Knomadd '71 SWB C-10

[knomadd]

Installed the Lokar billet throttle and brake pedals today. I really like how it turned out. What do you think?

[mooseknuckles]

Awesome!

[slowcpe]

Looks good

[C10_ustacould]

I really like those pedals, I have very first one in my '68 stepper. Did the test fit for them. The folks at Lokar were awesome to work with, and the products are top notch.

[swamp rat]

Yep they look nice!

[RRR18]

How's that new air management comin Duane?

[knomadd]

Unfortunately it isn't, Ryan. It's been raining so much here (and the truck's outside) that I haven't been able to start the install yet. I have been driving it though. Hopefully it will dry up in the coming weeks so I'll get to start on it soon.

[TexasLS1]

Originally Posted by knomadd

Unfortunately it isn't, Ryan. It's been raining so much here (and the truck's outside) that I haven't been able to start the install yet. I have been driving it though. Hopefully it will dry up in the coming weeks so I'll get to start on it soon.

Did you ever do anything about the water leaking into the glovebox?? How are you keeping it dry? Mines still leaking pretty bad with all this rain, I'm going through a lot of towels

[knomadd]

Originally Posted by TexasLS1

Did you ever do anything about the water leaking into the glovebox?? How are you keeping it dry? Mines still leaking pretty bad with all this rain, I'm going through a lot of towels

Well, it hasn't happened again, but I never found where it came from either. I added Vintage Air so my glove box is now plastic, but I haven't ever seen water on the floor so I'm assuming it was a fluke that it happened that day. Maybe it hasn't rained that hard since. Or I haven't driven in rain that hard since that day. I'm not sure....

However, my windshield is leaking on the drivers side a-pillar... When my rear glass leaked I had a glass guy tell me to use bedding and glazing compound ( this stuff) around the gasket on both the glass and body side (outside of truck) and that has definitely helped. I need to do that to the front windshield, but it has to be dry to do it...

[knomadd]

I had to tear into the GTO to get the timing cover replaced, so I wasn't able to do anything with the truck. My wife thinks I need to keep one of them running at all times, which is a good idea, but if the truck is down, it's parked in front of the GTO, so it's out of commission too... lol.

Anyway, I did get something new. I still need to see how it fits before I start getting it ready for paint, but here it is...

[rincones]

Nice. Looks good.
Keep the pics coming

[knomadd]

Time for some bad news...

I drove the truck to work on Tuesday and had a bit of a mishap...

This is the aftermath of a total loss of brakes while pulling into my parking spot. I hopped a 2-3" tall curb and hit the brick wall of the office building.

The bumper is not only bent, it's twisted

So far, this is the extent of the body damage, from what I can see.

The whole fender and passenger side of the grille slid back about 1/4"

I didn't drive INTO the building. It's still enclosed, but the brick wall shifted and the window frames (floor to ceiling) shifted with the wall. No broken glass, but definitely going to be interesting (read: expensive) to see it fixed.

Oh, don't mind the tape on the door. I was starting to mark the locations for the sport mirror holes. Tired of not being able to see out of the car mirrors.

[RRR18]

Holy **** that's terrible!

[mcbassin]

Man,
That really sucks. What caused the total brake failure? Hope it all works out for you.
Glad you didn't go through the wall.

On a side note, you probably already know it but, the sport mirrors aren't the best for vision. Especially the passenger side. I have gotten to where I just look over my shoulder every time I change lanes in mine.

[knomadd]

Yeah, it sucks. Can't change it though, so I'm rolling with the punches.

I'm not entirely sure what caused it since they seem to work just fine now. The rear reservoir was empty, but the front was full, so I have a leak somewhere, but they worked before and again after the incident... Maybe air in the lines, maybe the prop valve or master cylinder is going bad... not sure honestly. I drove it home with no issues (about a mile away form my office). I took it slow and very cautious with my mind constantly on using the e-brake. Still not taking any chances so I'm swapping everything out. I already have the Wilwood D52 calipers for the front (came with pads) and their master cylinder. I have a 25' coil of brake line left from when I redid the brakes on the GTO and a set of rear brake shoes from the PO. I've ordered the Wilwood adjustable proportioning, some braided flex hoses from Inline Tube, and new rear wheel cylinders on the way. So all of it is getting replaced.

As for the mirrors, yes Mike, I do know there isn't much visibility out of them. I'm not totally concerned about that since I really don't want west coast mirrors or anything large like that. I don't have a passenger mirror on the GTO, so I'm not overly concerned about having one, just want it to be functional if it's on the truck. The current passenger mirror (I think 69 Camaro) is useless. It's behind the glass run channel so you can't see squat in it. The biggest reason for switching to the sport mirrors is to get the functionality of the vent windows back. The idiot that installed these mirrors didn't take them into consideration, so I can't use the vent windows at all.

[knomadd]

I've been spending the last few days trying to get the rear drum brakes off. Wound up cutting the drum off on both sides, just to get it to release. They were frozen to the axle flange. The drums were toast anyway, so no harm done.

I did get the new front calipers painted to match.


I also put it up on blocks for more room to replace the brake lines...

[Sac]

Nice! Did Wilwood paint the calipers?

[rincones]

Nice paint job on the calipers.

[knomadd]

Originally Posted by Sac

Nice! Did Wilwood paint the calipers?

Thanks! Nope, I did. It was a pain to mask off the name, but it turned out ok.

Originally Posted by rincones

Nice paint job on the calipers.

Thanks!

[rincones]

I might drop the motor in this weekend. Your welcome to stop by.

[knomadd]

Sorry guys, but nothing picture worthy yet. I've been slowly collecting more parts, but in the mean time, I've managed to replace most of the brake lines with stainless (both hard lines and flex lines). I just ordered Wilwood 4 piston rear disc brakes and CPP modular drop spindles (plan for future Wilwood big disc swap up front) to replace the unknown brand factory style drop spindles. I've removed the fuel line and filter from the frame, but need to mount the new filter and run new hard line from it to the front. I figured now's a good a time as any to do this since I'm already working in the area with the brake line replacement. This has allowed me to start installing the passenger side air tank, compressor and PB brackets.

I still need to create the splash shield for the passenger side air tank, and figure out where to mount the valve block and brain for the AccuAir SwitchSpeed system, then wire it all and plumb the air line. Lots to do to get the air management up and running.

[RRR18]

Wiring the air management was a pain in the ass but Accuair system makes it really a lot more simple.

[GAc10boy]

Man, sorry to hear about the crash. That's one of my worst fears on these trucks is the brakes going out. Anyway, looks like you've come up for air with a killer plan. Good luck!

[Justin@EntropyRad]

Calipers came out great...are you running the E-level setup with the Accuair?

[knomadd]

Originally Posted by RRR18

Wiring the air management was a pain in the ass but Accuair system makes it really a lot more simple.

I've heard that. But it's still going to take a bit of work to get it in. I guess I should count my blessings that I did go the Accuair route.

Originally Posted by GAc10boy

Man, sorry to hear about the crash. That's one of my worst fears on these trucks is the brakes going out. Anyway, looks like you've come up for air with a killer plan. Good luck!

Yeah, it's not what I'd wanted for motivation, but I guess it comes in strange ways once in a while. At least nobody was hurt, and I've got more drive to fix things and keep adding some of the parts I've been collecting. So some good came from it.

Originally Posted by Justin@EntropyRad

Calipers came out great...are you running the E-level setup with the Accuair?

Eventually I'll run the e-level system, but for now, I'm going to install the SwitchSpeed system.