My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Looks
Awesome!!

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Beauty, the interior looks great Rick!

Thanks, I appreciate it!

Well, a couple weeks ago I think I posted that I planned to get the truck inspected and plates on it so I could start the road tests. Hurricane Harvey nixed that idea at the time, and actually apparently still is. Did my first road trip to a shop about a mile down the back road (less chance of law officers seeing that I don't have plates or registration sticker). They couldn't do the inspection because their land-line phone service has not been restored since the storm. Ok, no problem, I can come back in a day or two.

Well, that road trip, short as it was, pointed out the first big issue I have to deal with. Driving along I could hear a shush/shush/shush sound. I'd heard that before and thought I just needed to adjust the rear drum brakes so I'd done the backup/brake/backup/brake method in the driveway to adjust them. This was the first time to drive it since. Same noise this trip, but going past solid fences (you get the echo) I heard metallic clank noises along with the "shush". This noise accelerates as the truck does so thinking driveshaft or brakes/axles. Put the rear on jackstands, started 'er up and put in gear. One tire spins the other doesn't. Ok I'm thinking, not a good test because I have an open rear diff - no posi. So put 'er in neutral and tried to manually spin that tire - nothing/nada/couldn't move it. Got the tire off, but as you no doubt suspect the drum won't budge trying to pull it off.

I expected that too, but too close to dinner time (the priority) so I'll fight that battle another time. Needless to say the inspection will have to wait until I get that sorted out. BTW Brett, even if I haven't commented I've seen that you are going through the same type things with your truck. I figure that means we should be congratulating ourselves that we are this far along

[7dee2]

Oh yes, put some miles on that sweet truck and it will gladly tell you what it still wants!

[rgunlock]

Got the brake backed off so all tires spin freely enough. Test drove and still got the metallic clanking that seems to match the speed of the truck in tempo. Up on jack stands I don't hear it. So, got me another new toy - Steelman's ChassisEar. Couldn't justify the wireless model, but my truck sits high enough routing wires and securing them isn't much of a pain. This device has clamps with some kind of microphone in each. It connects to a control unit with headphones. You just switch the dial from one mic to the next as you drive and should be able to hear where the noise is coming from.

I've wired it to each wheel, the tcase next to the driveshaft yoke, and on the rear diff. Tomorrow I'll do the test drive. Going to nail this bugger!

[7dee2]

Sounds like a pretty kool tool! Having any luck with your diagnosis?

[cmabolt]

Hey Rick... I had a similar noise when driving to get my exhaust done. Only to discover I had one hub locked and one unlocked. Yikes. Unlocked them both and noise gone. What a relief.

It's worth a check anyway of you have manual locking hubs.

Chris

[7dee2]

I'd also take a good look at all you u-joints.

[rgunlock]

Well, I tried out the ChassisEAR running the truck up and down the block. "Listened" to all 4 wheels and both ends of both driveshafts although I never put the truck in 4WD so didn't expect anything from the front shaft. I heard nothing from the either shaft so hopefully the u-joints are ok. They are new, so it would have surprised me if they were the noise.

Noise sounded like it was coming from the front wheels. Most of the noise is a "swish, swish" that picks up tempo with truck speed. I figured pads brushing across rotors. I'd put new pads and rotors on the truck, but just cleaned up the calipers. I replaced them this weekend. Noise seemed reduced at least so took it for inspection this morning. Good news is that it passed, bad news is that passing fences I still hear a lot of noise. Braking slows the tempo but doesn't eliminate it. I'd assume if brakes they'd quite swishing when they grab.

Wife is heading out to the courthouse to see about getting registration sticker and plates right now so I'll hopefully be able to drive legally, but I am back to square one on the noise.

Chris, I checked and both hubs are in the free position. I had taken them apart to replace front wheel bearings and greased them back up for reassembly several years ago when I was just starting all this. I still think the noise is coming from the front wheels though, so maybe pulling the hubs back apart for inspection is the next step.

[rgunlock]

Woohoo - street legal

Also some finishing touches, and had to paint the new calipers even though you can't see much of them with the wheels mounted.

[mjensen]

Looking good Rick!

[Greenlee]

Looks good! Have you figured out the mystery noise?

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by mjensen

Looking good Rick!

Originally Posted by Greenlee

Looks good! Have you figured out the mystery noise?

Thanks guys! No, haven't had time to chase it down since discovering yesterday it wasn't the brakes.

[rgunlock]

Still no update on the noise, but I'm excited my console showed up. You get spoiled when most of what you order over the internet shows up in a couple days that you start wondering what's going on with your order if its been a week.

