Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

No problem hope it helps, did you get your Tahoe going?

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Well, I spent a lot of time figuring out how to troubleshoot the Tahoe's problem and decided it was a bad starter. Got voltage to it when the key was in START, but nothing happened, not even clicks. Then discovered that I couldn't get the starter out. I couldn't even back the nose out of the bell-housing. Started reading about what I'd have to remove to get some space and decided this was a job I was willing to pay someone else for.

Between that, taking down Christmas lights and mowing the yard (yes - mowing, the weeds never take a break down here) I only got a little time on my truck. Basically started over getting #1 to TDC, setting in the distributor etc. I can now get it to idle without feeding it throttle, with the distributor positioned around the center of its range for rotation so that's good. It isn't running smooth though and it is dumping a lot of unburned fuel out the tailpipes so I have a ways to go still. Minor timing adjustments don't help enough. I can imagine that I've fouled the plugs by now.

I think my next steps will be to research setting the carb to recommended starting points on adjustables, and cleaning the plugs again.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Wow, from not enough fuel to too much fuel, CRAP! Sounds like a known good carb would have been helpful right about now.

Here is a link that might be helpful. http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...ike-it-should/

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

What type of new carb did you buy? I hate to say it, but I've run brand new Edelbrock and Holley carbs before and could never get the truck running good until I switched back to a regular old rebuilt Quadrajet. :lol:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I got a rebuilt QuadraJet as well, so I should be good to go! Been watching a bunch of videos on rebuilding, troubleshooting and tuning Quadrajets done by a guy going by whosaidtyler this week so should be fully armed to go out this weekend and get this thing tuned in.

BTW, these are a very good series of videos. The guy obviously knows what he's talking about and does a very good (and thorough) job of explaining things.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

There are tons of great how vids on Youtube.
Will have to check it out.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I'll obviously never make a living as a film director, but here it is!

https://youtu.be/hSFIUS7NR2o

Yep, been watching a bunch of them and will likely watch a bunch more. Carb is tuned in reasonably close, but I still need to figure out how to really dial it in.

Aside from adjusting the choke to force it to stay open (I don't have the choke stove stuff to hook up the hot air choke), I think the carb shop just put all the adjustment screws in far enough to catch a few threads. Idle and mixture screws all needed to go in at least a dozen turns to get close. Then some back and forth fiddling between carb and timing got it running pretty well.

I LOVE the sound of this exhaust, and so stoked to know I'm just a few steps from being able to drive this thing:metal:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Oh yeah, sahweet! You are da man! :metal:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I think it sounds great too! Your on your way to be driving it real soon!

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Thanks! I actually completed another major (to me) milestone on the truck this weekend. I think that I am finally, finally done sanding on this truck. Over the last few weeks I've sanded off my 1st attempt at touch up paint which didn't work out and redone the touchups using a different method. Came out better the second time but had to sand the clear to blend. Finally got that done. Just need to buff the front fenders and hood and I should be able to get the exterior done. My goal is to finish that over the next 2 weeks.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

How sweet! Listening to that baby run makes me want to get out and get working on mine! I will be working on some small items today, so hopefully by the end of the month I can attempt to fire.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Looking great. Truck sounds good!

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Glad this is helping to motivate you Mike. Good to see progress updates on your build. You'll be firing up in no time.

Thanks!

I've finally finished the cut & buff on the front fenders and hood after having done it once. I had touchups to do on the fenders and repainted the hood. Any case, the front end is finally going back together.

I'm not sure what this grille is from. It might be an old aftermarket one. Not crazy about it but haven't found one I like better for a price I can swallow. I'd have mounted the hood but my help (2 of my grown kids) didn't show up until right at dinner time - impeccable timing as usual :lol:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

You know you need to be proud of yourself right? You have done an amazing job on this truck!

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I second this...Rick has done an amazing job. It almost looks like driving time!

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Thank you so much guys! I am rather pleased. Only 3 things keeping me from driving this now.
1) Still haven't bled the brakes, but I have bench bled the master
2) Haven't figured out why it won't start from the key - have to use the remote start switch
3) Have to find a suitable bucket to sit on until I get the bench in :lol:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Congrats on the DONE stamp for paint, looks great Rick! :uhmk:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Neutral safety switch wired right?

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Thanks Brett! Got to admit I had a little celebration when I realized I was DONE sanding on this truck. Between body work, block sanding, sanding parts back down for repaint, sanding the clear, sanding the clear again after repaint, etc. I don't even want to imagine the hours I put in on that :lol:

I'm thinking it might be that, or else I didn't get the ignition gear cam(?) positioned right when I had the column apart. I did buy a NOS neutral safety switch off ebay but didn't test it before putting it in. I'll get it figured out, but my priority has been to get the exterior finished.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I thought you had a manual? Do you still run a neutral safety switch on the column?

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

I am running a manual. Maybe its not actually called a neutral safety switch, but there is a switch that attaches to the clutch pedal that I'm pretty sure will prevent starting if you haven't pressed in the pedal. I had a heck of a time finding a replacement for this which is why I ended up with an old NOS switch from ebay.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Hey Rick. I bet that's your issue. My 72 Did not have one installed with my manual. It did come with wiring on the AAW kit, but I bypassed. You could also use this NSW wiring to add a security feature like switch or something obscurely located. This would ensure the truck is immobile unless you get in and flip the hidden switch. I also thought about putting a keyed switch somewhere that is accessible on the outside of the truck, but would allow you to essentially kill the truck when your away from it.

