I'm legit again, my "new" '68 LB

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Wow, you young CroMagnon toolmakin' whipper-snappers are polluting the Primordial Swamp with your inventions!
[...]

BTW, the blue paint on your Chevy dash is interesting. To my knowledge Chevy alweays painted the dash panels India Black. GMC had a habit of paintinng them to match interior color. Since my GMC's interior was black anyway, I never knew this, until I found this Forum. Your dash panel may have been cannibalized out of a GMC.
Looking closely, the chrome plating tells me that's '69 and later Dash. 67-68s were painted silver [or Fawn] on the sides, and had the Wiper/Washer above the Lights switch.
So PO changed out the dash, keeping the early switch positions.[If he couldn't read anyway why switch the labels?] Maybe upgraded to the 7-gauge Deluxe panel from the 3-hole Standard panel. Who knows?

I already made a steering wheel puller before for the other truck. I have well used needle nosed pliers, didn't think of that! The other truck had been repainted, found original color on steering column. So far, no such evidence. The wiring harness had a MADE IN MEXICO tag on it, PO may have gotten the wrong year (if it was replaced), it also has the curved terminal that goes at the column but is loose under there.

Funny you noticed the dash is different. When I looked at the Owners Manual, noticed the turn signal lights should be in the center gauge. Reason I looked, wanted to know how to turn dome light on, NOTHING. I'm not putting new gauges in, that violates my Cheapskate code.


I was getting tired of the loose wires along the sill, used bailing wire, zip tie, and Liquid Nails (left-over tube is still good) to secure. I know this is ghetto, but the cost of just the floor metal is out of my league, much less cost of labor. I also noticed the aluminum is corroding from dielectric action (that the correct term?). This should suffice until I play the lottery.


The dome light was hanging by one snap-in, the other had broken out. I know these are fragile as hell, so no hammer allowed. Squirted Liquid Nails into the broken hole.


The dash under the ash tray had been bent in, ash tray hardly worked. I cut a scrap angle iron that happened to have a hole already, put in the eye bolt found in my stash, found a foundation stake, and used the bed frame scrap over a rag on the dash, to pull back out. Sorry, I could not hold everything in position *and* take a picture.


Now the ash tray works so well, it might come out when accelerating. Straightened the gauge too, very important.

['68OrangeSunshine]

A rig that much backwoods-engineered needs a big blue Pratt and Whitney sticker on iits glovebox.
Oh no. Dick Dale died. I used to listen to the Deltones on the cassette player cruizing in the Stepside. He's done his last live set and left the building.
Now I have a Radio Delete plate and a Magellan GPS taped to it.

[89AKurt]

Yea.... there are some holes that need to be covered. LOL

I will be getting a new windshield someday, no hurry since the cracks are far right. Getting a junkyard mirror will have to wait, but for now I rigged this up. I got the mirror for a '57 Chevy that I had, because that mirror was small; the plastic housing self-destructed since then, but I kept the glass. Some scrap steel, cedar block, 3M tape, this should work good enough.


The battery has been going dead, thought I had a short. Thought it might be a good idea to have NAPA check the alternator before investigating further. Wasn't putting' out! I'm taking pictures of everything before removing, good thing for a hack like me.


New alternator.


I was thinking of taking off the front trim around the headlights, to unbend. But after prying up about an 1/8", looked like they aren't snap in.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...+aluminum+trim
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...+aluminum+trim
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=588591
Yikes, bolts way up inside? Think I'll pass.

[89AKurt]

Since I'm having electrical gremlin syndrome, got tired of unbolting the terminal to keep the battery from draining. So I added this new cut-off switch.



When I pulled into NAPA, noticed the turn signal dash light was working, got out and the front right turn signal was working, when it wasn't before. So that's good news.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Sometimes they heal themselves if you treat 'em right.

I have detaching Negative terminals on the batteries in my trucks.

To adjust the headlamp focus, you pull the 4 screws holding the headlight bezels, [and put them in a safe place,] then use a phillips head screwdriver to work the adjuster screws for Up/Down and Left/Right to move the ''sweetspot'' of the beam to the desired orientation. Using a drill gun with a phillips bit works faster, if they are way out of focus.
Blasting against a wall maybe 50 feet away, with the truck level, is a good place to see where your beams hit.

[89AKurt]

NO WORK AND ALL PLAY

I joined the Prescott Antique Auto Club again. First event at the clubhouse with this pickup.


Then I went on a bike ride!



Silly reason I wanted a blue truck, the bike and accessories are blue.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Is the door logo new?

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Is the door logo new?

In a way. It's a magnetic PAAC sign. It's one way to hide the RV mirror holes.

[89AKurt]

Dorky Cheapskate Modifications
Can say that I've done something to the truck today.

Added color to the emblems, using electrical tape.


