Getting my 84 silverado C-10 back on the road

[Schultze09]

Well is been a little while sense I posted an update. So far I have primed the oil pump, replaced the missing battery support bracket and overflow tank. I removed and replaced the gas in the tank. bought a battery and poured some Sea Foam in the carburetor and let it set for a week. So last night I got enough nerve to try to start it up. I sprayed a little starting fluid in the carb and gave it a go. Fired right up! Unbelievable. Oil pressure went to normal and the idle was high but then backed of slightly once i taped the gas peddle. I let it get up to temp and some smoke developed down by the valve covers so I shut it down. Let it cool down some then tried it again. Fired right up again... awesome. Do you guys think the smoke is just some seepage over time and will burn off? Or should I replace the valve cover gaskets? Also the high idle I don't know what to make of that. Next thing for sure is the trans fluid and filter. I've never replace this gasket before, is it tough to do on the ground?

Thanks, for your help guys!!

[barry1982]

Glad to hear your old girl fired up..... gotta love Chevy's..... Valve cover gaskets do dry up and leak over time. I would change them. You do know that if your automatic choke is working properly, your truck will high idle when cold right? That's perfectly normal, and what it's supposed to do. When operating temp is reached, you tap the gas , and the truck idles down.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by barry1982

Glad to hear your old girl fired up..... gotta love Chevy's..... Valve cover gaskets do dry up and leak over time. I would change them. You do know that if your automatic choke is working properly, your truck will high idle when cold right? That's perfectly normal, and what it's supposed to do. When operating temp is reached, you tap the gas , and the truck idles down.

On my 73, 74, 75, 78, 79, 82, & 85 with Rochester Carbs... I always pushed the accelerator pedal to the floor twice and then back off, to prime the intake and set the high idle, then cranked.
She would idle at higher RPM for a minute or two till the choke warmed up. When I tapped the gas she idled down. If the throttle butterflys are a little sticky she might stay up at 900 or 1,000 till you drive her a bit.

[Schultze09]

Thanks guys,
That's exactly whats going on.
I been looking at valve gaskets for replacement and there are a lot of choices. What type and brand would you guys suggest?
Also I have new electric window switches I need to replace, do they just pop off with a little prying or is there a trick to this. I don't want to wreck my nice door cards.

[surly66]

Hey Schultze,

I would take off your door panel to replace the window switch. There are "spring clips" that push against the back side of the door panel to hold the switch in place. It doesn't seem like prying from the outside would work, but I've never tried it either. Once you get the panel off, you can squeeze the clips together and push the switch out through the hole in the panel. See pic (pardon the wiring, it has since been fixed )

Good luck with your truck!

[barry1982]

I have had better luck with the black rubber like valve cover gaskets than the cork. I usually clean surfaces with starting fluid, and put a small amount of sealant on both sides of the gasket before installation. Some guys don't agree with this step, but I do it anyways..... Don't over tighten the little bolts that hold the valve cover down.

[Zach079xxx]

I've always been told to use Fel-Pro as brand and cork as the material.. As you found out, there is tons of gaskets! Read reviews, for example on summit racing or wherever. Eliminate the ones you don't think you'd like to run.