Build that 71 402 already

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Figured to start a build thread. Only problem is I haven't built anything yet. I'm tearing it down to the frame, and it takes me a while. Although I'm mostly mechanically inclined, as I "like" to say, I've never even done a brake-job. I'm also consumed by detail, and it appears I'm writing a manual. That and I try doing the leg-work as I remove parts. The build will be much easier.

A little about this truck. I'm the second owner discounting a dealer between us. The original owner figured his SWB was for all things recreation, from a boat launching hitch to a fifth wheel, to a step bumper with a receiver hitch. I was lucky to get all the paperwork less the invoice and contract.

I bought this truck in 1989 with 94K miles. It was really just plain dumb luck. Today it sits at 140K. I've always had visions of restoring it, wasn't sure how etc., but I'm happy to say I waited, because I might be a little more detailed now. Bordering on OCD. Or rather CDO as I've learned here. Sorry in advance I edit my posts so often HA!.....Yeah, no kidding. You should see my manual.

This truck was a daily driver from 89-92. The motor blew a cork in January 93. Same day I lost my job. And wouldn't you know it my Sheba was lost two days later. Not the best weekend I ever had, but I had time to pull the engine with my buddy's help. Other than that I haven't been surrounded by a mechanic. Since the engine rebuild it's been mostly a garage queen less landscape projects some time ago. I haven't cleaned the interior or exterior body in say 20 years.

I'm real grateful for this website. And I'd be lost without it. Without mentioning any names, quite a few members are not just knowledgeable to expert, but very helpful as well, and that's appreciated, a lot.

At any rate, just to start things off, I'm blown away by the condition of the parts on this truck. Sure didn't look like much to the untrained eye, but some of this stuff looks like new or close. Not a lick of rust (i.e., Nevada garage, no water in decades). GM built an excellent truck, but you knew that. Here are a few images for some of the parts I've pulled. At some point I'll add pictures of real progress. Hopefully they come in bunches.

Edit: Sorry, I see the pics are gone. That's okay, the actual rebuild starts soon.

[Orange67]

Nice parts. I'm also borderline CDO, but I think that just translates to attention to detail...

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

One of the rewarding aspects of this project is the condition of parts. I'm not re-using some of this, but there would be no shame if I did.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Few more.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Few more:

[raggedjim]

Great job documenting the rebuild, you have some nice parts. You'd probably freak out if you saw my garage, it's a disaster-zone!

Good luck, Rg

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

Great job documenting the rebuild, you have some nice parts. You'd probably freak out if you saw my garage, it's a disaster-zone!

Good luck, Rg

You don't know that 1/100th of it..... but thank you. At this point I have approx. 130 pages of documentation. There will probably be another 10-15 when I'm done, and that time can't come fast enough.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Lower portion of shift linkage:

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Just some worthless stuff.

[DeadheadNM]

I'm on board. Love the detailed pics, thanks.

[DeadheadNM]

Where did you get the pbcs51612 bushing and does it fit correctly with the linkage pin installed? I'd like to replace that on my current build before the column goes in.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Where did you get the pbcs51612 bushing and does it fit correctly with the linkage pin installed? I'd like to replace that on my current build before the column goes in.

The stem is a pinch longer, and the flange about twice as thick. Seems to me the flange depth makes no difference, because the washer and cotter pin go on no problem. If anything, it makes it a better option. I cut the stem length to size. The hole size and stem width are correct.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-Push-In-Bu...72.m2749.l2649

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Few things cleaned up today. Carrier bearing & differential cover:

[cericd]

Parts look great. What method did you use to get them so clean

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by cericd

Parts look great. What method did you use to get them so clean

Thanks Chris. I use time, lots of &^(*&(% time. Just kidding, sort of. Unfortunately everything is painted, so assuming there's a hint of rust:

1. Degreaser, quick brush & rinse.
   
2. Paint remover, quick brush & rinse.
   
3. White vinegar diluted with water. Maybe 10-30% water. I reuse it until it's no longer clear. The solution I soaked the last batch in has probably been used 6-7 times now, and I'll reuse it again. I generally let the parts soak overnight, but the last batch didn't even need that.
   
4. Brush/scotch pad and more brushing. I use those little wheels on a Dremmel a lot. They're little bastards and send wires all over the place (just vacuumed the garage, again). If the part requires it, I put WD-40 on it and brush some more. The oil induces flying wires, so I try to avoid it, but it sure works.
   
