What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II

[farmer71]

I removed the front clip, old engine and transmission to make way for ls swap. Triedadding pictures but wouldn't go

[stevenfromtexas]

took apart my gauge cluster and painted the needles and bezel....oh and rolled back "in time a few miles". Need to touch up a few spots but I was very happy how it turned out

[Colt_1911]

I re-worked my original door panels. removed all the old vinyl and prepped and cleaned the panels than I re-wrapped them in new black vinyl. polished the levers and chrome strip. Turned out super clean.

[rsgt]

Fixed my hood from shaking. Sounds nice and solid when I shut it now. I bought some pipe insulation from walmart for $3.00 only used on piece. I use a razor knife and sliced it in four pieces and just used my fingers to push it between the hood braces.

[In The Ten Ring]

rsgt,

Good idea! Thanks for sharing.

Yesterday I put the temporary fuel line from pump to carb together. I even put in a filter there too since the AN fitting I put into the carb wouldn't allow the paper filter to slip in.

[stevenfromtexas]

ditto!!

great idea on the hood fix!!! i had a set in my LMC "cart" waiting on you guys to come up with a better way.

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by stevenfromtexas

ditto!!

great idea on the hood fix!!! i had a set in my LMC "cart" waiting on you guys to come up with a better way.

I used a product called horse stall mat. They also use it in the trucking industry to control loads from shifting. It comes in various thickness and fit the gap near perfectly. Secured it with some thin wire and its quite durable. Even cut some and made floor mats for the cab! Does a great job with sound deadening also!

[VWNate1]

Just make SURE that you're using closed cell products ! anything that will absorb water _will_ cause rusting sooner than you think, I live in the Desert and nearly lost the cab floor in my 1946 Chevy 3100 pickup due to this .

[stevenfromtexas]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Just make SURE that you're using closed cell products ! anything that will absorb water _will_ cause rusting sooner than you think, I live in the Desert and nearly lost the cab floor in my 1946 Chevy 3100 pickup due to this .

thank you for the heads up!!

[In The Ten Ring]

Good point VWNate.....

I just tried to start my truck but the coil is not firing. Dad and I trouble shot it some but without eliminating all possibilities, but it seems to be a bad coil. I posted a question about it.

[stevenfromtexas]

installed my RetroSound Hermosa radio today. gonna get started on some wiring tomorrow afternoon

[SoCoC10]

Ground down the welds from all the floor and outer rocker repair on the 69 C10 CST short bed I'm working on. Then replaced the broken turn signal switch, reassembled the steering column correctly after some hammer and dolly work on the column shift stop area. Now it all fits back together. Installed the column shifter linkage I got from member "Oscar's Classic Bow ties" so the column shifter works now. Removed the shift cable from the HIDEOUS B&M floor shifter. Didnt get to unbolt the shifter from the floor before I ran out of daylight.

[In The Ten Ring]

Attempted to start the engine yesterday. It didn't start but at least the new fuel line I made from pump to carb is not leaking.

It appears the coil is bad, will try again with another coil today.

[VWNate1]

Before replacing the coil _TEST_ it using any old multi - meter, even the free/$5 ones from Harbor Freight :

#1 : set meter to 20 volts DC and see how much current is actually reaching the coil via the yellow ignition wire : should be 9 volts +/- with the key on and jump to 12 volts when you turn it to the 'start' position .

#2 : disconnect the coil's wires and set the meter to OHMS, zero it and test across the two small terminals : if your truck gives 9 volts to the coil, the resistance across the two smaller terminals should be right around 1.6 OHMS (same as any old 6 volt system) .

If it feeds 12 volt to the coil in the 'run' position you'll need a 3 OHM Coil ~ this is very important .

I know you can use any old 1960's ~ 1974 GM coil on a 9 volt system but if you really need a new coil (pretty rare FWIW), go to NAPA and buy an EPOXY FILLED ONE as they never fail .

If you get 12 volts to the coil, it needs an internally ballasted one, go to NAPA and ask for a 1972 VW Beetle 1600 coil, EPOXY filed of course, it'll out last you and the rig both .

RE: the old, nasty crappy TH350 column shifter : I took mine apart and boy howdy was it ever worn out ! I needed to drive the rig so I carefully cleaned out all the old rock hard grease, dirt and rust, lint etc. lubed it all up with the correct long fiber grease (I used white lithium Lubriplate prolly #107) , re assembled it and disconnected the tranny shift rod and Lo ! not only does it work AS NEW, it also now makes that wonderful (might be horrible to you) original "CLACK - CLACK - CLACK" sound it did when it was new and I was a Yoot in the Dealer....

Then I shimmed up the floppy shift rod and adjusted it carefully where it attaches to the bottom of the column .

The older geezers like me all heard it when I next pulled up at the Shop and nodded approvingly .

Most mechanical things on these fine rigs can be taken apart, cleaned, lubricated and adjusted to work well again ever when they look pitiful .

Of course, nothing beats a cool Locar shifter if that's your desire .

(DAMN that thing is LOUD )

[In The Ten Ring]

Thanks,

I just read that to dad and he wanted me to be able to read it when we went back over to my garage. I don't have wi fi at my house but I did email it to myself.....I can load that page and then leave the laptop on. Thanks.

[In The Ten Ring]

Duplicate post.

[CRIDD]

Adjusted hood so it sits better and lines up perfect.

[In The Ten Ring]

I just now downloaded some pics from my old camera (had this thing since 2004) to the site. That is all I have "done to my truck today."

[stevenfromtexas]

routed wires to their respective places today.

those of you guys that have installed the vintage air systems, how painful is the wiring from an American Autowire to the vintage air harness? also, to a retrosound harness?

ran out of time and had to get my girls. on shift tomorrow. ill mess with those two goodies thursday

[In The Ten Ring]

Today I bought all new tune up parts: points, condenser, rotor, distributor cap, spark plugs....I got new spark plug wires too but I don't like their grey color. I'll return those.

Spark plug wire color has a huge performance, reliability, and safety impact.

[flatbed67]

Lots of fun today:
Installed new freeze plugs, bolted the intake onto the engine, changed the thermostat, and mounted the flywheel to the crank. Oh, yes, and the new throw out bearing.

Edit:
Ouch! I run gray cables, and have never thought of the performance, reliability and safety benefits that I will now miss for this very reason!

[rowdy11]

Finalized paint on the calipers and braces for my new rear disc brake install on Saturday. Busy weekend!

[stevenfromtexas]

cleaned up the wires under the dash and wired the engine compartment. screwed around and put the gauge bezel in to see how it looked.

[stevenfromtexas]

forgot a pic.....sorry, started drink in'

[FRCvette]

Installed holley sniper fuel injected carb on my 70.