Another OLD BLUE Build Thread - 71 Chevy

[gdavis]

it don't hurt to take a break every now and then. I do it all the time I guess that is why I have been working on the truck for two years,

[OldBlue71Chevy]

Been crazy busy lately. Haven't had time to do much of anything in the garage.

I have gotten back into biking (the pedal kind) and did a 100mile century last weekend, and have been dabbling in mountain biking/trails.

Took Ol' Blue to Executive Performance in Merriam KS to adjust the valves. I must have gotten off track on a couple of them. He said 1 and 8 were misadjusted. Runs better now.

I'll be @ Midwest Truck Nats in Riverside tomorrow. I think my Dad is also bringing his deuce and a half military truck.

Hope to see some of you there!

[OldBlue71Chevy]

So after some drama, I made it to Midwest Truck Nats.

Got most of the way there and stopped on the offramp so I could adjust my timing ever so slightly. Get out of the truck and have one of those "wth is all over the side of my truck???". Go around to the front and realize that my water pump had pushed a piece of it's gasket out. Luckily I had stopped to fuss with my timing and caught it before it lost much coolant.



So after some scrounging around in my toolbox I found the correct size allen wrench and a gallon of coolant. After I tightened the bolts to a slow drip, I was able to make the 20 minute drive to the auto parts store on the way back home. Registration didn't end until ~1pm so I figured I had time. Went home and got the water pump gasket changed out in just under an hour and headed back out.



No more leak and it ended up being a good show. Here are some pics:



Burnout contest was fun to watch


Met a couple of you guys, but couldn't stay long because we had a busy weekend.


On the way home is where the problem started up again. Like I said in the previous post, I just had an actual shop set the valve lash which I believe they did correctly (though it still burns me because I take pride in doing almost everything myself). The valvetrain tick just won't go away. It is pretty loud this time. Could be a bad roller lifter, could be a lot of things. The thing is...I don't care anymore. So the motor went on Craigslist.

[OldBlue71Chevy]

So after a week or so on Craigslist I got some lookers.

I listed it for way less than what the parts total up to but made sure it was enough to cover my next project :evil:

Got a cash deposit yesterday and promptly started the teardown:

~7pm


~8pm


~10:45pm


~11:30pm (this took a while because my cherry picker was hitting the sheetrock around the ducting above my truck. Total PITA when working by yourself)


~1:43am after cleaning up the garage so I could put the Wife's car away


So the BBC is out and ready for her new home with somebody that will love her for who she is.

I have a line on a 5.3 w/stripped harness and reprogrammed computer that I am putting an order in for as soon as I get the rest of the payment for my engine this weekend. From a local guy that does it on the side and it comes with a 6 mo warranty. Not too shabby. I am excited to potentially triple or quadruple my gas mileage (not to mention I won't have to run premium anymore). I think I will get a lot more enjoyment in the long run with a quiet(er) fuel injected engine.