Project: Rufus Restoration

[earl84]

I stalked you over here from Captainfab's hydroboost adapter thread. I'm currently working on a '66 C20. No build thread. I have replaced pretty much the entire drive train, along with numerous other things, but the 454 is one of my favorite parts, just doesn't have the vacuum to run a vac booster very well. So working through that with a hydro boost from an '04 Chevy that I will be getting today.
This is a very nice truck, love everything you have done to it, and would love to build one similar to it one day.

[earl84]

I stalked you over here from Captainfab's hydroboost adapter thread. I'm currently working on a '66 C20. No build thread. I have replaced pretty much the entire drive train, along with numerous other things, but the 454 is one of my favorite parts, just doesn't have the vacuum to run a vac booster very well. So working through that with a hydro boost from an '04 Chevy that I will be getting today.
This is a very nice truck, love everything you have done to it, and would love to build one similar to it one day.

[JRANGER]

love that old ford......Once i paint mine we will have to have a photo op lol

[mcbassin]

Anything new on ole Rufus? Or you just driving the tires off....

[shearjs]

Originally Posted by earl84

I stalked you over here from Captainfab's hydroboost adapter thread. I'm currently working on a '66 C20. No build thread. I have replaced pretty much the entire drive train, along with numerous other things, but the 454 is one of my favorite parts, just doesn't have the vacuum to run a vac booster very well. So working through that with a hydro boost from an '04 Chevy that I will be getting today.
This is a very nice truck, love everything you have done to it, and would love to build one similar to it one day.

Sounds like you have a fun project to keep you busy. I ran manual brakes for a while and the hydroboost is night and day difference. It works very well!

Originally Posted by JRANGER

love that old ford......Once i paint mine we will have to have a photo op lol

Thanks buddy. I have some big plans for that ol ford down the road. It's a fun old truck.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Anything new on ole Rufus? Or you just driving the tires off....

Nothing all that new. I had a ground issue that was messing with my engine and gauges that I finally fixed. Also got the leaks taken care. No more puddles! It's a blast to drive right now and the power is ridiculous compared to before. I wish I could drive it alot more often than I do.

[Low Elco]

Good Lord, Rufus is purdy. Love that blue.

[chris909]

Looks Great!!!

[Hart_Rod]

Looks good.

[nlped]

I like 'em

[Bennett68C10]

That looks much better Jason, I like it.

[shearjs]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Looks good.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by nlped

I like 'em

Thanks, it's growing on me too.

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

That looks much better Jason, I like it.

Thanks. Definitely looks better than that truck intake.

[mcbassin]

I really like the three piece cover! Looks great

[Rusbuilt]

Looks way cleaner!!

[shearjs]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

I really like the three piece cover! Looks great

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

Looks way cleaner!!

Thanks guys!

A little update...I've been puzzled by a coolant leak since mid summer. I'd noticed a couple little spots on the floor and thought maybe it was just some residual antifreeze left in the nooks and crannies after the engine upgrades. I had the radiator pressure tested when it was down just to be sure. I also sprayed the radiator support with the water hose to make sure all the coolant was flushed out. I went for a ride last week and noticed more coolant spots on the floor, so I decided to do some research. I talked with Tony at Entropy radiators and came to the conclusion that electrolysis likely destroyed my Griffin. I'd had some ground issues after painting the power steering bracket, which, he said, will contribute to electrolysis on LS swaps. Rather than replacing with another Griffin, I decided to give Entropy a try. He recommended I add a bung for a consumable zinc anode just in case electrolysis is present in the future. He also suggested I only use premix antifreeze, and not to use the concentrate with distilled water. Hopefully this takes care of this pesky leak and gets ol blue back on the road.

[shearjs]

Update.

The new radiator from Entropy showed up. Unfortunately, the fan shroud from the Griffin set up wouldn't fit, so I just put something together with a piece of alum. sheet. It's not perfect, but it's functional. I put about 40 or so miles on her yesterday with no leaks and nice low temps. Success! This ol heap is so much fun to drive.

[rwade]

Was the radiator pretty pricy? What thermostat (temp setting) you running? What upper radiator hose you running with both radiator hoses on passenger side. By the way, I love your "old heap". Be very proud! Looks great

Wade

[shearjs]

Originally Posted by rwade

Was the radiator pretty pricy? What thermostat (temp setting) you running? What upper radiator hose you running with both radiator hoses on passenger side. By the way, I love your "old heap". Be very proud! Looks great

Wade

Thanks Wade. The new radiator was pricey at $550, but I was skeptical about going back with another Griffin, or a Chinese knock off. I really think that the Griffin would have been fine had I not had some electrolysis issues. The thermostat is the stock temp (186 I think). It runs pretty consistent at 200 degrees right now. I used a Gates 21439 on top and a Gates 22437 on the bottom for coolant hoses. Both fit really well and I only needed to trim a couple inches off of each to get the right length. I'm happy with the way it turned out.

[JRANGER]

looking good man

[shearjs]

Originally Posted by JRANGER

looking good man

Thanks buddy. How's that Mustang of your's coming along?

[JRANGER]

Havent progressed. Been working on the ole ford f100 and with no garage not much getting done at all. I need to suck it up and just do work to it lol

[shearjs]

While my old man was in town for Christmas, he helped me fix an issue that has been bugging me for several months now. The body lines on the cab and bed were about 3/8-1/2" out of line, so we made some spacers out of 3/16" plate and shimmed the cab up to match. What a world of difference this made.

[Hart_Rod]

Nice!

[shearjs]

Update: I've been battling what I thought was air in my power steering/hydroboost lines. After multiple bleeds and even vacuum bleeding, I reached out to Hydratech and they pointed me to a forum post with similar symptoms. From what I understand, the truck PS pump was putting out too much volume, causing cavitation of my fluid, thus making it foam and whine. I picked up this new little output fitting for the power steering pump to cut the pump volume output from 3 gal/min to 2 gal/min. So far, the problem seems to be solved. You can definitely see a size difference looking through the two fittings.

[rwade]

I assume that's on the rear of the pump? Was it very expensive? Would you share their contact info?

Thanks, Wade

[shearjs]

Originally Posted by rwade

I assume that's on the rear of the pump? Was it very expensive? Would you share their contact info?

Thanks, Wade

The output fitting is on the back of the pump where the pressure hose mounts to the pump. It's made by Detroit Speed, found here. The forum topic that Hydratech recommended was here. Hope this helps.