Lattimer's 1970 C-10 build

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by jhwkns

Lookin' good Shawn! Your truck has really come along.

Thanks!

I hope its coming along, I put enough $$$$ in it.

[Lattimer]

pulled the PS pump, put in new o-rings, put it back. Leaks less, but still leaks. Also whines like crazy. I'm calling it faulty and taking it back to Napa.

Put my old one back in and it works fine. Looks really ugly, but works.

The bad:
Now the steering wheel is off center by probably 10 degrees. Everything can only fit one way, so now I have to pull the wheel off and re-center it. Good thing I have lots of practice with that now.

The good:
Steering is way tighter and more responsive. No more hunt and peck driving. Hopefully no more dripping everywhere I go.

[Lattimer]

Got the steering wheel on center.

Installed a fuel pressure regulator in an attempt to make my Edelbrock idle right. Utter failure.

[Bennett68C10]

Truck is looking great, nice job on the rust repair
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[Lattimer]

Really busy day today. Swapped the ailing 3-speed for a 4-speed Saginaw. In the process I changed out the flywheel, installed new clutch/pressure plate/throwout bearing, installed a new clutch cover (original was missing), new clutch fork boot, put new seals in the Saginaw, installed new u-joints.

Got 12 hours in it today. Man am I tired. Not an easy job to do yourself. Most of it was ok, but I envy anyone who has access to a lift.

Tomorrow I have to put oil in the transmission, install the shifter and boot, set the truck back on the ground, and try it out.

Trans was free (part of the truck purchase), clutch and flywheel came to $500, seals and u-joints were about $60, and the clutch cover was $30 on EBay.

3-speed had to go. It sucked in general, was simply not fun to drive. I kept trying to downshift into reverse. And the last few weeks it has been popping out of 3rd. Throwout bearing wasn't making noise, but it was in really bad shape. Rumbles like crazy when you spin it. U-joints weren't bad, but they looked old and didn't have grease fittings. Clutch and flywheel looked ok, but I upgraded to a lighter flywheel and an 11" clutch.

[Lattimer]

Put oil in the trans. Custom installed a backup light switch. Lights still don't work, so now I need to trace wires.

Had to re-modify my shifter handle to clear the seat. Took the truck for a ride. Trans seems to work well, but the shifter really sucks. I think its trying to pull both rods at the same time sometimes, and its impossible to hit the gates. Did 1st to 4th a bunch of times. Got it locked into third 3 times. Not Happy.

On the plus side, the new clutch is awesome! Much less pedal effort, engages much more smoothly. Also, the slightly lower first gear is great, I don't have to feather the clutch to get moving. Gear ratios overall are way better, even though I proved the little 327 has enough umph to do 1st to 4th.....LOL. It will also take off in 3rd if you really have to in order to get it out of traffic lanes......LOL

Ordered a new Hurst shifter, install kit, and shift boot. I'll install them late this week. Next weekend is ball joints, springs, and tie rod ends to complete the front end.

[Lattimer]

Got home from working in Georgia about 4:00 this afternoon. Worked from 6-10 putting the new shifter in.

I gotta stop believing what I read on the internet. Read in several places that the shifter kit for a 55-57 Bel Air would work with a bench seat in our trucks. Well, it will, if you make it 6" taller and bend it to the right about 10 degrees. It was miserable because on this kit, the damn shifter handle is welded in. What a pain. Good thing I can weld. Also had to bend the 1-2 shift lever quite a bit to clear the reverse lever.

Anyways----new shifter works flawlessly! Trans is great, the whole issue was the shifter. Took a quick test ride and every gear hits easy, the gates are easy to feel.

Very happy now, even though it seems like I have to modify everything I buy for this truck. Just have to figure something out now to pretty up the shift handle where I welded it.

[Lattimer]

Friday I decided to drive the Chevy to work with the new shifter. Worked great. After work drive to my buddy's house to work out in his gym. Realized when I went to park I had lost reverse. Looked underneath to find the rod just hanging there. CRAP.

Tried to baby it the 6 miles home and made it halfway. Locked into reverse somehow. Luckily I bought a tool kit to keep in the Chevy. Laid on the side of the road and got it back into forward gears, and took off the reverse rod. Got it home, put everything back together the right way.

I think one of the clips didn't seat all the way. Also had to bend the lever on the 1-2 shaft to get it to clear the reverse lever completely. PITA.

Yesterday I drove the truck around a bunch to make sure everything would stay put. So far so good.

Today I installed new rubber boots on the firewall for the clutch and brake rods, and sealed up a hole where a bunch of wires go through. Found the clutch rod severely worn, so I welded it up, ground it down, and put it back in the truck. Test rode it about 15 miles, everything seems good.

I had intended to rebuild the front suspension, but I just didn't have the energy for that big of a project. I may get started on that one night this week.

[Lattimer]

Also, been working on tuning this POS Edelbrock. Got it to idle a little better. Only varies about 300 rpm now.

Hate to junk it because it runs so good otherwise, but I'm seriously close to buying a Street Demon.

[1970 C10 MJW]

lattimer glad to see lots of prgress, how do you like the mirrors? glad see them in good hands and let me know how you like the cooper cobras plz and thanks again!

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by 1970 C10 MJW

lattimer glad to see lots of prgress, how do you like the mirrors? glad see them in good hands and let me know how you like the cooper cobras plz and thanks again!

the mirrors are great. they fit perfect and are in better condition than you stated!

So far I've got maybe 400 miles or so on the Coopers, and they are decent. They ride nice and they are quiet and smooth. Decent traction dry. I've heard they are poor in the rain, but this is a sunny day truck anyways..LOL. I mainly bought them for the looks.

[Lattimer]

Painted my door panels black tonight. No more remnants of the blue interior!!!!

[Lattimer]

Zero real work so far this weekend, but......

Found a set of camel hump heads on craigslist. Very nice condition, correct for my 327 (even though the 327 isn't correct for the truck). Already rebuilt, got them for $350.

So today, I visited the local speed shop, Ben Pilla Performance. The guy in there, Lou, has been selling hot rod part since way before I was born. Had him set me up with an intake manifold, cam, lifters, roller rockers, timing set, new timing cover, finned oil pan, and all the gaskets and hardware.

I also ordered some ceramic engine paint from Eastwood.

So, I'm gonna get this engine breathing fire and looking orange like it should.

Still undecided on a carb...trying to learn to live with the Edelbrock I have.

[Lattimer]

Still no work on the truck, but I ordered a Demon carb today. Totally fed up with the Edelbrock.

[Lattimer]

Tonight: New gas cap from Brothers. Had a new locking cap from LMC, it leaked worse than the original. Got a non-locking one now, hopefully it won't leak.

Installed a new ignition key tumbler. I have matching locks for it, so everything will be one key. Also from Brothers.

Installed new tie rod ends. Old ones weren't completely shot, but I'm working through the front end with all new wear parts before I go for alignment next week.

[Bennett68C10]

I know how you can solve that leaking gas cap relocate it under the bed. Nice to see your making progress.
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[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Bennett--G4L

I know how you can solve that leaking gas cap relocate it under the bed. Nice to see your making progress.
Posted via Mobile Device

I'd like to do that, but I'm not interested in trying to fabricate a filler for it. Plus I already installed a new in cab tank.

[Lattimer]

Ordered all new brake parts today. Brakes aren't bad, But I get a chirping sound in the front like a drum is out of round, and the rear pads are about halfway. Drums are really rusty, and the rubber lines are starting to dry rot. So I'm going to do everything, all new lines, wheel cylinders, pads, springs, etc. NAPA has almost everything, but I had to get a few things from AutoZone.

[~Whitey~]

Originally Posted by Lattimer

Ordered all new brake parts today. Brakes aren't bad, But I get a chirping sound in the front like a drum is out of round, and the rear pads are about halfway. Drums are really rusty, and the rubber lines are starting to dry rot. So I'm going to do everything, all new lines, wheel cylinders, pads, springs, etc. NAPA has almost everything, but I had to get a few things from AutoZone.

Glad your making progress! I'm going to have to do a rear brake job before I can ever be road worthy, skipped over that when I did the frame and put the posi in. It's on the list!

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by ~Whitey~

Glad your making progress! I'm going to have to do a rear brake job before I can ever be road worthy, skipped over that when I did the frame and put the posi in. It's on the list!

Mine's road worthy now, and I drive it a decent amount, but I'm doing a lot to it whenever I can. Trying to get all of the mechanical repairs and mods done before it goes for paint. Hoping to be "done" (like that ever happens) by the end of summer.

[Lattimer]

I hate doing ball joints. One side is almost done. Made a minor oops and accidentally smashed the bottom of one lower joint, so off to Advance for another. FML.

[Lattimer]

Front suspension is all done. Goes in for alignment tomorrow. Lower ball joints were both shot. The rest was in ok shape, but I replaced all of the wear parts. So it has new tie rod ends, ball joints, and control arm bushings. Already had done new steering box, rag joint, pitman arm, and drag link.

Another goodie showed up on Friday, so I permanently fixed my Edelbrock carb issue.



Seems to run pretty good right out of the box. I leaned out the idle just a touch and took it for a ride. Nice and smooth, secondaries come in smooth with no bog or hesitation. I like it.

[Lattimer]

Had a big "glass half empty" kind of week. Decided that building up this engine is a loosing proposition. So, I returned the majority of the performance parts, just kept the Performer intake.

I had to replace the radiator since the new one started leaking in multiple places. Counting the aluminum one that was in it when i got it, that is now 3 radiators in 4 months.

Since the coolant was out, I went ahead and installed the manifold. Also put a new advance kit in the distributor since I had it out. I had already done this before, but the kit I used didn't have good enough bushings for the weights. Everything else in the distributor was new already.

Decided I should also pull the valve covers and adjust the valve lash while I was working.

Got it all back together, got the coolant in, got it started. Popping out the carb. Somehow I got #2 and #4 plug wires swapped. Switched them back, no more popping. However, now I seem to have a miss on the #1 cylinder side. Its a small miss---you can hear it in the exhaust, but you can't feel it. Not sure if I messed up adjusting the valves or damaged a plug wire. The wires are new, put them on when I bought the truck. But I did have 2 wire ends stick and pull off the wire when I removed them, so I had to re-crimp them. Possibility there.

So, I ordered new plug wires (again), and I'm going to go through the valve lash again.

Anyways, I'm getting very close to fed up and about to say screw it and buy a crate engine.

[Lattimer]

Forgot to mention-----the re-worked front suspension is way better than before. No more squeaks and clunks, and no more bottoming out on every bump. The 2" lowering springs actually brought it up about 1/2". Now its a 2/2 drop. I'm happy with it there, it doesn't look too tall, but it keeps the rake and retains enough travel that I can use it like a truck if I want to.

[Lattimer]

Re-adjusted the valves, then decided to start on the front brakes. Took one side apart. Discovered that the brake line will NOT come apart from the hose. Broke it off in the process.

So, I ordered new SS lines from GMC Pauls. 43 year old lines should probably be replaced anyways.