1971 C30 time to get started...

[Jraeyre]

Okay, so I bought my 1971 C30 late last year and dropped it at the mechanic to be made road ready and inspectable. It sat there for around 6 months and I finally brought it home with an inspection sticker. The fixed the blinker and the dimmer switch and told me I need a new steering column, but that is about it.

I got the truck home and found that it is a "death by a thousand cuts" project. First of all, I hadn't noticed that the previous owner had used it for a few years as a yard truck while building his house. This included using it to hold and haul sawdust from his bandsaw mill. Apparently he thought nothing of leaving sawdust on the roof so it could rust out and loading all down into the vent system (I'm still getting that cleaned out). So, it has rust holes over both doors and the headliner is fairly rusted out. I'll get to that later.

It has minor electrical problems that I am working through and a carb that does not function at all that is getting done next. While I am changing the carb the fuel pump and fuel filter will be done.

The good news is that it already has front disc brakes and power steering. The bad news is that the steering pump is rough, the steering box leaks a bit, the vacuum assist on the brakes leaks from the hose grommet and the shaft side and the brake master seems to leak through.

Now the question.....

Once the carb and fuel system is done (hopefully next week) I want to start on the brakes and steering. I am sure (with what I have learned in this forum) that I can do the steering column bearings. The steering box leak can wait (I hate leaks), but the brakes and steering pump are another thing. If I am going to replace the steering pump and the brake booster would it make sense to swap over to power brakes while I am at it??


Jra