Bubba's recycling project

[bubba327]

Found a wiring disaster hid in the back. I counted 24 splices/ connections in the run between the tail lights! some soldered , some just twisted and taped Colors changed randomly. No wonder the rear lighting was dim and inconsistent.

[daverod]

You should have seen my wireing going to my coil and temp gage. Bothe wires were bear and wraped together with black electric tape. Everyonce in a while it would just die for a couple seconds I could'nt figure out why. It finally died it was then that I found the problem. I could'nt believe it would even run like that. I like ther bumper idea.

[bubba327]

The old bumper was welded on and not very well. It just about fell off with very little grinding. The two little bolts were stripped and loose.

Rear brakes are getting all new parts to go with the front discs. This was the old picture so I could remember how it all went back together!! Drums went to get turned since they are still in usable tolerance and have .80" left to play with in the future !
1960 thru 1970 Front and rear drums interchange so I kept the fronts for spares.

[hb32]

Originally Posted by bubba327

The lower alternator bracket which bolts to the block. It had been 'adjusted' in the past and was just about out of metal at the rear hole. The new bracket moved the alternator forward 1/4" which lined up the pulleys better
Attachment 501564

Attachment 501565

Having the exact same problem with the lower alternator bracket on my 65. What is your new bracket as shown off of?

[bubba327]

Originally Posted by hb32

Having the exact same problem with the lower alternator bracket on my 65. What is your new bracket as shown off of?

I bought a power steering bracket off craiglist. I drove 20 miles to see that it was a home scabbed mess on a 292. I gave the guy 10 bucks for the mess which included a good GM alternator. So I think it was probably off a 292 but do not know what year.


Daverod --this is MY lowering system... just remove the wedge and the coils collapse!!! think I need new rear coils. I wonder how much these have dropped naturally and which new coils I should get? Get 2 or 3 inch drop maybe??

[daverod]

Thats sweet looking. I have my stock springs if you want I'll send them to you. I put jeep ones on mine. Let me know and I'll make sure I still have them.Chrome in the Dome was lame. No bags, no frame dragers. Only one 63 and a couple 51's.

[bubba327]

Dave ,I have the stock springs from the 71 Long bed that donated the front crossmember. I thought I would put those on and see what it looks like, then order some lowered springs if I need them . Thanks for the offer!!! How are the jeep springs working out for you?

[daverod]

I like the jeep ones. I think the ones I have are off somthing else anyway. I was counting the coils and they look different then yours. They might be off a 71 sub. Jeep springs are soft if your going to use your truck to haul heavy stuff it might bottom. I think you need the spring with a pig tail on both ends? You could put bag on the back for cheaper then springs. I got two bags for $109.I see LMC wants170 for springs

[bubba327]

Dave Those look really thick and stiff.
Let me try the 71 springs I have or I have some stiffer overload springs off my other 71 shortbox. I want to keep the truck at the same height it is now, Just do not want the springs banging together at the coils like it does now. Yes I need the tight radius at each end for the hold-down bracket.
Sorry the cruise was lame. I worked on the new brake lines today then went to the junkyard this afternoon but they closed early today and would not let me in.
Put in longer wheel studs in both rear axles. the old studs only caught about 4 threads with these thick aluminum wheels

[bubba327]

Time for brakes -- Bought a booster bracket last fall from Captainfab, found a brake booster from a 75 Impala and bought a rebuilt master cylinder for a 75 Impala. Modified a proportioning valve bracket from a S-10 to mount a 70's GM combination valve, then spent two afternoons bending all new brake lines. I ran 1/4" to the rear drums and 3/16" to each front disc. Should stop better than the original set-up.
Double flares are sure hard for me to do, I messed up several times. I hope they all hold when I bleed the system.

[daverod]

Looking good. You should have the whole truck done and painted by page 6.

