Restoring Rusty

[Gregski]

Frustrating day today, the wife is out of town, so you think I would have time to work on the truck, but I gotta take one kid somewherez at 12:00 another at 2:30 then pick up the first at 4:00 and the next at 6:30, I kid you not

sometimes I think to myself, you know what all I wanna do is wrench on my truck, just be left alone, I say to myself, LOOK, I AIN'T BOTHERING NOBODY why can't I just be able to do this

You ever feel like that?

[Front Range]

Originally Posted by Gregski

You ever feel like that?

Your ability to cope without frustration will get better as you get older and the challenges get harder.

When you get a call at 2am to bail them out of jail, when they move home for a few months in their 20's or 30's, when they go through a divorce and your Grandchild is in the middle, or anytime they do something unwise that you end up fixing - you'll remember fondly the days when running a taxi service was the only requirement.

[D13]

Originally Posted by Gregski

Frustrating day today, the wife is out of town, so you think I would have time to work on the truck, but I gotta take one kid somewherez at 12:00 another at 2:30 then pick up the first at 4:00 and the next at 6:30, I kid you not

sometimes I think to myself, you know what all I wanna do is wrench on my truck, just be left alone, I say to myself, LOOK, I AIN'T BOTHERING NOBODY why can't I just be able to do this

You ever feel like that?

Many times over the past 35 years. At one point I sold all my projects from high school, college, and first 10 years of work time frame since I simply was never going to get to them.
But, my kids and wife know that I will ALWAYS be there to support them (note: not DO for them, support them as THEY do). As I watch them fly, it was worth 20 years of fitting my hobby in the little spots between. Frustrating, yes, I've been working on a simple tractor redo for almost 20 years, as other things rise up above it in priority. But prioritizing family before all else was part of saying 'I Do' and all that has followed. Trucks will always be important but "all true wealth is biological".

[Gregski]

somehow I decided to press on

got the passenger side motor mount off, had to excavate the bolt heads to even be able to get the socket on them, they had that much farm crust on them

[Gregski]

on to the other side, the driver motor mount

observation, the passenger side has the nut welded on to it, the driver side do not

[Gregski]

spuned her upside down for a looksie

pics sorta blurry, apologies

man I can't wait to get that fugly orange off of her

[Gregski]

these are the numbers off the stock cam 2944 and GM12 and K80 (not sure about the last one)

I can't find any info for that type of cam anywheres except some dude claiming it was a performance cam on eBay that he sold of $18 bucks, LOL

[Brent7654]

Haven't kept up with the forum in a while but junk the stock cam for a slightly More modern version.
What's your plan for the motor?
If you stay flat tappet, on a budget go with a summit tight lobe seperation cam, they are the older but more modern than your stock cam.
JMO,
Brent

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Brent7654

Haven't kept up with the forum in a while but junk the stock cam for a slightly More modern version.
What's your plan for the motor?
If you stay flat tappet, on a budget go with a summit tight lobe seperation cam, they are the older but more modern than your stock cam.
JMO,
Brent

I know this thread is huge but in post # 2743 I list the 350 HO Engine Specifications (19210007) I plan to follow

[rich weyand]

Comp Cams 12-235-2 or 12-231-2.

[Gregski]

I know doing a job like this is a massive undertaking so today since I couldn't work on the truck I made a list of most of the things need doing, before I even start the re assembly process, I share this with you for two reasons, 1. to acknowledge just how much stuff goes into this type of job, and 2. to keep me honest and ensure I get it done

0. make this list
1. clean engine block
2. clean new used vortec cylinder heads (pics coming soon)
3. clean new used vortec intake manifold (pics coming soon)
4. clean K member
5. clean new used radiator support
6. clean motor mounts
7. clean water pump pulley
8. clean crank pulley
9. clean harmonic ballancer
10. clean new used vortec valve covers (pics coming soon)
11. clean timing cover
12. clean oil pan (again)
13. clean new used trans cover (pics coming soon)
14. clean new used trans cross member (pics coming soon)
15. clean new used overdrive transmission (pics coming soon)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
16. paint engine block
17. paint new used cylinder heads
18. paint timing cover
19. paint new mid mount alternator bracket (pics coming soon)
20. paint water pump pulley
21. paint crank pulley
22. paint fan
23. paint harmonic ballancer
24. paint motor mounts
25. paint K member
26. paint new used trans cross member
27. paint new used trans cover
28. paint new used radiator support
29. paint lower grille panel
30. paint chrome trim on grille black

man I wish this forum had strike through text so that as I complete these tasks I could cross them out, know what I mean

[Gregski]

MY BUDGET TOP END UPGRADE COST
---This Page Will Be Updated Over Time---

____________PART________________PART #___________MAKE_______________________COMMENT __________________PRICE

Vortec Cylinder Heads - - - - - - - - - - - - 12558062 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - Used from 99 Suburban - - - - - - - - - - $88

Vortec Dual Plane Intake Manifold * - - - - 12366573 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - Used eBay - - - - - - - - - - - $127 => $167 with shipping

Center Bolt Valve Covers ** - - - - - - - - 12355350 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - Used from 99 Suburban - - - - - - - - - - $21

Hydraulic Flat Tappet Camshaft - - - - - - 24502476 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - - New JEGS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $109

24 Hydraulic Lifters (8 extra) - - - - - - - - 5232720 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - - NOS eBay - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $95

20 Pushrods (4 extra) - - - - - - - - - - - - 14095256 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - - NOS eBay - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $147

Crankshaft Gear - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10128346 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - GM Parts Direct - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $31

Camshaft Gear - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 340235 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - GM Parts Direct - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $46

Timing Chain - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14087014 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - GM Parts Direct - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $44

