'71 Chevy 1/2 4x4

[nickp51chevy]

Ya it does look different; to say the least. This is my first 67-72.

[Puropedo]

Congrats! I remember when I got my first 67-72 , now Im addicted to them, dont let that happen to you

[nickp51chevy]

I think I already am, although it's to Chevy trucks in general. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about all of them, mostly the kind that I have now though.

[Puropedo]

Great!... dont forget to show us some pics of your other trucks, specially the 51.

[Puropedo]

Duh, I just notice the link for the 51 pics. Cool.

[nickp51chevy]

I cleaned out the cab last night. Took the seat and gas tank out. Cleaned out all the crap in there.

Found some rust spots that will need attention, but I don't think it's that bad. I'm going to get some hoses and engine parts to see if I can get her running.

I'll put some pix up later.

[nickp51chevy]

I put the gas tank and seat back in today. I also changed out the spark plugs. I went to turn over the engine and the ignition switch was stuck. Once I got some guidance from my master, Oldiron, I was able to take out the tumbler and try to start it with a screwdriver, but the battery that I have was to dead to do anything. Although the starter did click once, and the vent fan was running.

Here are a couple pix of the floor boards. Kinda rusty but an easy fix nevertheless.

[nickp51chevy]

[72 Super]

Goodluck with your new toy! definitely well worth the price.

Ray

[nickp51chevy]

Thanks 72 Super. I'm still trying to convince my wife of that.

[nickp51chevy]

I've got some good news and some bad news. I guess the bad first; I asked about getting a '71 or vintage plate and the lady at the DOL said that I wouldn't be able to drive it only to shows and parades. I didn't want to do that.

So the good news now; on my way home I stopped at NAPA and got me a new battery. Well, I plunged it in to the truck, and she started right up and stayed running I'm super excited about that. I still need to rebuild the carb and a few other things, but I'm well on my way.

[nickp51chevy]

I started to change out the fluids in the engine on saturday and I noticed that there was a water leak coming from the freeze plug behind the motor mount. Fun right?

So today I changed it out, and boy that was fun. I haven't been that greasy in a long time. I got one of those rubber expanding plugs. It was kinda hard to put in. Well some time during the put back together process oldiron showed up. I thought he was one of the guys from the home owners association, he was about to get an ear full. So after I got it in and everything put back together and fluids back it I started her up so oldiron could hear it and give me his expert opinion. He didn't have anything negative to say.

After I got the engine wormed up we took it for a little drive, up and around my cul de sac (court). Not very long but her first drive in 5 years regardless. And I still need to do some more stuff before I can make her my daily driver, but I'm well on my way.

[nickp51chevy]

It's been a while since I've posted about the truck and its coming along, but that's not entirely true. I've been having some engine troubles. I knew that the engine was missing on a cylinder, but I wasn't 100% on which cylinder it was. I suspected #6 because the plug that I took out was real clean. I did a compression test on the block and #6 had 0; ZERO psi. After finding that out I started posting in the engine section about it. Last night i took the head off and found that the intake valve for #6 was bent. I took the head to get a new valve installed, I hope to get it back some time today. Here are a couple of pix of what I found. And here is the thread that I started about the engine troubles: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=370643

[nickp51chevy]

I got the head back today and got it installed. She runs great now. Tomorrow I will have to take her out for a short drive around town.

[Hard Luck]

So it looks like that book helped out.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice truck! especially for $650, you didn't get hurt at all. That stinks about the valve but atleast you caught it before it had the potential to do more damage.

[nickp51chevy]

Originally Posted by Hard Luck

So it looks like that book helped out.

It did actually help, I used it when I put the head back on. Thanks. Maybe someday I'll give it back

Dieselwrencher, thanks. So far I think that I might have around $800 into it, but I still need to buy tires, there's another $500. I hope to have it my daily driver within the next couple of weeks.

[nickp51chevy]

I know it's been a while but I've been busy working on the truck and with school.

Now for an update. I've spent the last couple the last couple of weeks dealing with wiring issues. I have the all the external lights working now. I had some trouble with the break lights, i reconditioned the turn signal switch and then they worked just fine, but I still have some bugs to work out in the electrical system. I got some new tires on her thanksgiving week, and I just insured her today now that she is street legal. Really the only problem that I'm dealing with now is the gauge lights. I soon hope to have those lights working soon.

I will try to get some cool looking pics some time soon so that you guys can see her.

[nickp51chevy]

I'm not quite sure why, but I got a hair to go the the pull a part to get some 3-point seat belts for my truck. It's been snowing all day so I figured there would be few people there. I walked around looking through every s10 and late model pick up and van for a set that looked like they would work. I must have spent at least half an hour walking around in the snow. Well I found an '86 Burb with the front seat belts still in there. They look ok, but they are red. I'm hoping that I might be able to die them black, either way I'm happy with them for what I payed; $15. I'll feel a little better driving around with the shoulder belt on also. I'll take some pix after I get them installed. I'm also planning to use one of the original lap belts for a middle seat belt.

[Dieselwrencher]

That does sound like a good idea. Keep up the good work!

[nickp51chevy]

I got one of the seat belts installed the rest of the way today. I spent some time at Napa trying to find the right bolt, no luck there. Then I went to Fastenal, the guy there was very helpful in I.D.ing the right bolt that I needed and he gave me a great deal on the bolts also.
What I found out is that the bolt hole is 7/16-20. I read somewhere on here that it was 14 coarse thread. He got me the grade 8 bolts and he also had some sort of brass barring sleeve that worked as the shoulder on the bolt.
What I ended up with was a 1" long bolt and I cut the sleeve in half to 1/2'' pieces and since it was a tight fit i threaded it and screwed it onto the bolt with some red locktite. I aslo used the red locktite when installing the bolt to the B pillar.
Here is what I ended up with.

[Dieselwrencher]

Pretty cool!

[my67chevytruck]

looking good

[nickp51chevy]

Thanks guys.

[nickp51chevy]

Here are a couple of pix that I took today.
I also finished putting the seat belts in, but I didn't take pix of that. I have a little problem though, the buckles don't come out of the seat all the way, but they still work for now. I will take some more pix later.