'69 c20 rescue kind ..... of.

[jonny..2008]

so i was all set to come home and get to work when i was reminded that we have a wedding to attend.
nothing like a last second reminder.
first thing in the morning then.
weather forecast is fair for me.

[jonny..2008]

got the brakes bled and they stop the truck but still not happy.
there is more pedal to be found.
also not happy with the rubber stock line routnig.
ill post pix monday and maybe some one can spot if i routed them wrong. too dark now.
going to the alignment shop tomorrow too, if i can get an appointment.
this one was probably just a bit out of my tool range but i seemed to have it in hand.
i will report any issues after test drive.

[bossmanivy]

I hear ya on the brakes. I was never that good at getting all the pedal when bleeding. I think for me it was a patience thing. Not so much my patience, but my wife's for getting talked into being the pedal pusher!
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[jonny..2008]

i have an appointment for alignment at 2 pm.
its 830.
im going to try to get the rear bushings and shocks in before i go.

[jonny..2008]

got stuck on the rear bushings.
40 year old hardware didnt want to let go with my current equipment.
brakes need bled again and am going to have to get some more leverage to get the bolts loose.
i did get the new rear coil over shocks in the look good and beefy under there.
ill post pics later i hope.

[jonny..2008]

ok so i tooled up and am prepping for the rear bushings again this weekend between a side job and the rain that is expected on my days off.
i love the pacific north west. really.

[jonny..2008]

just going to clean my area tonight and get things lined out for my weekend attempt number two at the rear bushings.

[jonny..2008]

well have a nice saturday everyone.
i hope those who are not driving their trucks are working on them today before the crazy holiday schedule begins.

sadly for me i am going to do neither as the truck is still not road worthy and business calls.
good / bad news my "two days off" were just booked up but just might be a few more nickels to put into ol whitey.

[jonny..2008]

ok sixteen days later i am tooled up and have a whole day to get those rear bushings installed.

i am also going to try to mount the blazer fuel tank today. i still have to freshen the outside up the the interior of the tank look great. i am really happy about that as i was not looking forward to cleaning the inside.

so wish me luck. update either way tonight.

[jonny..2008]

SUCCESS!!
well kinda.
still have to do the pan hard bar but that should be the easy one.
as an excuse, it got to late, im too old for more than 7 hours thrasing on the truck in the wet yard.

[VA72C10]

congrats! We all like pics here.... but at least you're making progress...i've been stymied lately...

[jonny..2008]

as requested.
(well i was doing it when you posted.)

i used a block and bottle jack to get access to the bushings



used floor jack to support while removing load from coil spring.




wheel was off. and it turns out the shock mounting plate didnt need to be loosened. just the load off the spring.
cleaned the hole.
replaced the bolts.
blue locktite and new lock washers.

used the bottle jack upfront and the floor jack out back and the hole lined right up.

tools of the day were the plumbers torch to heat the crusty nuts and the lever breaker to break em loose.

also used the ball joint press and a few cups and block to push the old ones out and the new one in. really helped no fighting at all. well not very much.

thanks for the help from previous posters and thanks for helping me enjoy my truck.

[VA72C10]

nice work! A lot harder when the bed is on than off...that's for sure....my favorite suspension work is when I do frame off's....much easier access but those take a little more time and $$$

[jonny..2008]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

nice work! A lot harder when the bed is on than off...that's for sure....my favorite suspension work is when I do frame off's....much easier access but those take a little more time and $$$

man i wish i was going to do a frame off.
we will see what the spring brings for us.
i think i would like to get the truck mechanically sound and running nice.
then take it apart
clean it up and put it back together.
trans needs to be resealed.
or replaced with a 200r4.
engine bay is a mess too.
too much extra wire and hose.
as i sit here, i think there is a lot to do and i need more nickels!!

[Bomp]

Originally Posted by jonny..2008

man i wish i was going to do a frame off.
we will see what the spring brings for us.
i think i would like to get the truck mechanically sound and running nice.
then take it apart
clean it up and put it back together.
trans needs to be resealed.
or replaced with a 200r4.
engine bay is a mess too.
too much extra wire and hose.
as i sit here, i think there is a lot to do and i need more nickels!!

