Cardboard utility box upgrade.

The original cardboard utility box (behind bench seat) needed to go. The cardboard material it was made from, crumbled apart anytime I moved it. It had served well.
So as per SOP, out came the ol'CAD system. Using the basic measurements from the cab, cardboard was squared up and cut to the numbers. This unit was also going to house some newly aquired 6x9 coaxial Pioneers. After looking at some catelogs for corner speaker set ups, the design was mocked up in cardboard. A little trimming and fitting made it all fit nicely. I had the 1/4" ply in my stash and soon sawdust was rolling.
It rained the next couple days so "delay in play" was called. Once all the pieces were glued up, a fitting of the 2 panels took a bit of time. It was hot and muggy. Once they fit, I decided to remove the old padding and over-hanging carpet and install some sticky back sound/heat barrier. It was my first time working with that human fly paper and it was touch and can't let go for a while.
A final sanding and then the same textured paint job as the cup console. Regular rattle can black was used on the no show sides and allowed to dry. Then mount the speakers and shoe-horn them into place. I am going to add a couple of draw latches to geep the gaps tight, but for now it's good enuf to show.
No, I have not replaced the radio yet....it's on the list.

I like it, especially the corner pieces for speaker placement.
I’ll probably fab some like those in the future for my cab. I’ll probably use aluminum or stainless though. I work part time at a metal fab shop and can use their equipment.

Old Guy Bill said:

I like it, especially the corner pieces for speaker placement.
I’ll probably fab some like those in the future for my cab. I’ll probably use aluminum or stainless though. I work part time at a metal fab shop and can use their equipment.

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I thought about using metal but considering speakers sound better in wood and the entire cab is mostly metal, so I wanted to mellow out the tone as much as possible.

I am eager to see what you come up with.

The panels have just been setting in place and not fastened down and nothing in the trough to weigh them down. I've noticed a little banging noise coming from back there when on a bumpy road...which is every road here in my neck of the woods. So for now, I decided to velcro the panels. But before I can stick on the velcro, the metal has to be clean.
In the process of cleaning up, I noticed that someone has drawn a "Smiley" face on the panel under the rear window....and it is not coming off. So as I'm looking at it, I couldn't help but notice it was drawn with 1 continous stroke....which makes me think the artist has drawn a lot of these and very quickly...as like on an assembly line.
Well, since I got the truck, I've been looking for a nick name for the truck. And it hit me..."Smiley".
Smiley it is.
So I stopped trying to remove it and took a pic.
I might even replicate it on the tailgate. Maybe someday, some old GM worker will recognize it and unfold the untold story behind it.

I have tried to trace over the line using a photo editer...
It ain't the best, but you get the idea.

I like that. I would want one with separate compartments for oil,floor jack etc

84GMCSierra said:

I like that. I would want one with separate compartments for oil,floor jack etc

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For simple,you can screw a piece of house gutter behind the seat,if you've hung gutters you'll be able how to figure out making dividers out of gutter nail tubes.

hey mister said:

So I stopped trying to remove it and took a pic.
I might even replicate it on the tailgate. Maybe someday, some old GM worker will recognize it and unfold the untold story behind it.

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Okay Smiley, what truck assembly plant was your truck built at?

7th digit in the vin.

1973-80 Vehicle ID Number (VIN)
All 1973-80 series 10 and 20 have a portion of the VIN number stamped on the engine and the transmission. This identification number consists of the division number, model year, assembly plant and the vehicle assembly sequence number. The VIN identification and Rating Plate is located attached to the left hand door pillar.
The examples below use the following VIN number: CCL148Z100327.


C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Division





C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Chassis Type





C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Engine Description

* = 6000 lb and under GVWR.



C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Series





C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Body Type





C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Year





C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Assembly Plant





C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Build Sequence Number

Mines from Fremont too, 111753

Smiley is from Flint, MI.

Turbo4whl said:

7th digit in the vin.

1973-80 Vehicle ID Number (VIN)
All 1973-80 series 10 and 20 have a portion of the VIN number stamped on the engine and the transmission. This identification number consists of the division number, model year, assembly plant and the vehicle assembly sequence number. The VIN identification and Rating Plate is located attached to the left hand door pillar.
The examples below use the following VIN number: CCL148Z100327.


C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Division

C = Chevrolet T = GMC

C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Chassis Type

C = 2 Wheel Drive K = 4 Wheel Drive

C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Engine Description

1973-75 Model Q = 250 6Cyl T = 292 6Cyl X = 307 V8 V = 350-2 V8 Y = 350-4 V8 U = 400-4 V8 Z = 454-4 V8*	1976-76 Model D = 250 6Cyl T = 292 6Cyl Q = 305-2 V8 V = 350-2 V8 L = 350-4 V8 U = 400-4 V8 S = 454-4 V8*
1977-77 Model D = 250 6Cyl T = 292 6Cyl U = 305 V8 L = 350-4 V8 R = 400-4 V8 S = 454-4 V8 Z	1978-78 Model D = 250 6Cyl T = 292 6Cyl U = 305 V8 L = 350-4 V8 R = 400-4 V8 S = 454-4 V8 Z = 350 Diesel
1979-79 Model D = 250 6Cyl T = 292 6Cyl U = 305 V8 L = 350-4 V8 M = 350-2 V8 R = 400-4 V8 S = 454-4 V8 Z = 350 Diesel	1980-80 Model D = 250 6Cyl T = 292 6Cyl G = 305 V8 L = 350-4 V8 M = 350-4 V8 R = 400-4 V8 S = 454-4 V8

* = 6000 lb and under GVWR.



C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Series

Chevrolet GMC 1 = 10 1 = 15 1/2 Ton 2 = 20 2 = 25 3/4 Ton 3 = 30 3 = 35 1 Ton Chevrolet or GMC 4 = 1/2 Ton (HD Suspension)

C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Body Type

4 = Pickup

C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Year

3 = 1973 6 = 1976 9 = 1979 4 = 1974 7 = 1977 A = 1980 5 = 1975 8 = 1978

C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Assembly Plant

A = Lakewood S = St. Louis 1 = Oshawa B = Baltimore V = Pontiac 5 = London, Canada F = Flint T = Terrytown 8 = Shreveport J = Janesville Z = Fremont

C C L 1 4 8 Z 100327

Build Sequence Number

327th unit produced, certain Flint models start with 100000

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This breakdown you listed...
Where can I find that so I can print it out.
None of my manuals has this...that I recall.

Awesome work here @hey mister Marty! I like the story on your trucks name. It would be really cool if the smiley face was replicated on the truck somewhere, tailgate or on the door. The VIN breakdowns are in the service manuals and LMC has something like it in the beginning of their catalogue as do other truck parts catalogues.