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1978-1987 Chevrolet C10 Interior Install - An Inside Job: Part Two Curtain Call On The ’73-’87 C10 Interior InstallFrom the April, 2011 issue of Custom Classic Trucks By Dakota Wentz
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We left off last month with our hands smack-dab in the middle of the cookie jar installing a ground up LMC Truck interior in a ’73-’87 C10. In the previous story, the foundation of the interior was installed, which included the sound and heat barriers, carpet, seat cover and door panels. In this month’s installment, the interior will be wrapped up by installing the upper half of the cab. Included in this install is a new dashpad with all the trimmings, a billet steering wheel, and a new headliner with accessories. When it comes to old trucks that have battled Father Time, you always find common ground among the headliners and dash. For starters, thumbtacks. When it comes to looking up at the headliner, the most common accent one sees is a multitude of rainbow-colored thumbtacks holding inverted rolling hills of headliner in place. Atop the dashpad is usually some sort of carpet liner, hula girl, or even a bobbing head Chihuahua covering up the sun cracks that run rampant. All in all, the sight of an aging cab is one that should be forgotten. At first glance, the bulk... At first glance, the bulk of the dashpad may send chills of anxiety, but the truth is, the install isn’t much more than 20 screws and a few snaps! LMC Truck offers an option to the weathered components festering inside. Better news is even though the task of replacing the dash and headliner may look daunting and intimidating, the fact of the matter is things are installed and handled with a matter of screws and clips that would fit in the hand of a second grader! Along with just replacing worn-out interior pieces, LMC also offers several pieces of ornamentation to breathe some youth and vibrancy back into the aging hauler. Things like billet trim, Colorbond, and a billet steering wheel will add a touch of class to the cab. As the last pieces of the interior are installed you’ll notice that nothing outside of the ordinary garage’s toolbox is being used to handle the install. Reason being is that everything is prefabbed and installs with simple screws and clips. Beyond the simplicity of the install is that all of the ensuing steps can be performed in a day, largely because the components are manufactured to be direct replacement components. Follow along as we wrap up this installment of a backyard upholstery job. CCT  The dashpad mainly mounts...  The dashpad mainly mounts via retainer clips. To insert the clips, lay them perpendicular to the slots in the dashpad and place the small finger (note arrow) of the clip in the front insert. Then, using a counter-clockwise twisting motion, insert the rear flange of the clip into the rear slot.  Running along the top side...  Running along the top side of the dash are square-inch holes (note arrow). These holes are where the retainer clips will anchor. The flipped flange at the front of the clip will slide under the forward edge of the square hole.  Place the LMC Truck dashpad...  Place the LMC Truck dashpad in position and line up the retainer clips. Once aligned, push the dash in at a slight angle so the clips can catch the underside of the square holes and then push the dash down and forward into place.  The top solely anchors with...  The top solely anchors with the clips, however, along the lower edge of the pad there are several recessions. Using the provided self-tapping screws, insert the screws into the recessions, and then tighten the screws into the plastic anchors in the dash.  The billet dash trim installs...  The billet dash trim installs in the insert using the provided screws. Again, the screws will self tap.  To install the dash bezel,...  To install the dash bezel, begin by fastening the bezel to the dash and dashpad by tightening the provided screws. Run all the screws into position before installing the far left screws. Once tightened down, pull the dashpad down into position and then install the far left screws. The dash bezel will hold the dashpad down in its proper place.  The billet instrument cover...  The billet instrument cover mounts on the face of the bezel. The billet trim shares the upper middle holes of the dash bezel; therefore, begin by inserting the upper middle screws. Next, using a 1/8-inch bit, drill the remaining mounting holes of the trim into the dash bezel and fasten the trim with the screws provided.  A quick way to enhance the...  A quick way to enhance the look of your interior is an LMC Truck polished billet steering wheel with a fashionable black leather wrap and billet steering wheel base kit. Before getting started, be sure the front wheels are turned dead straight.  First, remove the nut holding...  First, remove the nut holding the OEM steering wheel to the column shaft. Next, use a steering wheel puller to remove the OEM steering wheel and wheel base from the splined column shaft.  Next, slide the LMC billet...  Next, slide the LMC billet base onto the splined column shaft and reinstall the column shaft nut to secure the base.  Set the LMC wheel at the 12...  Set the LMC wheel at the 12 o'clock position and secure the wheel to the base by installing the provided Allen screws  The LMC truck horn button...  The LMC truck horn button is compatible with the GM column. Install the horn hot wire to the plug-n-play terminal on the button. Then, insert the hot wire into the column. Provided in the kit is a ground wire. Install the ground wire to the horn button (note arrow) and steering wheel base.  With the horn wires hooked...  With the horn wires hooked up to their appropriate ends, the horn button is installed into the steering wheel by pressing the button in place.  The headliner comes preassembled...  The headliner comes preassembled and upholstered. On the backside of the plastic molding are several cutouts (note arrows), such as the dome light, triangular visor mounts and the retaining rail screw hole cutouts. These will need to be cut out with a razor blade.  When it comes time to install...  When it comes time to install the headliner, use either an adjustable pole jack, or grab some helping hands to hold the headliner in place. To secure the headliner, install the four retaining rails (each side of the headliner has a matching retaining rail) to the underside of the inner skin.  In cases where OEM
products...  In cases where OEM
products are in good
shape, but just a little
faded, LMC Truck offers
Colorbond. Colorbond
is a spray-on refinisher
that works on plastic,
leather, vinyl, and
metal for a quick, easy
fix. It comes in multiple
colors, and it is thin
enough to let the natural
grain of a subject shine
through! In a nutshell
it's a quick spray time
with a 15 minute drying
period that results in a
showroom finish. The best part is Colorbond
won't crack or peel like spray paint.  The A and B-pillar covers...  The A and B-pillar covers were first hit with some Colorbond, and then installed. To install the pillar covers slide the ends of the pillars under the edge of the retaining rails. The indentations in the pillar covers will line up with the mounting holes on the retaining rails for a one screw install.  To install the LMC Truck visors,...  To install the LMC Truck visors, begin by removing the mounting rods from the original visors and slide them into the pockets of the new LMC Truck visors.  Next, mount the visors by...  Next, mount the visors by sliding the triangular mounting pad into the headliner cutout. From there, install the three screws and that’s that.  The rear dome light base installs...  The rear dome light base installs via two screws up into the cab. Before installing the base, remove the terminals from the original dome light and relocate them in the new base. Lastly, snap the dome light cover in place.  It’s like we were never there....  It’s like we were never there. And notice the absence of thumbtacks holding things together!
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The Thinker??? - Haul Monitor
Ryan talks about the friendly badgering that goes on around the shop and overcoming obstacles that seemly pop up out of nowhere during a project....
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