Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Sanding, sanding, sanding... making an effort to finally finish the paint job while I have a long weekend. First shot shows why color sanding is necessary on my paint jobs! Lots of expensive clear puddling on the floor :lol:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

WARNING!!! Don't look at this post if you have a weak stomach or have just eaten! Graphic yuck-ness!!!

Back when I thought my plan was to just get this truck running and driving reliably - before things spiraled into the "since I'm in this far..." black hole, a buddy gave me a Quadrajet from his 79 Vette that he'd had rebuilt but never used. I put it on and the truck ran fine with it, but then things got out of hand with this build and the engine wasn't started for over 5 years.

I didn't mention this in my last post, but I've tried to get this truck running over the last few weeks. Ran the oil pump to pre-lube the engine and the oil coming from the rockers looked like caramel. Apparently water had leaked into it. Changed the oil and the 1st quart or so that came out was water. no pictures of that, but a strike against this old 350!

I could get the engine to run while dribbling gas into the carb using a remote starter, but it would die as soon as the gas burned up. My whole fuel system was new - tanks, lines, pump, the carb I just mentioned, etc. Since it would run some, I was pretty sure it was a fuel problem - not spark.

So, today I pulled the carb and took a look. DANG! I knew intellectually that gas sitting too long would gum up a carb, but I never would have imagined this! The accelerator pump couldn't move. The float couldn't move. This thing is so crudded up that nothing can move!

Serious lesson learned!

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Holly Smokes thats gummed up.
I have a couple of those 'wash tubs' for carbs myself.

Diggin the color sanding. Taking notes.

Truck is looking great.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Wow that carb is impressively bad. Get it to where you think she will work well?

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I got a gallon can of carb cleaner, but of course only the small parts will fit into the basket. This empty solvent can fits it just right though. The color sanding will erase a lot of sins in the clear, but you still have to lay the paint down right. After I finish a couple "eh-hmm" touch ups I'll buff this out and see if it will be good enough. Didn't get quite warm enough today - hoping it will be tomorrow because I am SO READY to call the paint done!

Actually just came in from working on it to buy a rebuild kit. The crud is coming off, but you know these carbs have tunnels and tubes all through the cast parts and I have no idea whether they are crudded up or not. The carb cleaner may be loosening things up, but its not like an acid bath where you dip a part in and it comes back out perfectly stripped. But I figure for the cost of a rebuild kit I'll put it back together and find out!

Also spent some time today fishing new wire through the kick panels to install new door jamb switches for the under-dash courtesy lights and also for the dome light. Close to being done making all the wiring connections except for AC and stereo.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

When done soaking flush all the ports with carb cleaner to be sure.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Dang it, that’s a pisser who puked in the carburetor? :barf:

We’ve had good luck with Berryman's chem-dip letting that sucker soak, blow it out throughly, repeat and you’ll get the deposits out.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I've spent a lot of time since the last post creating more work for myself. I did some paint touchups that didn't turn out too well, so sanded it all back off and waiting for a warm day to try again. Also spent time trying to get that carb cleaned out. Tried a variety of things including a couple types of carb cleaner, gasoline, vinegar and Pine Sol. Turned out that Pine Sol did the best job, but I still didn't trust that I wouldn't end up with problems down the road so I ordered another carb that will hopefully arrive soon.

I did get a few miscellaneous things completed. Sorry for the bad pictures, but "fixed" the end of my SM465 shifter. Filled the slop where the roll pin holds the end piece onto the stick by driving larger roll pins into both sides, cutting and grinding. Also re-welded the rounded piece after torching for 5 minutes or so to get much of the oil and grease melted out but I guess I didn't get a picture of the end result. This really did take a lot of slop out of the shifter. The roll pins in the neck of the tranny seemed to be in good shape as well as the slots in the shifter so I didn't mess with those.

Bought a NOS horn pad off the parts board that doesn't need to be screwed onto the steering wheel, and wired in a battery cut-off switch. First one was bad, but AAW sent out a new one no problem.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Also built myself a new heavy-duty cart. I've got about a 500 lb Christmas gift to be dropped off at the end of my driveway early next week and needed a way to get it up to my shop.:metal::metal:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

That's not all gum...most of its corrosion because of the Ethanol in the gas pulling water out of the air and corroding the aluminum.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

so what motor did you get???

