Newbie thinking about diving into a '65 GMC 1000

[Praxiss454]

Put in a new fuel pump today, now I just need to get the replacement carb in there and she should be ready to run.

Still trying to figure out exactly what engine I have in this thing (e.g. what vehicle is it out of). Found the engine stamp but having trouble making sense of it.

Engine stamp F0904Z01238 - but not sure about the 2
F - Flint, 0904 - Sept 4
What about the rest of Z01238? The only thing I can find is that ZO is from a 307 but this is definitely not a 307.


Casting Number 3850817 would indicate year 62-78 230-250

[Praxiss454]

Got her running today!



https://youtu.be/JoTcq2tR4WA

[MR Cos]

Awesome!

[Praxiss454]

Not sure if this is going to work, but attempting to rename this thread to make it more of a build thread. EDIT - nope that didn't work.

This weekend I cleaned up the rims and painted them white, which as best as I can tell is the original color for my truck (which itself was originally red). They turned out pretty good for rattle can rust-o-leum. Getting some 235/75R15s mounted today.



I don't think I'm going to keep using the old impala hubcaps, as they are all bent up. We'll see.

[Marshy]

Damn, that is in nice shape. Congrats on your buy. A truck in that kind of shape (no rust!) would easily sell for $5-6K.

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Marshy

Damn, that is in nice shape. Congrats on your buy. A truck in that kind of shape (no rust!) would easily sell for $5-6K.

Thanks for the encouragement, because every time I look at this thing I see a new thing I want to fix and I am feeling a bit over my head. The big question mark for me is doing the body work to straighten out the various dented panels. I've never done any kind of work w/ sheet metal.

But first, I want to just get everything running and road worthy, which I feel much more comfortable with.

[Marshy]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

Thanks for the encouragement, because every time I look at this thing I see a new thing I want to fix and I am feeling a bit over my head. The big question mark for me is doing the body work to straighten out the various dented panels. I've never done any kind of work w/ sheet metal.

But first, I want to just get everything running and road worthy, which I feel much more comfortable with.

What are your goals for it? I've been keeping my eyes out for a new project truck and while I really want a 55-57, some of the early 60's trucks are nice too.

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Marshy

What are your goals for it? I've been keeping my eyes out for a new project truck and while I really want a 55-57, some of the early 60's trucks are nice too.

My goal is to have a functional 'daily driver' truck that looks good and has some character. I want to keep things stock as much as possible.

A secondary goal is to just learn as much as I can about the repair, care, and maintenance of an old vehicle. I enjoy fixing things with my hands, and don't really get to do that for my career, so this is also a hobby for me.

[TJ's Chevy]

Lot has gone on that I have missed out on! Glad ya got it going, I'll check out the video when I get back from work. haha Glad your also keeping it stock. As a gmc owner myself it's pretty rare to see them left alone and not done like the rest of their chevy brothers. Here's a neat book I found on Ebay if your interested. Planning on getting it really soon:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-1961-GM...tT2uEn&vxp=mtr

[Marshy]

Did you give it any type of tune up? Plugs, wires, points? What's your timing set at? Do you have a timing light?

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Marshy

Did you give it any type of tune up? Plugs, wires, points? What's your timing set at? Do you have a timing light?

I've checked the plugs, wires, and points and they all looked good, but I did not check the gaps or point openings because I didn't have a feeler gauge with me. Haven't checked the timing yet but my manual says to set it to 4 degrees BUDC. I do not own a timing light (yet).

[Captainfab]

Even though the plugs, wires and points look good, it wouldn't hurt to replace then in doing a good old tune up. The points , condenser, cap, rotor, plugs and wires, as well as a fuel filter plus a oil and filter change. You might be surprised what a difference those things will make.....when installed correctly.

[jtrichard]

Sounds like the accelerator pump is not working " if I don't go nice and smooth, she dies out."

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

Sounds like the accelerator pump is not working " if I don't go nice and smooth, she dies out."

It is possible I didn't hook up the springs correctly when installing the remanufactured carb the other day. I am having a hard time finding a picture of correct carb installation including all the springs and where they hook onto the throttle linkage and carb.

I'll take a picture of my installation when I get home from work tonight.

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

It is possible I didn't hook up the springs correctly when installing the remanufactured carb the other day. I am having a hard time finding a picture of correct carb installation including all the springs and where they hook onto the throttle linkage and carb.

I'll take a picture of my installation when I get home from work tonight.

