What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II

[dflarsen77]

When I bought my truck just recently, the owner said he thinks the carb needs to be rebuilt, the accelerator pump is dead, and if you romp on the gas, it'll stall. Once I knew more about what was going on (replacing the entire fuel system basically), I figured it probably wasn't just the accel pump, but I figured it needed to be replaced anyways, and the carb is pretty old. It's an Edelbrock 1406. Got a kit on eBay from a place called Carb Junkies, good quality kit, came with new floats and an accel pump with a steel rod that supposedly won't be affected by modern gas. Only $43. I've heard these are an easy rebuild, and it really was. Turned this:


into this:



Post cleaning:



Reassembled:

[Possmguts]

Originally Posted by un4gvn!

Check your upper control arms. There was a thread about being on backwards (right side on left, left side on right) recently. The bump stop is towards the rear. It's a common mistake. You aren't the first and you aren't the last. I just happened to notice in the picture. Just looking out for you.

Got that corrected first thing this morning... and then moved on to finishing up the front roll pan and fitting the 69 Camaro front spoiler...

[mud.man.rj]

Roll pan and spoiler go great with the super cool hood, getting nothing but better..

[CST10]

Added power steering to ol Goldilocks.

[CST10]

Topside photo.

Dam photos are sideways for some reason.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by CST10

Topside photo.

Dam photos are sideways for some reason.

Damn!

I had to lay on my back to take a shot of the underside of the P.S. pump...

Damn...!!!!

Hope this helps!

[CST10]

Originally Posted by magwakeenercew2jh

Damn!

I had to lay on my back to take a shot of the underside of the P.S. pump...

Damn...!!!!

Hope this helps!

Thanks. How did you flip em?

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by CST10

Thanks. How did you flip em?

Trusty iMac.

[CST10]

Originally Posted by magwakeenercew2jh

Trusty iMac.

Ahhh,

[71BUCKET]

[Mike_The_Grad]

Very productive 4th. Revealed my torn th350 old style dipstick, leading me to discover I had an extra quart in the trans. After letting it sit over night (while also cleaning up original ground straps,re-sealing my ball and socket header collectors, unclogging trans vent, clean and regap the even numbered spark plugs (drivers side was lastweek.) Checking plug wires for resistance and replace #8 wire. After all said and done, was able to chirp the tires second and third gear without mashing the pedal. That's a first for me. Stock th350 stock 3.07 rearend and .040 over on my 350 sbc with comp cam kit. LWB factory over load leaf springs.

[ohboy321]

I made a major adjustment to my timing and wow what a difference.

The truck is new to me and I have only suspected that the 327 may have a cam in it. I set it to the factory spec of 2* BTDC with less than stellar results.

It has a Holly Street Dominator intake, a Holly street carb, and I just added a Street Fire HEI distributor, but it just didn't have any get up and go. It hesitated a lot on acceleration.

I poked around the web and read that setting it to 14-16* BTDC with an unknown cam would be a good starting point.

The difference is huge, which I think confirms that it does have a cam in it.

We have a major hill in town that I could not go up without down shifting...now I can fly up that hill and accelerate...lots of giddy up now!

I will make some more adjustments over time, but am very glad this engine has come alive.

[72freak]

Today the inter-cooler and condenser were mounted, turbo pipes mounted, emergency brake run, exhaust re hung and managed to get the steering hooked up.

[Mike_The_Grad]

Pictures. 1st. MY Custom/10 LWB w/factory overload rear leafs.
2nd. A little time lapse with some words I found appropriate.(Instagram post.)

[VWNate1]

Originally Posted by Mike_The_Grad

Pictures. 1st. MY Custom/10 LWB w/factory overload rear leafs.
2nd. A little time lapse with some words I found appropriate.(Instagram post.)

It's a sad dog that won't wag it's own tail......

[jpoole]

Got the new valve covers and air cleaner on.

[JG67]

Originally Posted by jpoole

Got the new valve covers and air cleaner on.

That is one nice looking bay...

[hdff]

Changed a fan belt after getting it back from getting motor work. New cam, intake, Holley carb, rolled rockers, torque converter, motor mounts and headers. Very happy with the outcome........

[dflarsen77]

Got the title transferred into my name. I'm always scared when I buy a car from an individual that somehow it's going to come up as a salvaged title or something at the DMV. But I was fine. And if you're in CA, always use the online appointment system. In & out in 10 minutes. Speaking of which, now I want a cheeseburger from In & Out!

