71 Blue Jay

[DD1]

Just started reading this thread. I like the story behind your truck. Your truck looks nice - I like the patina on it. You should think about clear coating it as-is and not painting it. Looks like you have made great progress in the last couple of years.

[68Gold/white]

Glad to see you able to keep project going despite negative circumstances. A lot of folks hit a small bump in the road and give up.

[DD1]

Looks good so far. I should probably take a week off from work and do nothing but work on my truck.

What did you decide to do about the rocker panels and cab supports?

[JamesRKing72]

Originally Posted by DD1

Looks good so far. I should probably take a week off from work and do nothing but work on my truck.

What did you decide to do about the rocker panels and cab supports?

Thank you. That week felt great. I haven't decided yet on the rocker panels, going for rat rod body look for now. The cab supports do need some attention but will have to wait for another week off work (and payday).

[JamesRKing72]

I got to mess with the turn signal and canceling cam some but didn't get it all to work properly. I do have blinkers and a horn now though. Doesn't cancel the signal so I will have to take the steering wheel off yet again to see what is not working properly. The horn seems to not want to make contact sometimes also. I cleaned all the dirt and grease out so the contacts could make connection, I guess something hidden is broken.?

Next week I'll get to the brakes and be able to start driving more. :-) Back to making stained glass for a few days...

[JamesRKing72]

Well after two days of rear drum brake hell I have it all back together but still the same weak braking. I'm sure there is either air in the lines somewhere that didn't bleed out or the master cylinder is shot. I do need to check the vacuum line to the power brake booster. I mean it only sat for 25 years in a field...

Also, after I finally got everything attached I noticed the two different shoe pad sizes. Somehow I managed to get a short and long pad set on each side, but didn't get the short pad towards the front & long pad towards the back. Yep, got it backwards, accidentally, on each side... (Or I think it's backwards, from what I have searched on here.) The old pads were so worn down I couldn't tell the sizes to know which should go where anyways.

Look at all the rusty gunk in these pictures... (drivers side first)

[JamesRKing72]

I'm sure I should replace the wheel cylinders. But I'll have to save up for another parts order, been spending to much lately and not working enough.

Also, my transmission just started to not shift. Stuck in first. I bought it used off Craigslist so it was just a matter of time. Didn't think it would die so quick... The rear seal on it leaks and was going to replace that, but looks like I may have to pull the transmission out completely. Wish I had time to rebuild it myself... Don't see it happening till spring.

Anyways, after hours of hammering the drums off... well the drivers side came off kinda easily. The passenger side took the longest. One pad was completely worn down so don't think that helped. Actually broke the hold down springs getting it off. (passenger side pictures)

[JamesRKing72]

Ah if forgot to upload the pics... ugh. Hopefully they show up now.

[DD1]

You did a great job cleaning up those brake parts. Check out Rock Auto if you need inexpensive parts and are not in a rush.

[JamesRKing72]

Originally Posted by DD1

You did a great job cleaning up those brake parts. Check out Rock Auto if you need inexpensive parts and are not in a rush.

Thanks DD1, It's a lot of fun and work.

[DD1]

Originally Posted by JamesRKing72

Thanks DD1, It's a lot of fun and work.

Glad you think it's fun. I don't have the patience for cleaning stuff.

[JamesRKing72]

I figured out why my brakes were so weak and why the transmission wouldn't shift. The vacuum hose to the power brake booster popped off, I guess I forgot to tighten the hose clamp... Brakes work so awesome now! Especially now the back drums have new shoes.

So... I drove it home from my brothers house, got almost home and it started sputtering on the highway. I pulled off quickly to a gas station. a couple more intermittent sputters and then it died. Had to get a tow truck for the rest of the trip... :-( Carb doesn't seem to be getting fuel. I replaced the new fuel pump with another new fuel pump, still a no go. I'm guessing the carb jets are clogged... I have a filter before the pump, and original pump to carb line. I'll get some carb cleaner and spray around to see what happens.

[JamesRKing72]

Going to take the carb off today and see what I can get sprayed out. It's newly rebuilt so I'm afraid of messing something up. I'll just take the air horn off and make sure the float is working and the jets/seat is free of junk. I knew better than to use an old gas line, just couldn't wait...

[JamesRKing72]

So after months of fighting with this truck, and not really having the time to, I finally pulled the fuel pump again and yanked the fuel push rod out to find the tip is missing!!! How am I going to find that little piece? It couldn't have gone far? right?