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Suspense!! :metal:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I've got this one on the way. GM Performance 290 HP 350. Have everything off the old motor except bell-housing to motor bolts to make room for the new one. Just decided I have been putting lipstick on a pig considering what I've done with the rest of the truck. Draining oil I put in 2 weeks ago to get ready to pull the motor, it already had a bunch of water in it. Wasn't going to get very far on the old motor one way or the other.

http://www.jegs.com/i/GM+Performance...FZm6wAodbQMC7g

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

that will be fantastic

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Nice!

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Oh, that’s a big Christmas present! :ito: Good choice on making it run just as good as it looks... :gmc2:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Worth every penny. No headaches.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Thanks guys! Hope you all had a great Christmas. Motor is supposed to arrive tomorrow afternoon so I'm pretty excited. This seems to be a good bargain for the money, and I'm so ready to get this truck running that this was just a lot easier/faster route than trying to build one. Plus it should be drop-in without any modification to existing (new) fuel system, etc.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

New motor showed up, and my cart didn't collapse getting the motor into the shop - yay! I've got the old motor pulled from the truck and all of the accessories pulled from it.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I installed a new Edlebrock Performer intake, flywheel, clutch, motor mount brackets, etc. from the old motor. Cleaned and checked spark plug gaps and installed and basically installed everything I could get to that wouldn't be in the way for the install.

Spent a couple hours trying to wrestle it into place, and have it THIISSS CLOSE!!! Up and down with the motor... up and down with the tranny... rock motor left and right... turn crank to see if it will line up with tranny input... Rinse and repeat...

It wore me out, so I've come in to search the interweb for tips and tricks to try in the morning.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Those motors are great bang for the buck. I've had a couple in different trucks. One trick I like to do is put a block under the trans with a floor jack so I can adjust height. Honestly don't think I've ever swapped a motor on a standard trans so may be a little trickier. I also loosen the clam shells on the truck side of the motor mounts so I can wiggle them if needed. Good luck.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I second both of those tips.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Sweet! :ito: Bummer it's fighting you Rick. Make sure you've got the correct pilot bushing (input shaft OD vs pilot ID), use an alignment tool to make sure the clutch disk is centered (preferred) or leave the pressure plate a little loose to allow the disk to move slightly (much harder). Get it close and start a couple of bell housing to block bolts just for alignment no pressure or very light. Have a helper stab the clutch a few times while you wiggle the crap out of it and it should suck the two together.


Worst case you could mate everything on the shop floor and install as one unit.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I appreciate the suggestions. I do have a jack under the transmission which helped getting the engine in as far as its gone. The motor-side brackets are clearing the frame-side clamshells, but at this point a little extra wiggle room may be helpful.

I'll work at it some more today, but I'm worried that I didn't get the clutch lined up for maximum tolerance. I did use the clutch alignment tool when I installed it, but it didn't come out entirely freely - had to give it a pretty good pull. If all else fails, I'll pull the motor again and realign the clutch and then start over. I hope it doesn't come to that though!

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Yahoo, it's in! I did end up pulling the motor back out of the truck and re-aligning the clutch so that the alignment tool came out easily. I'm not sure if this did the trick, or if I just managed to hold my tongue right while yanking, lifting, shoving, kicking, etc. the motor into place. This time it fell in with about 3/16" even gap between motor and bell housing. Put the bottom 2 bolts in and the gap pulled closed without resistance - yay!

Now, just have to finish bolting it in and then put all the accessories back on. But I'm stoked - I won this 2 hour wrassling match this time around! :metal:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

fantastic

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Perseverance! Good job on the install!

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Sahweet! You da man! :metal:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Thanks! Yesterday I got everything reinstalled on bottom, sides and front of the motor. Is it just me, or is it a common thing that exhaust manifold bolts don't want to line up in the holes worth a dang? Those manifolds took as long as everything else combined.

Today, it's fill with fluids, prime the oil pump, line up #1 on TDC and drop in new HEI distributor, plug wires and install new carburetor. Unless something conspires against it, I'm hoping to get this beast running today! Got to go back to work tomorrow so I want today to be the day.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

We want a video when it is running!

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Well??

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Congrats Rick! A collective sigh of relief for getting the motor back in. The manuals can definitely be more fun, but anything worth having is with the extra effort to have. I do put a tiny amount of grease on the alignment tool and inside the pilot bearing, but that would only have been helpful like 10 posts ago. I'm sure re-aligning with tool did the trick. Anyway, it's no longer a roller. Now it's a driver and just a matter of finishing the assembly.

