Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Set the little 283 on TDC and pulled the points distributor and coil. Installed new AC Delco HEI distributor. Pulled all the covering off the wires from the starter all the way back to the firewall and threw away the yellow wire from starter solenoid to coil. After I pick up some of the correct gage wire and connectors I will build a new power wire for the HEI and also pick up a new set of plug wires.

Once I get all that done I will return to the power disc brake conversion. Wanted to get all this distributor mess done before that brake booster was in the way.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

..

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Cleaned the valves in my Vortec heads with a wire wheel and installed LS6 springs and Comp Cams retainers to allow a little more lift. Painted the heads, valve covers and t-stat neck.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Bought a parts truck. My truck needs a frame and this one has leaf spring rear suspension. It also had a complete A/C system and several other parts I can use. $1500 was a nice price. Thought about building it but the cab has rust. Not a lot for a northern truck but a lot for Arkansas.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Installed Heater Control Unit in my truck over the weekend.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Progress on our pickup. Ran into some issues with an external transmission cooler that someone had put on. We had to relocate the brackets to make the holes for the hooks work. but got em on!

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Changed the oil, filled up the washer tub and some 50-50 in the reservoir..... Oh and I finally read up on the TH350 Kickdown and adjusted to WOT! My brother had forgot to do that when he got it all running again after the rebuilds.

Before I had little action at below 40mph and nada past it (unless I down shifted). I never had the truck preform like this before figuring out the TH300 WOT adjustment. Here are some google drive links.


After turning right, I decided I want to go fast Video

I am cruis'n 50 and want to pass this slow poke video

Edit:
can't believe I forgot this... played with the QJet for max vacuum, think I had it a bit too rich last time (F' if I really know - I just watch my vacuum gauge). Adjusted idle back up to ~600 and checked timing for 12 degrees.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Put inner core support and inner fenders on. Read some entries on this thread to stay motivated

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Got the HEI distributor installed, new wire ran from fuse box to distributor, and all wires wrapped back up. Installed a new plastic channel on the fire wall while I was at it. Fired truck up but didn't get timing set as I noticed the diaphragm in my fuel pump is leaking. Arrrgghh!

Went ahead and installed the power brake booster as finishing up brakes is next on the list.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

thought I was going to catch fire working on my fuel pump to carb hardline. Pretty sure I'll have skin cancer now with all gas pouring on me trying to get it to stop leaking - in the end I had to put my old line back on. Which for the record my hands and arms are still burning.

Ended up having to leave the truck in the driveway since it and my garage/truck smells like its been dipped in a vat of gas! Though I did get to use my xmas present, a LWB Truck cover. She is all tucked in for being outside in the cold ;-)

Note to self: When working on the fuel lines, don't start doing this in the garage - do it all outside in the driveway. Stupid idiot :devil: :devil: :devil:

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Changed headlights, did some more body work.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Next time use a set of vise grips on the rubber hose to clamp the fuel off coming into the pump. Are wherever you can clamp it. Are take the line loose at tank to stop the flow.:chevy:

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

I did that when I switched back to the old line (vise grips) .... live and learn (if you don't end up catching fire and becoming fire marshall bill).

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Removed the grille and driver side fender and dropped them off at the body shop, where they've already got my cowl and bed steps, along with a replacement driver side door and bed fender. This is to repair some damage caused by the granddaughter of a previous owner who popped it out of gear in the driveway.

Started tearing down my engine for some Vortec heads I got recently. Measured the lift of my current cam at .420 exhaust/.405 intake. Based on these meager measurements, I will be installing a Comp Cams XE268H.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Replaced my 6" shifter handle with a 16" then made sure clearance was still available for the ashtray which I seldom open.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Installed new hard fuel line from Qjet Carburetor to Fuel Pump, Part Deux! This time no leaks when using 3/8 Copper Flare washers from Grainger! Weeee, I'm cooking (or not) with gas now!

Also got new Glovebox OEM Lock and two new Keys made by LockDoc. Nice to have a locking glovebox. Though I suppose its easy to get into it since the darn glovebox is made of cardboard LOL!

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

I am loving that interior!!!

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Spun my wheels for a hour on no Break, Dash, Running, Dome lights after replacing a fuse... only to figure out I put the fuse in the next slot for the GL Box slot (there wasn't one in there before)!