Timing Cover Gasket- - - - - - - - - - - - - 10108435 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - GM Parts Direct - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $3

Valve Seals - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10212810 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - - - - eBay - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $13

Valve Cover Gaskets - - - - - - - - - - - - 10046089 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - - - - eBay - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $26

Head Gaskets - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10105117 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - - - - JEGS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $38

Intake Manifold Gaskets - - - - - - - - - - - 1255 - - - - - - - - - - - - Fel-Pro - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - JEGS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $23

Water Pump Gaskets - - - -- - - - - - - - - - 5152 - - - - - - - - - - - - Fel-Pro - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - AutoZone- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $3

Thermostat Gasket - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - 35062 - - - - - - - - - - - Fel-Pro - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - AutoZone- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $2

========================================================================= TOTAL $857



* new Intake Manifold is required because the Vortec cylinder heads have a different valley angle

** new Valve Covers are required because the Vortec cylinder heads use center mounted valve covers

in some instances Extra parts were bought because that's how the lots came from eBay, so I was forced to overbuy

NOS stands for New Old Stock

Timing Set had to be purchased as individual components since a kit did not exist

[deejaaa1]

Originally Posted by Gregski

.....I'm thinking of painting it green, the color of the car instead of black, what do you all think?

sorry, i'm ol' (51 yo)school. keep it black.

Originally Posted by Gregski

I was hoping to put in 2 hours tonight, but ended up putting in 4, so needless to say it was soon Beer:30

~ that's all for today folks

finally, a real beer! none of that 'lite' stuff for me.
now i see why you called it "rusty".
cool build and i like your humor. it goes a LONG way now a days.

[Titomars]

Originally Posted by Gregski

MY BUDGET TOP END UPGRADE COST
---This Page Will Be Updated Over Time---

____________PART________________PART #___________MAKE_______________________COMMENT __________________PRICE

Vortec Cylinder Heads - - - - - - - - - - - - 12558062 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - Used from 99 Suburban - - - - - - - - - - $88

Vortec Dual Plane Intake Manifold * - - - - 12366573 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - Used eBay - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $127

Center Bolt Valve Covers ** - - - - - - - - 12355350 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - Used from 99 Suburban - - - - - - - - - - $21

Hydraulic Flat Tappet Camshaft - - - - - - 24502476 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - - New JEGS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $109

24 Hydraulic Lifters (8 extra) - - - - - - - - 5232720 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - - NOS eBay - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $95

20 Pushrods (4 extra) - - - - - - - - - - - - 14095256 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - - NOS eBay - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $147

Crankshaft Gear - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10128346 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - GM Parts Direct - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $31

Camshaft Gear - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 340235 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - GM Parts Direct - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $46

Timing Chain - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14087014 - - - - - - Chevrolet Performance - - - - - - - - - - GM Parts Direct - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $44

========================================================================= TOTAL $708



* new Intake Manifold is required because the Vortec cylinder heads have a different valley angle

** new Valve Covers are required because the Vortec cylinder heads use center mounted valve covers

in some instances Extra parts were bought because that's how the lots came from eBay, so I was forced to overbuy

NOS stands for New Old Stock

Timing Set had to be purchased as individual components since a kit did not exist

Hah!!
Just one of my heads cost 2 times what your entire list totals.
If I posted my shopping list it would probably scare you.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Titomars

Hah!!
Just one of my heads cost 2 times what your entire list totals.
If I posted my shopping list it would probably scare you.

but don't you got one of them BBC, Big Beautiful Chevrolet? lol

[Titomars]

Originally Posted by Gregski

but don't you got one of them BBC, Big Beautiful Chevrolet? lol

yup, a huge heavy gas guzzling 454.................. and loving every second I drive it.

[68post]

Greg , the engine looks to be fairly dirty inside , not sure it could just have 35 thou - unless it only had 3 oil changes. May want to replace crank seals too and are you going to replace the oil pump ? They're cheap ! (with all that oil - you'd think they wouldn't wear - huh .. ?)

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by 68post

Greg , the engine looks to be fairly dirty inside , not sure it could just have 35 thou - unless it only had 3 oil changes. May want to replace crank seals too and are you going to replace the oil pump ? They're cheap ! (with all that oil - you'd think they wouldn't wear - huh .. ?)

Hi Tim

The oil pump and pickup screen is brand new, I replaced it a few months ago when I did the rear main seal and the oil pan gasket.

[68post]

Originally Posted by Gregski

Hi Tim

The oil pump and pickup screen is brand new, I replaced it a few months ago when I did the rear main seal and the oil pan gasket.

That's swell !! Your engine loves you

[Gregski]

Man I can't find squat on my own thread, lol time to create a Cheat Sheet

THREAD - TASK

16 - Carb Rebuild

334 - Intake Manifold

1110 - Tailgate

1190 - Hood

1447 - Power Steering

1561 - Radio

1745 - Gauge Cluster

1871 - Bed

[Gregski]

we finally got a break in the weather and the sun came out, so I decided to take the engine for a walk

I don't get how in our fourth year of a drought here in Norther California it has been raining and I mean poring for the last seven days, (things that make you go hmmmm)

[Gregski]

doctor, the patient is prepped and ready for surgery

[Gregski]

then it was time to [ahem] MAKE THIS ENGINE GREAT AGAIN !!!

[enaberif]

Do yourself a favor and do NOT break that lower dipstick tube and do not misplace it lol. Be lucky you still have it.

[Gregski]

somehow I am always happier behind a wheel, even if it is a 4 inch on an angle grinder, ha ha

I don't know about you, but I can find plenty of things to cut my hands on under the hood, so I decided the engine block wasn't gonna be one of them

time to smooth out that casting crust