Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Sweet. I may end up getting them from Bill of he is ok with disassembling some doors he has. If that doesn't work out, then I'll plan a trip to see you.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Hey Pat and Everybody -- Merry Christmas.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Thank you, Brian. Merry Christmas to you,, too.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Working on my truck outside is inconvenient this time of year, so I'm going to focus on tasks that will allow me to roll it into the garage. It is parked on a slope right now, and I'm afraid to try moving it without brakes. I'm going to get the brakes working so I can have my daughter sit in the truck and steer while I push it around.

This evening I removed the hard brake lines and fuel lines from the frame. I will be replacing them with new stainless lines.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Hey Pat,
Are buying prebent lines or making up your own ?
Gary

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

I bought pre-bent lines.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

That should make it easier. I bent all mine, and stainless is unforgiving. If you make a mistake on your last bend or forget to put the flare nut on before flaring it's back to square one!!! Ask me how I know..... 😂... :banghead:

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

You probably ended up with better fitting lines in the end though. I debated going that route, but I've bought pre-bent lines in the past, and they fit reasonably well after a little massaging.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Spent some time with my dad today repairing heavily worn mechanical clutch linkage parts. We both did some of the welding using his TIG welder, although his welds looked way better than mine. Filed them down smooth and then tempered the welds with an oxy-acetylene torch followed by quenching in water.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

That's some skilled welding.
We tried that on the L6 Upper Clutch Push Rod on my Stepside, back about 20 years ago, when we rebuilt the current 292. I abandoned the result, but my Machinist had the idea of threading both ends of a same-length steel rod, and screwing Heim Joints on the ends.
LMC has now 'stolen' the idea, but mine was considerably less, made up from available components.

:chevy:

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

That sounds like an excellent application for Heim joints. How are they holding up?

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

It was January '05 when Orange Sunshine came back to life with its original engine F0627XAE rebuilt and hotrodded.
The Heim Joint Linkage has given me Zero problems.
[Although I should inspect it tomorrow, so I'm not Jinxed.]

:devil:

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Ha!

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Yup, Heim joints work good for that application...
Nice work on fixing those worn push rods...

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Well, I see the black fuzzy oil gremlin has been working his magic.
Z-Bar is filthy.
Heim Joint Clutch Rod Linkage must be Stainless Steel.
I should look underneath at my clutch spring. Last time it griped out, I got a shorter but stouter spring from the display at Ace Hdw, and had to make links with baling wire to reach.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Your clutch rod looks stout. Having the straight design for the inline six instead of the dog leg made it easier to fabricate. I like it.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Actually that Z-Bar has had to have its ears rewelded on. Around 350,000 miles. Broke off in traffic on a rush hour morning. Broke off with the stick in 2nd gear. Had to muscle it into neutral. Killed a day of work.

Same thing happened on the '71 GMC Jimmy's Z-Bar, but we thought that was because its ears were ''joggled'' extensively to play with headers.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

That sounds extremely inconvenient. These clutch components live a hard life.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Now that the holidays are over, I'm able to get back to working on my truck. This evening I wire wheeled the bottom of the cab and sprayed it with undercoating. I also found a couple of rusted spots in the front cab supports so I did some patching. I also removed the engine crossmember, tail light wiring and the front parking brake cable in preparation for cleaning and painting the frame.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

More photos

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

What paint you gonna use? POR 15, or spraycan Satin Black?

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

I'm going to paint the frame semigloss black with a spray can.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Cleaned the frame with a wire wheel and then painted it. That was not fun. Also filled the openings at the cab corners with seam sealer. I had pulled out the big chunk of factory seam sealer that was loose in the cab corners.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Quoted for truth! That is a time consuming and dirty task, especially with the cab on the frame and while you're laying on the ground. Looks nice and clean!

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

It's nowhere near show quality, but it should at least keep it protected from the elements.