Lurker OrrieG Progress Pics

[Daze57]

lookin good orrie - one step @ a time - i been doin that for years - finally got some light @ the end of my rebuild world

[OrrieG]

Spent the day wrestling with the carb and throttle linkage. Assisted by my Grandson, today he used the die cuttoff wheel for the first time and learned how to use a threading die. Carb drove me crazy, could not get the secondaries to open. Thought it might be misalignment of throttle plates and manifold, it is a dual plane and carb need to be spaced just right. Turned out to be the gasket was sticking out rubbing on some of the choke/secondary linkage. A little trim and we good to go. Took a while to get the geometry of the throttle linkage right, Q-jet is in much different location than the old Rochester 2GC I was running on the 283. The part thru the firewall is a stock Chevy part, I can't remember if I got it out of a wrecking yard off a 50's car or if it came on the 62 donor truck I had in 85. Here are pics of it on the bench and installed.

[trucktony]

It looks a like throttle linkage from a 60-66 chevy truck
the original has a rod through the firewall and is mounted to the firewall on the outside with two 1/4 bolts.
The rod has a round end that you can push in to your footpedal
It also contains a small lever that holds the gasrod in a certain position via your throttle knob/cable on the dash.
I use it as a cruisecontrol on the highway
But I think it was used to get the engine warm or for a PTO use
normaly on 6 cil. you use it to start the engine when you use the footstarter,and that way can't put your foot on the gaspedal.
But I think all v8's used electric startermotors.
So I can't think of any other reasons for it's use

Great build!!!

[OrrieG]

That confirms I took it off the 62/63 donor truck I had in 85 for the engine. I sold all the sheetmetal to different people and frame to a guy that had gotten hit real hard in the front and needed a new frame. I kept the engine and misc parts (I think I modified the elec wiper for the 59 too) sold the bellhousing/clutch/4 speed trans. I made more than I paid for it and got a good motor out of the deal. Only bummer was I thought it was a 327 didn't find out till I mic'd the pistions it was a 283 .030 overbored.

[Fleet '66]

Nice progress OrrieG. Keep up the good work! I just finished reading your entire build. A lot of good information here. I'm a new member on the forum but a longtime bowtie fan. I have a '58 stepside that I converted to 4x4 in the late 70's. Mostly complete but as they say... "never done" I also have several "66 SW Fleetsides I'm working on. I'm looking forward to learning much from all the talented craftsmen here.

Fleet '66

[OrrieG]

Thanks for the comment. I did my initial conversion in 85 over the fall and winter and drove it until around 2000, no PS or PB. You also know that back then we were mostly on our own, after market for these trucks was still tilted towards original restorations. And not internet to share information, I got mine for finding a couple of truck in SW Idaho that had been converted and using the what I could see.

[Fleet '66]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Thanks for the comment. I did my initial conversion in 85 over the fall and winter and drove it until around 2000, no PS or PB. You also know that back then we were mostly on our own, after market for these trucks was still tilted towards original restorations. And not internet to share information, I got mine for finding a couple of truck in SW Idaho that had been converted and using the what I could see.

You're right about that. There is so much more information available to builders today and so many more sources for parts. Other than the donor K-10 vehicle, I pretty much scrounged all the wrecking yards for miles around to find the original trim, knobs, wing windows, brackets, etc.... for the original 55-59 body. Took a long time to find everything. Now you can buy all of those parts from a host of vendors.
I was fortunate to have a friends help on the 4x4 conversion. He had previously done another build conversion on a similar vehicle (59 Fleetside as a matter of fact) so it went pretty good.

[Rude Dude]

Beautiful truck and great work, I always look forward to your updates!

[OrrieG]

Got a request for dimensions on my seat frame. Seats are 07 Yukon third row. If yours are different you will need to adjust to fit. I elected to keep the stock snap in and tilt mechanism so I could easily remove the seats and get under and behind them. I cut off the roller parts. I used 1" tube and 1.25" angle I had laying around. Only thing I might change is putting the front piece behind the second rod and keeping the front open. I used the stock mounting holes with a flat bar pivot at the back and threaded rod at the front so I can adjust the angle of the seat. I tacked up the out side frame and front rod, then placed the middle front to back pieces and the other two rods with the seat in place and tacked them. I put the rod on the top since it is all hidden by the seat. Welded it up, ground them fairly smooth, then used JB weld to clean everything up.

