C10 GMC is they just do not get the love from the aftermarket that the same series Chevrolet's get. Case in point is the dash. There is probably 5o different companies building dashes for the 63 to 66 Chevy C10's and the options are rich. The lowly GMC is the redheaded step child with basically a handful of designs being sold and none of them offer what I need for this build. So it leaves me with no choice but to widdle one out myself.

Start off with 35Lbs of 6061 Aluminum, chuck it into the mill and machine the surfaces.


Then put the lay out die on it.


Grab a bunch of precision tools


Now start cutting everything away that is in the way.

 

[Robert Haas]

Rough it to shape then get it mounted on to my 75 year old 16" rotary table and start the daunting task of building a instrument panel.

 

[xtremek]

Looks like there's gonna be a ton of chips.

 

[jbmatth]

That does seem like a very daunting task, good on you for making it happen.

Looks like there's gonna be a ton of chips.

Hopefully less than 35 pounds or it'll take a few tries.

JB

 

[Robert Haas]

CNC technology has made processes like this completely obsolete. However I do not own a CNC so doing it manually is my only solution.

It will take tons of time but if I am patient, careful and accurate enough,.... I should be able to achieve an acceptable level of finish.

 

[zmotorsports]

Nice work on the dash Robert. It's going to look stellar when done.

 

[Robert Haas]

Got back on it yesterday only to crash the mill because I had my head up my *** and broke the thrust bearing out of the X Axis. spent most of the day doing a repair on that. Hope it works as my Italian Mill has no spare parts available and I would have to make my own and I do not have that skill set. Not yet anyway.

got to here before the crash

 

[66 GMC Truckin]

Just found your thread! Looking great! I hope to build mine one day...for now it sits in the garage and waits.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Robert Haas]

Just found your thread! Looking great! I hope to build mine one day...for now it sits in the garage and waits.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Sounds like most of my "projects"

 

[xtremek]

Bummer about the mill, good luck with the repair.

 

[samss]

Your craftsmanship is amazing, really. As stated by others, keep the pics coming, we don't always comment just to keep from cluttering up your thread. I still miss my '66 C10 Custom.

 

[Robert Haas]

The Mill is back on line, I will never forgive myself for hurting it. I am the only operator it has ever known. I rescued it from the guy who bought it at auction and he never even unboxed it. It still had the factory shipping locks installed and was covered in cosmoline just like the day it landed on our shores back in 1978.




My repair was intensive and I did everything I could to get it back to the operational status. I will cross my fingers and hope it is a durable repair. I have my doubts as welding cast iron is not my wheel house and I don't trust what I did to be up to my norms.

 

[Robert Haas]

So I got the mill back up and was able to get to the part ready to be bored for the 7 instruments it will hold. I showed a picture of the cool part of my mill where I can swing the x/y axis and cut tapers. That allowed me to machine the sides at the 7 degrees from vertical.

 

[jbmatth]

Bummer on the mill, but glad you were able to get it operational again. The bezel is looking great by the way.

JB

 

[Robert Haas]

Well the first phase is complete. Still need to add the bottom and get the steering column notch completed as well as final facing.

I'm pretty glad to have this off the mill for awhile.