1965 Stepside, The LST Challenge

[aggie91]

Well, I have been busy with life, but this weekend I was alone and had to do something to keep my mind from running down rabbit trails about my separation and other family issues. I moved into a small house we had bought to have as a rental property. ALL of my stuff (except a couple of things that are at a friends place) from the shop is here and just randomly stacked in the carport. It's not secure, but my most important stuff is locked up in the small store room. I hated looking at this mess and since there is another swap meet coming next weekend, I thought it was a good idea to see what I could do to make it less crappy looking...

Here is where I started. Bad picture since it really does not show the whole mess, but you get the idea.

[aggie91]

Sorry for the sideways picture, I took it the proper way on my phone and it shows right on my computer, but its rotated here...

[aggie91]

My goal for this space it to have enough room to do some work when I feel like it. The '65 sits on the driveway just in front of the left side of the carport for now. I will move it to the right side at some point, but need that area open to move my trailer in and out of the side yard...I need to get some space to work, because I have a few items on this house that need my attention in a bad way and I got no where to set up the tools I need to make those repairs...

I think I will get this old truck to legal drivable condition and just take it out when I feel like being in an old truck...I just need to tinker on something without spending much if any money on it...

[The Rocknrod]

Well good luck and keep us posted on the new digs. Truck is awesome by the way.

[Low Elco]

Sorry about your mess. Hope it levels out ok for you.

[aggie91]

Thanks for the support guys.

I did a bit more work in there this weekend, but not enough to make a work area. To top it off, my oldest has decided to go back to school (a good thing), but he is also moving in with me. He just finished bringing his stuff over, so there is now more in the way...such is life!

[aggie91]

While trying to set up a "work bench/area", I found the rubber seal to attached the air cleaner adapter to my MAF sensor on the truck. Since I found it, I pulled out the air cleaner and adapter and installed it on the truck. Does that qualify for working on the truck? ...lol...

Anyway, its now HS Football season and things are busy again around here. I really need to stay off my a$$ after dinner and get some stuff done to have a place to work and tinker...I just need to make my self do that I guess...

[aggie91]

No pictures, but I was able to start to close in the carport to have a place out of the wind to work. I got a bunch of free metal R panel (commercial building panels) that ranged from 6' long to over 25' long. I had enough white panels and trim to close off the front opening of the carport. Now I just need to work on the side, it has a 4' tall opening the length of the carport. The wood trim on the bottom part is shot, so I will have to replace all that, then I will fill in the opening with the same white R panel and trim.

The plan it to get it enclosed, then install some LED lights, hook up my air compressor and run electrical for my welder. Once all that is done, I will figure out how to make a simple door on one side and redo the front to have at least one side with a door to get a vehicle through...

Most of my time at home, it is already dark or it has been raining, so it is slow going...

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by aggie91

No pictures, but I was able to start to close in the carport to have a place out of the wind to work. I got a bunch of free metal R panel (commercial building panels) that ranged from 6' long to over 25' long. I had enough white panels and trim to close off the front opening of the carport. Now I just need to work on the side, it has a 4' tall opening the length of the carport. The wood trim on the bottom part is shot, so I will have to replace all that, then I will fill in the opening with the same white R panel and trim.

The plan it to get it enclosed, then install some LED lights, hook up my air compressor and run electrical for my welder. Once all that is done, I will figure out how to make a simple door on one side and redo the front to have at least one side with a door to get a vehicle through...

Most of my time at home, it is already dark or it has been raining, so it is slow going...

Progress isn't always @ the speed it needs to be but it's still progress. I hope lifes changes & frustrations are becoming lighter for you.

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Progress isn't always @ the speed it needs to be but it's still progress. I hope lifes changes & frustrations are becoming lighter for you.

Thanks Scoti. I hope that once this year is over, I can get back to this one again. I come to terms with the life changes and my kids are the first priority. They are fine, but still not happy with what is going on. I get them every weekend, so we make the most of it.

I did crank it up over the weekend, runs fine, just now it won't go into any gear. Not sure why the fluid was low, so that might be the issue, but there are not signs of a leak, so where did the fluid go?

[aggie91]

Well, I have a few days off coming up so I plan a little truck time and house repair time. Not sure which I should do first...

While scanning CL, I found an ad for a 2004 Chevy 2500 HD with a gas engine. Not a lot of info on the ad other than say parts were for sale. I emailed him and found it was 6.0 with a 4l80e, 2wd. was running and driving, but someone started to tear it apart for God only knows why. He had removed the intake and throttle body to use on another truck, but the rest was still mostly there...

I went to look in person and it was rough but had good bones and I think I can sell what I don't need or want then the rest can go to scrap. It has a clean title too.

I'll start the process of parting it out and keeping what I want over the holidays so it is not just cluttering up my yard..

