1986 Chevy C10 SWB Step Side

[aotte1]

Photos of flare tool used.

[aotte1]

More progress on the truck tonight, finished the fuel line from fuel pump to carb and installation of oil pressure sending unit. The adapter used to raise the oil sending unit, was from a different chevy engine, photo of it along with engine progress. Also started cleaning up the engine wire harness. A lot of the wires are no longer needed, including the computer under the dash. Using the 1986 Chevy Truck Wiring Diagrams manual to confirm which are not needed. The photos show the initial sorting of keepers and ones to be removed/released.

The first photos also shows the coil mounting bracket used. It connects to an intake manifold bolt. It keeps the coil mounted to the engine.

[aotte1]

The MSD 6AL box will be mounted in the cab under the dash, by the right end of heater distribution box. The original computer will be removed and its firewall grommet used to connect wiring to MSD box. More photos of it to be provided. The engine wiring harness changes are being made to clean up firewall appearance.
Les

[aotte1]

The MSD box mounted under the dash, at the end of the heater.

Les

[aotte1]

Back working on finalizing, the mounting of the bed to the frame. The predrilled bed board holes for the frame bolts, needed to be enlarged to accept the metal spacers used to securely attach the bed, via the frame, spacer, washer that is recessed into the bed board, and finally the bolt that holds all this together.

Les

[aotte1]

One more bed photo, showing that one of the bolts is longer and mounts to the bottom of the frame. The photo show which bolt is longer.

Les

[aotte1]

Using the wiring diagram manual to identify several (most) wires that are no longer needed in the engine compartment.

Les

[aotte1]

Two closer photos of the coil bracket being used to clean up the engine a little. It is a GM bracket from a 1960s SBC. It attaches to an intake manifold bolt. I used the last bolt one on the right side..

You can also see the grommet on the fire wall behind the coil where the original wiring was removed and replaced with wires from the MSD box.

The original 1986, V6 computer was removed that controlled/adjusted the engine timing.

Les

[aotte1]

The right side of the engine wiring has been cleaned up from the original. Will try to post photo of what it started out as next. The left side is next.

[aotte1]

Here is where it all started, their is a valve cover under their somewhere

[foamypirate]

What a transformation! Looks great, keep up the good work.

[rcsbls2]

Like the looks of truck!! Red paint looks great!!
Question about paint work. You showed where steps were seam sealed to fenders. Then fenders painted separately off of box. When fenders installed were they seam sealed? Also appears that bolts for fenders are body color, How did the install of those work out after inside of box painted? Thinking possible to use nylon washer to prevent gouging up paint on inside of box side? I'm planning the paint work on '76 stepper and want to figure out best plan. I believe fenders were seam sealed at factory, installed, then painted. The top of my fenders aren't completely painted but looked good when all assembled. Also have to figure out tail light brackets, they were installed before painting.

Thank you for any help you could shed on this.

[aotte1]

RCS.......

The fenders were painted and then attached to the bed. The fender attaching bolts you see in the bed were painted uninstall. Used a sheet of Alu. with holes drilled and taped bolt thread size to hold them for painting.

The washer may be a good idea, would test fit bed/fender with them to see how it works. Redueing a stepper is a lot of work, however, it is worth it in the end.

Did not use seam sealer between bed and fenders. Would test fit fenders to bed before painting, to make any adjustments needed.

Hope the helps, the write-up earlier in this thread by Jeff really helped me see all the steps needed to prep for painting.

Les

[aotte1]

Finished up the rewiring of engine compartment, a few photos finish look.

[aotte1]

Finished the carb set-up:
throttle linkage connected, adjusted the linkage for full open, and checked the air cleaner base for carb clearance.



Also, photo showing part number for the bracket used to connect throttle cable to carb.

Les

[aotte1]

Carb bracket.

[Low Elco]

looks great!

[jpnh]

I agree

[Katrina/10]

The engine is a fantastic improvement in appearance!

[aotte1]

Thanks to everybody for the encouragement, it got me over the top today. Started the engine and every thing went well, ran it till the temperature got up to operating condition, and turned it off. Cooled it down and no leaks. It idled really nice. It was really nice to hear it run again.

Notes: with these headers the no. 5 plug wire is hard to keep away from them.
Need a new fan shroud with the BeCool radiator, the 350 one does not work. Will post more notes later.

Hope to get exhaust installed soon. Trying to beat snow and salty roads.

Les

[jpnh]

Wow,looks so clean, nice to hear you got it running

[aotte1]

Jeff,
Thanks, The "clean and kind of origional" is the look I am going for. My exhaust person is booked till January, so will have some time to work on other stuff.
It started right up and idled good. Being Sunday when I started it, did not get into it at all. Just a fast idle to keep cam lubricated. Sounds like you are doing really well with your too.

Les

[aotte1]

Looking for this core support to top radiator bracket. Anybody have two of them?

[aotte1]

A quick update on truck progress. Today the new exhaust system was finished along with the install of posi and 3.73 rear gears. The exhaust is 2.5 inches with oversize turbo mufflers. Mellow sound, not to loud, just a little cam rumble at idle. Will try to post sound of engine if possible.

The LY6 transmission speedometer fluid leak was also fixed with two new O-rings from local transmission repair facility. Removed/pulled out the speedo unit from trans, took to trans shop and they replaced the two O-rings, one small and one large. No more leaking now.

The Quick Fuel carb expert Scott, adjusted the idle mixture a little too, now that engine can idle and be checked. Origionally carb was adjusted on dyno, where idling was to rough for dyno. Not sure may need to adjust low rpm timing of MSD system. Will check it out more once truck is back home. It has a little skip coming off throttle to idle speed.

Sure hate this cold weather and new engine starting. So far have not had to do any near zero starts outside. Get it really warmed up before transporting to shops for work and it is still warm for unloading from trailer, and right into warm shop.

Les

[BamaDave]

What does the original computer do?