Knomadd '71 SWB C-10

[knomadd]

Here's some of what was in the boxes...
Transmission shift linkage
Billet plug, with ididit knob (not sold together)
Front & rear shocks, springs
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[knomadd]

Rear shock relocation kit
CPP steering column
Hydraulic brake booster system
ECE hidden hitch kit
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[knomadd]

Oh yeah, coil spring retainers, pic didn't turn out
Carpet (trim parts box)
Door jamb switches (shorter and the doors close, but smaller diameter so I have to get creative to mare it fit)
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[72BlckButy]

Money well spent...

[darkhorse970]

Nice truck!

[knomadd]

Thank you!
Now if I could just get some time to work on everything...
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[knomadd]

My adjustable track bar just showed up today. Thank God it's Friday tomorrow. I'll finally have time to work on the truck this weekend. Wish I could take tomorrow off to work on it instead. Gotta make $$ to pay for all these parts I still have plans for.
Anybody know how to get paid for working on your own vehicles?
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[knomadd]

Put on the stock style bumper... only to find out that the 67-70 style bumpers have shorter outer brackets... and my turn signals have the built in nuts removed or drilled out, so I can't mount them to the new bumper.

Ordered new bumper brackets and turn signals from Classic Parts. I guess there is something on back order, but the email didn't tell me what. Guess I have to wait longer.
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[knomadd]

My heater controler showed up from ECE, as did my turn signals and bumper brackets. Got the turn signals and brackets installed last weekend (sorry no pics yet) and put the heater control in, but don't have the screws or bolts that hold it in place. Can't seem to find whatever is used either. Does anyone have a pic of the mounting screws for the heater controls or the specs for them? I'll go buy some, but I need to know what to get. unless someone has a spare set they'd like to send me

Had to pull the column back out. The tilt function wouldn't work. Called CPP to see what I could do and found out the tilt lever threads were too long. Cut off half the threads and it works fine now. Glad it was an easy fix.

Also installed the window visors (see pic).

Just got the DD shaft to connect the new column to the steering box earlier this week, so hopefully I can get the proper length cut and installed this weekend, along with the back half of the truck wiring to finish up the install.

Oh, and my fuel filter decided it was going to start to leak. Thankfully I hadn't run the eninge long after checking to see if I had wired everything correctly, so no fire. Damn glass filter housing! Ordered up a new filter with pressure gauge from Summit.

I'll try to post up some more pics this weekend after I accomplish some more.

[knomadd]

Finally replaced the fuel filter. It's a Summit filter with a fuel pressure gauge hiding behind the carb. I used nylon braided line, but I'll probably replace it with hard line at some point. Especially if the ethanol content raises and speeds up the deterioration of the hose.

Yes, i know I need to clean up the engine and carb. This will happen later. Just trying to get it running so I can drive it again. The wife is starting to complain about how long it's been out of commission. I think it's less of wanting to ride/drive it but more of wanting her parking space in the garage back.

[knomadd]

I've slowly been making progress. I finally have pics to post.


I finally figured out what to use to mount the heater controls and got it installed. Still need to figure out what to use around the stereo to cover up those holes, and the crappy over-cut dash that barely holds the stereo in. PO did a really poor job cutting the dash.


This is the billet plug i got from Watson's Street Works, and the knob that matches the rest in the truck.


Gauges, with vacuum, installed (the white wire is for the dome light, still need to drill holes for it)

[knomadd]

I replaced the ammeter with a voltmeter so I can have a safe battery monitor... No fire hazard anymore. Probably will be hard to tell it doesn't belong for those people who aren't very familiar with these trucks.


New column, steering wheel, and knobs installed. Had to thread the shift knob to fit on the shift arm. It was supposed to be a slip on, with a screw retainer, but it was too small of an opening. I like this better anyway.

I'm getting closer to having it drivable again!

[knomadd]

Started the gas tank relocation and the hidden hitch installation. Realized that they need to be installed together in order to have them share the same space. Obviously the hitch will be mounted at the rear most part of the frame, and the tank will be pretty well centered in the space between cross braces, so there isn't a lot of room to adjust. That's as far as I've gotten with those so far. No holes have been drilled, or marks for finalized location... hard to do anything with the bed still on the truck. I don't have a way to get it off to make any of this easier, so I'll have to make due.

Moved on to get the rear lights wired up, and the trailer plug wired in. the last time it was painted, the tail lights and reverse lights were painted body color, so they aren't as bright as they could be when lit up. I cleaned them up and painted them white. I should be able to install them tomorrow and finalize the wiring all together. I love progress!

Got the new shift linkage installed and the old shifter out. Found out the gear indicator lens is located in the wrong spot (all the gears are off by one position according to the indicator). Tried to drill the new holes and found out the metal on the column is feakin' tough. Not one of my drill bits would drill through it. I'll have to find another option to drill through it later.