I've gotten so used to having an armrest to my right that it was really bugging me that this bench didn't. Now it does, and I've got cupholders! Of course it has to come out when the missus rides with me - she insisted on the bench in the first place

BTW, this is the "BC Cruiser" from cupholdersplus.com. It really looks well made.

[Greenlee]

Nice! I like the console. I might have to order one of those.

[MTCK]

X2. I spill way too much coffee when I'm plowing.

[rgunlock]

My daughter took this one after I took her for a test drive

[MTCK]

Wow that is gorgeous. Nice work, Rick!

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Wow that is gorgeous. Nice work, Rick!

Thanks Marcus! I feel a lot of weight off my shoulders. Turned out to be rookie troubleshooting 101 but figured out where the obnoxious rubbing noise was coming from. The weights from the tire balance were rubbing on a couple high spots in the brake dust shield on both sides. Did a little grinding and touch up painting and noise gone. Had my daughter stand at the end of the driveway as I drove past in both directions and she says "no obnoxious, embarrassing noises". Score!!!

[Greenlee]

Wow. Glad it was something simple! Your problem reminds me of one I had. I was getting a noise like that under hard acceleration. It had me scratching my head for months try to figure out what the problem was. It turned out to be the aluminum flex plate cover on the transmission rubbing against the torque converter bolts. A slight bit of grinding and the noise was gone.

[rgunlock]

I was so stoked that it was something fairly simple.

[7dee2]

Wow! Congratulations Rick! Your truck looks fantastic, good job, glad it was a simple fix.

[rgunlock]

Thanks Brett! Few more things on the to-do list, and then its just a matter of building up the trust factor. Knowing I had everything apart, did most of this work for the first time, and had nobody watching over my shoulder saying "no it goes this way" or "did you go back and tighten that thing?" means only short trips with a full tool kit for a while.

Some of the top to-do's:
- Get happy with the engine and carb tune. Its ok but just not quite right.
- Front end alignment
- Get calibration adapter for the speedo cable
- Washer pump and/or the washer switch still isn't working
- Put a seal kit in my PS pump and figure out if there is anything I can do to get the steering tighter (more intentful). There is no slop in the wheel, but it gives little resistance to stay centered and it has a tendency to want to wander on uneven roads although it tracks straight with hands-off on level roads.
- Install a couple of theft-deterrent devices

BTW Brett, my wife would go nuts if I just called this truck "truck" like you do in your build. She likes vehicles to have old fashioned female names. We've finally agreed that my truck is Hazel. Its kind of the color of hazelnuts, and the name just seems to fit.

[rgunlock]

Went on my first big adventure today, 15 mile round trip into a shop in town that does alignments. Was worried the entire trip about breakdown, hood latch failing, whatever... Nothing bad happened at all, other than I didn't get the alignment. Only minor problem is that the truck was very sluggish to turn over and start after it had been thoroughly warmed up getting into town and then trying to start back up to come home.

Minor rant. I'd called ahead about the alignment. Guy says come in 1 hour, bay should be clear. I took off from work and show up in 1 hour and the same guy tells me 4 people showed up for alignments after I called and I'd have to wait 2 hours. Or, I could make an appointment. Seems like he could have treated me as if I'd made an appointment when I called.

[boynton]

Well rick I agree. I'd find another shop if possible. Sounds like a bait tactic just to get you in. I'm glad you at least made it that far without anything major happening.

[rgunlock]

The only leak I've noticed appears to be coming from the PS pump. I'd cleaned somewhat and painted but its what came in the truck. Decided to rebuild it myself since I'd read a number of negative reviews on the rebuilt pumps from the part stores. Plus, its just an easy day puttering around in the shop

First is my pump and the pulley puller/installer kit that I got. Kit worked fine, at least to remove the pulley. Then I disassembled mostly following this you-tube video. This guy took it all the way apart to use all the new o-rings, etc. in the kit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5JTghafe8s. There is a pretty good thread on this forum, but the guy doesn't take it all the way apart - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=711938.

Talk about good timing, my wife had just decided to recycle this 12-inch pan since the teflon was scratched and peeling. I figure that repurposing always beats recycling because it costs nothing to turn an item into something different, in this case a parts bath. Last pic is watching the paint dry. As with most tasks on this truck, most of the time goes into cleaning and painting parts. Will have to reassemble (hope I remember the orientation of the parts ) one night this week.

[7dee2]

Got our alignment on the second try, first attempt we'd just popped in and wouldn't leave the truck there all day.

I think Hazel is a great name, very fitting. Thought about calling ours "ElRae" as a tribute to the Rancho ElRae camper the cab came from.