My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble

[Greenlee]

Congrats on the new engine! I agree that it's too nice a truck for an old wore out motor.

I hope you have a heater in your shop so you can go out there today and get her tuned! I just went out to add some water to our pool and the line was frozen. I wasn't expecting it to get this cold.

[rgunlock]

Thanks for the pointers Brett! No heater in the shop Greenlee. It was 21 degrees when I got up this morning - I wasn't expecting it to be that cold either! I'm hoping to get back to it this weekend, but the wife's 2002 Tahoe won't crank with a brand new battery so have to figure that one out first. Working on that out in the driveway - just have to bundle up!

[Bomp]

There are tons of great how vids on Youtube.
Will have to check it out.

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by boynton

We want a video when it is running!

I'll obviously never make a living as a film director, but here it is!

https://youtu.be/hSFIUS7NR2o

Originally Posted by Bomp

There are tons of great how vids on Youtube.
Will have to check it out.

Yep, been watching a bunch of them and will likely watch a bunch more. Carb is tuned in reasonably close, but I still need to figure out how to really dial it in.

Aside from adjusting the choke to force it to stay open (I don't have the choke stove stuff to hook up the hot air choke), I think the carb shop just put all the adjustment screws in far enough to catch a few threads. Idle and mixture screws all needed to go in at least a dozen turns to get close. Then some back and forth fiddling between carb and timing got it running pretty well.

I LOVE the sound of this exhaust, and so stoked to know I'm just a few steps from being able to drive this thing

[7dee2]

Oh yeah, sahweet! You are da man!

[swamp rat]

I think it sounds great too! Your on your way to be driving it real soon!

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Oh yeah, sahweet! You are da man!

Originally Posted by swamp rat

I think it sounds great too! Your on your way to be driving it real soon!

Thanks! I actually completed another major (to me) milestone on the truck this weekend. I think that I am finally, finally done sanding on this truck. Over the last few weeks I've sanded off my 1st attempt at touch up paint which didn't work out and redone the touchups using a different method. Came out better the second time but had to sand the clear to blend. Finally got that done. Just need to buff the front fenders and hood and I should be able to get the exterior done. My goal is to finish that over the next 2 weeks.

[mjensen]

How sweet! Listening to that baby run makes me want to get out and get working on mine! I will be working on some small items today, so hopefully by the end of the month I can attempt to fire.

[boynton]

Looking great. Truck sounds good!

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by mjensen

How sweet! Listening to that baby run makes me want to get out and get working on mine! I will be working on some small items today, so hopefully by the end of the month I can attempt to fire.

Glad this is helping to motivate you Mike. Good to see progress updates on your build. You'll be firing up in no time.

Originally Posted by boynton

Looking great. Truck sounds good!

Thanks!

I've finally finished the cut & buff on the front fenders and hood after having done it once. I had touchups to do on the fenders and repainted the hood. Any case, the front end is finally going back together.

I'm not sure what this grille is from. It might be an old aftermarket one. Not crazy about it but haven't found one I like better for a price I can swallow. I'd have mounted the hood but my help (2 of my grown kids) didn't show up until right at dinner time - impeccable timing as usual

[y5mgisi]

You know you need to be proud of yourself right? You have done an amazing job on this truck!

[boynton]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

You know you need to be proud of yourself right? You have done an amazing job on this truck!

I second this...Rick has done an amazing job. It almost looks like driving time!

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

You know you need to be proud of yourself right? You have done an amazing job on this truck!

Originally Posted by boynton

I second this...Rick has done an amazing job. It almost looks like driving time!

Thank you so much guys! I am rather pleased. Only 3 things keeping me from driving this now.
1) Still haven't bled the brakes, but I have bench bled the master
2) Haven't figured out why it won't start from the key - have to use the remote start switch
3) Have to find a suitable bucket to sit on until I get the bench in

[7dee2]

Congrats on the DONE stamp for paint, looks great Rick!

[y5mgisi]

Neutral safety switch wired right?

[MTCK]

That looks amazing!!!

[7dee2]

Looks great Rick! What a game, jeez louweez!

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by MTCK

That looks amazing!!!

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Looks great Rick! What a game, jeez louweez!

Thanks! It's beginning to feel like its all been worth the effort

[boynton]

Fantastic

[swamp rat]

More than worth the effort, its beautiful!

[Greenlee]

The truck looks awesome!

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by boynton

Fantastic

Originally Posted by swamp rat

More than worth the effort, its beautiful!

Originally Posted by Greenlee

The truck looks awesome!

Thank you! Truck made it out of the shop, down the street, around the cul-de-saq and back on its own power this weekend. Twice actually. Pulling back into the drive when I spot my wife standing there glaring at me - how dare I make the maiden voyage without taking her along? So she climbs in the passenger side, takes a seat on the floor since I didn't have a second concrete block in there for a passenger and up and down the street we go

So the truck did ok. Doesn't want to stay running on its own until it gets fully warmed up. Couldn't get it to shift into 1st. Guess my stick rebuild needs a little tweeking. Brakes worked fine, but I didn't try any hard stops or from any real speed. Steering feels odd, no resistance at all to help hold the wheel centered, but that may just be something I have to get used to again. Also the front end is just eye-ball aligned for now. Clutch pedal feels like it has about 1 foot of travel - need to figure out whether adjustment is needed. But she runs and drives!!!

[7dee2]

Very Kool!

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Thank you! Truck made it out of the shop, down the street, around the cul-de-saq and back on its own power this weekend. Twice actually. Pulling back into the drive when I spot my wife standing there glaring at me - how dare I make the maiden voyage without taking her along? So she climbs in the passenger side, takes a seat on the floor since I didn't have a second concrete block in there for a passenger and up and down the street we go

So the truck did ok. Doesn't want to stay running on its own until it gets fully warmed up. Couldn't get it to shift into 1st. Guess my stick rebuild needs a little tweeking. Brakes worked fine, but I didn't try any hard stops or from any real speed. Steering feels odd, no resistance at all to help hold the wheel centered, but that may just be something I have to get used to again. Also the front end is just eye-ball aligned for now. Clutch pedal feels like it has about 1 foot of travel - need to figure out whether adjustment is needed. But she runs and drives!!!

Congrats! Congrats! Congrats! Rick. Huge milestone. I got the same response from my little lady. I had to do the, "backing out of the garage," ritual a second time so she could take video and start posting stuff all over god knows where... of it's unveiling. Just as I had to chase down several gremlins, it seems to come with the territory. No way in hell to remember every adjustment, every bolt to tighten, etc., etc.

Enjoy....sounds like she's almost road worthy.
Chris

[MTCK]

Congrats that is too cool! All the quirks sound exactly like my 77 K10 with a SM465 pre fuel injection. Post fuel injection it all stayed the same except you can get in it and go on a cold start hahaha.