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

Installed my eBay Camaro/Vega GT steering wheel, upgraded my '80s era 6x9 door speakers with a $20 pair of Swap Meet Pioneer's (best money spent in quite awhile) & installed the middle seat belt I bought from Speedway last year....inching up on it! Lol

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

Made good gains (yesterday as it's now 2 AM). Removed grill and passenger side outer fender. Chased threads (dad did this) on four bolt holes we had cross threaded into getting that far in assembly.

I opened up 1 hole in the core support and 3 holes in the grill brackets with a die grinder after making those with chalk. Put fender and grill back on. Now only 1 hole won't line up (naturally one that did line up last time---SMH).

So I am closer to having it together! :)

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

I loaded the ramp truck up Friday and had new forks built for the chopper!

Yea it's a bicycle!

Red Neck Enigneering motor cycles cut me some 1-1/4" tubes for it.:chevy:

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

I picked up a high note horn at the swap meet Friday. It's from a 66 Nova but I don't think my 68 C10 will notice the difference. With a little ingenuity I was able to combine the two horns and install them in the stock location. It's a lot better sound than just one low note horn.

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

Two years in and I've actually finished something. Just rattle can primer & paint, but good enough for these:

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

Started the roll pan and flush mount tail lights today...

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

Nice tailight idea and work.
Mudman.

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

Installed front windshield, carpet, benchseat and belts over the weekend.

I will provide my utmost sympathies to whoever wants to tackle the windshield.

What a PITA!


Strange, the pics are not rotated before I uploaded them. Sorry about that

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

Looks very nice .

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

Love that green interior. I have a dark olive green truck and what you did would look terrific in mine. Or saddle brown.

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

Thanks guys. Its been a loooong time coming. I started dismantling the truck 7+ yrs ago. I'm just now reassembling when life and cash dont get in the way. Time flies!!!

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

Drove it this morning to do my walking. Came back home and changed the oil. Took it for another drive. Came back home and adjusted power steering pump bracket to stop belt squeal. Went for another drive ( love driving this truck). Start tomorrow cleaning it up to get ready to go to James Dean run this weekend.

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

Went to car wash, took a short drive. Wanted to keep going but went home...
That's about it, everything worked as usual.

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

While my axle plates are in a rust bath, I figured I'm close enough to take-off to start inventory of what's being sent out out for plating. Every aspect of everything, checking my notes, etc. It's tedious, and I see I haven't cleaned everything up as I go, so two pots of hardware.:waah: I've learned to dislike cleaning hardware, but I do like the results. :chevy:

I had some impression much of the hardware was the same on these trucks, but nope. I'm 1/5th done, and so far, near nothing has been the same across components.

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

I finally got around to replacing my old HEI distributor with the new GM HEI unit I got from Summit last month. It only took two tries to drop it in the correct position on #1 cyl. a first for me.

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

Thanks for the pic! I put my horn back on yesterday having to guess how it went back.....looks like i put it on correctly. :)

(I have a 3 horn set off a Cadillac, I plan to put those on my truck in the future).

Yesterday I put on the battery tray, horn, cleaned up some lighting connectors, put the external regulator back on, cleaned up the wiring a bit (wiped it off), and began installing the new front wiring gutter. *It is very exciting to be this far along.

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

Installed new rear brakes, hardware, wheel cylinders, drums, stainless lines and stainless flex line....even cleaned and painted the rear axle!
On to the front axle now

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

Inventory of parts I'll send out for black zinc. Phosphate a possibility. Wholly cow there are a lot of parts, especially with A/C. I'm also retracing my notes to make sure everything is right & tight. It's not fun, and I'm beat. I've discovered I only cleaned maybe 70% of the parts along the way. The balance shouldn't be bad, but another 100 plus parts to clean. I have a real distaste for the small wire launching wheels on a Dremmel, but they work well.

I'm about 90% done. So far I've accounted for the hardware for 120ish components, total 392 pieces. Sadly, I can tell you ever aspect for everything. It snowballed as I was learning, and what the heck, just as well note the stamps.

Edit, BS I was 90% done. Shot up to 541 pieces, and I found 50-60 nice spares I have to add yet. That doesn't include washers and most nuts. I'll add shocks hardware for good measure. Have to pull the suspension, engine/trans yet, but they won't produce much. Still, I never imagined I'd have well over 600 plus pieces for plating or coating. Adds up pretty fast.

If I have them zinc plated black, I may send the same place the steel retainers & clamps (e.g., tube retainers) for "clear" or yellow plating. Wouldn't hurt to add some more yellow in there. Any grade 8 that needs replacing is going to be yellow zinc anyhow. The zinc option over phosphate would be convenient. They're 1/2 hour away. http://apexanodizing.com/service-det...c-plating.html

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

Looks great!

