71 Blue Jay

[JamesRKing72]

I'm so annoyed at the vent window rubber and seal I got. The latch has a good quarter inch hang over and wont latch. I could cut a thin strip along the edge of the seal to make it fit, but how annoying... And the rivets are so hard to get to I haven't got one to be accurate. Note, if you do these make sure you are on a good solid surface, like a concrete floor. A wood table bounces to much and is much more work on the rivet. I will have to drill them out and get some "pop rivets" that I have read about. They will be much easier to get in that tight corner. I feel better now, thanks for listening. lol

Photo of the painted valve cover.

[orange 69]

Originally Posted by JamesRKing72

I'm so annoyed at the vent window rubber and seal I got. The latch has a good quarter inch hang over and wont latch. I could cut a thin strip along the edge of the seal to make it fit, but how annoying... And the rivets are so hard to get to I haven't got one to be accurate. Note, if you do these make sure you are on a good solid surface, like a concrete floor. A wood table bounces to much and is much more work on the rivet. I will have to drill them out and get some "pop rivets" that I have read about. They will be much easier to get in that tight corner. I feel better now, thanks for listening. lol

Photo of the painted valve cover.

Sounds like I purchased the same kit as you. I to thought about using pop rivets in mine also but I managed to use those great rivets with that one of a kind rivet tool that came with the kit

[Tinkermc]

looks nice

[Portmod7]

Nice work, keep it up!

[67cheby]

for window rubbers only by Precision brand !

[JamesRKing72]

Thanks @Portmod7 !!
Thanks @67cheby , I will search and buy a new rubber, I don't want to "make" this other one work just so it can look bad.

[JamesRKing72]

Wow, been a while now...

My brother and nephew have taken over putting the engine back together for me out in Meeker. I've been sick and moved into an apartment, so no garage to work in.

Here are a couple pics of the engine coming together and the old intake I found in the dirt... think it will work? LOL

Can't wait to get it going, that's for sure. Slowly onward.

[JamesRKing72]

Got my carburetor rebuilt at the Carburetor Shop in MWC, It looks amazing! I don't know if they painted it or some kind of chem dip but wow. Another big step in getting my truck back on the road.

Now I just need to get the transmission rebuilt/exchanged and get the gas tank ready. Also will be picking up a small blasting kit to clean some parts with walnut shell for paint prep.

progress is good...

[JamesRKing72]

Finally, some warm weather! The last two days I wire wheel brushed inch think oil/dirt build up in the engine bay. Then painted what I got brushed. Still a lot more to clean and paint but I think I got the hardest part done first. Hopefully I can blast the rest of it with ease.

Also put in a new battery tray.

Here are some before and after pictures. As you can see I still have a lot more cleaning up to do...

[JamesRKing72]

Also, I think the back will be a lot easier to blast and paint. I need to read up on all these bolts and see how to tighten it up as it's all pretty loose and lopsided. I will probably use some plywood for now because it is affordable... I have seen some other guys post using plywood and it looks nice enough for now.

[mcbassin]

Nice project you have going. I'm glad I found it. I have never heard anything negative about Buddy Rice machine. Looks like a quality job on the engine block and rods.

Hope to see your truck in person some time. We Okie members need to plan a casual meet this year.

[JamesRKing72]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Nice project you have going. I'm glad I found it. I have never heard anything negative about Buddy Rice machine. Looks like a quality job on the engine block and rods.

Hope to see your truck in person some time. We Okie members need to plan a casual meet this year.

Thanks so much. We should plan a meet, that is if we get our trucks running by then. LOL. I hoping to get mine going this summer.

[JamesRKing72]

Slowly but surely, right? Hopefully getting some progress done tomorrow.

Does anyone know of a replacement for this problem I have? Mice made their nest in my heater ducts and they chewed up this flap inside the "Upper/Lower Diverter Box". Has anyone seen a replacement flap or just the entire box assembly? All I have found so far is the entire box assembly.
I may have to get creative and fabricate one or try to find salvage yard parts...

[JamesRKing72]

Who doesn't like some pictures...

[JamesRKing72]

Another inside after the seat was removed.

