Ha, saw the '93 thread...yeah, you got some irons in the fire :p

Best of luck as you wished ;)

threw the 55 iron back in the fire! time to get this thing ready for spring, and ready for summer airstream trips.

first up, cutting down the job box. sectioned 5" out of it for WAY better rear viz, and it looks better. left 1" on the floor to keep the edges straight, then shoved that back into the box for an overlap to help water intrusion when only stitch welding it back together.

next is getting the bed sealed up so i can use it as a real bed. bed mat ordered to clean up the floor and protect things, plus the tailgate is almost done. cut down the factory chains even for the shorter gate. not sure i actually need the lift-off hinge like a modern gate, but it was fun to fab either way.

i'm working on ordering a OneGauge kit so i can monitor everything about the 12v and tuning. no screen, just TORQUE on my phone since i already have a nice mount for it on the dash. can always add one later if i need to.

https://i.imgur.com/h7dVPBa.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/3VVp0U6.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/7E7kbaj.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/B0Wb36r.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/nyMU2aS.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/tQhDoHy.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/x19qONk.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/5Z900QQ.jpeg

Looking good!

The attention to detail on this build is definitely cool. You are right, you didn't "need" to have the factory capability of lifting the gate off, but it doesn't seem like it was hard to do and gives you more flexibility and "hidden details" that make it a better build.

How does this OneGauge work? It doesn't rely on OBD data to show you engine vitals? Being the 12v is purely mechanical, I'm curious how that is going to work without some fancy interface from electronic / mechanical sensor to this system.

What are your plans for engine data + navigation? Do you have a standalone GPS vs using your phone?

thanks dude!

James, check em out, it's just a totally customizable data collection / display system. the dude has been hugely helpful to discuss custom programming and options.

https://www.theonegauge.com/

as for nav vs gauges, I'm hoping once i get everything dialed in that i won't NEED to constantly watch gauges. or there's PIP for maps in android. i'm also trying to figure out if i can set up a warning light output from the OneGauge to trip a check engine light on the dash.

That OneGauge setup seems pretty sweet. I could see going that route eventually on my K5. I've always loved the dash on the K5, and it has all the major readouts available, but accuracy is pretty suspect. I'd love to keep the look of the original gauges but have a hidden screen where I could check the actual status periodically. Since it's currently OBDI, it would be easiest to do a stand alone sensor setup like that. My setup would be $1,210 all in (well, plus tax) but that even includes dual AFR wide band O2 sensors with bungs for my dual exhaust. That seems pretty damn reasonable.

for the basics and factory look/fit, i love the Dakota Digital RTX dash. 110% recommend that first.

I've looked at the various digital dashes available for the C/K trucks. They are nice, but they don't look factory, just fit the existing holes. The factory gauges on this truck just look "right" to me.

oh man! going back and forth with the OneGauge guy and he's looking into if he can send all the gauges attached to it thru a generic CAN signal into the Dakota Digital dash! that would let me use the current little screen in the dash to monitor anything and set warning limits that wouldn't require my phone. then i could use the phone for JUST data logging or viewing more info bigger while tuning.

tailgate is done, but it really needs a stamped, patina, CHEVROLET cut out and riveted on there.

closeout panel is done including hitch hole, pin is easy to get to thru the hatch or by going under the bumper. also probably need some kind of hitch cover for an emblem or something down there.

fender wells are plated on the inside finally, just need metal worked. also still needs the tie-in to the bed side. but I'll mess with that after i pop the bed sides off for better mounting hardware.

OneGauge ordered, and right now it looks like it will be able to pass info to the Dakota dash so i don't have to have my phone connected all the time. that will be huge if it works and i can have warning lights on the dash.

https://i.imgur.com/1wxPDuE.jpeg

busted out the borrowed TIG again last night and laid down some perfectly function, perfectly ugly welds. tried to "weave" them better, but the welder was already maxed out and just didn't have the balls to really do what i needed. so i just made sure i had enough material and made it look like the factory cast-in mounting boss. really pretty happy with how it turned out over-all. a little time to let the oxidation match and shouldn't be able to tell.

i didn't want the drill and tap shavings getting stuck in the core to later get into the engine, so i back-purged it with a leaf blower worked awesome! highly recommended

she's now ready to get PSI and temp sensors so i can have data after the turbo's but before the intercooler. needed? no. but I'm really interested to check efficiencies and be able to see what changes little things make. soooo many ppl are skeptical of the water-to-air setup, will also be nice to have data of who's right!

https://i.imgur.com/dKBkpQl.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/uSh3dVe.jpeg

FINALY got to step back and see the bumpers from a proper angle. i'm excited, not only looks more complete but lowers the visual front and back. i really need to get the bed side steps on now!

https://i.imgur.com/acHqN41.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/ZlF37kF.jpeg

That looks so sweet!

Where is the heat exchanger for the air / water intercooler?

under the bed. water pump right there with them.

i made sure the heat exchanger core is bigger than the charge cooler.

https://i.imgur.com/zbmOLWh.jpeg