68 C50 Looongbed pickup build

[Advanced Design]

I agree with your thinking about the wrong kind of fluid being used in the hydraulic system. Can you rebuild the gear with new seals? And I've never noticed atf causing a rubber floor mat to swell, so maybe brake fluid got into the hydroboost?

Yeah, the torque sequence on the intake looks strange to me, tightening several bolts on the same side in a row. I've only ever seen starting at middle, going side to side working out to outside.

The 15 foot mower looks like a batwing? We have an old 15 footer that is flat and has zero flex. Use to use it a lot chopping corn stalks left after harvest and mowing pasture.

Good progress and engine is looking really nice!

[rkn463]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

I agree with your thinking about the wrong kind of fluid being used in the hydraulic system. Can you rebuild the gear with new seals? And I've never noticed atf causing a rubber floor mat to swell, so maybe brake fluid got into the hydroboost?

Yeah, the torque sequence on the intake looks strange to me, tightening several bolts on the same side in a row. I've only ever seen starting at middle, going side to side working out to outside.

The 15 foot mower looks like a batwing? We have an old 15 footer that is flat and has zero flex. Use to use it a lot chopping corn stalks left after harvest and mowing pasture.

Good progress and engine is looking really nice!

First of all, the progress on your burb is just fantastic, I'm in awe of what your guy did fabricating the firewall.

Regarding the cross contamination of the fluids I went and spoke to my transmission guy and he thinks brake fluid got introduced as well. I already have new hoses and a new hydro boost unit which leaves me needing a rebuilt pump, steering box and the auxiliary pump (electric). I have a kit for the steering box but no instructions. I've scoured the Internet and found nothing; The factory service manual doesn't have instructions so I may have to purchase a rebuilt unit. I've only found one place so far that has a rebuilt box and it is 410.00! Seems like a shame when the seal kit was only 40 bucks Autozone shows to have a seal kit for the pump so I'll order the kit this week. The auxiliary pump is a bit over 200, so I guess I'll bite on that as well. This sure is cutting in to my available funds...

If anyone knows where I can get detailed instructions for rebuilding a Saginaw 710 steering box I sure would be grateful.

On the torque sequence, I figure Chevy built it I'll go with their instructions but I have that nagging feeling that I'll have to go back and do it over again!

The mower is a bat wing, it doesn't do the prettiest job in the world but I did in an hour what would take half a day with the zero turn.

I did not get any work done on the truck this weekend because I finally got back on rerouting power to the well on the farm house. I hope to be back on the truck next weekend.

Thanks for checking in.

-Richard

[Advanced Design]

Thanks Richard, Luke did a really nice job.

What year is the Saginaw 710 again? My local Chevy dealer has a ton of old manuals and I can check for you. Thinking there use to be a chassis manual for general repairs and overhaul manual for specific items, like a gear box.

[rkn463]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Thanks Richard, Luke did a really nice job.

What year is the Saginaw 710 again? My local Chevy dealer has a ton of old manuals and I can check for you. Thinking there use to be a chassis manual for general repairs and overhaul manual for specific items, like a gear box.

Doug,

That would be fantastic if they have the manual. The steering box is a 1989 model.

Thanks,
-Richard

[Advanced Design]

Ok I found the overhaul procedure and have copied it. Please check your pm's.

[rkn463]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Ok I found the overhaul procedure and have copied it. Please check your pm's.

Done, and thanks again!

[rkn463]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Ok I found the overhaul procedure and have copied it. Please check your pm's.

Got it, thanks!

Richard

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by rkn463

Got it, thanks!

Richard

That old snail mail sure took its time getting there. Hope the info helps!

[flashed]

Wow,looks great .

[Deer_hunter_088]

I wanna see the finished truck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rkn463]

Originally Posted by Deer_hunter_088

I wanna see the finished truck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me too!

I'll have some updates early next week. I think I'm finally almost ready to drop the 68 body on.

-Richard

[Deer_hunter_088]

Originally Posted by rkn463

Me too!

I'll have some updates early next week. I think I'm finally almost ready to drop the 68 body on.

-Richard

You better ive been watching this build for a loooooooong time

[Advanced Design]

Engine and brackets came out looking really good! Looking forward to seeing the cab installation too.

[flashed]

Cant wait to see more .

[rkn463]

Originally Posted by notchbackgta

I can totally relate, it made me laugh out loud, for real

As you will soon see my madness with cleaning and painting parts that noone will see continues!

Originally Posted by notchbackgta

Usually you use solvent in a parts washer, not a water based degreaser, that may be your issue

I wanted to use diesel fuel but the instructions said that petroleum based would void the warranty. Turns out the degreaser works fairly well if you soak the parts and let them sit for an hour or so before scrubbing.

Originally Posted by greywuuf

Actually solvent based parts washers are all most a thing of the past....to many insurance and epa type hassle with them ( flammable and health risks) the "trend is towards heated filtered biologic based oil eating enzyme or water soluable cleaners. Though unless you have like a sealed industrial high pressure dishwasher type....they are not all that impressive.....then again I washed a lot of parts in MEK in my day too....and not saying we should necessarily go back.....

