What did you do with your truck today, Part 3

[idbeast]

Originally Posted by Dyslexic Dog

Nice lines. The gaps look great.

Thanks Dyslexic Dog!!!

[DransportGarage]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

Changed my rear tires from 225/70-15 to 255/60-15. Subtle but major improvement in the overall look.

When I built the truck I couldn't afford larger rear tires so I bought a smaller set. Well, they always bothered me because they were too narrow. Today I found a set of used tires on Craigslist that were the right size. Yes, they're pretty worn (seller said they had a couple of burnouts left in them - yikes!) but they'll last awhile until I can locate better.

First pic, old rear tires - note how they appear to roll under because they're not wide enough for the 8" wheel. Second pic, new rear tires are almost 2" wider, much better for the big bulbous panel truck rear end - plus they lowered my rear end another 1/4 inch - win, win!

Lookin' GOOD !!!

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by Dyslexic Dog

Nice lines. The gaps look great.

X2 on the gaps. First thing I noticed.

[Russell Ashley]

Can't say that I did it, but I had an automatic transmission installed in my truck. It's a 350 out of a truck that was recently rebuilt. It's not the 700R4 but the price was right and it's known to be good by the shop that installed it. They were doing an LS/4LXX upgrade on a friends truck and I bought his 350. I have a 3:08 rear so I don't think the lack of OD will make much difference since my truck doesn't get driven often. They only had the truck for one week. If it ever stops raining I want to go looking for a tilt column. It seems like a different truck and it's quieter now that the worn out original transmission is gone.

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

Can't say that I did it, but I had an automatic transmission installed in my truck. It's a 350 out of a truck that was recently rebuilt. It's not the 700R4 but the price was right and it's known to be good by the shop that installed it. They were doing an LS/4LXX upgrade on a friends truck and I bought his 350. I have a 3:08 rear so I don't think the lack of OD will make much difference since my truck doesn't get driven often.

Ditto for me. I had a 700R4 all ready to install, then discovered my rear end ratio was 2:73. OD trans are the current rage, but that is just a bad combination.
I went with a Turbo 350; no, I won't win any stoplight drags but I haven't missed adding a lockup kit or adjusting a TV cable at all.

PS: I live in a mountainous area and haven't missed the constant up-and-down shifting on hills either.

[MiraclePieCo]

Had a horrible shock today: I reached under my exhaust manifold to check for leakage from the threaded plug I'd had so much trouble with and my finger came back wet!!!! I went into shock. A taste test however determined that the moisture was not coolant but was actually oil seeping down from my valve covers. My new intake manifold is thicker and the valve covers are bottoming out on it, preventing full seating. I ordered some thick gaskets to give the valve covers more clearance. Whew...

[idbeast]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

X2 on the gaps. First thing I noticed.

Thanks Russell Ashley, getting it all one color really helped show it off!

Jim W

[idbeast]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

Had a horrible shock today: I reached under my exhaust manifold to check for leakage from the threaded plug I'd had so much trouble with and my finger came back wet!!!! I went into shock. A taste test however determined that the moisture was not coolant but was actually oil seeping down from my valve covers. My new intake manifold is thicker and the valve covers are bottoming out on it, preventing full seating. I ordered some thick gaskets to give the valve covers more clearance. Whew...

Glad to hear it wasn't coolant!

[MARTINSR]

I am putting my five minutes in! Last night I got a few parts sand blasted, ready for primer.

Brian

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

Had a horrible shock today: I reached under my exhaust manifold to check for leakage from the threaded plug I'd had so much trouble with and my finger came back wet!!!! I went into shock. A taste test however determined that the moisture was not coolant but was actually oil seeping down from my valve covers. My new intake manifold is thicker and the valve covers are bottoming out on it, preventing full seating. I ordered some thick gaskets to give the valve covers more clearance. Whew...

That's an interesting way to test the moisture, LOL, but glad it wasn't water.

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

That's an interesting way to test the moisture, LOL, but glad it wasn't water.

Doesn't everyone do it that way? ;-)

MARTINSR should get an award, maybe a permanent lifetime Premium membership, for his "5-minutes a day" philosophy. Today I used my 5 minute quota to install my glovebox door, which gives the dash a more finished appearance. IOW 4 screws = big difference! Unfortunately realized that I'd forgotten to paint the inside of the door, but that can be done, oh say 5 years from now.


