Playing the long game!

[davepl]

It's not a pickup, but if we're talking about playing the long game, I chased this car for 15 years at least, perhaps 20. Finally bought it! Don't have it in-hand yet, but it's on its way!

http://1969pontiac.blogspot.com

I started by selling him an emblem about 20 years ago, which is when I planted the seed...

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by SonnyBoy

Very cool story !!
I had to read it to my wife ...
I bet Tom is enjoying the transformation also.
Your doing it justice !
Looks clean .

Thanks for the compliments. I actually dropped by Toms place in the fall and he was really quite ecstatic with the changes I’ve made and the miles that I’ve put on the truck. I’ve put more miles on it in one year than he did in ten.

He summed it up perfectly. “ I sold my truck to the right person”. That made me very happy. I was kind of worried that he wouldn’t like all the changes.

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by davepl

It's not a pickup, but if we're talking about playing the long game, I chased this car for 15 years at least, perhaps 20. Finally bought it! Don't have it in-hand yet, but it's on its way!

http://1969pontiac.blogspot.com

I started by selling him an emblem about 20 years ago, which is when I planted the seed...

I actually read that article a while back. Followed it through a link on here somewhere. I’m looking forward to seeing you restore it.

[YBNORML]

Wow, I really haven't updated this thread in a long time. I drove the truck all last summer without any issues.

[YBNORML]

I got a HotRod BBQ as a gift from a buddy. I wasn't using it much until I thought of this. The perfect way to eat at a car show.

[YBNORML]

Over the winter I pulled the 283 for cleaning and some mild upgrades.

Had some help as well.

factory 4-barrel intake
HEI distributor
Edelbrock carb
Fresh coat of paint

[YBNORML]

Thats how it'll stay until this winter when I have some more upgrades planned.

Heres a shot from a car show this summer.

[72 tigger]

Looks good- glad you’re enjoying it. It’s nice that the kids like it too

[ncpetersc]

Wow, loving that BBQ.

[Coley]

...you've sure done some nice things with that truck, particularly getting the family involved.
Well done!,...and a great story to go with it as well.

All Good
Coley

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Looks good- glad you’re enjoying it. It’s nice that the kids like it too

Thanks, The kids are all over it.

Originally Posted by ncpetersc

Wow, loving that BBQ.

Thanks, its always a hit at the car shows.

Originally Posted by Coley

...you've sure done some nice things with that truck, particularly getting the family involved.
Well done!,...and a great story to go with it as well.

All Good
Coley

Thanks, we all really enjoy the truck.

[Steeveedee]

Cool story, and a nice truck! Color me jealous. If you want to remove those restraint cables, just buy interlocking motor mounts. Those cables are the response to a recall that GM had on broken motor mounts in those years. If the driver's side motor mount broke with the old style mount, the engine could rotate up due to torque and pull the throttle open, causing a runaway condition. GM's fix was to put on the restraint cables instead of replacing the motor mounts, as it was a ton cheaper. If you still have the engine out, it is a simple fix- just put the new style motor mounts on.

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Cool story, and a nice truck! Color me jealous. If you want to remove those restraint cables, just buy interlocking motor mounts. Those cables are the response to a recall that GM had on broken motor mounts in those years. If the driver's side motor mount broke with the old style mount, the engine could rotate up due to torque and pull the throttle open, causing a runaway condition. GM's fix was to put on the restraint cables instead of replacing the motor mounts, as it was a ton cheaper. If you still have the engine out, it is a simple fix- just put the new style motor mounts on.

I know. I cleaned, coated and re-installed the cables on purpose. The motor mounts are brand new and i have no worries about them separating. Ive been driving these trucks for well over 20m years and have never broken a mount. most of the times the engines were far more powerful than this gutless 283. I thought it was cool that the truck still had the straps installed and they deserved to go back on.

I'd like to know how many trucks had mounts that actually failed? Upgrading the mounts doesn't seem to be a very common upgrade, yet you never hear about them failing. Ive heard lots of people talk about the recall, but not many talk about first hand knowledge or experience with them failing.

[trac209]

Wow that truck looks wicked cool

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by YBNORML

I know. I cleaned, coated and re-installed the cables on purpose. The motor mounts are brand new and i have no worries about them separating. Ive been driving these trucks for well over 20m years and have never broken a mount. most of the times the engines were far more powerful than this gutless 283. I thought it was cool that the truck still had the straps installed and they deserved to go back on.

I'd like to know how many trucks had mounts that actually failed? Upgrading the mounts doesn't seem to be a very common upgrade, yet you never hear about them failing. Ive heard lots of people talk about the recall, but not many talk about first hand knowledge or experience with them failing.

We were never apprised of how many failures had occurred in the field. But it only takes a few failures to make for potentially horrific injuries (and many millions of dollars worth of loss), so the replacement covered all V-8 Chevrolet vehicles from '65 - '69. I've seen the result of a couple of instances myself, but they didn't end up as runaways in those cases.

[YBNORML]

It’s been a few years since I’ve even looked at this thread. Things with Tom have been drastically changing over the last few months.

He’s getting a full frame off rebuild with the exception of paint. This will be an all hands on deck, family project and as such, will be picture heavy.

Had to clean him up before his final pic in mostly stock form.

[YBNORML]

First up was grabbing the original frame from my previous project. A 68’ gmc long bed. I did not want to run spacers or cut the frame to make provisions for power steering.

[YBNORML]

Frame disassembly.

[Warrens69GMC]

Nice!

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

Nice!

Thanks

[best view]

Do they work separately or only as a team

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by best view

Do they work separately or only as a team

To be honest they do damn well as a team. It’s surprising as the oldest and youngest are usually trying to kill each other.

[hewittca]

Heck yeah! Great to see this one getting some attention again.

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by hewittca

Heck yeah! Great to see this one getting some attention again.

Barely drove it for the last two seasons, manual steering, 22” wheels and drum brakes made for less than stellar performance.

[hewittca]

Originally Posted by YBNORML

Barely drove it for the last two seasons, manual steering, 22” wheels and drum brakes made for less than stellar performance.

oof, I agree that sounds not that fun to drive. When I went from the 15s to the 22s on my last truck that was the single worst change to driving dynamics I've ever made to a vehicle. Loved the look, hated the feel. For my current truck, I am leaving the 15s for now and may eventually go with 20s and some sidewall, but definitely not 22s. With the 15s, the manual steering is actually quite nice. I plan to leave it manual even while going through the trouble of LS swapping.