5. Degreaser & rinse.
   
6. Then I soak them in baking soda/distilled water, maybe 15-20 minutes. No doubt it's overkill and even a waste, but any leftover acid is toast. It leaves a bit of a black coating. Better than water alone, which leaves rust. But good enough for now. I reuse the soda solution as well.
   
7. Rinse well and blow dry. The shop vac works awesome, then I hit it with a blow drier until hot.

Still not done (yikes). Sometimes I brush/scrub the black coating off, like that last batch. I'll do just that with all the parts eventually, before they're refinished. It's very time consuming, but the parts are worth it, I think. Not much in the way of rust on this truck. Good thing too, I make it hard enough

On a side, only reason I clean the washers and nuts is just cuz. I'm ordering new unfinished, which will be black zinc with the rest. I guess I just prefer the "complete" job, and another option. Some of the bolts will be replaced too, but not many.


Here's some brake & fuel stuff cleaned recently. Some of this shows the black coating from the soda bath.

[notsolo]

Well Damn Tony, I thought I did pretty good at cleaning parts, Your build takes This to a new level. WOW....that's some awesome work....Ed

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Well Damn Tony, I thought I did pretty good at cleaning parts, Your build takes This to a new level. WOW....that's some awesome work....Ed

Thank you. You guys keep this up I'll unpack my A/C compressor brackets/clips and take a pic.

Those brackets carry a story. My bud and I did the R&R on the engine in 1993, and I never reinstalled the A/C. Since then, I often pondered if I had the parts and how it assembles.

Well, that's one reason I bought my 72 driver, donor & former "parts truck"............... it's nice to have a comparison HA!. Anyway, between the "donor" truck and board help, happy to say I had all the parts less one tube clamp and a few bolts. Donor truck had that clamp, and I swapped out another for a cooler variance. Anyway, those clips cost $3,000, before improvements

The better half, I finally know how to install the compressor. Did a dry run and it's real simple.

[TexasLS1]

Oh man, I'm loving your pics and how thorough you are. Excellent work, I'm looking forward to this one

[cericd]

Thanks for the detailed instructions. Everything looks AMAZING!!!

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

In-between cleaning axle plates. The first one came out nice. The other should be better yet. I'm going to try it in a different rust bath concoction. A board member suggests 15 parts water (I'll use distilled),10 parts white vinegar and 2 parts Rust for Must. See what happens.

In the meantime, I've been dreading inventory of the parts I'm sending out for black zinc, but seems like as good a time as any. Not just inventory, I'm cross-checking to the manual I've wrote. I'll know exactly what I'm sending out, and what goes where, but it's tedious.

The list looks like this, "only" 104 rows at this point. Nearly done though.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

These were no easy task. On a side, I welcome any finish ideas in black satin. As difficult as they were to clean, seems a POR15ish finish is in order.

I'm brush painting the frame in three part Masterseries. Two primer and a top coat. I figure I can spray these using the same. Just as well add the rear brake pieces, and the E-brake pieces too. It's real toxic out of a gun, BTW. Edit: BS I ended up powder coating most of the parts & frame.

[DeadheadNM]

eBay: backing plate dust hole covers.

I like the result with the vinegar. I just tried Evaporust and got a similar result but spent more $.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

eBay: backing plate dust hole covers.

I like the result with the vinegar. I just tried Evaporust and got a similar result but spent more $.

That vinegar side is like cheating, because it's the nicer side of the plate. The picture shows the best of both sides. The end results were equal, though I spent more time with the "vinegar" side.

For now my cleaning begins with a 50/50 (water/white vinegar) bath over-night, followed by 45 minutes or so in a 15/10/2 (water/white vinegar/Must for Rust) bath. I did that with these today, and they were very easy to clean. Far easier than the vinegar alone, even when I followed with oil.

Speak of cleaning with oil, forget about it. I think I had a reaction to it. Too much WD-40 can't be good, even with a nuisance mask. I have a TON of these fasteners to clean, and I won't use a drop of oil.

The black is a coating left behind by the final bath in baking soda. But I couldn't help myself and polished some of this up a bit.

[DeadheadNM]

I'm looking at each individual bolt and naming where they go - I'm sick, help me...

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

I'm looking at each individual bolt and naming where they go - I'm sick, help me...

Don't I know it.