72 K30 Build

[Dieselwrencher]

I'm glad to hear there aren't any major issues. As nice as you've built it I'm sure there won't be any.

What are the plans for the Camaro? Stock rebuild, or a little pepped up?

[7dee2]

Peppy? Oh yes, kind of a late 60’s drag car, the plan has always been a tribute car to Grumpy’s Toy III. Don’t know if we will actually letter the car but I like everything about one of the first big block Camaro’s. Here’s a pic of the actual restored car.


No new news on the K30, parked it for a couple of days while they repave the main road by our house. Only got a little over 16 miles hoping to double or triple that this weekend. Blacked out the CM logo to try and make it not as obvious, I know it’s just the fuss bucket kind of thing I like to do.

[rgunlock]

I'm jealous now. The car I got my senior year of high school was a 69 Camaro. Dated my wife in it, then she totaled it after we were married. Always wanted another 69. Waited so long that now you can't find one for a reasonable price and I couldn't see it being my first restoration so I started with less expensive trucks to get over all the learning curves. I've still got my 59 Apache to do before I think about a Camaro. At the rate I get my trucks built, a rusted out hulk of a 69 Camaro will be $30K by the time I can get to it

Please do a thread for yours - I'd love to follow that build.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

I'm jealous now. The car I got my senior year of high school was a 69 Camaro. Dated my wife in it, then she totaled it after we were married. Always wanted another 69. Waited so long that now you can't find one for a reasonable price and I couldn't see it being my first restoration so I started with less expensive trucks to get over all the learning curves. I've still got my 59 Apache to do before I think about a Camaro. At the rate I get my trucks built, a rusted out hulk of a 69 Camaro will be $30K by the time I can get to it

Please do a thread for yours - I'd love to follow that build.

You aren't too far off there. There's a parts yard near me that has a few first gen Camaros and he wants $4k for a bare shell with a title. And they're rusted out turds. He has a 68 Firebird with no title, half rusted out for $1500. I just shook my head and told him he is smoking something illegal.

Brett, please do a build thread in the alternate tinkerings area so we can follow along. I'm sure it will be sweet after seeing you build the K30!

[Dieselwrencher]

Brett, that will be awesome! I had a 69 Camaro once and sold it like a fool. I still check CL for muscle cars at least once a month. (Like I need more projects)

I wasn't trying to say I thought you were fussing too much about your flat bed. I was discouraged for you. That was a real mess for sure. You're not alone though. I know another member on here from New Mexico who had similar issues and a long wait for his flat bed from I believe Bradford built. It's always something.

[swamp rat]

Very nice!! and cool next project!

[First c10]

Hey Brett, that thing is looking nice, very nice. I hope my project will look as nice if it is ever finished!

it has been cool to follow you in this build!
Keep it up my friend!

[waco]

Brett:
Congratulations on completing your build. I want to thank you for all the great details & pictures that you provided.

I have been collecting parts & pieces for the last 5 years to start my '70 4x4 project and your information has been invaluable to my collecting. I will be using many of your ideas & methods during my build.

Again, thank you for such a detailed build thread. I know it will be great help to many in the future, including myself.

Andy

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

I'm jealous now. The car I got my senior year of high school was a 69 Camaro. Dated my wife in it, then she totaled it after we were married. Always wanted another 69. Waited so long that now you can't find one for a reasonable price and I couldn't see it being my first restoration so I started with less expensive trucks to get over all the learning curves. I've still got my 59 Apache to do before I think about a Camaro. At the rate I get my trucks built, a rusted out hulk of a 69 Camaro will be $30K by the time I can get to it

Please do a thread for yours - I'd love to follow that build.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Brett, that will be awesome! I had a 69 Camaro once and sold it like a fool. I still check CL for muscle cars at least once a month. (Like I need more projects)

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

You aren't too far off there. There's a parts yard near me that has a few first gen Camaros and he wants $4k for a bare shell with a title. And they're rusted out turds. He has a 68 Firebird with no title, half rusted out for $1500. I just shook my head and told him he is smoking something illegal.

Brett, please do a build thread in the alternate tinkerings area so we can follow along. I'm sure it will be sweet after seeing you build the K30!

Glad to hear you guys would like to see another build thread from me, I will start something in the alternate tinkerings area soon and post a link. When we bought the 67 it was down to it, or a 69 RS 4 speed that was less $$$, but had front end damage and had been stored outside in a field for years (it was rotten, with a bent front subframe, a true 69 RS!).

