1971 C/20 Alley Find, Back From The Dead

[cornerstone]

Nice truck! Glad you're starting a build thread, always good to have more. I'm wanting to see your fast/cheap/right plan unfold... something I've never been able to manage. I'm all ears and ready to learn!

[fast/cheap/right]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

Nice truck! Glad you're starting a build thread, always good to have more. I'm wanting to see your fast/cheap/right plan unfold... something I've never been able to manage. I'm all ears and ready to learn!

The thing about getting something done fast, cheap, or right, you can only choose two .

But on that note, another item off my to do list, my fuel tank surprisingly wasnt a rusty mess. It just had about 30 rocks, some sand, a peach pit?, and a gas can filler neck in it . Just need to give it a quick rinse to get the last of the sand out (thinking I will use acetone to avoid rust), and a new sender gasket and it can go back in.

[fast/cheap/right]

Rear window, installed. Fuel tank, installed. Tail and license plate lights, installed. Of course with those 3 steps forward, one step back.

The left tail turn signal wire has an issue somewhere between the firewall and the rear under bed connector. Also the brake lights are very intermittent, so, I may be needing a turn signal switch.

[fast/cheap/right]

So, quite a bit more progress. I've had it around the block a few times and it runs and drives really well, especially considering how badly it needs tires. I haven't gotten past the brake lamp and blinker issues, so I am definitely going to need to bite the bullet and get a new blinker switch. I have a carburetor rebuild kit and brass float that I should probably put to use too. It seems to empty the bowl after about a week of sitting so I'm pretty sure the old Quadrajet has the typical leakage from the lead plugs on the base of the bowl. One funny issue, the guys at the factory in Cali all but missed putting in the driver side hood insulation strip, so that side of the hood likes to flop around...something I will have to fix or it will drive me crazy.

To keep the budget down I took out the saws-all and chopped off the exhaust just behind the firewall, getting all of the most rotten parts out. Installed a pair of 31" Thrush glass packs, 18" extensions, and a couple 45 degree pipes. Sounds wicked and is no longer full of leaks...not bad for about 60 bucks I must say. I picked up a pair of window well liners, two 10' pieces of conduit, and some clamps, and put together a set of fenders for the rear tires. Looks very tow truck/semi like. I stole the wiper arms off my '66 Plymouth Valiant parts car as they were identical in length and fitment, another box ticked off.

I managed to find what was left of the build sheet crumpled up in the back of the seat. Sadly not much of it was left/legible, but I did find out it was originally sold at Roth Chevrolet on Colfax in my town of Lakewood. After nearly 50 years of going from owner to owner all over the state, its now living about 4 miles from where it was originally sold.

A few quick pictures: