Project Coca-Rustola: '67 C20 Longstepper

[Saclandman]

Got the hand-me-down shoes on the old boy yesterday along with the new exhaust manifold. Everything is now put back together. Just got to fine tune the motor and get the brakes to work. He's all go, no stop. Anyway, here's before and after shots with the new-to-the-truck wheels and tires.

[Hardesty454]

Cool build. I almost feel like you should restore it back to the coca-cola paint and all! That would be pretty rad. Keep up the good work!

[68 Four on the Floor]

Man id love to have an old Coke fleet truck like that. But slammed lol. Lots of potential there good luck!

[Hardesty454]

Selling the truck? Was excited to watch the build. :/
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[Saclandman]

Sad to say, but yes. Financial reality has settled in. Got to keep the mortgage paid and food on the table. Or find a good paying job.
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[Saclandman]

Still got the truck. Thought I had it sold this past weekend, but I just can't bring myself to settle for a low-ball offer. So, I worked on it some more instead. Figured out my carb needs to be rebuilt. Not getting the gas it needs to run right. All clogged up with gunk and rubber on the plunger is rotted. No pressure into the barrels. Rebuild time.

[Saclandman]

Finally got around to rebuilding the little Rochester 2brl carb. Easier than I thought it would be. Now to get it back on the truck and fire her back up...hopefully.

[swamp rat]

Don't give up!

[Saclandman]

Trying not too. Funds are very limited right now. I love this truck and I want to hit the road with it someday. Just need some good fortune to come my way.

[Saclandman]

Still got the truck, but still not running. No spark now. Arrrggh!!!

[Hardesty454]

Originally Posted by Saclandman

Still got the truck, but still not running. No spark now. Arrrggh!!!

No spark as in at the distributor or after... Check the cap and rotor of course. If you have hei check the module and interior harness on that as well.

[Saclandman]

At the distributor. Have a weak spark at coil wire. I think I should see a spark at the point set when I rotate the distributor with the key on, but nothing. I must have a short in the wire from the starter or something. Maybe I'll go crazy and throw in an HEI with a new engine harness.

[Hardesty454]

Originally Posted by Saclandman

At the distributor. Have a weak spark at coil wire. I think I should see a spark at the point set when I rotate the distributor with the key on, but nothing. I must have a short in the wire from the starter or something. Maybe I'll go crazy and throw in an HEI with a new engine harness.

Not crazy. That's what I would do !

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Keep at it ...It will fire up and run for ya but how about them brakes..

[Saclandman]

The brakes are next on the agenda. Just gotta carve out the time and the cash. Love to get some discs on the front end.

[Hardesty454]

Originally Posted by Saclandman

The brakes are next on the agenda. Just gotta carve out the time and the cash. Love to get some discs on the front end.

What lug are you looking for? I have an entire front suspension set Laying around for sale if you're interested...

[Saclandman]

I'm sticking with the 3/4 ton 8 lug setup. Want to keep it heavy.

[Saclandman]

Just ordered a new engine wiring harness. Hopefully that will help solve the ignition issues I've been having. Not ready to spend the money on an HEI system just yet though.

[Saclandman]

Got home today, and my new engine wiring harness was sitting on the front porch waiting for me. Now I need to install it and get the fires burnin.

[keh27]

Originally Posted by Saclandman

Got home today, and my new engine wiring harness was sitting on the front porch waiting for me. Now I need to install it and get the fires burnin.

Nice

[Ol Blue K20]

Is it done yet?..

[Saclandman]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Is it done yet?..

Ha. Now that I'm getting a regular paycheck, I can start getting some stuff done. My FIL is getting tired of it sitting at his place taking up space. Gotta get moving on it I'd like to have it drive able by summer.

[Saclandman]

Installed my new engine harness, and got the old boy fired up..kinda. Took a lot of fiddling with the timing, but finally got it sputtering with the accelator smashed to the floor. Looked down the carb, pumped the throttle, and just a little bit of gas is dribbling out. I just rebuilt the carb too. It was shooting a nice jet out right after I got it back on the engine. Now, just dribbling. Guess I have to pull the carb apart again.

I also installed my new tail light lenses and bulbs and got them working. Once I have the engine running correctly, on to the brakes. Still alot of work to be done to get this truck driveable.

[Saclandman]

Here's the good news:
After spending a lot of time fiddling with the ignition and timing, finally figured out what I was doing wrong on Saturday. I never checked the dwell on the brand new set of points I installed. Assumed it would be factory set close to where it needed to be. Nope. Way off. Did it right this time, got the dwell dialed in, and, bam, fired right up. Sounded strong with fires in all cylinders.

A while back, I noticed the clutch rod was a bit sloppy. So I adjusted the clutch. On Saturday, I was able to test it out with the truck running. Nice and smooth in 1st, 2nd, and reverse. Almost wanted to take it for a spin, but I knew the brakes are not yet ready for any amount of speed. Just moved the truck forward and reverse a few times to make sure the clutch was working good.

Then, I saw it. Water coming from the side of the block, but not from one of the expansion plugs that I already replaced. So, I crawled under the truck, and saw what I feared the most: a large c-shaped crack had opened up in the block with water coming out. I could run my finger along the edge of the crack from just above the oil pan all the way up to the bottom of the head. I don't know if this just happened, or if this has been lurking for a long time.

I am so bummed right now. After spending so much time already on this truck, trying to get it running and driveable, now I have to decide if I want to start over with another engine. I know I can pick up a used block for pretty cheap, but then I would have to build it. I can't afford a new or rebuilt complete engine.

So here are my choices:
1) Pick up a new block, and swap everything over;
2) Pick up a complete and ready-to-run 283 or 327(or other SBC);
3) Give up and sell it; or
4) Pull the leaky 5.3 out of my Tahoe and rebuild it for the C20, and find a clean replacement for the Tahoe. Ok, this one might be a little out of my ballpark right now, but I can always dream.

My low-budget, quick get it driveable project isn't turning out that way.

[mcbassin]

Very cool ole Coke truck. Let's see some pics of the powerplant