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

:metal:

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

Installed new CPP shocks to try to improve the ride over the KYBs included with the ECE drop kit. If this doesn't make me happy, it'll be on to the ultra expensive Ride Tech shocks.
https://i.imgur.com/hGQP4yth.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ClzT622h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Nm7M0Ghh.jpg

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

Finished my headliner with new trim.

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

put off doing a full powerbrake burnout until my Son can watch and hopefully video tape it. it will all click and happen sometime. also am getting closer to pulling the Buddy Buckets, just need to find a used bolt in something bench to get it done.

p.s life is simple and fun when it is narrowed down to burnouts and a good kid.:)

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

Replaced my temperature gauge today. Taking out the whole instrument cluster seemed painful, so I went in from underneath the dash. Probably more painful, but it worked.

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

Smooth gate skin went on today... Little tweeking tomorrow and thats done... then back to the roll pan and tail lights.

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

Finally got the rear sway bar done on the '71 GMC with replaced 5 pack leafs and DJM flip kit. The sway link ends lined up with two rivets one of which was a total SOB to remove and broke a step bit and a straight carbide bit. Worth it, the ride and turns are so much better, even more noticeable than adding the front sway bar. Didn't have any arm left to take installed pics :waah:

Attachment 1694770

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

Ive been working on painting my console but for some reason the SEM spray bombs I'm using start spitting paint so I had to stop today cause the store was closed. The brown with black inside is how this console started out but I went with the parchment inside so it'll be easier to find things. The Cup Holder is from board member PickemUp. The black was rough machine finished stainless and I sprayed it with wrinkle paint to contrast with the stock black gauge surround.

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

Replaced my drivers side outside door handle. It went to pieces when I was getting in. Almost lasted 50 years! Gave me a reason to check out the new Summit warehouse that they opened in Arlington,Tx. They had them in stock.

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

And just in time to put it away for the winter too. ;)

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

Installed a vacuum reservoir to help the brakes. It didn't seem to help. The brakes have been poor since the 402 with a big cam was installed, compared to the stock 350. Push the pedal hard and takes too long to slow down. Stock vacuum gauge shows 12hg on deceleration but it waivers a lot with throttle position. I hoped the vacuum gauge would be more stable at more then 10hg with this reservoir, but maybe the gauge pickup is on the motor side, not the brake side. I have an expensive Hella electric vacuum pump but was hoping to avoid installing it as a solution.

https://i.imgur.com/cB6Gefhl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/O6e9xKFl.jpg

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

I added the same one...didn’t really make stopping much different. She stops, but not like I have power brakes. Took it off since it didn’t make a difference

Vacuum Assist Brakes
 

Firstly, you need to have a check valve between the engine and the resivoir, since you're never reading above 12" clearly there's a low vacuum issue .

The gauge also needs to be on the booster side of the check valve .

Shouldn't need to add a vacuum pump once everything is properly plumbed up .

Re: Vacuum Assist Brakes
 

X 2

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

The black plastic cap in the second photo is the 1 way valve. The hose connected to it is from the engine. I blew into it before the install and confirmed the valve worked.

I followed these instructions http://www.jegs.com/InstallationInstructions/200/270/270-99590-1.pdf
Posted via Mobile Device

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

Got something done today. Removed both battery cables and cleaned those up a bit.

Used Dremel Tool to remove paint and epoxy primer from other ground point on core support.

Ordered two battery clamps from O'Reilly's Auto.

Checked prices on battery cable (4 gauge) at NAPA and Advance Auto.

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

I did the best thing you can do to your truck today......
I drove it!

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

Congrats!

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

Made some money for a fleet side bed for my K/10 short, by helping a friend with his 70 4x4 BLAZER. Didn't do all this in a day, but it felt good and I am happy with results. New ring gear spacer, bolts Loctite and torqued, shimmed. I know the spacer is not the hot setup but will up grade this winter. New axles, bearings, seals, complete rear brakes and gear oil. Beach ride test run soon! THANKS for all the information and help found here. I believe you can teach a old dog new tricks! Nothin special but here are a few pics. My friend in pic helping with C clips.

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

Worked on interior a bit . Finally have a radio

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

I picked up my new battery clamps and then I went to NAPA and they cut new cables for me. I also bought the eyelets, solder, and heat shrinking wrap for the ends. I removed three brackets from Evaporust, rinsed, and hit with rust converter. I then put my last to brackets into Evaporust soak.