Probably shouldn't go back, no telling what mutations are going on in my DNA right now after all of the gasoline, diesel and carb cleaner over the years - not to mention the herbicides and pesticides I've used!

Originally Posted by Deer_hunter_088

I wanna see the finished truck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting closer every weekend

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Engine and brackets came out looking really good! Looking forward to seeing the cab installation too.

Thanks Doug!

Originally Posted by Deer_hunter_088

You better ive been watching this build for a loooooooong time

I aim to please And thanks for watching, it justifies all the time spent posting!

Originally Posted by flashed

Cant wait to see more .

Read on my friend...

[rkn463]

OK, Labor day weekend...
Some weeks back I was in a quandary over installing the seal kit in the steering box. Advanced Design managed to get me a set of instructions to tear down and reassemble the box, however I was still scared of it. Then it hit me, I wonder if that 84 school bus that we have sitting out back has a compatible box. I really thought that it had the kind with the external ram but I opened up the tilt front end and sure enough there sat the exact same box minus all the leaks. I pulled it (another "20 minute job" that took 2 hours!), power washed it and painted it. Here are photos of the existing grungy box, the leak free box from the bus along with a couple of reference shots I took of the lines in case I get lost putting it back together. Check out the clamp holding the line in the 4th photo, the rubber has turned to goo!

Finally a shot of the box painted and ready to reinstall. For some reason I did not get a shot of it reinstalled, but it is there, torqued down with the new pump to box hose installed.

I fully intend to reseal the original box and eventually use both of them. Now that I have the spare I can tear into it without the fear of messing it up.

-Richard

[rkn463]

By the way, none of what I am posting is actually in chronological order. Since I am also painting parts and waiting for them to at least get sticky before installing this stuff was literally all jumbled together. Here are two shots of the frame, the first after cleaning, the second "clean" (not really) with a coat of Rustoleum "Rust Reformer" paint, this was just before I reinstalled the steering box.

[rkn463]

OK, this was actually the first thing I worked on Saturday but I wanted to get you some big parts stuff to get you interested first

Since the 68 has a small block (327) the oil pressure gauge line is in a different place. On the small block it is right behind the distributor, on the big block it is down by the oil filter. I wanted to plumb some fittings up to get it closer to the original location plus I want idiot lights to back up the gauges; you can never be too careful. By the way, brass fitting are ridiculously expensive these days! In the pics you can see the before, the after with the tee in place and the spot for the idiot light sender plugged. The coupler will go at the top where you see the Teflon tape and then the original line from the 68 can hook there. I was short a coupling as my hardware store was out. Once again I took the time to paint the clutch spring and the bracket that it connects to. I don't think it will be visible with the body on. But hey, it looks good with the body off!

-Richard

[Deer_hunter_088]

Finaly, been waiting bud, lol

[Softpatch]

Great job...
Nice score on the steering box
Life get's in the way... We stall out...
but you kept going ..
Why .?
Vision and skill.!



My degreaser of choice "Purple magic"
.
Thought I would share ..
...This was a picture of my 67 c-10
( sold it to fund my 59 Viking)

Thanks for the motivation
...................................................Sp
.

.
.

.

.
.

[rkn463]

Originally Posted by Softpatch

Great job...
Nice score on the steering box
Life get's in the way... We stall out...
but you kept going ..
Why .?
Vision and skill.!



My degreaser of choice "Purple magic"
.
Thought I would share ..
...This was a picture of my 67 c-10
( sold it to fund my 59 Viking)

Thanks for the motivation
...................................................Sp
.

.

Wow did they really connect the warmercougher to the heater control?

Seriously, thanks for checking in. I will definitely go with a more aggressive degreaser as soon as I have to change it.

Thanks for checking in!

-Richard

[Softpatch]

.
This picture is hard to put out of my mind...Why.?
.

.
Followed by these
.
.

.

.

.

.
Now I have to do this
....and I have to think about this ......Hard.?
While I think I would like to have PS..
Now M'I changing the characture of the truck.?

What if people see me driving the truck and notice I'm not struggling
with that big wheel
Could I live with that.?
.
............................some more hard thinking.?
.
.

.

.

[rkn463]

Originally Posted by Softpatch

Now I have to do this
....and I have to think about this ......Hard.?
While I think I would like to have PS..
Now M'I changing the characture of the truck.?

What if people see me driving the truck and notice I'm not struggling
with that big wheel
Could I live with that.?
.
............................some more hard thinking.?
.

I'd say go for it, The v8 changed it some already.
Be aware that the power steering box has a different bolt pattern than the manual one o you'll be drilling new holes. Also those big boxes use big pumps so get that from whatever doner you use.

Updates coming in the next couple of days when I recover from the weekend.

-Richard

[Deer_hunter_088]

id rather be laughed at and have a comfortable truck, than send my truck in the door of some guys truck because i couldnt swerve fast enough.

[Okiefromwatonga]

Originally Posted by Deer_hunter_088

id rather be laughed at and have a comfortable truck, than send my truck in the door of some guys truck because i couldnt swerve fast enough.

Amen. I will make every update in the name of safety needed