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I wasn't trying to say I thought you were fussing too much about your flat bed. I was discouraged for you. That was a real mess for sure. You're not alone though. I know another member on here from New Mexico who had similar issues and a long wait for his flat bed from I believe Bradford built. It's always something.

I know you weren’t, that was a very nice compliment you gave, no worries Ryan it’s always something! I was getting really, really frustrated several times over going through that process, trying hard not to absolutely go off! All done now and worth the aggravation in my book, pleased with how everything turned out.

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Very nice!! and cool next project!

Thanks Mike, I'm excited about starting on another project!

Originally Posted by First c10

Hey Brett, that thing is looking nice, very nice. I hope my project will look as nice if it is ever finished!

it has been cool to follow you in this build!
Keep it up my friend!

Thanks Scott, I'm sure it will and looking forward to see you finish it up!

Originally Posted by waco

Brett:
Congratulations on completing your build. I want to thank you for all the great details & pictures that you provided.

I have been collecting parts & pieces for the last 5 years to start my '70 4x4 project and your information has been invaluable to my collecting. I will be using many of your ideas & methods during my build.

Again, thank you for such a detailed build thread. I know it will be great help to many in the future, including myself.

Andy

Very nice of you to say Andy, thank you I appreciate it!



OK, so I lied, didn’t (couldn't ) wait clear until the weekend, a few days ago I took some back roads to go see a friend of mine about finishing up the exhaust. By the time I got back it had over 30 miles on the clock and decided it was time. Stuck a fuse in the GVOD digi brain thing-o and went out hoping for some OD magic, guess what? No OD magic, but since I was out heading for the highway anyway decided to try it. Success, 60 mph with just a little bit of vibration, not too bad. Came back after that bit of excitement grabbed the GVOD book and found out that ding dong (that’s me ) hadn’t turned it on. Apparently, it needs to be turned on to work, who knew! Let’s try that again, hey, hey, it started shifting into OD this time. Went back up on the highway and went right up to 70 mph, really smooth and only turning about 2500 rpm, sahweet! Up to a whopping 43.3 miles on the odometer!


And yes there's more, yesterday afternoon took Mrs. 7dee2 to go snag a book shelf and did a very short video. https://youtu.be/j9J44GDEPWk

[JJorgensen52]

Brett, hats off to you sir. You have done a fabulous job on this one . Glad to have been able to help inform and inspire

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by First c10

That is cool Brett. I love being able to watch this build since you started it. Been a great and cool journey. You have done a great job.
Kinda sad it's about finished. Well as a spectator. I am sure you are glad as you get to enjoy it!
Rock on my friend.
Can't wait till the next build.

Thanks buddy, I appreciate it! Looking forward to more progress on the Hulk's!

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

That's awesome! I'm sure you were getting a lot of looks!

Thanks, it is getting a fair share of attention where ever it goes which is cool!

Originally Posted by fakerwade

Dang Brett,, that's a beautiful truck!!! Congrats on getting her done! (good color choice too!!)

Thank you Wade!

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

Brett, hats off to you sir. You have done a fabulous job on this one . Glad to have been able to help inform and inspire

Thanks Jim it's a keeper for sure, thank you for your help along the way your build was a big inspiration for this one.



I really appreciate everyone’s kind words, plenty in the pipe line still to build, working on getting my ducks pointed that way.

[7dee2]

You know, it’s always something, with only 121 miles the K30 developed an oil leak that was coming from the timing cover crank seal, dagnabit! Yep, the seal definitely biffed it, appears to have fused/melted to the balancer somehow. Spring popped off the back of the seal and bingo we got a pretty good leak. On the upside a friend said I was lucky that it had weather proofed the underside of my truck. Back into the garage after just stuffing it full with a whole lotta Camaro, here it is going in for surgery! Used an assembly trick adding some red tacky grease to both sides of the seal and smeared a thin film on the balancer hub as well.


Everything else is still peachy to this point except, it’s not really a fan of the 10% Ethanol fuel (E10) that we’ve been trying to run, especially when it’s in 90+ degrees, in traffic, running the AC thinking it’ll get a on demand helper electrical pump like Blue for now. Surprisingly enough the proximity of our big fuel filter to the exhaust is not the big heat contributor I had thought it could be, pretty sure it’s the mechanical fuel pump that’s generating a lot of heat and vaporizing the fuel.