[aggie91]

Well, I got the 2004 2500HD with most of a 6.0 & 4L80e for $500 with a clear title. I say most of the 6.0 as some meth head pulled the intake and TB by cutting the harness and the fuel line that goes over the top of the intake, but left the injectors and the two rails, still connected to the supply line from the tank. The harness is all there, but 90% of the wires have been cut. That's OK with me, I have 2 full extra harnesses and a few intakes. I pulled the engine/trans as one piece, kept the driveshaft, both door mirrors, the steering box and the hydroboost unit. I have an '06 Duramax with a leaking hydroboost unit, so I will rebuild this one with new seals and swap those out over a free weekend. I will then rebuild the one from my '06 and use it on an up coming squarebody project. I also kept the driver's seat to repair my '06 seat.

I sold one of the wheels/tires from the truck to a buddy that needed a spare for $25, then sold the rest of the truck to my oldest boy and his buddy for $100, they where going to part it out. I had to get rid of it because the city gave me a warning and 10 days to get rid of it off my property because I was in violation of a city code. Those two asses then posted it on FB marketplace and sold what was left to a dude for $500. I'm not mad, just wish I had the time to post it and deal with people to part it out. So, out of my pocket I have into the 6.0&4l80e for a total of $375.

I could probably sell the 6.0 for $500-$750 around here if I put on an intake and TB. Then I would have a free trans and money for a HD2 shift kit... I will put the 6.0 on the stand for now and look at the bottom end and under the valve covers to asses its condition before I decide what to do.

[aggie91]

Spent a little time the other day since we all got sent home from work due to a power outage.

I got the transmission and the engine separated and all of the accessories off the engine.

Looks like the transmission was rebuilt in the past, both the case and the convertor have a date in paint pen on them...

Next will be getting the engine on a stand to give it an inspection before deciding what to do.

[aggie91]

Sunday was some nice weather for a change. I got outside and worked on getting a space in the carport cleaned up and big enough to put the 6 liter on the engine stand to see what I have to work with. Turns out my current $375 investment on this truck has provided me a recently rebuilt trans and a Gen4 LS engine. The oil was pitch black that I drained out and the inside looks like it might have a zillion miles on it, but the thrust on crank is nearly negligible. Next I will get the heads off and see what it looks like in the cylinders. I hope I can get away with a SBE on this engine. Current thinking is now I have the base for a 1000 hp turbo engine...Not sure I will go that far right away, I will just set up the short block as if I was going for that goal, just not go with a big enough turbo right away...

[Low Elco]

Congrats on the new gear, and the scammin' price! Glad to see you're still kickin' out there. Hope it all levels out ok for ya.

[Dads79GMC]

Lots of great work Karl!! I will mark this one for future reference!! Mike

[aggie91]

thanks guys!

Well yesterday, the judge signed off on the divorce papers. Legally I am single again.
The state still has to do their thing for the child support, not sure exactly how that works but I do know how much they are taking each month. Just need to see how it works out since I get paid by weekly.

Once all that settles, I can make a plan and a budget to MAYBE make some headway on this thing.

So, last night I spent a few minutes in the garage and popped off the heads to get a look. Not bad, I dropped a bunch of carbon build up a crap in the cylinders, went to get my shop vac and its no where to be found. Turns out my oldest borrowed it...Once I get it back, I get all the loose crap out of the way. Once cylinder has some rust in it, but not bad, not sure how far down it goes yet. Did not want to rotate the crank to find out till I get the loose crap out of the way.

I get some pictures this weekend.

[Low Elco]

Dude, that sucks, but, at least you've got a fresh starting point to go forward. Been there with a couple friends and the limbo part is the worst. Go man go! Good luck with your motor!

[SCOTI]

Always remember when it concerns the Big-D.... It sucks & a lot of guys don't want it to happen. It's not always up to us & It is what it is. However, the reality of the situation is when one door closes, there's more than one door already open.

I wish you the best on your new journey. Don't force the garage issue or beat yourself up if you're just not feeling-it. Do shop stuff when the calling/urge is there. Stayed focused on those young-men you're raising & re-focus on the 'new' life you have. Make better choices for you.

I look forward to seeing you @ an event this year!

[aggie91]

Thanks Guys! I appreciate the support and comments.

I was not feeling the shop/truck stuff this weekend. My two house dogs got into my boys room and ate a bunch of chocolate on Friday. I got home to a house covered in chocolate puke...Spent the evening and all day Saturday cleaning and washing EVERYTHING...lol.

My focus is mostly my 17 year old boy, Owen and my now 16 year old daughter, Katie. Owen lives with me for now and Katie with her Mom, but I have Katie on the weekends. Owen does not spend much if any time with his Mom. My oldest is almost 22, out of the house doing his own thing. He has not spoken to his Mom since Christmas. I hope that someday the two boys can find common ground with their Mom and work things out with her. I know she loves them as much as I do.

Second to the kids is my job. I have a great job that I love and my boss(es) have been very supportive of what has been going on this past year. I am thankful for that.

Next is the house, I got to finish the repairs/remodel of the one bathroom. That has gone on long enough. I started it and then let it sit for the last couple of months...