My new 71 shorty bed

[Gray Ghost]

I think the new name will come to you post haste when the bed is on and the final shape takes form. The name you have now was a no-brainer, but the new one might have to take a bit of thinkin' for you.

Thanks for the kind words Thomas. First BBQ will be right after we get the trailer finished! Course we'll have to make a run somewhere other than my backyard since the smoker will be on wheels!!

[2bits]

Hey that autobahn park where the swap meet was might be a nice place for a Trailer-Q with all the shade. Or somewhere more out East would be great too.

I pulled apart my old carb and the part needed is not included with the rebuild it, it is a brass sleeve that fits in the hole, so I went ahead and bought a new carb and springs and I am going to move them to the original location so the pressure from the spring will be coming from the factory location, I guess we will see in 500 miles if it starts leaking again, that's what I've been getting out of them.

[Gray Ghost]

Wow, that sucks having to buy another carb....if this one's bad you might have to go to a two barrel to get a reliable carb. So far those ine barrels are batting zero.

Yeah a nice park is definitely in the mix!

[2bits]

New carb is on and running good as they all do at first. There's nothing inherantly wrong with a 1bbl, it's something not right with the linkage that is making it rub too hard. The same thing would happen if a put a 2bbl on it I would think. Anyway, you taught me well Kelly, I'm not a give up kind of person! Lets hope the new spring location helps and it is fixed for good now.

[watahyahknow]

if you know someone with a small lathe he might be able to make some new (oversized) bushes from a piece of bronze round stock or maybe a carbshop has the bushes you need .
if you have them made make the outside slightly oversize and the inside slightly undersize .
you ream out the holes in the carb where the trottle shaft goes through front to back so everything is alighned again then push in de new bushings maybe heat the carb on a stove to make the aloy expand a little and you should be able to push them in , let everything cool and then ream the inside to exactly the size needed allso through and through , this should fix the problem ..... oil the bronze before you put them in by closing the bottom fil it up with light oil put youre finger on top and press the bronze is a bit open and the oil goes in the pores of the material

it might be that the trottle shaft is bent causing the exessive wear

[Gray Ghost]

Yeah I was just thinking that the wear was a bad problem with these new 1 bangers cause you've had the problem three times [there's that pesky triple thing again] and that maybe a 2 barrel from your Monte parts stash might be the ticket.

[2bits]

Well, I am fresh out of 2bbls hehe so I woudl have to buy one of those. I guess time will tell if I fixed it this time. I am going to keep carrying my spare carb with me. I can swap this carb in probably 5 min flat blindfolded now! I got a toll tag for the truck the other day too so I don't have let my tail gate down hahaha

[Gray Ghost]

I'll bet you can Thomas. Good idea to carry the spare.

[2bits]

Drove the truck to work today, running perfect. 75mph the whole way, not a hiccup. Looking to install that new Gauge bezel and steering wheel soon! Might even do the carpet also!

[2bits]

Shot down again ... I'm gonna put a 2bbl carb on it and see what happens... I'll post some pics once it is one. I ordered it overnight delivery so it will be on this weekend.

[2bits]

Here's a pic of the new setup, got it running Sunday, and got the linkage finished today and took it around the block. Running good again... That is a plastic filter, not glass hehe

[Brad]

Very interesting- what is that?

[2bits]

Hmm.. what is what? haha... Generallly speaking it is a 71 Chevy Stepside, with an inline 6 250, with a 1bbl to 2bbl carb adapter, running a 2bbl carb.

There is also an inline fuel pressure gauge installed in case you were looking at that. There was a post on the stovebolt forum about a possibility of too much fuel pressure keeping the needle from seating properly, so I installed it to see, but the fuel pressure was fine, looks cool tho...

Lemme know if there's something I missed!

[Brad]

No, no, no. What is the carb?

[2bits]

hehe thanks, it's a stock Rodchester 2bbl I found on the shelf from my old 1970's 350-V8, I forgot I had it, and it stil had a 4bbl adapter plate on it! Now it's got a 1bbl adapter plate haha! That's carb has seen alot of different engines... The engine has alot more power now, If I put some headers on it, it will be alot better too. Hedman has them for $179 but I think I want to actually drive the truck for a while before I tear into it again!

[2bits]

Pics for the build thread (Can someone please move this to the build thread section? thanks!)

Pulled the shortbed frame I stole for $75!

[2bits]

Updating my build thread with new pics of the completed truck for those open minded souls who might be interested. BEEN A LONG TIME COMIN! I've got 600 miles on the new engine so it is all broke in now, and it is still running good so I am hoping my major problems are behind me.

For all the nay sayers and do-badders out there, please read the whole thread before bashing my late model bed. I have done a crapload of work to this truck on a shoestring budget. I might have gone with a 67-72 bed but I don't have alot of that little thing called MONEY and I got this complete, rust free bed for $250. On top of all that I actually like this style bed better, it's what I grew up with so for crying out loud please keep the comments positive, this is supposed to be a truck CLUB, not a bashing party for people just doing the best they can. One last try... This truck looks completely bad ass IMO and I wouldn't change a thing.

Here ya go!

This first one was taken at MIDNIGHT in black night


The money shot:


Please excuse the pole :roll:


A couple more...

[andrewt2]

you know, at first it looked kind of funny to me but i say good job on the bed i looked over the pics a couple of times and i kind of like it looks differnt and diffantely not a bad choice for 250 bucks! i say kudos for shooting for something different!

[bad6772]

looks killer to me........

[sjarrett71]

The bed don't match

Just kidding...Looks GREAT!!

[Rickey]

Looks like it belongs to me. I notice several of these trucks with different year beds and the body lines all seem to line up with each other. Great job!

[Gray Ghost]

Thomas, the bed looks great on your truck. From behind, it looks like a muscle-truck from hell. Personally I think you have done what few could. Regardless of the negative comments, I have seen this truck go from abortion to cool in a very short time. Few tread where you have gone without fear.

Bottom line....the truck rocks!!

[Boog]

Well alright Thomas. It's been a while coming. I know all about the tight budget thing. But I know you will be much happier with the normal wheelbase configuration and a full size bed. It will drive better. The rebuilt 6 is running good now? Shoot man. Drive the wheels off it and have a ball!

[Jwill41]

Looks great Thomas. It looks good even it is not the correct year. That is really one bada*s lookin truck.

[Psycho71]

Looks good Thomas,

I actually like that bed on these trucks. I've always thought that bed was the better looking of all the chevy steps.

Thanks again for coming over yesterday and helping to get the bohemoth bed off mine.


Jay