Though I just learned there is a slot for the glovebox light that I installed but no idea where the wire is for that. Before I only saw SPGT LP, whatever that means.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Got my heads back from machine shop. Block goes in for .30 over next week.
Then I can start to put things back together.

https://photos.imageevent.com/happy_...e/IMG_8126.jpg

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Got my heads back from machine shop. Block goes in for .30 over next week.
Then I can start to put things back together.

https://photos.imageevent.com/happy_...e/IMG_8126.jpg

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

well, spent most of the day and night troubling shooting a gremlin that appears to be up in my column for the right turn signal. When the brake was applied and I engaged the right turn signal - Poof goes the fuse that powers the brake lights (and others)... i think I have it "fixed" that will likely not hold.

So if you see a fellow in Texas turning on his dome light in the middle of the day after a right turns, that will be me seeing if I still have brake lights!

...seeing how my luck is going, I bet my fuel line will start leaking again tomorrow (music "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" cues up)

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Assembled my new seat.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Worked on the wiring for my truck today. Concentrated on the engine section today. Spent half a day trying to figure out what power wires went where. The PO did give me the Painless Wiring Manual but one of the power wires wasn't listed. FINALLY figured it out. Turns out he neglected to tell me that he also purchased a supplemental wire harness for the high output alternator.

SO, the plan for tomorrow is to get the last of the power leads connected and the fuse box mounted.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Nice work . Is the frame new aftermarket?

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Here is a 71 K20 I am working getting the body back in shape and into some color. Now moving onto the fenders, hood and doors.

Pict 1- this after I got it home and started sanding down areas and getting it ready to do some body work
Pict 2 - is doing body work on back of cab including pulling out several dents and dings with stud gun and replace both cab corner lower sections
Pict 3 - had to remove top roof skin and replace with a donor part. Treated metal and installed new insulation to replace tar paper
Pict 4 - just finishing the spot welding up on roof repair
Pict 5 - this after the finishing the cab body work and spraying 3 coats of single stage.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

The frame is an original 67/68 folding style, but the foam and upholstery are new. It replaced a 69/70 style that was in my truck.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

New mufflers installed

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

The seat is gorgeous!

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

It's gonna have a nice rumble...:metal:

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Thanks! It's one of the very rare things that actually turned out the way I planned

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

:lol: It's always nice when something works out. Especiallywhen it looks so nice!

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Snow comin' in the morning, but the roads were clear today. I took this opportunity to burn some gas in the country side. Just drove around for like 3 hours. topped off the gas, added some sta-bil and disconnected the battery. The truck is tucked safely back in the shop for it's long winter's nap.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Today I finished up a project to re-gear my 71 4x4 from 3.07 to 4.10. Did the rear earlier this year, but just now finished the front end. Had a posi carrier in the rear so added one to the Dana 44 so perhaps even improved its off-road capability some. Added some stainless cap screws to the stock diff covers, kind of like the look.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

I had to replace my ignition module today. My old one really wasn't old but was the Accel brand made in China. As I was driving the motor would cut out for a few seconds then come back on as normal. New ignition module is the Standard Brand and the best part it is made in the USA. :flagw:

Now if I can figure out how to rebuild my quadrajet that has been giving me issues, I should be golden.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Added some floor mats 🥱
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Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Installed rear bumper and completed wiring installation. Used AAW classic update kit. So far, issues I had with wiring:

1. Driver's front park lamp not working. Solution: Connector came unplugged. Plugged in and now working.

2. Emergency flashers not working. Solution: Called AAW and they informed me that second flasher had to be plugged in on upper left area of fuse block. Didn't see that in assembly instructions. Plugged in second flasher and issue is resolved.

3. Tail lights/Brake Lights not working. Solution: Tail light assemblies get ground from the bolts where they attach to the bracket. Due to new paint, was not getting a good ground. Made grounding wires to run from assembly bolt down to frame. Tail lights/Brake lights now working.

Also, decided to install side marker lights, even though 1968 should be just the reflectors. Glad I did this!

Everything else works just fine, with the exception of the Windshield Wipers. probably another grounding issue. Overall very pleased with AAW kit!

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Finished the 7” drop on the rear and then took the 2” blocks off...
Then decided to add them back after putting the shocks on. Lol
Tomorrow they go back on. The 2.5” rake is too much for me.
This pic is taken after the first attempt with 7” drop.

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

I like those mats very much. They are really nice!!!

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Nice stance on that boy!!!

Re: What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter
 

Finished up a couple things this week. Installed a rear sway bar on my ‘72, and replaced the shocks. Two things I should have done a while back, it rides so much nicer now.