I love puttering. I'm finished with the build portion of my truck, now just doing small stuff. It's great to get the to-do list down to a single page:

[svr]

Back on the ground again, brakes blead, coolant in, a few gallons of gas in the tank, pore a bit in the carbs and hit the switch. Fired right up. 1 carb had the float stuck open, several gas leaks. I made the fuel lines out of 5/16 premade lines from napa. A couple factory flares dont want to seal. Remade one and it sealed right up, other one i tightened very tight and maybe it sealed. Chased a leak on the temp sender, wasnt all the way tight, same on the manifold heat water line and the oil filter line. Gas guage has an issue, reads full all the time, thought i had the sorted out, guess not, thats tomorrows 5 min. If it wasnt for the foot of snow out side my shop i could take a short ride

[evilokc]

Originally Posted by svr

Back on the ground again, brakes blead, coolant in, a few gallons of gas in the tank, pore a bit in the carbs and hit the switch. Fired right up. 1 carb had the float stuck open, several gas leaks. I made the fuel lines out of 5/16 premade lines from napa. A couple factory flares dont want to seal. Remade one and it sealed right up, other one i tightened very tight and maybe it sealed. Chased a leak on the temp sender, wasnt all the way tight, same on the manifold heat water line and the oil filter line. Gas guage has an issue, reads full all the time, thought i had the sorted out, guess not, thats tomorrows 5 min. If it wasnt for the foot of snow out side my shop i could take a short ride

congrats on the first fire dude. that's awesome. "one of the carbs"? you have a duel set up?

[evilokc]

today I finally got my hood installed. my 20 minute hood install went bad on me when I tried to shut the hood and it didn't latch. spent 45 minutes trying to figure out why. it dawned on me that the latch plate I was using was from my parts truck and I had never used it. I removed the actual latch off of my original plate and installed it onto the nicer plate. the hood needs adjustment but it shuts and latches. once that was done I took the death rattle out for a couple of hours. such a fun time

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by evilokc

today I finally got my hood installed. my 20 minute hood install went bad on me when I tried to shut the hood and it didn't latch. spent 45 minutes trying to figure out why. it dawned on me that the latch plate I was using was from my parts truck and I had never used it. I removed the actual latch off of my original plate and installed it onto the nicer plate. the hood needs adjustment but it shuts and latches. once that was done I took the death rattle out for a couple of hours. such a fun time

And you want to adjust that hood without the latch installed, then once it's aligned properly then install the latch.

I didn't "work" on my truck today, but spent a bunch of time hauling the front axle to the post office, to find out that it's $100 to ship and my brother stopped me before I did it with a phone call to tell me he ship it for me with his UPS account for about half that. I rather spend that $50 ON the truck than throw it away so I brought the box back home. I then ordered a bunch of stuff on line for the suspension. So I will be ready real soon to get the frame powder coated.

Brian

[svr]

Originally Posted by evilokc

congrats on the first fire dude. that's awesome. "one of the carbs"? you have a duel set up?

Yes 2 little 2 barrels

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by svr

Yes 2 little 2 barrels

Gorgeous engine. Congrats on the first fire. Ditto on the winter weather slowing the progress.

Remind me what heater are you using? I like where the hoses enter the firewall.

[Dyslexic Dog]

Ditto on the five minute rule. Used that on a boat I rebuilt five years ago. I'm taking a break from the snow for a couple of weeks but when I get back my tires will be mounted on new rims and my rear leaf supports will be ready to install. After that the rolling chassis will be removed and full speed ahead on the cab body work.

[svr]

Remind me what heater are you using? I like where the hoses enter the firewall.

It just the stock deluxe heater, original holes.

[idbeast]

SVR congrats on the first fire!

Jim W

[idbeast]

My 5 minutes was getting the hood primered!

[evilokc]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

And you want to adjust that hood without the latch installed, then once it's aligned properly then install the latch.

I didn't "work" on my truck today, but spent a bunch of time hauling the front axle to the post office, to find out that it's $100 to ship and my brother stopped me before I did it with a phone call to tell me he ship it for me with his UPS account for about half that. I rather spend that $50 ON the truck than throw it away so I brought the box back home. I then ordered a bunch of stuff on line for the suspension. So I will be ready real soon to get the frame powder coated.

Brian

I put it on with the latch removed. just couldn't get the latch to work. the latch was the issue. its latched i just want to go back at some point and get the gaps perfect.

[evilokc]

Originally Posted by svr

Yes 2 little 2 barrels

dude that's cool. is it a 235?

[evilokc]

put 20 or 30 miles on it today. noticed when i was accelerating from a light with some spirit that there was a tiny puff of smoke. there was also a little when i cold started. i backed my mixture off by 1/8 turn. drove a test lap. much improved. might even accelerate a little better. time will tell.

[svr]

Originally Posted by evilokc

dude that's cool. is it a 235?

Yes sir, fenton exhaust and intake, nothing that i know of done inside