41DegreesSouth Build Thread

[Billhilly]

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

Very nice! Is that a new bumper on the front?

Thanks for the positive comments!

Yes, new bumper for the front. And a matching chrome one for the back too. Original front was bent/damaged. Rear was a massive step bumper that just had to go. Musta weighed 200lbs!

[1985-GMC]

Cool! Have you decided what color you are going to paint it? You may have already said and I just forgot.

That shifter linkage and bracket looks really nice! Good work!

[Billhilly]

No don't think I've said. Going with a very deep blue. A GM colour off their Commodores a few years ago. Oh, and with a white roof like it has at the moment. Pretty close to the truck in the lower pic.

[1985-GMC]

Oh very nice, blue and white is my favorite! Im going back with the original dark blue (like the picture) except with white down the center like it was from the factory on my gmc.

[Billhilly]

Nice Dually!

[1985-GMC]

Yeah it is, too bad its not mine!

I plan on painting my K30 the same as my gmc whenever I get around to it.

[Billhilly]

Doh. Saw your signiture and thought it was one of yours.

[Billhilly]

Another month ticks by.
My wiring loom turned up a couple of days ago and I got the bulkhead plug installed yesterday. So from right to left I have sorted accelerator pedal and cable, transmission linkage cable, e brake cable, coil pass thru, propane regulator mounting, and now the wiring bulkhead plug. I now have a two legged accelerator pedal. I'll run the hand throttle on the origonal (right) leg, and as you can see the new leg is for the cable. Just a couple of other minor cables, wires to do and the bulkhead work will be done.
Inner guards are next then I am going to install four lap and shoulder belts and we have plenty of rules down here to follow about mounting plates etc.

[RCbowtie69]

Looking good,keep on truckin

[Billhilly]

Thanks RC.
Got a little more done today. Made up the power steer hoses and worked on finishing up the pulleys.
Got stuck on the power steer pulley though. It's a later model pump and the pulley is a press (pull on) fit. I got it started but boy it's tight! Ran out of steam and I've still got a half inch to go. Any thoughts on what you are meant to do to get this pulley on? It appears to be about five thou smaller than the shaft. Does this sound right for a press fit?
Anyway a little more done.

[swamp rat]

I think .005 is too tight for a press fit, assuming a .500 shaft i would say .0015, .002 max would be sufficent.
Is the shaft and pully keyed? if so i'd lean toward the lower end of interferance.

http://www.aps.anl.gov/APS_Engineeri.../table4_5.html

[Billhilly]

Great. Now I've got it jammed on tight! Stupid me. Never thought to check the measurments before I put it on. Cleaned both surfaces with fine sandpaper and started winding it on. Probably damage it trying to pull it off. Hmmmmmm.
Bought the new pump from PSC and it turns out to be a '73 and up deal. So no keyway and bolt to hold it on, just a press fit deal. Then had to get a new pulley as well. You know the routine!

[ERASER5]

I presume you know there is a specific set of pulling tools for power steering pumps. Without the specific puller it is near impossible to remove the pulley without damage.

The interference really should be OK, unless the pump/pulley are mismatched by type. Once you are ready to re-install (presuming you are going to remove the pulley), get a can of spay duster. The kind you get to clean you computer key board. That "air" is not air, it is freon. Turn the can upside down and fog the pump shaft several times. This will freeze the shaft and shrink it. You can also spray the pulley hole. Freezing it will enlarge the hole. Yea, I know, that sounds wrong, but it is true none the less. Anyway, freezing both parts will reduce the interference as much as possible and make a tight fit at ambient temperature.

Great build. That is a lot of work to get right hand drive. Labor of love I suppose.

[Billhilly]

Originally Posted by ERASER5

I presume you know there is a specific set of pulling tools for power steering pumps. Without the specific puller it is near impossible to remove the pulley without damage.

The interference really should be OK, unless the pump/pulley are mismatched by type. Once you are ready to re-install (presuming you are going to remove the pulley), get a can of spay duster. The kind you get to clean you computer key board. That "air" is not air, it is freon. Turn the can upside down and fog the pump shaft several times. This will freeze the shaft and shrink it. You can also spray the pulley hole. Freezing it will enlarge the hole. Yea, I know, that sounds wrong, but it is true none the less. Anyway, freezing both parts will reduce the interference as much as possible and make a tight fit at ambient temperature.

Great build. That is a lot of work to get right hand drive. Labor of love I suppose.

Yeah I figured there would be some puller to fit the 'grooves' on the pulley. Just a question as to whether I do the take it off thing, or the continue on thing. Don't know if I could find someone with that specific puller set down here.
I have some 'freeze in a can' stuff already. Might be able to get enough on the shaft/pulley as is. I'll consider that first.
I've certainly made the build as complicated as possible! Well it feels like that some days. Commited now (or should be commited!) so just have to finish it up now.

[RCbowtie69]

Hey Billhilly,i work in a machine shop,.005 isn't that much for press fit.Some are less,if you have pulley puller it should come off,i like about .0035 press fit,good luck & keep the pictures coming

[propanemudtruck]

I would agree that you "could" press .0035 to .005 but I'd lean towards swamp rat's .0015 to .002. More than that and you will just cause headaches for no apparent reason.

Billhilly, does your pump have a tapped hole on the end? Maybe use a crank type press tool on a bearing threaded into the shaft.

[Billhilly]

Thank you gentlemen. Appreciate your prompt responces.
I will take it off (somehow), get an accurate measurement and take it from there. I think less may be more in this case!

[blacknorange]

nice build im thinking of converting mine. what steering box did you use? mine is a 2wd but i will probly have more questions as i go for tips if you dont mind. thanks a lot

[Dub_X]

Subscribed! Right-hand drive conversion? Can't wait to see it finished! Lookin' good.

[1985-GMC]

Hows the truck coming Billhilly?

[Billhilly]

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

Hows the truck coming Billhilly?

Hey 1985-GMC. One word for you, slowly!
Embarrassingly slowly. Every part of every part of this project is gonna fight till the very end !
Shortly after those last posts I got my bedsides out of the corner of the shop and sat them on to start eyeing them up. I knew they were bad, but had conveniently forgot how bad they were. So after going round it ten times, you know, buy patch panels, cut the rust out etc, etc I decided dollar for dollar it was better to buy a new (secondhand) bed. You guys think shipping is bad around the lower 48? Try down to the 41st Parallel! And I don't mean North! At this stage I have a bed (minus tailgate) sitting in a warehouse in Compton. (Thanks Budnikguy). Still looking for a decent tailgate, and saving to buy some tyres and rims, and then pay for freight. Will get it under way early next year I hope. (If anyone has a decent 69-72 GMC gate let me know!). Any budget figures are so far gone now.....but I am to far up the garden path to stop!
Winter was pretty slow, work has been slow as well. Yeah yeah, cry me a river! Anyway I am trying to get motivated again to continue on with all the myriad of little jobs that are still required.
For example, that power steer pulley. Got it off and found the measurments wern't to far away from a push fit deal. Saw a picture of a proper like pusher thing, so got a thrust bearing and a piece of threaded rod turned up proper. Got some time just a couple of weeks back. Started winding it on and it was still tight! Kept winding and yup, broke the rod where it stepped down to go into the pulley shaft. I just laughed. A friend had said about a guy he used to work with actually taking the back of the pump off and pressing the pulley on. With nothing to loose I took the pump off the motor, pump out of can, back off the pump, and pressed it on the last couple of mm in the press. Reverse the above, reinstall and refer to comment above about fighting till the end!
So it's coming, but it certainly ain't gonna be done by this Christmas! Thanks for the interest. I will update as I get things done. Have the front clip off at the moment again and just painting alt and aircon brackets so I can finally button that part up as done. Then back on to finishing up the inner guards, and then outer guards.
Me and my good ideas huh?! One day I'll have a fun work truck!

[1985-GMC]

Well I haven't been making any progress on my truck lately so I can't blame ya. Anyway good to hear you haven't given up on it, and keep up the great work!

[Billhilly]

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

Well I haven't been making any progress on my truck lately so I can't blame ya. Anyway good to hear you haven't given up on it, and keep up the great work!

Thanks Tony. I hope next year is easier!

[mjensen]

Yeah, I'm in! Great job so far! I think it's cool, and can't wait for more progress! Sure makes my build look easy

[1985-GMC]

How close are you to that volcano that erupted Billhilly?

And any progress on the truck?