Build thread for the 72 GMC, finally. Thanks John!

In reply to Dusterbd13 :

Same here. More than a few people have wondered what that little polished piece of steel might be from.

Dusterbd13 said:

Self fusing silicone tape or the split braided loom is what I typically use. Looks right underhood for the era as well.

Im soo glad to see where the truck is at these days. I still have a chunk of your leaf spring on my desk. 

I'm glad that momento is still with you!

NOHOME said:

In reply to Dusterbd13 :

Same here. More than a few people have wondered what that little polished piece of steel might be from.

Very cool

lnlogauge said:

In reply to tuna55 :

If you can't find what you want for a battery cover, it sounds like a fun 3d printing project. I'd be happy to print one out for you. Username @ gmail, give me some dimensions and a pic of what you want it to look like. 

That sounds like a neat idea. Let me think a little. I'm appreciate the offer!

Headlights work, taillights work, brake lights work, left turn signals work, horn works, dome light works, windshield wipers work. Aligned shifter arms.

Still working on right signals and reverse lights.

I think I have room under hood for a tunnel ram. Anyone getting rid of a 400 or aftermarket small block that I can make bigger? How about a posi for a truck 12 bolt?

Minor update. Both signals and emergency flashers work. Reverse lights are a mystery. Also apparently I never finished fuel line vent properly  oops.

Okay I figured out the reverse lights. I need to procure the other end of the switch on the transmission.

I didn't mention this earlier but the side window and vent window are also in on the driver side.

I know I've seen your generation of truck with a roots blower under an unmodified hood. Don't know ive ever seen a tunnel ram though.

In reply to Dusterbd13 :

I drove it around the yard and a tiny bit of my street last week. It's only going to be fun to drive with 500 horsepower. It needs a big small block with a tunnel ram making a big broad flat torque curve, and it needs to idle like Alex playing Hot For Teacher.

tuna55 said:

In reply to Dusterbd13 :

I drove it around the yard and a tiny bit of my street last week. It's only going to be fun to drive with 500 horsepower. It needs a big small block with a tunnel ram making a big broad flat torque curve, and it needs to idle like Alex playing Hot For Teacher.

I know you don't want to hear this, cause you have said so...but the funnest result you are going to get is a Gen 3 or 4 Vortec  6 liter with an auto box, preferably a 4l80. ( 5.3 will also do the job just fine)  Find a drive-train from a vehicle that drove to the scene of the accident and harvest the whole enchilada of drive-train components for $2000-$3000 and it will bolt in with little effort. Cam swap and you are done; full cam kits are around $500 and up.  Don't even need to take the heads off to swap cam and get near your 500 hp.Take the full AC system while you are there cause chicks dig AC more than burnouts. VATS removal can be free with software you download on line.

Cammed, tunnel rammed, high-compression small blocks are not fun to drive on the street and are going to get sub-10 mpg. You will never want to go on a long trip that involves a HWY.

But I digress and you don't need me preaching at you from the pews of the converted. Get the truck on the road and spend the next year or two getting the chassis sorted. That will give you a much better idea of how you want to improve things.

Attaching a clip of the latest build that I have been involved with and this was done for like $2k Cnd over a few months time. 

In reply to NOHOME :

It's not that I don't want to hear it, it's that it's not helpful. There's no way in the world that's happening. It may just be that fun means different things to different people.

Don't know how wonderful these are, but for around $20, they might be worth a look.  They have a Group 24 option and an Odyssey Group 34 AGM battery

https://www.tartopper.com/product/tartopper/

or the Delco alternative - https://www.ebay.com/itm/151044182004?_trksid=p4375194.c101949.m162918

In reply to CJ :

I saw that.

I can't decide if this, coupled with a light battery, is a good choice (which would still necessitate a box, since the lightweight battery is much smaller) or if it's better to relocate the battery under the passenger side frame rail.

Big inch small block, or massive torque caddy engine? What about something like a 472 or a 500? 526 ft-lb out of the box, 60lb heavier than what you have..  .

Probably not what you want, but it sounds like fun to me. Lately I've been craving unholy torque in something light, with supreme drivability. 

I think it stays small block with a tunnel ram unless I trip and fall over a big bore Gen III. I want it to be a 400.

Horsepower is fun and all....

The hand waves, thumbs up, and constant conversation at every gas station and parkinglot, are more fun with a truck like this than more horsepower.

How I learned to stop worrying and love the truck; or more power

I'm not going to do anything stupid like take the engine out for a third time before the truck drives. I'm a windshield, a reverse light switch, a passenger side vent window, some gauges, a painted grill and front and rear bumper, a fuel level sender, a rollover valve, wheels and tires,a painted glovebox door and door panels away from being "done". I'll drive it like that.

But then it's getting a nice engine and a posi almost immediately. I can build it off to the side and plop it in in an afternoon.