For now, I'm sure just starting and driving would be good.
Chris

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

If the switch turns out to be bad, I'll definitely just bypass for the time being. I'd guess to bypass I just need to run a jumper between the 2 sides of the NSS connector on my AAW kit.

That's a good idea about using it as a kill switch. I do have an external kill switch set up, but if 1 is good 2 must be better ;)

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Yup, just run a connector between the two sides. Worked fine.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Turns out that the neutral safety switch was OK. Problem was that pushing in the clutch pedal shoved a bunch of unsecured wiring back, pulling the connector off the switch :dum: Truck starts fine with the key once I rearranged some of the wiring rats nest under the dash. I've still got to run AC ducts and do some insulating up under there so I'd been holding off cleaning that up. Also received the electric choke I'd ordered from quadrajetparts.com, but turns out the AAW kit doesn't include the correct 'L' connector, so had to order one and that project will be on hold til it shows up.

Also spent a bunch of time troubleshooting my backup lamps. Started at the switch in the SM465 and worked my way back. Should have started at the back - the bulb sockets that came with the AAW harness are pretty worthless. One of those deals where a) they don't want to hold into the taillight housing very well, and b) the bulb has to be in exactly the right spot to work. Flick the bulb a bit and it goes out. Ended up cutting those sockets out and using my original ones. Works fine now:metal:

Got my kids to help and was able to get the hood mounted. Also learned how to unlatch the hood without damaging anything if the interior hood release handle doesn't work. Of course, it helps if you pull the "hood release" handle rather than the e-brake release :lol: I think the new rubber bumpers along the top edge of the fenders is holding the hood a little high. Hope that will settle a little over time. Also mounted the rest of the mouldings, so other than a little fiddling the exterior is DONE!!!

Dang it's tough to find a good looking repro grille for these GMCs! Found one at Brothers that looks like the one already on my truck - in chrome rather than gray, silver or black that all the regular shops have. $90 sounded ok, so ordered but its on back-order with no estimate of when they'll have it.

Enjoy the SuperBowl, and the time with family & friends even if you're like me and could care less about either team.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

That looks amazing!!!

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Looks great Rick! :ito: What a game, jeez louweez! :metal:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Thanks! It's beginning to feel like its all been worth the effort:metal:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Fantastic

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

More than worth the effort, its beautiful!

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

The truck looks awesome! :metal:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Thank you! Truck made it out of the shop, down the street, around the cul-de-saq and back on its own power this weekend. Twice actually. Pulling back into the drive when I spot my wife standing there glaring at me - how dare I make the maiden voyage without taking her along? So she climbs in the passenger side, takes a seat on the floor since I didn't have a second concrete block in there for a passenger and up and down the street we go:metal:

So the truck did ok. Doesn't want to stay running on its own until it gets fully warmed up. Couldn't get it to shift into 1st. Guess my stick rebuild needs a little tweeking. Brakes worked fine, but I didn't try any hard stops or from any real speed. Steering feels odd, no resistance at all to help hold the wheel centered, but that may just be something I have to get used to again. Also the front end is just eye-ball aligned for now. Clutch pedal feels like it has about 1 foot of travel - need to figure out whether adjustment is needed. But she runs and drives!!!

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

:ennyd: Very Kool! :ennyd:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Congrats! Congrats! Congrats! Rick. Huge milestone. I got the same response from my little lady. I had to do the, "backing out of the garage," ritual a second time so she could take video and start posting stuff all over god knows where... of it's unveiling. Just as I had to chase down several gremlins, it seems to come with the territory. No way in hell to remember every adjustment, every bolt to tighten, etc., etc.

Enjoy....sounds like she's almost road worthy.
Chris

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Congrats that is too cool! All the quirks sound exactly like my 77 K10 with a SM465 pre fuel injection. Post fuel injection it all stayed the same except you can get in it and go on a cold start hahaha.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

It's looking awesome Rick. You are so close, your first road trip is in sight!

-Brett

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

It's a great day!

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Thanks Brett!

Thank you Chris! The challenge now will be to get to work on the gremlins when I'd really rather be working on the interior.

Thanks Marcus! I should be able to do better with the Q-Jet, but it obviously needs more tuning.

Thanks Brett! Cool that I got your first post. Glad you've been watching, but likely to still be a while before I'm confident enough to make a road trip to NC - maybe after a few shorter ones :lol:

Yes, it was - thanks!

I've already decided that the concrete block is NOT going to provide a reasonable level of comfort for longer trips, so I've already torn down the old bench. I've got upholstery and new foam, but it looks like I'll also need some new springs.

BTW, what are the odds that I'd be responding to 3 Brett's in 1 post? :metal:

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Kind of late getting my update posted, but nothing terribly interesting. Not interesting can be very time consuming though! Spent several hours on a creeper under the truck cleaning up all the wiring for the taillight and fuel harnesses. Final routing now that I know the circuits work, cutting and re-splicing to length, getting the wires into conduit and securing to frame, etc. Hard to get good pics under there, so just a token. Also started connecting everything up for the stereo head unit connection. Got some work to do here still.

Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
 

Fantastic work, I can use these as references for the future when I get this far along. Perhaps I missed it from an earlier post but what did you coat the transmission cover plate with? Keep up with the great non-interesting progress!