Happy New Year! and enjoy this thing in 2017.
Chris

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Well, not quite a driver Chris. I can get it running, but not idling without me giving it a bit of throttle. Sometimes sucks when you are figuring this stuff out as you go along rather than drawing on experience. I haven't been able to get it timed quite right and gave it up last night to grill dinner.

I put #1 cylinder at TDC by watching #1 rockers while rotating the crank clock-wise. After they'd both cycled I kept turning the crank until the mark on the balancer lined up with the pointer. I'm assuming I got that right or I probably couldn't get it running at all.

Then dropped the new distributor in with the rotor pointing more-or-less at the #1 cylinder. Dropped it far enough that the gear on the dist was engaged with the camshaft. Then turned the crank until it lined up with the oil pump shaft and the dist dropped the rest of the way into place.

Starting with that, I pointed the dist's vacuum advance at about 8:00 and was able to get it started if giving it throttle. Got it running better by turning the dist counter-clockwise until the vacuum advance hit the intake. Assumed I'd gotten the distributor a tooth off so pulled it and rotated it after making a witness mark to make sure I'd moved it. Hard to tell if it moved 1 tooth or more, but was back to having to give it throttle to keep it running. Tried this a couple times before giving it up. I hadn't thought to make sure my battery was fully charged and it wasn't up to more experimenting.

I do have a new carb that I assumed was set to a default that would run pretty decent, but that might be a bad assumption. It's tough for 1 guy to set timing while also having to apply throttle to carb linkage.

I think my next step will be to try to adjust the idle on the carb enough so that the motor will run without my hand on the throttle, then maybe I can get the timing dialed in better.

But it ran for the first time in about 6 years, and I finally got to hear my exhaust, although it would have been nice to be able to walk around the truck while it was running :lol: Anyway, I know it's close and I'll keep on it so should be soon.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Hey Rick. Well, if it's a new carb then I would also assume the floats are set to idle fine. I would crank up the throttle screw to get'r idling and deal with your timing. I usually put a screwdriver in the spark plug hole to find TDC, then drop in the distributer as you did pointing the rotor at number one cylinder. It would pop and not run if you were 180 off. Sound like you got it. How old is your fuel???? would be my next question. Then double check your firing order and wires.


I must say though, that my truck fought me like hell the last month or so when I was assembling. Nothing seemed to come together easily and kept having to stop
and buy small things.

Keep at it, soon it will all be a distant insane memory.
Chris

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I did double-check the plug wire connections when I hooked them up, and new gas was put in the new tanks maybe a month or so ago. Shouldn't be too bad. I'm thinking I'm probably on the right track with the throttle and timing setting. It's good to know you didn't spot anything I'd done obviously wrong.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I fought the firing of my new crate 350, resetting TDC and distributor numerous times. Found my balancer for an 86 has timing mark set at 12 o'clock but the crate 350 timing tab is at 2 o'clock. Finally remarked the balancer and it lit off. Pulling my hair and concerned the whole time about ending up with a flat cam.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Hmm, bought a new balancer and pointer from Jegs at the same time as I was ordering the engine. I hope the guy helping me knew enough to put the correct parts on the order.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

If it will run you are close, advance or retard your timing a little whichever makes it run/start easier by ear. Look and see where your vacuum advance ends up you could be off a tooth or two. Once satisfied, break out the timing light, disconnect your vacuum advance and block off any vacuum leaks. Get the timing closer, this stage should tell you if your balancer and or mark are wonky because it’ll be off and run poorly if you try and adjust to spec.

After it’s been running and your cam is broken in look into adjusting the idle mixture (w/vacuum gauge or by ear) then retime it again (double check your settings), carb adjustments again. After a couple rounds of this, it should run pretty good for you.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Congrats on the new engine! I agree that it's too nice a truck for an old wore out motor. :metal:

I hope you have a heater in your shop so you can go out there today and get her tuned! :lol: I just went out to add some water to our pool and the line was frozen. I wasn't expecting it to get this cold.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Thanks for the pointers Brett! No heater in the shop Greenlee. It was 21 degrees when I got up this morning - I wasn't expecting it to be that cold either! I'm hoping to get back to it this weekend, but the wife's 2002 Tahoe won't crank with a brand new battery so have to figure that one out first. Working on that out in the driveway - just have to bundle up!