[First c10]

That is cool Brett. I love being able to watch this build since you started it. Been a great and cool journey. You have done a great job.
Kinda sad it's about finished. Well as a spectator. I am sure you are glad as you get to enjoy it!
Rock on my friend.
Can't wait till the next build.

[Dieselwrencher]

That's awesome! I'm sure you were getting a lot of looks!

[fakerwade]

Dang Brett,, that's a beautiful truck!!! Congrats on getting her done! (good color choice too!!)

[waco]

Brett

Sorry to hear about the crank seal. I had the same results on an engine I rebuilt a few years back. I learned a little trick about installing the seal from long time rebuilder.

Install the seal in the cover, loosely install the cover, fully install the harmonic balancer and then tighten the cover screws down.

This centers the balancer within the seal.

Hope this useful

Andy

[Dieselwrencher]

Sorry to hear about the seal, it's always some thing though!

[Zane M]

If it is any help, if you have a newer Maverick station in your general area, they usually have Ethanol free fuel available. The downside is the price is as high as diesel.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by waco

Brett

Sorry to hear about the crank seal. I had the same results on an engine I rebuilt a few years back. I learned a little trick about installing the seal from long time rebuilder.

Install the seal in the cover, loosely install the cover, fully install the harmonic balancer and then tighten the cover screws down.

This centers the balancer within the seal.

Hope this useful

Andy

Thanks Andy, I’ll have to try that next time, it is back together and with 136 miles seems to be fine.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Sorry to hear about the seal, it's always some thing though!

Ha, such a true statement.

Originally Posted by Zane M

If it is any help, if you have a newer Maverick station in your general area, they usually have Ethanol free fuel available. The downside is the price is as high as diesel.

Your reading my mind, last fill up was non-ethanol @ 91 octane close to $3.20 a gallon!

[7dee2]

Dang, just got back from aligning the K30 today and it looked really good. Some minor toe adjustment was needed but we were very, very close. The alignment guy said the rear alignment was better than a lot of new Chevy trucks he’s seen.

I did reinstall the camber shims because they were in the original donor truck and thought it drove great for what it was (hands off the wheel straight down the road deal). Tech did say it was really a preference thing and that it could create some tire wear, he also mentioned that they don’t mess with them.

Removing them would create a 0 degree chamber and it could feel like it was pulling to the right depending on the crown of the road.

[deejaaa1]

how do you get rid of vapor lock? install a diesel! looking good.

[7dee2]

Thanks deejaa1, yep that'd do it! I’ve wanted a 496 for a really, really long time! Found 2 places close to me that have non-ethanol for $2.88 a gallon, that is a little better. Leaning towards removing the mechanical pump all together and perhaps adding a return line if needed since our sender has a return. EFI is also not off the table for this project and we could run the big 850 Holley on the Camaro project!

[7dee2]

Pleased to report the truck is pretty sweet! Currently a little over 200 miles so far and the only failure has been the timing cover seal. Haven’t added the helper electric fuel pump as of yet, currently working on my honey do list. Non-ethanol fuel is working noticeable better but still planning to run it on E10 once we make the changes.


Flatbed update; After repairing the timing cover/crank seal and while still in the garage I noticed that there was a pretty loud rattle coming from the bed? Found the lower part of the bulk head (headache rack) where it meets the deck has come loose. About a foot in from the hoop to the same point on the other side has separated you can see a crack in the powder coat along the seam. Got some folks on the phone and it went back out to Semi Service for a CM warranty repair? They’re (Semi) thinking they want to remove the bed re-weld the bulkhead, paint & reinstall, Holy Moly! Currently waiting on CM more to follow.

Camaro update; Not much happening on this one yet still clearing my plate.

[swamp rat]

Hey at least they're going to back their product! I'm a firm hater of E10 for carbureted, I will use non Ethanol any chance I get with the rat, I just hope my truck will start back up after this latest sit time even with the non Ethanol....

[Dieselwrencher]

I've really been considering a Fitech for my only gas powered project. I listened to a lot of guys pissed on power tour because they couldn't find any good octane gas. Most of our area doesn't have any higher than 87. Bad deal for all those dudes. No big deal for this dude. Haha sorry to hear about the bed, but at least they are wanting to fix it.