[bubba327]

The old E-brake set-up from the 64 . This has the short E-brake cables which hooked to this old bracket that centered under the transmission in about the same location as the finished picture.




the new custom one-off E-brake tensioner complete with Teflon slides. I drilled and welded a 1/2" I.D. sleeve in the transmission brace before I installed the transmission. Heat shrink was installed on the sliding piece so it won't rattle. The new E-brake cables really slide nice and with the brakes all cleaned up Every thing is working smooth

[bubba327]

The Fed-ex man has been here so many times he is now coming in the garage to check out the progress on the truck ..
He brought me a new aluminum fuel cell.. Had my mind made up to go with the 49-52 Chevy car tank (Lakeroadster's build) but found this at Summit racing during a "one more search".
It is 17 gallon and includes the 0-90 ohm sending unit , -8AN fittings. (a pick-up, a return, and a vent fitting)
It measures 30" wide X 17"long X 7' deep-- made by RCI
It will need a few modifications of course.........but it is pretty close to a perfect fit

[daverod]

Nice tank. I was going to come out the side and put a ranger door on it but after seeing how much they want for a door I doing some rethinking..

[bubba327]

Removal of the bed the easy way . Should make the gas tank much easier to install.
Dave I was planning a side filler door but have not priced them at the Pick a part yard . How much did they tell you they charged?
Are the ranger doors the way to go or will a full size PU or suburban door work as well?
I thought i would just scrounge the junk yard till I found something that matched the body curves.. I bought a year-long entry pass to Jalopy Jungle and It gets me into two different yards.

[daverod]

Get me a door when you go. The junk yards here suck. They wanted $150 here. Said it was a big deal because they had to cut it out and the gas tank was right there. I think rangers work good. Alan put one on his truck I've seen other people use them too. I'm thinking a full size pickup would work just as good. I always make the old lady help me take my bed off. I just set the back on saw horses and she drives out from under it while I hold the front. Your way looks like less fighting.

[daverod]

Some pictures of Alans door on #383 and #479 of his thread.

[bubba327]

. New tank is 30"wide (X17"long) and frame rails are 34" to the outside so if I trim a little off the bottom flat I should still have 2" of frame rail left on the bottom on each side of the truck. Top rail will be left alone.
Planning on adding a 4" steel channel across the back of the steel frame for strength. Adding 1/4"plating on the outside of the frame for protection of the tank and strength things and then a receiver hitch to help hide the tank.
Tank is only 7"deep so maybe 3"-3.5" might stick below the 4" frame rails. should fit good.
OUCH -I just priced -AN fittings for the top of the cell -- expensive stuff!!! no wonder they are military stuff . The regular people cannot afford them

[bubba327]

Daughter bought new tires for her truck today.
There is a local car show here in Star on the Saturday before Mothers day sponsored by Momz garage, a local rod and custom shop.
We are trying to get it drivable by then , but it will most likely be on a trailer and entered in the "under construction" class.
My guy with the Tig welder has too many projects going and is holding up progress on the aluminum fuel tank. .

[daverod]

Getting it done. Tank looks good. Daughter looks like she wants to be a tire model. Maybe you don't need the metal in back if you put a bumper on? Did you ever get a fuel door?

[Alan's Classic]

Man, I've got some reading to do. I visited one time at the beginning. I thought it was just more info on power steering on a 6. I didn't know it had more to it. I'll Check it out.

[daverod]

Ya he's going to be all done by page 6.

[Alan's Classic]

Well, I'm caught up now reading your build. Beautiful work on everything. Your doing a fantastic job. I will be tuned in from now on.

[bubba327]

Thank Alan .
This just kinda turned in to a build thread .
Did not start out that way.I probably should rename it and move it to the build section but it is almost done for now.
We are getting impatient to drive it again so the body work is going to wait (until after the inevitable teenage wreck)
Body and paint were done in 2000 but a little rust is sneaking back in the usual places. I may get it back someday when the girls are done with it , then I will rework it again --- Bubba

[daverod]

Wreck What makes you think there going to be a wreck. I'm sure you'll be able to fix it. Give ya somthing to do.