Palf's 1970 Custom/10

[Palf70Step]

I didn't mention it yesterday, but right as I finished up needing it, ole blue my shop compressor died. It's been 15+ years ago I put it together and the Harbor Freight compressor I used worked fine. I figured the head valves died in the one cylinder, but I knew that I can no longer get the parts to fix it. When it last need changed about 3 years ago, I tried to get some extras and found out they no longer support this one. I didn't really want to shell out the $$ right now for another, so I dug out the old mobile Sears one that has been setting in the other shed for 10+ years. I believe it is one from the 60's, not sure. I could never find any info on it. Dusted it off, checked/changed oil, plugged her in and and she came to life like the last time I used it. . She definitely has to work more when an air tool is plugged in, but say hello to the new "old" shop compressor. Hopefully it stays running till I invest in ole Blue again.

[Getter-Done]

That Craftsman compressor looks like the one I got from my Grandpa

[Palf70Step]

Back to more metal/body work. Haven't had time to keep up with it daily, but since Saturday I have fixed the passenger rear and drivers front cab mount. Didn't have my fone and it was so flipping dirty underneath, but cut out some rust and made new pieces out of some heavy gauge steel. repaired. Then I tackled the hood. It had some spots bubbling up, so cut them out and put the old 55 panel to work as patches. The triangular shape one got re-cut larger as the metal kept blowing thru, so had to go out more to get good metal. Seems to be OK now. I still have to do some bondo work on the hood, but it was too wet/humid today, so I figured I would wait a few days. I 've coated the inside with eastwood as best I can. I am waiting for a nozzle so I can spray more into the crevices and all I could not reach. Hopefully that will keep it under control now.

[Palf70Step]

Next was the driver's side drip rail. My initial plan was just to fine cut out the bad spot with my dremel (red circle), then weld in a piece o metal, make it look like it fit, then paint. It was in a lot worse shape as I cleaned it up. Ended up taking out the entire top drip rail piece just past the curve (Red and purple arears). Underneath was in good shape, but as you can see, the piece was pretty shot. Ordered a new one from AMD. I cleaned up and put the eastwood on all the metal of the roof. I have decided to use panel bond, since my welding (especially on small stuff) is now real great. Once the part comes in, I may decide to pull the rest of the rail off and just put on the whole new piece on the driver side. Rest is in really good shape, so hopefully this will be it on the drip rails. I guess I will work on the carpet and getting the seats back in while I wait on parts and dryer weather

[krue]

Looks good Bill.

[Palf70Step]

Still plucking away. I was going to wait a bit before I but carpet and seat back in, but I am waiting on some body tools that ran away from where I out them last. Since I had to wait on them, I decided to get it back together some more. StockInteriors.com carpets in. This is the first time I have used one of the tank covers. It did not go in as easy as the floors. But a little trimming and a few bad adjectives being thrown out, it is in. Seat and new door seal trim also hooked up. Now I need to clean it since I stuck my dirty show on it. Still working on the hood area. A little more sanding and maybe a glaze bondo coat, she should be up to some sorta paint. Probably some rattle can until I finish everything and do the big paint job.

[OutlawDrifter]

Progress is looking good!

[Palf70Step]

Finally got the girl out and rove it some today. I have been working on some sheet metal repairs/replacement. After the hood work, I tackled the driver's side drip rail replacement. I ended up just replacing the bad section and used an automotive panel bond instead of welding it. I didn't want to warp it and felt the bond would hold it in place just fine. Cleaned it up, sealed the drip rail area, some primer and some paint. I don't know if or why Ed went with the almond color instead of the factory white. I'll be redoing it later, mostly because it will need it and the can of paint I had was old and acted up so it is not as good as I would like. I don't have the paint to touch up the hood yet, but discovered you really need the emblem on there if you want to open the hood easily. Besides driving it more, my next project is to get the new doors ready to replace the rotted out ones.

She drove great and it was real windy, so it blew most of the sanding dust off, saving me from having to bath it today.

[GSFMECH]

Looking good Bill!!

[Bkndsdl]

Looking good Bill! Do you think you'll be able to make Battle In Bama next month? We are thrashing on my son's square to make it. He's using my '67, Jake, as a daily, so it'll be ready. Look forward to seeing your truck!

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by Bkndsdl

Looking good Bill! Do you think you'll be able to make Battle In Bama next month? We are thrashing on my son's square to make it. He's using my '67, Jake, as a daily, so it'll be ready. Look forward to seeing your truck!