Took out the old carpet, laid down some eastwood sound deadener and heat insulation, laid out the new carpet so it can relax and make it easier to install (hopefully tomorrow).

Done for the night. Hope I'm able to make more progress tomorrow.

[knomadd]

Progress was very limited today. Spent most of the day running to the hardware store to get tools or small parts (screws or bolts mainly). When I was working on the truck, I was attempting to drill and tap the column to move the gear indicator. Finally got the hole drilled after a couple hours and couldn't get a screw to thread in. Kept stripping the threads off the screw. Tried to drill it slightly bigger and broke the bit...twice.
Decided it was easier to use scrap aluminum strap I had laying around and make an adapter. It took most of my afternoon to get it worked out. What a pain customizing can be sometimes.
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[knomadd]

This is an older picture, but I installed some Eastwood Thermo-coustic sound deadener and insulation a few weeks ago.

[knomadd]

I painted the tail light housings white last weekend. They used to be body color. This should have a brighter glow.


This past weekend I started to install the gas tank under the bed. I'm still not done, but here's my start.


It turned out that it wasn't in the right place, so I had to cut out more and weld in a piece of the bed floor patch to locate it in the right spot. This is the final location, started to weld it back up.

[knomadd]

Saturday I finished the bed floor modification for the fuel filler. Eventually I will strip off the old bedliner and have it professionally sprayed again. This will be good enough until then.


Today, I got the fuel tank and hidden hitch installed. I still have to plumb the fuel before I can use it.


Just about ready to drive it again.

[knomadd]

Oh yeah, the fuel level sender had to be modified to fit, and function inside the tank. That was quite the experience. I got it done (without pictures) so hopefully the gauge reads as it should.

[knomadd]

Sold the wife's car last week. We've been looking at getting a new Explorer for her and wanted to sell her car to help with the down payment. We should be buying the new vehicle within the next two weeks. I've been driving the GTO every day since she is using my car to get around. It's become more apparent that I need to finish the truck so I can replace the water pump in the GTO. I can't drive it very long without it overheating. Everything else has been replaced so if this doesn't fix it, it looks like the engine will be pulled and either gone through or replaced. I'm hoping the water pump fixes it.

I finished up the interior on the truck this weekend. Got the carpet installed and the stereo speakers rewired, amps and components in place and the seat bolted back in. Went to test the stereo and found out the fuse was blown so I replaced that and everything seems to be in order now. Just need to run fuel line to the new tank and put the cowl back together and she's drivable again. Suspension stuff will be done later.

I need to seal the rear window before it gets parked outside again. I've got until she gets her new car. One condition for getting the truck was that she got one side of the garage. Small sacrifice to have another classic in the family.

The car score is:
Me = 3
Wife = 0
Gotta fix that soon or I'll be getting hell for it at some point.

[knomadd]

So I got the fuel tank plumbed finally. Replaced the fuel filter element while I was at it. Also, since I had the wheel off, I repainted the drum and scraped all the tire rubber and undercoating off the inner fender and resprayed it all. Here are a few pics. Hope you enjoy!

Started already, but the grey-ish colored stuff is the undercoating that had been peeling off around the bottom of the wheel well.

Here's what came off, minus the pine needles of course.


Before & After:



Fuel line plumbed:


Oh, and I took her for a spin to fill the tank. Took the wife for a ride after dinner and we both enjoyed the evening. Have a few kinks to work out still, but otherwise she's roadworthy again.

[knomadd]

oh yeah.... wife bought a new ferd explorer last weekend. She'd been looking at vehicles for a few months. Been wanting a new SUV for two years now. Finally pulled the trigger and bought one. She still lets me know I have 3 vehicles to her 1 and won't let me forget it. I still think I need another one, but I don't have the space. I've outgrown the garage...Time for a new house

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by knomadd

Oh, and I took her for a spin to fill the tank. Took the wife for a ride after dinner and we both enjoyed the evening. Have a few kinks to work out still, but otherwise she's roadworthy again.

Not sure - are you talking about the truck or the spouse?


It's amazing how many pounds of crap these old trucks have accumulated over the years.

[knomadd]

Originally Posted by Zoomin

Not sure - are you talking about the truck or the spouse?

I didn't catch that when I typed it. I meant the truck. Sometimes kinks are good in a spouse.

[77ChevySharkBite]

you have a sweet looking truck!!! I'm going to stay tuned into this build no doubt!

[knomadd]

Originally Posted by 77ChevySharkBite

you have a sweet looking truck!!! I'm going to stay tuned into this build no doubt!

Thanks! Glad to have you aboard.


Plan on starting the rear spring and shock swap this weekend. Hopefully after I get home this evening I can have it all torn down before dark. (working outside now that the wife has a new car taking up the other half of the garage)