Added Angry Bird eyebrows, like what the customized Jeeps have nowadays.

[89AKurt]

First real hauling job. Wife has a friend who bought a house, replaced all the appliances, gave these to her.


On the way home, stop for glamor shots.

[BC10]

Originally Posted by 89AKurt

First real hauling job. Wife has a friend who bought a house, replaced all the appliances, gave these to her.


On the way home, stop for glamor shots.

Beautiful pics! Priceless

['68OrangeSunshine]

Getting better and better.
Might be getting some new [to me ] rims for my '67 K/10 Suburban project.
Coincidentally, a school friend was working on a house in my area and invited me over to pick up a mixed load of mesquite and catclaw acacia. Nasty little thorns all over the bark on the lattter -- pierce right thru your glove -- but I hear it burns well. Can't knock free firewood.

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Getting better and better.
Might be getting some new [to me ] rims for my '67 K/10 Suburban project.
Coincidentally, a school friend was working on a house in my area and invited me over to pick up a mixed load of mesquite and catclaw acacia. Nasty little thorns all over the bark on the lattter -- pierce right thru your glove -- but I hear it burns well. Can't knock free firewood.

Have you put the license plate on yet?

I love Mesquite, cook steaks and salmon on it. Neighbor gave me a gas BBQ grill, I ripped out all the gas components, and modified with smoke stacks, in the Dorky Cheapskate tradition.
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['68OrangeSunshine]

The White/Black 1966 AZ plate I'm saving for the '67 K/10 Suburban project. It's old name was "White Fang" because with 454 it had a big dog's appetite. Next engine won't be a BBC. Not sure -- maybe a 292, 383 or go Diesel. New project name is gonna be the
''Outlaw Josey Whale''. JSY 513, get it? With the YOM plate I can get it insured as a a collector car and skip emissions testing.
I agree BBQ-ing w/charcoal is superior to propane. But like to grill a steak or burgers on my tailgate with a propane grill. Also, if I have to get up early for work, I can't spend the time starting a charcoal chimney. I only have one gasser running, a portable Sunbeam classic aluminum body one burner, 17 x 11 x 9. I have a bigger Sunbeam 2-burner my Mom got me for a birthday, I need to fettle. I have the parts and the right green hi-temp paint. I have a couple of Weber Genesis units, [both free from neighbors\ that need rebuilds. A buddy gave me a 3-burner Brinkman, but since Brinkman folded, I'm gonna find a thick steel or iron plate for the bottom, detach the gas plumbing, and convert it to a coal burner. Chimney is a good idea.
I have a 22.5'' black Weber, a 14'' Weber Li' Smokey Joe [$2.99 at Goodwill], A Brinkman Grill'N'Smoke, and a big Char-Griller with the side firebox.
I really enjoy kicking back, with a cold one, waiting for the coals to get hot.
Coincidently, Friday night, I planked a fillet of red sockeye on my little Sunbeam, using mesquite charcoal dust from the bottom of an El Diablo bag to add smoke to the cook.
I have more grills than Chevy trucks.

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

[...]
I have more grills than Chevy trucks.

Seems like I found another common interest. One grill is good enough, just need to collect more wood very soon.

Did a Dorky Cheapskate thing, I was wanting to keep pine needles and leaves out of the vent. I had some adhesive, and aluminum screen. Again, this is something that can be ripped out by whoever restores this. If not, that aluminum is not going to get trashed by the sun's UV rays.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by 89AKurt

Seems like I found another common interest. One grill is good enough, just need to collect more wood very soon.

Did a Dorky Cheapskate thing, I was wanting to keep pine needles and leaves out of the vent. I had some adhesive, and aluminum screen. Again, this is something that can be ripped out by whoever restores this. If not, that aluminum is not going to get trashed by the sun's UV rays.

That would soon silt up with sonoran traildust thus clogging it up. On a plus note, the underdash maze is kept packrat free.

Yeah BBQs. They follow me home. People donate me their broken ones and I fettle and refurbish them, or part out the goodies, or make a ex-gasser into a coalburner. I got a 14'' Weber Smokey Joe Jr at a Gooodwill for $3.Perfect tailgate sized, and the ventilating circles still rotate and will starve out the hottest fire. Leaving chunks of reusable coal.

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

That would soon silt up with sonoran traildust thus clogging it up. On a plus note, the underdash maze is kept packrat free.

[...]

Good thing I don't live in the Sonoran Desert (really close though). Previous truck had the weep holes at the bottom of the door clogged up from dust accumulation, after one rain I opened the door and heard a sloshing sound. Took a stick and reamed up the holes, and watched about a gallon pour out! So not underestimating your comment about dust. I did the screen on the previous truck, no problem with dust, but if it was oiled up like a K&N filter.....

