Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"

[sdailey]

I'm still here working on the '69 here and there in between this crazy Georgia weather. We just had snow and tornado warnings in the same week.

Anyway, I found another good deal on Craigslist here locally for a new repop unstamped Chevy tailgate for $100. The guy was restoring a '69 and lost interest in it. I'm not sure if I'll keep it or sell/trade it for a stamped gate. Many thanks to Alan's Classic for forwarding the Craigslist link to me.




I also took on the task of rebuilding my steering gear box. Advanced Auto wanted $190 for a remaned one with $65-$75 core charge or $45 for a rebuild kit. So being that I had 2 gear boxes I figured I could rebuild one and if that went south I at least had one to use as a core still.

This shot was after I degreased everything and shot some etch primer on the housing.



Here's the part number for the rebuild kit from Advanced Auto.




Here's an article from 4-Wheeler magazine that I used for the rebuild. I didn't take pictures of every step in my rebuild because this article has some good ones already.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/techartic...ild/index.html

Here's a shot after final assembly.



Poor Man's paint booth



Of course, there was a honey-do list since I was painting already.



Then here it is installed.



It's small progress but progress nonetheless. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Stay tuned.

[msgross]

I'm sending my steering box to you! I was wondering where the pictures frames installed on the truck

I have a pretty nice tailgate when you get rid of that tin can piece.. better hurry up and start that engine before the warranty expires too!

So how hard was the power steering build? I know your a smart engineer type guy so i'm not sure that I have the gray matter to attempt it.. oh wait, Marine..never mind i'm game!

just messin with you...

[msgross]

I just ordered that kit from rockauto.. I also got the pump kit so we'll give it a shot..

[sdailey]

Mike,

The rebuild went fine and was easy even for a Marine. That tech article was really detailed and helpful. Feel free to call if you need help.

I'll keep the gate for the time being. It was just too good of a deal to pass up. I admit it was alot stronger/heavier than what I had anticipated based on everyone's opinion of repop sheetmetal, granted it's still lightweight compared to an oe gate though.

The motor is next on my things to do list as well. I'm ordering one of Skip White's distributors this week. I've been holding out for a new GM Serpentine Kit, but I may end up going the junkyard route on a serpentine set-up. I've also got to order my hydraulic clutch kit from Novak so I can mate the tranny to the engine. It'll be running before the warranty expires I promise you.

Good luck with your gearbox rebuild.

[msgross]

If you check out my latest Ebay purchase I picked up a GMPP HEI for $90.. I know another board member with the same one for $125.. I thought about the skip white setup but would rather have the black original GM looking cap...

[sdailey]

Originally Posted by msgross

If you check out my latest Ebay purchase I picked up a GMPP HEI for $90.. I know another board member with the same one for $125.. I thought about the skip white setup but would rather have the black original GM looking cap...

Mike,

FYI, Skip White offers a black capped hei now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBC-B...mZ270373455731

[msgross]

durn... oh well..

[sdailey]

With warmer weather being here now I've been keeping busy with yard work and various honey-do items around the house. I've still got a pretty decent sized honey-do chore of installing hardwoods floors in the living room. I've been avoiding that job for about 4 months now, but I think it's time to face the music and get it over with, especially since we've had the flooring that long already. So with that going on the truck has been getting neglected more so than ever before. At least I look at it eveyday when I come home from work. Does that count for anything?


I recently sent various small parts out the TXFirefighter (Kevin) to have them powdercoated and was pleasantly surprised with the results. (A shameless plug for a fellow board member.)





I wanted to send him my core support to get coated as well, but it wasn't cost effective. Plus at this point Kevin has to sub out larger items, like core supports, to get sandblasted. Anyway, I had a local guy here do the core support and I was able to pick it up this past weekend. It turned out pretty good, but it doesn't have the attention to detail like Kevin's parts has.





All in all I'm happy with the parts and I'm still here making progress.

[msgross]

i'm watching still...

my honey do list is still there too,

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=343258

[Alan's Classic]

Do like I do, hide the honey do list.

[sdailey]

Originally Posted by msgross

i'm watching still...

my honey do list is still there too,

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=343258

Thanks for the support Mike. I'm still checking in on yours as well. Keep up the good work.