Came across your thread. Did a complete read. You are one dedicated motor head. Keep up the great work! Keepin' an eye on this one.

[jonny..2008]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Came across your thread. Did a complete read. You are one dedicated motor head. Keep up the great work! Keepin' an eye on this one.

thanks. ive looked your thread over as well.
i wish all i did was work on trucks.
im thinking of a career change....back to dirty hands work.
it soothes me, even laying in the gravel. and mud.

[jonny..2008]

bought reman power steering box and rag joint kit today.
also fuel line and filter for new tank.
now if i could only find two nice days......

[bollybib]

One step at a time, that's the best way. You'll get there, eventually.

This read like a poem to me.

i wish all i did was work on trucks.
im thinking of a career change....back to dirty hands work.
it soothes me, even laying in the gravel. and mud.

Mine needed a new rear end seal and I decided it was worth it to remove the bed just for that. But when it was off I had good access to replace the exhaust system, the ujoints, shaft carrier, flex brake line, and clean everything up, too. And once it was running again it was fun to drive without the bed on for a while. It sure made things a lot easier with the bed off, it's sort of a poor man's frame off method.

[jonny..2008]

Originally Posted by bollybib

One step at a time, that's the best way. You'll get there, eventually.

This read like a poem to me.



Mine needed a new rear end seal and I decided it was worth it to remove the bed just for that. But when it was off I had good access to replace the exhaust system, the ujoints, shaft carrier, flex brake line, and clean everything up, too. And once it was running again it was fun to drive without the bed on for a while. It sure made things a lot easier with the bed off, it's sort of a poor man's frame off method.

i have my eye on this, but im going to do the fenders & engine bay first then the bed.
but really have to get on the road again.
i could drive the truck as is now.
the hitch that is not mentioned is i am not the only one who drives it.
so it has to be better than it would be if just for me.

[jonny..2008]

going out now to finish the bushings on the track bar.
test fit the new tank.
and try for the p.s. box.

wish me luck i think im going to end in the rain again...........

[jonny..2008]

here is a quick update.
the beast wont start, MIGHT be outta gas but it wont even sputter.
so i am troubleshooting.
fuel. ignition. rain.............the best laid plans.

[jonny..2008]

got truck running. it was ignition issue. nothing serious..

[jonny..2008]

so. cold dark and rainy now.
just packed it in after a somewhat frustrating day.

truck was getting fuel ok but no spark.
checked voltage to hei. good.
removed dist cap, check for dry. dry. rotor happy? happy.
reassemble, check connections, test fire. started.
lots of small issues to tend to though. too much wire, crappy connections.

then got truck in position.
tried to get track bar loose. no love.
heat. no love.
since i didnt have all day to make love to these two bolts, and it was their last day on the truck, cut off wheel and some goggles. done.
got the old bushings out and they were ready for service.






used that ball joint press again!! that things a champ.
painted the bar. lubed the new prothane poly bushings. and.......they are too small.

tank project is going to need a fab shop.
have to call a friend and beg for the shop.

thats 0 for 2 so far on the day not counting the hei trouble shooting.
turned the truck around with out track bar, and started dis-assembly on the ps box.

all came out easy except for the 2 hours trying to get the pitman off the old box. no joy. made sure there was a new arm in my small town. check.
bashed the old pitman out of the steering rod. and then the rain came.
upside is small but i get a new pitman that i should have got in the first place and the new parts are drying in epoxy white and im going to soak my old ass knee.

some pix for show of the old stuff and how it wears.


trailing arm bushings from the other day.

pretty rotten. surprised if they were not the oe parts.

no tool of the day today. unless you count me.

[jonny..2008]

took the day off from the store and......
mouted new ps box.
pretty straight forward.





the foam went away after a few min.

[jonny..2008]

the moved to mounting new gas tank.

had to move rear most cross member.
used cut off wheel and air hammer.