[89AKurt]

Another cheapskate fix, the oilpan gasket is shot. When I drove to Phoenix, made a mess. The mechanic has some specialized caulking for this, will do when it goes in for front suspension work. In the meantime, I crammed Bounty paper towel into the crevasse, seems to have reduced the leaking substantially. He said you need to pull the engine so it clears the crossmember, to pull the pan. Might as well switch for a Corvette ZO6 if I go to that trouble.



I found that I still had a grease gun, cleaned it up and got a new tube of grease. Think I found all the zerk fittings, the shaft for the clutch pedal is one that I discovered. Now I found a thread for this, need to search for the intermediate steering shaft and steering gear.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...points+diagram

['68OrangeSunshine]

Those look pretty snazzy there, Boy Wonder.
But if you ever had a set of West Coast Juniors, you'd never go with mini-mirrors. Absolute total top notch rearward surveillance. If you know you're not the fastest pumpkin on the freeway, you know most of the impact-related threat is coming from your 6 O'clock.
Also great for checking our chicks in the parking lot.
But I'm an old dog. I'll never change.

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

[...]
But if you ever had a set of West Coast Juniors, you'd never go with mini-mirrors. [...]
But I'm an old dog. I'll never change.

The '69 that I had before, had those. Sounded like an F-15 taking off when going into a headwind. These have enough convex curve to make up for the size. Old.... sometimes change is not for the better.

Haven't done a thing, other than drive, and hauled some demolition lumber for firewood. Tonight I took some glamor shots:

['68OrangeSunshine]

Nice pix.
I had to down the Orange Creamsicle for a couple weeks. The ''custom-made'' clutch rod was coming apart, and I was afraid it would happen in traffic. Also my passenger side window came out of the track. So I replaced the regulator and the window run and post channel rubber, and the felt side wipes, but couldn't figure how to put new rubber seals around the vent wings, so the old prehistoric rubber went back in. Very involved process according to You Tube videos. Only did the RH door window rubber. I'll do the drivers side later. Won't be so hard a second time.
So nice to have a smoothly rolling window again. Also, on cold, icy, dark and stormy nights, driving in the blackness, wind whistling thru the gaps in insulation, and the intermittent rapping, rapping, rapping on my door. You'd think the bony fingers of the Grim Reaper were knocking to be let in -- at 60 MPH. Well Nevermore.

A freak wind gust blew my 20' x 10' ShelterLogic canopy over. Fully tits-over-teacups and landed on the tin shed next to it -- ripping my new-in-September cover, and bending most of the poles useless. I can get another on Amazon, but it's a $300 setback.
We used a 10 x 10 Arizona Wildcat popup to work on the door, but it can't be left up overnight, the wind will kill it.
I went to see my machinist about his custom upper clutch rod. He said the rod ends weren't really Heim Joints, but something for tractor/implement linkage shifters. He directed me to Don's Hot Rod shop, our local "Candy Store" and I got a pair of proper heim joints, then Ace hardware had 3/8-24 1-1/2'' bolts, bronze washers, and locknuts to complete the fix. After replacing the upper clutch rod so it's bombproof for another 14 years, I noticed the clutch feel got a lot taller. I let the 2 jam nuts on the lower clutch rod out about an inch and a quarter -- taking pressure off the fork, but it's still a high stepper.
But now it runs.

Still haven't gotten fresh aspen swamp cooler pads yet, and it's 95F inside with fans on. Now with the truck running, I can pick up the pads.

The '71 Jimmy is running good. I was on my way to the Shell station to tank up last Saturday night. I get 80 cents off a gallon from Fry's VIP points. The gas gauge never worked since I got it. The traffic light changed red before I could pull a left into the Shell Station. When the light went green, I hit the gas, got 25' into a 90* turn and it stalled. Deadstick. I tried to start again and it coughed to a shaky start, but sputtered around the corner and up to the pump. The log showed I had gone 201 miles since last fillup. [I figure 10 MPG.] I filled one 5 gallon jerry can with premium, and slowly pumped 20.3 gallons into the blazer tank. It's a nominal 20.5 gallon tank. The in-cab tanks will hold 22.5.
After a fresh filling, the Jimmy was good to go.

Major gripes are the PO's redneck adaptation of late '70/80s Camaro/Firebird buckets. The wire/coil framing was enveloped by the foam padding and they're not repairable. Also the way the back mounts are set into wood 4x4 flat post sections with lag bolts is unnerving. But real bucket seats would run me $1000. [Before you even get the right seat brackets.] Toss in another grand for Air, and half a grand for new floor matting/carpet and interior wall trim panels, and it might become a nice truck. [Not counting body work and paint.]
Another long hot summer. At least the snowbirds are gone.