Unfortunately I won't. Have family stuff that weekend.

[Bkndsdl]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Unfortunately I won't. Have family stuff that weekend.

All good sir, that's the important stuff!

We are planning on going to the CTC in Pascagoula this year. A friend of mine at work has a '71, and we drive there at lunchtime. It was awesome last year.

[68 C10 Driver]

Great story of your friendship and the progress being made on the truck. The tribute to Ed on the glove box door is an especially nice touch.

Cheers!

[Palf70Step]

Not the only one at Lowes with an ole ride getting stuff. Saw this 52 Flathead when I was there today. Also went to a local meet up. Didn't stay too long as it was super hot on the asphalt. Besides my 70 , the tow truck was the coolest one there.

[Palf70Step]

No real work on the ole girl, just driving it. The yard has kept me busy from it and now getting ready for my son's graduation from college (next week), then probably help him move to where ever he gets a job at. Saturday Took the 70 to a meet at Jason Polite's Deadend Garage, about 30 miles from here. Very good gathering. Lots of good trucks. Besides Ernie, C10_ustacould, in his son's truck, not sure how many others are on this board. Probably around 80+ trucks there.

If you have Facebook I loaded them there

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=...04174289592586

or my Google

https://photos.app.goo.gl/48rnvxG2LknMtioSA

[Palf70Step]

No truck work, but got my support system back functional again. Put a new pump on the air compressor to get me back going with the big volume tank. The old HF one lasted 14 years of HARD use. No parts available to fix it, so new on on sale was added. Only $90, plus some 3/4" pipe and a new motor pulley and I am back running the big stuff for under $120. If this one last mine 14 years, I'll be happy. Only the tank has survive since 1991

[OutlawDrifter]

Sounds like you got the goody out of the old one!

[Palf70Step]

Not a big update, but I did do something. Finally after 4 months got a new interior rear view mirror in. Today it replaced the original one that had several blemishes that bugged me. Been doing a lot of house stuff and travel, so she has not got much love lately, but looks like trips will slow down and the temp is mellowing out some (well for here anyways.) Next biggish job is new water pump, then....I dunno yet, probably drive more than worry about updating/fixing things. Driving is way more fun.

[Palf70Step]

Yesterday I started getting things ready to replace water pump. Since I was painting new pump, I decided to go ahead and paint the Edelbrock manifold that will eventually go on also. Got the old pump off, which was kind of a pain in the butt. Never had to do a water pump replacement on old style 350 with AC. I don't ever remember any brackets bolted to engine with water pump bolts. So simple on the newer serpentine setups. Finally figure out what AC bracket bolts could be loosened to let the one bracket come loose. Let the pump dry over night and got every thing back on today. I got hungry, so I left it till tomorrow. Just tighten alternator and Power steering belts, add new coolant and hopefully the weeping is solve.

[Palf70Step]

Between other chores, decided to touch up the hood on the 70 where I cut and patched away the rust. It did OK for a blend, but it was painted in 1994 and has been outside with no waxing for 20ish years. This should keep it OK looking till I get around to doing/having the whole truck repainted.

[Palf70Step]

Got started on repairing the driver's door that came on my original 70 stepside. The top of the door had the farmer arm out the window rub and sweat marks that wore a hole thru top of the door Had a spare door that was rooted out on the bottom, but the top was great. So cut the deteriorated part out of the door, then cut a patch from the spare piece. and made sure the slots for the window channel sweeps aligned up right. Tacked it into place and cleaned it up some. Also had a small spot coming thru on the lower from of the door, so cut it out and put a patch in there. I was hoping to get further, but my kitty hair hasn't arrived yet, so I put some primer on the bare metal. I am also going to coat the inside of the doors with Eastwood rust/chassis stuff to hopefully slow down any new rusty stuff. Luckily the passenger door is clean, so I won't have to patch it up. Now to smooth it out and get the marks/holes set up for the upper and lower trim pieces

[OutlawDrifter]

Nice repair Bill!

[Palf70Step]

I'll fine tune it some more before I try to paint it to match, but this should do. Next is figuring out trim holes. and moving the guts to this door.

[OutlawDrifter]

Anytime I do door repairs that involve the "guts", it seems like GM engineers put razor blades everywhere inside

[Palf70Step]

A whole militia of them!

But, I can increase my bad language database, as I seem to always find some new ones when working on doors.