I guess I'll need to get one of those magnets on a stick tools and see if it just happens to still be up there. Or it's just going to the shop, I have to many other work projects to spend to much time finding it... At least I know what the issue is and that I'm not crazy.

[JamesRKing72]

It’s been 5 years but I’m still here…
Lots of work and learning has been done on the Blue Jay in that time. The brakes actually work now. Got lots of clear coat done on the body. Put in a new-to-me windshield that broke going in. Lol. It sat in the garage for a year and I haven’t driven it much the last few so had to replace the water pump, which created other issues. Every time something gets fixed something else breaks… so new water pump and hoses, rebuilt carburetor, new headlights and taillights, and some wiring. New voltage regulator (which made a huge performance difference).

Today I got new shocks and one installed. Will be ordering parts for suspension refresh. I’ve been driving it a lot this past few months and it’s a great feeling.

[JamesRKing72]

Some other fixes and updates also happened over the last year.

With the light electrical issue where I updated a lot of the lights and tried fishing out why some would and then would work randomly I got a new dome light. Ordered from LMC, I didn’t like the white and the original one had chrome/silver so I painted it. Looks better and now I have light.

I also finally repaired the wood bed so I would be able to haul stuff. And the bed moved around a lot when I drove. I ordered rails and bolt kit from Mar-K here in OKC. I should have just got the chrome ones so I didn’t spend three or so days painting the steel. I do like the blue rails though. I bought a sheet of 3/4” plywood (this was before the prices got out of hand) and ripped it down on my table saw. Then used the router table to make the groves on the sides and some Thompson’s water seal. Even after all the measurements it still ended up off but whatever. It’s usable, looks better and I got a good ab workout from the 100’s of times I got under the bed then in the bed to tighten all the bolts.

Next project is to build a camper for the back. It’s so hard to find a retro one that isn’t either rotted out or overpriced.

[Low Elco]

Good keepin' after it! I like your vicious guard animal.

[JamesRKing72]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Good keepin' after it! I like your vicious guard animal.

Yeah, thanks. It’s definitely a never ending project. The guard animal will attack anything for a treat. Lol.

[JamesRKing72]

A few great updates. I rebuilt the front end, shocks all around, track bar bushings for the rear, new tires and alignment. Drives so much better down the road. Still some play in the steering so need that rag joint and eventually new gear box.

The External Voltage Regulator (EVR) stoped working last year, got a new one and it makes a buzzing noise that is really annoying. Been researching solutions and will spend some time on that in the coming weeks. I don’t want to upgrade the alternator but it may be what I have to do.

Also this week I fixed that broken defroster arm and the bulbs in the heater control box. Took the radio out, cleaned it but I guess the speaker is a no go because it still doesn’t make any sound. It’s AM only so will probably get a FM/bluetooth one to put under the seat or in the glove box.

I’m just glad I can drive it and not be worried about the suspension or tires blowing out. Now it’s just the electrical will stop working at any second. Lol.

[Shifty One]

I'm digging your rescue of this fine old truck.

[JamesRKing72]

Originally Posted by Shifty One

I'm digging your rescue of this fine old truck.

Hey, thanks shifty. I’m enjoying the work and looking forward to some long road trips.

[JamesRKing72]

So I’m having (been having but avoiding) issues with the external voltage regulator (EVR). I replaced the old one about a year ago because it stoped working. The new one is points style regulator like the old one but it make so much noise. Didn’t think much of it at first but then the noise became sporadic.

I checked the voltage when it’s not making buzzing noise and it a healthy 13.5 or 14.5, can’t remember exactly now. It was good. Turned the engine off and restarted. EVR is now buzzing. The voltage from the brown wire in the EVR jumps between 8.2 & 11.3. The voltage at the red wire of EVR 14.8-15.5.
I’ve added lots of grounds, checked all the wires I can and patched and taped. Swapped the alternator. Got a new battery. Still not working correctly.

In reading about everyone’s EVR problems on here I’m thinking it isn’t playing nice with my HEI distributor. I may need to run a new hot wire to the distributor. Just ordered a solid state EVR to see if that will work better with the HEI distributor. If not I’ll reluctantly have to upgrade my alternator to a 12SI doohickey.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Glad to see you still plugging away at this..