Newbie Build :help: - Ole Big Blue ('71 C10 LWB)

[olebigblue]

Well here goes nothin'!! This first post will be long so I can try to give a good story of this truck's past and where I want to take it. My updates will be much shorter I'll start with a short history of the truck then go into what I plan to do then give some current pics, so skip ahead if you want. I appreciate any and all feedback/help as I haven't done more than a couple oil changes with my other cars. This is my first older car and everything is a learning process. I'm excited to get started, but I'm thinking I'll need everyone's help to keep my motivated and more importantly educated on what in the world I'm doing (or failing to do).

History:
This 1971 Chevy C10 has been in my wife's family since her gpa bought it new. He passed on and it went to my father-in-law who used it mostly as a work truck for his landscaping business. My wife actually drove it throughout high school. I redeployed from my 2nd trip to Iraq about 3 weeks ago and my wife suprised me with a little surpise in our garage. Big Blue is now mine. That said, I've decided it's time for "Big Blue" to get some serious TLC. I had about a $10K budget to find a car to compliment my motorcycle, but now most of that can be spend on what I'll call Big Blue's "rolling rebuild". It runs/drives strong on a rebuilt 350 (about 6,000 miles ago). The exhaust has been replaced, and it's still on the original transmission. Original paint was brown/tan was repainted (no clear coat) and had the interior redone. I'm still trying to pull more info out of my pop-in-law, but he's been out of the country on business as a pilot.

My Plan(s):
I've already done some minor things like oil & filter change, new air cleaner, changed a gasket to fix an exhaust leak, and got some knobs for the window cranks. I also put some new tires (no pics yet). Small things but it's only been a couple weeks, so I'm trying to start small while I plan out some of the bigger projects.

It runs/drives but there's some functional things I'd like to get done before digging into the big jobs of body/paint, interior, and engine. These include:

New door handles (passegner button is stuck in the handle)
Door Locks (can't really lock it right now)
New spark plugs/wires
New fuel filter
Get the fuel gauge to work (and any other instruments that aren't working)
Get the heat/AC/defroster working
Steam clean the engine and underneath.

Next, I'll dive into the body/paint. I'll be doing the body work/paint myself. I still have nailed down a color. I'm thinking of going with a royal blue (to keep the nick name it's had for more than a decade). I'm also throwing around a metallic charcoal or I've also seen some nice light greens. Love to see some pics of cool colors if you guys have ideas. FYI, I'll be doing wood panels in the bed.

After the paint I'll be redoing the interior. I'll be keeping it a bench and possible relocating the fuel tank. Much of the interior will be color matched to the exterior. I haven't looked into how much of the interior I want to do myself. I'm not sure if I tackle things like the redoing the seats, and I still have to do more research on the dash, gauges, etc.

The engine is way down the line, I think I'd like to step up to a big block (454). I don't know if it's just the sound of saying "I have a 454 under the hood" . I'll also have to look into a new transmission since I'm running a near 40 y/o tranny that's seems to be holding on pretty well. Along the way someone Mickey Mouse'd the part that goes into the tranmission which has caused some interesting wear.

So that's what I'm looking at. I'll try to give a good breakdown of each mini-project as I go. Here's some quick pictures. Sorry for the novel, I just wanted to give a good description of where it's been and try to describe where I want to go. I look forward to your comments. Here we go...

-Scott

[Bruce88]

Welcome to the forum

Thank you for the service to our country, it’s always appreciated but not voiced enough

It looks like you have a good truck to start with and having a family history is always nice to have, thanks for sharing it with us

It’s been quite a few years since I used a military auto hobby shop and each military post has different levels and tools available to use. I don’t know if it still has all the facilities such as steam cleaning, pressure washing, lifts and paint booths at McChord AFB but it might be one way to save a little money and they use to also have people that could give some advice in solving problems. And there’s plenty of people on this forum that will help with answering question or solving problems.

The one thing I might add to your list of upgrades is power brakes, it’s always nice to be able to stop that 454 when required (smile)

Keep us posted on the progress

[olebigblue]

I was thinking about power brakes, but I haven't done any research into pricing, what all I would need, etc. I will definitely be using the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Shops. They still have lifts and all the normal tools. They also have a do it yourself body/paint shop with a body pro that helps you. The one thing they didn't have that you mentioned was steam cleaning equipment so I'll have to get that done elsewhere. Thanks for the feedback.

[nickp51chevy]

Did or does your truck have multiple fuel tanks? The reason I ask is because my truck did and when I got it the fuel gauge didn't work either. There was a switch on the dash that would switch the gauge over to the other tanks. I didn't know that was what it was for until I decided to turn it to see what would happen. That was the ticket; the gauge started working after that.

I didn't know that they had a paint shop there on base. I might have to take my truck down there to spray it someday.

[olebigblue]

Actually it did come with two tanks but I was told the secondary one was taken out. The switch is still there so I'll give it a shot. If that's all it takes...

Now on to bad news. Today the tranny wouldn't engage in Reverse. I'm still at work so when I get home I'll check the fluids and some of other stuff. I'll take some pics of the mickey mouse job that was done down there and post it here and on the larger board to see if there's any recommendations on what's going on. I really wish I had my camera on me when it was up on the lift getting new tires put on.

[nickp51chevy]

How is it going with the truck? Andy updates on it?

[olebigblue]

Quick update and I'll also try to get the truck on a lift to take some pics soon.

After losing reverse I took the tranny in to get looked at. I found a fellow owner (67 Burb) that rebuilds trannies at Aamco. 27 years of experience. Made the decision to rebuild based on the gunk in the oil pan (metal shavings, etc. ehhh), but didn't feel up to the task myself. Watched as he broke it down...definitely needed the rebuild. Prior rebuild had some non-matching parts. He did a great job on the rebuild. I decided to throw a shift kit on as well. All came with a 2 year warranty parts/labor.

Also had the steering box replaced because it was going bad. Replaced the front/rear bearings as well after noticing I could wiggle the tires while it was up on the lift.

The guys also fixed an exhaust leak coming from the header/engine block connection, and cut/stretched a hose that was cracked.

Last thing was replacing the distributor because the wires were corroded and began shorting each other.

Results:
- Transmission shifts AWESOME (including reverse) I peeled out coming out of the parking lot
- All the excess play is gone from the steering and it doesn't sway at higher speeds thanks to the new bearings.
- No loud pops and no shorting out.
- Whole truck sound TONS better with the exhaust leak fixed and doesn't sound like it's going to blow up at 60 mph anymore.
- Emptied the wallet a little bit but big blue is running/driving better than ever.

Next up (I'll be doing this stuff myself):
- Finish up engine tune up. Spark plugs, wires, hoses, check gaskets, fix oil leak from valve cover, etc.
- Start body work (I start 30 days of leave tomorrow so I should have the time I need to get it done)
- Make final choice on paint color. Keeping it blue just don't know what shade.

[nickp51chevy]

Nice! Good to hear that you got the ol' blue runnin' right.

30 days huh? That'll be nice.

[robmrtnbb5]

from missouri looks like you got purdy nic truck to start with

[olebigblue]

Thanks, I'm mid trip in California, but when I get back I should be starting the body work. And I promise to actually start posting some pics of the work.

[olebigblue]

Started the body work yesterday! Hope to have pictures up by tonight...stay tuned.

[nickp51chevy]

Any pictures yet? Inquiring minds want to know.

[olebigblue]

Switched methods to sand blasting because the old DA sander was taking WAY too long. It's still in the both now, but I'll post some prep pics when I get home.