[57 3100]

very cool Orrie, i like the seat idea, and im sure it will be more comfortable than the stock bench, and probably give you more room.
curious, are you still running the factory gas tank in the cab ?
take care.

leonard

[slugo10]

Thanks Orrie! I will save this and for sure use it on my '59!

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by 57 3100

very cool Orrie, i like the seat idea, and im sure it will be more comfortable than the stock bench, and probably give you more room.
curious, are you still running the factory gas tank in the cab ?
take care.

leonard

no. tank is at back of the frame. behind seat will be for sporting goods storage.
Posted via Mobile Device

[OrrieG]

Finally took some time for the truck, my lungs have been acting up again so have not been able to do any stripping, sanding or body work, etc. Cleaned up an old K&N air cleaner can and got a filter. Installed chrome dip stick. Checked all the fluids, was pleased to find I had already put oil, trans fluid, xter case fluid in, I was dreading paying $4.50 a quart for fluids. Did have to top off the differentials. Set it up electrically for a trial start with push button start and switch to HEI. I think I am going to fire it off next weekend to see how many leaks I will have.

[bubba327]

Take care of your lungs.
I have been avoiding the body work and bondo as I tend to get sinus congestion and vocal cord issues. My system gets angry with heavy dust or irritants then I get respiratory infections .
I never had a problem until a surgical throat tube a few years ago scratched up my vocal cords.
Oh well I just wear good respirators and have proper ventilation.Take Penicillin when it hits me.
Good luck with the lift-off.
PS: Firebird Fall swap meet is this weekend I am told

[OrrieG]

Thanks Bubba on the heads up, I got tickets to the Emmett Big Nasty Hill Climb Saturday so will skip Firebird. One of my contractors help put it together so have VIP seats! Next spring I am going to gather up all my extra parts and take them out to Firebird, tired of moving stuff around.

[Green 1959]

I like your cup holder idea! I might have to "borrow" that one.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Green 1959

I like your cup holder idea! I might have to "borrow" that one.

I stole the basic idea from Kustombrad.

[OrrieG]

Got the bumpers and grille ready to etch prime and prime but weather changed today from forecast of clear and 74 to raining and 64. Looks like Tuesday might be warm and dry so I can paint them then. Also cut some 3/4" wood so I can mock up the bed and figure out the gas filler. Was going to put in inside next to the stake pocket but decided I don't want to drag the hose over the tailgate or drop the tailgate everytime I fill up. Will probably just put a door in the bed side. Still haven't fired the engine yet, decided to hold off over winter so I don't have to deal with water freezing and gas getting old in my new tank.

[1985-GMC]

Have you thought about doing the fuel filler like this: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...426382&page=80

[OrrieG]

Thanks, were is the thread were trying to get me to? It just drops me in a the start and there are 50 pages. Not that I won't look a them all, but am curious about the filler. I was considering one mounted flush with the top rail but I am going to run a bed cover and do not want to have to lift it every time to fill.

[OrrieG]

I found IT!!! Went to the last page and there is was. That is the direction I am heading but I think I want a door instead of the exposed cab. Nice project, I need to look at the whole thread for ideas. Thanks Patrick

[1985-GMC]

Oh sorry I tried to link it to page 80 which starts at post #1976, im not sure what happened.

I think I would either do it like he did it or do it like the 73-80 chevy trucks are.

[OrrieG]

Thats ok , I found it. I was feeling a little lazy last night but computer at work is a lot faster and whizzed through the thread.

[OrrieG]

Weather cooperated, got some etch and primer on the bumpers and grille, also did the tailgate I had down to metal to keep it from rusting. Little plastic, little sanding and they will be ready for finish paint in the spring.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Weather cooperated, got some etch and primer on the bumpers and grille, also did the tailgate I had down to metal to keep it from rusting. Little plastic, little sanding and they will be ready for finish paint in the spring.

Looks good, i always feel like i am getting somewhere when I prime parts.