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

Do like I do, hide the honey do list.

It's hard to hide the list when the material (hardwoods) is laying in the floor in the boxes still.

Ain't it funny how the honey-do list gets longer when you have time/money to make progress on your projects/hobbies?

[Alan's Classic]

Originally Posted by sdailey

Thanks for the support Mike. I'm still checking in on yours as well. Keep up the good work.



It's hard to hide the list when the material (hardwoods) is laying in the floor in the boxes still.

Ain't it funny how the honey-do list gets longer when you have time/money to make progress on your projects/hobbies?

Put some plants on the boxes and decorate to make it look like furniture.

[msgross]

tell her you have to let that wood floor acclimate... for about 6 months usually or you'll run into troubles in the future!

which powder was that 50-60% gloss black?

[sdailey]

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

Put some plants on the boxes and decorate to make it look like furniture.

Yeah I do that and I'll have to move into your shop.

Originally Posted by msgross

tell her you have to let that wood floor acclimate... for about 6 months usually or you'll run into troubles in the future!

which powder was that 50-60% gloss black?

I believe my acclimation "excuse" has run out at this point. She caught onto that excuse after the first 2 months.

It's 60% gloss.

[JPCY72]

any updates

[sdailey]

Originally Posted by JPCY72

any updates

None to speak of at the moment. I've been trying to sell extra parts lately to raise truck money. Thanks for checking in.


On a side note, I did call Novak last week to finally order my hydraulic clutch setup. However, they are in the middle of a design change and they didn't have any in stock....no old design or any new designs. How can a company redesign their product line and not maintain the old product until the new one is tested, approved and in service??? Anyway, they told me to check back this week for an update. Oh well, what can you do? I don't guess my 350 will mind staying on the engine stand for another week.

Stay tuned.

[msgross]

tell them that you'll be a "test subject" for a discount... just like you did in college with the shock therapy!

[sdailey]

Originally Posted by msgross

tell them that you'll be a "test subject" for a discount... just like you did in college with the shock therapy!

I tried everything I could to "con" them out of one, but all I got was "Oh by the way, there is a price increase for the new part, but we don't have an exact figure just yet."

[msgross]

Originally Posted by sdailey

I tried everything I could to "con" them out of one, but all I got was "Oh by the way, there is a price increase for the new part, but we don't have an exact figure just yet."

yikes..

[sdailey]

Well, I got a little good news today. I was on Novak's website looking around and I noticed that the prices for their hydraulic clutch setup was lower than what I saw just last week. I thought to myself that maybe they were in the middle of updating their website and pricing for the new designed part. So I give them a call to see where they stood on availability on the new designed part. I actually talked to the same customer service rep that I talked to last week and he remembered me (probably remembered my sarcastic attitude more than anything). I asked if the part was available yet and he said it was and I asked him about the price being less than what it was last week and he comfirmed the lower price. He said if I ordered it now I could get the lower price, but they would be raising the price later today, so needless to say I ordered the kit. If all goes well it should be here on Friday and that means I can finally get my motor mounted to the tranny and installed in the frame.

Progress finally!


For those that might be interested I'm installing a hydraulic clutch in my '69 K10 with the sm465 4sp tranny and Novak offers a bolt-on kit. Below is a link to their site and the clutch kit.


Hydraulic Clutch Kit info
http://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/kit_hcrc.htm

[msgross]

sweet.. did you pay $188?

Is it worth saving my left thigh for the upgrade?

[sdailey]

Yeah Mike I paid $188. Last week, and ever since I started considering this upgrade, the 3/4" version was over $200, closer to $250 without shipping. I'm sure it'll save the left leg a little, but I wanted it primarily so I could eliminate the stock mechanical linkage and be able to run headers easier. Here's a picture of the Wilwood master cylinder setup that I'll be using.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Wilwood/950/260-3374/10002/-1

[msgross]

guess i'll be cheap and have a bulky left leg!

[sdailey]

Well they do call you "BIG MIKE", so you should be ok.

[msgross]

first time i'm stuck at a stoplight I will have wished I spent the $250! us Army guys can hang...