Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Yeah. He's a member for life too. ;)

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Finally got my front sway bar installed after watching it hold down the garage floor for a couple of months. Moving on...

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Yeah.

I'm afraid you guys are stuck with me!!!

Kinda like my wife. But different.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Stuck with me too, now I have a 73 Chevy short box 4wd and my 71 Gmc 4wd back, life is grrreat, like tigger the tiger would say.
Just hauled a lot of bags of triple mix for the garden today, just enjoyed going to get it, but now the work begins.
Mudman.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

So I thought I was doing something positive, replaced my insufficient and toasty battery cable to the starter. Used some nice large (not overly so, perhaps 1/0) welding cable. No voltage drop at all. Then the effin thing would not turn over! Great new problem on the 50 year old b*•ch.
Waiting for a new ignition switch now.
On a positive note it sure sounds great with a new Heartthrob exhaust system. That was a can of worms as well, but we own one of these old traps because we enjoy working on them. (ok mostly, perhaps sometimes, maybe a little less?)

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

I had to drive mine to save my ass. Had a trans cooler hose blow off & dump fluid all under my Z71. It's a good thing I didn't have mine torn apart & on jackstands.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

This happened last night, but still less than 24 hrs ago so it counts right? I Completed the last step of my shortbed conversion by getting the bed put back on for the last time and bringing the truck home after being at my dad's house off and on for the last few months. Here is a before and after from the day I got it in March '16 to yesterday.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4286/3...5b0a3c33_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4202/3...a2b5b1c7_c.jpg

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

So cool looking, great job. But you done pissed of quite a few people now. So have I with my conversion. Lol.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

:lol: Yes I have. Even more after I take some abrasives to the shiny new paint on the bed!

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

I see your son is ready to take possession...:lol::metal:

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Short bed and rims make such a huge difference for the good, nice work.
Mudman.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

I put back in a reproduction egg crate grill. Looks a lot better than the aftermarket it had. I just have to figure out the plastic clips...they don't want to snap into the inner chrome grille surround.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Finished up Retro Sound 2 radio install over the weekend and installed Juliano's three point seat belts today.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Went for my first road test since my frame off.

Attachment 1661379

Attachment 1661380

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Sooo how was the 1st run in the truck, bet it was nice to get out in it again.
Mudman.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

I was so stoked to get it back on the road. I last drove it 44 days ago.

I upgraded so many systems. The power steering was great. The disk brakes acted as they should. The lowered height, with Bilsteins and sway bars made it handle really well. The full syncro trans (still on the column) was nice to use. The 2:76 rear end was such an improvement over the 4:11s that were in it. Although it kicked my butt twice, the Centerforce clutch works perfect. Last but not least, the 396 runs really well. I fried the tires a couple of times. It has a lot of power.

I've got a ways to go still.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Yesterday I got my original 4 row (lower) radiator brackets sand blasted. A friend from jr. high I haven't seen since 1998 did that for me at this shop. Great seeing him again and getting that done.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Replaced the old "3 Wire" Alternator with a new "1 Wire" Alternator.
Quick and painless....

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

[QUOTE=ghalperin;7967753]Went for my first road test since my frame off.

Attachment 1661379

As my friend says "that's cool beans right there". ;)
Good looking driver.
Your truck makes me wish I still had the 3ott in mine.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Broke a fan belt on my way back from the hardware store. Had my wife pick me up, quick trip to the auto store, 15 mins to put on a new belt. Gotta love working with old trucks.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Your sure right on the belt and old classics, try that on any new vehicle, lucky to see where the belt even goes.
Mudman.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

I installed two valve cover gaskets, a fuel pump and some new fuel hoses and an inline filter,

I got rust in the tank problems.

Discovered a vaccuum line leak between the carb and the vaccuum advance.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

I got a little something done yesterday (posting at 2 AM). I put NAPA Rust Treatment onto my lower radiator brackets as a primer.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

I'm no mechanic but I really do enjoy puttering around and fixing things up. I love how easy these trucks are to work on and I really enjoy all the help I've received on this site.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

I did the same when I restored my '71, found out the original wiring could not carry the robust charging capability of the one-wire alternator. The factory fuse link or if you replace it with an inline fuse may not handle the potential 60 amps or so that it can generate so I added into the harness a 10 guage wire direct from the alternator to the battery. Great add though for these old trucks even though it knocks out the generator guage function. May deal with a voltage guage in it's place at a later date.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Picked up my freshly upholstered buddy seat , dug out tach dash . Now to install tilt column & power steering . Soon !

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

I went to Donut Derelect's and then Home Depot.

Attachment 1661966
Attachment 1661967

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

I went to Donut Derelect's and then Home Depot.

Attachment 1661966
Attachment 1661967

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Picked up the wheels from powder coat and got the tires mounted.

15x6 225/70/15 BFG Radial T/A

15x8 275/60/15 Nitto 555r

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

I brought my truck home ...

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

gave my front end a lube job

noticed that my disc brake pads need replacing

tommarrow i'm going to flush my cooling system

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Yesterday I got my 4 row lower radiator brackets painted. That should do it for front-end reassembly preparations.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

I added a tailgate lock.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

[QUOTE=ghalperin;7969613]I went to Donut Derelect's

Left LA in January, miss that get together. Awsome looking tuck!

Went to pick up some yummy southern barbeque for fathers day. But usually run into this traffic on the weekend in the middle of the day. Joys and pain of living on the beach, but who is complaining, I moved here from LA. This is nothing. Did a little work Saturday on the roof surface rust repair. Also went to a car show but just saw a bunch of new mustangs and corvettes. Not much of a show, passed a bunch of those on the way there. Lol Happy Fathers Day all!

http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/...psigv8dhsy.jpg


http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/...psd1jb8gsw.jpg

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Took the bed back off the frame and took it apart and put the new sides on and sat it back on the frame today. Will finish mocking it all up tomorrow...

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Got into the front end today, man if you do not have an oxy torch its a pain. I torched off those upper ball joints in less than 5 min. flat. Then onto the stuck lower ball joint. Red hot on the ball joint stud then hit with the hose, 3 times over. Ball joint removal tool and a punch it fell right out.

Having the right stuff is a blessing.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

I put my front bumper and inner fender wells back on.

Attachment 1662656

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Finished the ignition portion of my maintenance binge. Pulled the distributor, replaced the points, condenser, cap and rotor (plugs, wires and coil were replaced a few weekends ago).

As much as I love the SBC, there are times when I think Ford had the right idea. Full-size truck with a 4" lift, getting to the distributor is a real chore as an older fat guy. Turned a two hour job into several hours across two days.

Adjusted timing and dwell, the beast purrs like a happy beast now.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Delete as duplicate.

Re: What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II
 

Tell me about it. I tried replacing one in my work parking lot. But the lower wasn't going back in without heat & I didn't have enough.