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Nice pix.
[...] new rubber seals around the vent wings, so the old prehistoric rubber went back in. Very involved process according to You Tube videos. Only did the RH door window rubber. I'll do the drivers side later. Won't be so hard a second time.
So nice to have a smoothly rolling window again. Also, on cold, icy, dark and stormy nights, driving in the blackness, wind whistling thru the gaps in insulation, and the intermittent rapping, rapping, rapping on my door. You'd think the bony fingers of the Grim Reaper were knocking to be let in -- at 60 MPH. Well Nevermore.
[...]
Still haven't gotten fresh aspen swamp cooler pads yet, and it's 95F inside with fans on. Now with the truck running, I can pick up the pads.
[...]
Another long hot summer. At least the snowbirds are gone.

I replaced vent rubber on the '57 Chevy wagon I had last century. Danchuck is the go-to place for restoration parts. A year later, they looked worse than the original rubber! grrrrr Oh sure, take them out, return for new ones. Took a freaking day just to do one! That'w when I learned that new rubber sucks.

Been cooler this year, I just set up the a/c unit in the house, still haven't put the window fans in. Usually all that gets done first of June. Tis the season for other birds coming to Prescott, the big World's Oldest Rodeo is in town.

[89AKurt]

I haven't posted for some time, just been driving it. Been salvaging old lumber for firewood. The only mechanical stuff has been to replace a battery cable that was short enough to pull out and not allow starting, then the last straw was having it quit while driving. Replaced with a new cable that was about a foot longer, and soldered the ends, plus the end of the other cable at the battery.

Odometer went over 88,888 miles today, when I went out to cut a Shaggybark Juniper for firewood.


Hood is up, because I disconnect the battery, so no chance of draining. Long tow from here.



Of course I took some glamor shots, Ranchtruck:

['68OrangeSunshine]

Hey Kurt.
It has been a while. I love the smell of juniper. Wood smells good and even better when burning. The way it splits into shingles and sticks for kindling is better than any other type wood. I had a cord of Alligator Juniper in the attic of my Mom's A-frame in Pinetop. When she sold the place, I hauled most of it down to Tucson. All gone now.

Had some hassles from ADEQ getting the '68 Stepside's 292 thru emissions. Too much CO. Had to get leaner carb jets and metering rods, and detune the idle.
Also R&R'd the brake master cylinder.
A leaking flare fitting on the side of the cylinder let the stuff out -- and I had no brakes just as I taxied up to the yellow line for my 3rd test. I decided to fake it and rolled forward in Granny 1st. Finally the carb passed the test. I nursed the rig out of the testing facility, and turned right at the first side street. The front well in the MasCyl was dry! I topped it off from a quart of brake fluid tucked inside the fender and got home OK. Next day, my Buddy, Dennis, came over and we re-flared the fitting [from M/S front to proportioner] then bled the front wheel brake cylinders, and the pedal came up. Now it feels good. Like stepping on a tennis ball. Stops good.
We also replaced a loosed wheel stud on the LR axle that Brake Max had f@#ked up by letting a rookie use an air hammer to blast it in the wrong direction when removing the tire lugs. Another time, at the same shop, they checked my tires -- all was OK, they said -- and the kid taxied the truck up to the front door for me to take it home.
''We couldn't find the parking brakes, so I left it in 2nd'' he said.
''OK'' I said, as I got in the cab.
To my horror, the parking brake WAS already set, so those clowns had been dragging my brakes all thru their shop! Not going back there.

Only issue left is steering column related. Horn is INOP, turn signal cancelling cam broke inside, so now no turn signals. I will need a fresh bearing in the steering column [and new T/S Sw assembly] and then maybe my OEM style horn can work. I have a redneck engineering-style remote horn button from Auto Zone. but I'd prefer the real horn button.
Meanwhile I'm making old school hand signals like Jethro Beaudine. I have a ''Mickey Mouse'' white cotton glove for night visibility. Looks like I'm out of ''Blinker Fluid''.

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Hey Kurt.
It has been a while. I love the smell of juniper. Wood smells good and even better when burning. The way it splits into shingles and sticks for kindling is better than any other type wood. I had a cord of Alligator Juniper in the attic of my Mom's A-frame in Pinetop. When she sold the place, I hauled most of it down to Tucson. All gone now.
[...]

My first choice is Alligator Juniper, less bark mess. This was a Utah Juniper, very close to the Shaggybark Juniper, they make a hell of a mess. Burns great in the wood stove, much less soot to clean out of the flue. I also burn Oak, think I have Walnut too, it burns hot, but does not burn down to ash at the end, and need to use pine or Juniper to get hot enough for it to burn.

So glad I don't need to deal with Emissions test! I have some of those same issues, just lost interest and $ to continue fixing.

Second trip, got all but the huge trunk and branches.


Different angle for glamor shots, and can see the load, which is important.