[66clow]

Originally Posted by dflarsen77

Got the title transferred into my name. I'm always scared when I buy a car from an individual that somehow it's going to come up as a salvaged title or something at the DMV. But I was fine. And if you're in CA, always use the online appointment system. In & out in 10 minutes. Speaking of which, now I want a cheeseburger from In & Out!

Just went thru this same thing in LA. Your always afraid until you get that tag in your hands. I bought a truck from a guy in Phoenix with a truck last titled in Utah by someone else. He never transferred the title so no telling what could have come up. It all worked out and an in and out burger sounds good to me as well. Most folks on here have no idea what we are talking about.: )

[colgad]

Originally Posted by 66clow

Just went thru this same thing in LA. Your always afraid until you get that tag in your hands. I bought a truck from a guy in Phoenix with a truck last titled in Utah by someone else. He never transferred the title so no telling what could have come up. It all worked out and an in and out burger sounds good to me as well. Most folks on here have no idea what we are talking about.: )

Oh, I think we all have that fear. I makes my hands sweat every time I walk in the door of the DMV knowing that something will be wrong with the title. The last Blazer I went to buy the guy had not transferred the title and had been driving it for two years by swapping his Camaro plate on it when he drove it. Because of my fear of the DMV I told him I would buy the Blazer only if he would title it in his name first. He did and all went well and it did easy my fear a little at the DMV

[snipescastle2]

I got my alignment done finally, after several minor setbacks. Drives real nice, although I may have to cut down my rear bump stops so it doesn't bottom out on big bumps. The rear shocks are for lowered trucks, I installed the shock relocation brackets I got the plans from off the forum here, that and I made some custom brackets out of the lower shock attachment plates (stock ones) by welding a piece of 2" x 2" bar stock on the bottom of the stock brackets and drilled them for longer stainless steel bolts to attach the shocks. I feel that I may still have to do the C notch, but we'll take it step by step and see what works best.maybe even different shocks my help.

The other issue I was having was my alternator, I had rebuilt it with all new bearings, brushes, rectifier bridge and voltage regulator and Diode trio.
I thought I had everything exactly as it came apart, turns out, there are two insulated, and one non-insulated screws that attach the brush holder and voltage
Regulator to the case, well, I had the un insulated screw at the point where the Diode trio attaches to the brush holder (screw hole closest to the center bearing)
And it should have been the insulated screw, so I had a direct short to ground there. My uncle, who remanufactured alternators and starters for decades, caught that immediately. He has all the test and diagnostic equipment at his shop, so I took it to him to diagnose. He saved me $70 on buying a new alternator, (a case of cold beer does wonders for persuasion)
So, got it installed last night and it's working great, ammeter works as it should!!!
Have a great weekend!!!!
Ben

[Stocker]

Went to move the truck into the carport to install the new 3-point belts..... no start. Cranks good and fires up momentarily with starting fluid, then dies. I recently replaced the fuel filter so that should be good. Maybe a bad fuel pump, it's many years old. Didn't really want to work on this in the gravel at the edge of the street but it looks like that's my only option. Will break out the vacuum/pressure gauge tomorrow and see what we have.

[dflarsen77]

Do you ever go out to start poking around on your truck, because for instance you know there's something fishy, and you do sort of a fact finding mission? And your fact finding mission makes your heart drop a little bit? Had one of those today, but I'm excited because I have the wacky wiring basically figured out.

I found this:

I had noted it before, but after realizing a couple things, I figure the truck has probably been hit in the front. The wiring harness that runs from the driver to passenger side at the radiator support is completely replaced with just white wire for each one. The driver side engine mount only has 1 bolt on the top, 2nd one isn't there. The bumper is a 73+. And then that beautiful obvious crack/wrinkle around the hole to the rear of the passenger side engine mount. But at least I know. When I get the body off the frame (someday!) to refinish, I can get the dimensions straightened. I mean, it seems fine, so it's probably totally good, right?

But the wiring in general is a rat's nest. The best thing I found today though was this:


It's a little toggle under the column. First note, this truck was converted to HEI. So after tracing the wires, this toggle is connected like such. The white braided resistor wire from the harness (that lowers voltage for the old points distributor) runs to a splice, where one end goes to THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP (!) and the other end to the toggle switch. Then the other end of the toggle comes back into the engine compartment and runs to THE DISTRIBUTOR AND THE CHOKE! There was a great deal of laughter after the small amount of cursing. PO shenanigans, they're the best! I figure it's a low tech anti-theft device. But definitely getting replaced.

[Caddylackn]

Yabba dabba do. Barney can now power the truck. Next weekend the driver side and Fred gets to help power also.