[JamesRKing72]

Well, it's been a busy year. I started working for myself and haven't had time to work on my Blue Jay project till now. Finally, some warm weather...

1. The engine is ready to drop back in, but first...
2. The transmission I think is ok but has been sitting for 20 years without fluid and has two bolt ears broken off, so should probably get another to do a rebuild. (th350)
3. The gas tank looks like a crystal rust cave on the inside so will order a new one of those. Already have a new sending unit.
4. The cab corners and cab supports are pretty rusted and I should probably get someone to fix those up for me...
5. Need my seat recovered, was thinking of just ordering a new cover and putting it on myself, but some of the foam on the drivers side is a bit worn. So don't know if there is a patch or that or if I need all new foam.
6. Still have lots of grinding and painting to do to the frame. I have most of the engine bay done. Would be easy to do frame off but I don't have a big garage for all of that. So it's one section at a time here. Budget it also a big factor here

It's been a busy year starting my business and working for myself but I think it's all coming together, slowly...

Have a good day everyone!

[69Tom]

Originally Posted by JamesRKing72

5. Need my seat recovered, was thinking of just ordering a new cover and putting it on myself, but some of the foam on the drivers side is a bit worn. So don't know if there is a patch or that or if I need all new foam.

Starting to look good in there. Nice accomplishment to cross.

Regarding your seat, I just got my seat cover from www.CarsInc.com. They carry seat covers that others don't, including the stock vinyl seat with correct patterns, as well as the correct vinyl and original cloth inserts. As far as the foam is concerned, you can go to a local upholstery shop and buy some replacement foam and some 3M glue to affix it to the original foam. You can get your hog rings from them as well. Or if you determine it's too dried out, you can just buy the replacement foam for our seats (although it's fairly pricey). It's definitely doable by yourself. There's plenty of write-ups here on the forum on the process, and even some video clips out there as well. Just take your time.

[JamesRKing72]

Thanks guys. It feels great to have it running at last. There are still a ton of little things to be done but at least I can cruse around in it. The week I took off work to put it all together was worth it. :-)

@DD1 - I'm going clear coat all the way... lol.

I'm thinking the carb is missing the divorced choke, It starts and runs fine but it's not cold here yet. I'm not sure if the Carb Shop did something special so it doesn't need it anymore.

Ordering more parts this week so I can start driving it, drum brake hardware, side mirrors, power steering lines, turn signal canceling cam... Would be nice to have signals. Need to fix the mess of wires for the tail lights. My dad had a trailer plug hooked up but then unhooked it all... now it's just all hanging there.

[JamesRKing72]

OH I forgot about my heater/AC core box.
7. I took it all apart and have painted as much as I can, ordered a new gasket kit for it and ready to put it all back in. The AC core has not been hooked up for 35 something years so I'm sure if I wanted to make the AC functional I would probably need a new AC core/condenser/system. Also mice ate up the flap in the diverter box so there's another $100 LOL.

[Justin@EntropyRad]

Looks like you're having fun at least

[JamesRKing72]

I put in a lot of work this week, hoping to get my project going this week... Hopefully.

Got the engine in, Happy Happy Joy Joy!

Also bought a used transmission, got it cleaned up and installed. Rebuilt the old starter I found laying on the ground for who knows how many years.

Today was frustrating from trying to find all the correct bolts to attach the power steering, alternator, starter...

[JamesRKing72]

Oh yeah, here are the starter pictures. Before and after the rebuild.

[JamesRKing72]

And a new gas tank installed. Didn't fit, bolt holes didn't line up at all. Had to drill most of them out and still couldn't get some of the bolts to go in. Got it from Classic Chevrolet Parts here in OKC but I'm sure any of the aftermarket stuff will need to be fitted...

[JamesRKing72]

Well, after a long hard week of work putting it all back together we got it started!! Sounded great. My radiator had a couple leaks so didn't get to run it very long (10 mins) and I still needed to wire up the HEI correctly.

Ordered more parts, got my new radiator and some relays for the HEI, Will get to finish it up this Sunday. Can't wait, it's keeping me awake at night thinking about it all.

What a contrast to 3 years ago when it was all rust...

[Harpie]

Looks great! I know the feeling about no sleeping mine is nearing completion and I can't wait!