Here is one of the springs that doesn't make any sense to me. The old carb had the spring hooked up to throttle shaft in this fashion but the spring sort of loops around the carb and is just hooked over the fuel line. From the illustrations and manuals I've seen, this spring shouldn't even be there?

[Marshy]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

Here is one of the springs that doesn't make any sense to me. The old carb had the spring hooked up to throttle shaft in this fashion but the spring sort of loops around the carb and is just hooked over the fuel line. From the illustrations and manuals I've seen, this spring shouldn't even be there?

For sure, that spring does not belong there. Look in the lower right hand corner of your picture and you can see a spring. That looks more correct to me than what you have there. I don't know where it's supposed to go but that other spring looks at home to me.

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Marshy

For sure, that spring does not belong there. Look in the lower right hand corner of your picture and you can see a spring. That looks more correct to me than what you have there. I don't know where it's supposed to go but that other spring looks at home to me.

Agree. I think it is a duplicate spring someone put on in the past.

I'm going to pick up a running light this weekend

[jtrichard]

NOT sure where the springs hook on a 6 but you can check the accelerator pump WITH engine OFF ..look down the inside of carb work the linkage with your hand to full throttle and hold it there for a second and there should be a stream of gas spray into carb... THE other thing that will make them stumble on take off is the vacuum advance on the distributor with CAP off pull vacuum hose off carb stick it in your mouth (if you don't have a hand pump) suck on it and watch the rotor it should move once it moves place your tongue over the end of hose to hold vacuum (very tasty LOL) if it don't stay or does not move you need a new vacuum advance there is also a mechanical advance in the distributor to

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

NOT sure where the springs hook on a 6 but you can check the accelerator pump WITH engine OFF ..look down the inside of carb work the linkage with your hand to full throttle and hold it there for a second and there should be a stream of gas spray into carb... THE other thing that will make them stumble on take off is the vacuum advance on the distributor with CAP off pull vacuum hose off carb stick it in your mouth (if you don't have a hand pump) suck on it and watch the rotor it should move once it moves place your tongue over the end of hose to hold vacuum (very tasty LOL) if it don't stay or does not move you need a new vacuum advance there is also a mechanical advance in the distributor to

Looks like this video illustrates what you're talking about with regard to the accelerator pump spraying some gas: https://youtu.be/bb_m4c3xS7A In my shop manual this is referred to as the Pump Plunger Assy.

I plan on testing the vacuum advance this week as well.

[jtrichard]

Here is a carb accelerator pump test watch first 18 sec. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I319vj9ktSwa ... I had a brain fart when i said the rotor would move.... the vacuum advance only moves the point plate ...The mechanical advance moves the rotor here is video on vacuum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3TdDGzo_Ig And here is one on mechanical https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxgmCXeIVZo

[Praxiss454]

The vacuum advance checks out when I suck on the tube from the carb to the distributor, and the accelerator pump does in fact squirt a bit of fuel into the carb chamber. It is not quite a jet stream like shown in the video, more like a dribble. Not sure if that matters.

[Marshy]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

The vacuum advance checks out when I suck on the tube from the carb to the distributor, and the accelerator pump does in fact squirt a bit of fuel into the carb chamber. It is not quite a jet stream like shown in the video, more like a dribble. Not sure if that matters.

Do you have a timing light? What is the timing set at with the vacuum advance disconnected at idle?

[jtrichard]

[QUOTE the accelerator pump does in fact squirt a bit of fuel into the carb chamber. It is not quite a jet stream like shown in the video, more like a dribble. Not sure if that matters.[/QUOTE]


I would think that if its NOT a good stream then you are not getting the fuel you need upon acceleration

"the one in the lower right is likely in the proper position to help close the throttle linkage. That might be the only one he needs" AGREE 100% Marshy

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

"the one in the lower right is likely in the proper position to help close the throttle linkage. That might be the only one he needs" AGREE 100% Marshy

I took off the extra spring and drove her around town, she did fine. Well, she was running a bit hot (between 230-250 according to my temperature gauge), and the idle once she was warm was a bit low. She spit out at least a couple of cups worth of coolant out of the overflow hose as well. Prior to the drive she was filled pretty much to the brim, which as I'm reading now was perhaps a bit too full.

Last night I also put in some new spark plugs set to the correct gap of 0.035".

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

Well, she was running a bit hot (between 230-250 according to my temperature gauge)

I should add that it climbed to the 230 F range by the time I reached by destination a few miles away. I parked, and it was spitting coolant out of the overflow. After about 20 minutes I drove home and she didn't get above 215 or so.