Jojo's '70 Stepper

[jojo]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Jojo? You out there? Update?

Yeah, its been a while since I've done anything with the pick up besides lubricating the texas streets.

I missed that little email that notifies me when people respond to my threads. Sorry about that.

I had planned on replacing the motor as early as october. But I kept procrastinating.

Now my Dodge Dakota has a horrible piston rod knock and is basically dead.

I've decided to not replace the dodge and I'm going "all in" with the chevy.

Next week the truck is going to the machine shop for the rebuilt motor so I can have solid foundation.

[mcbassin]

I'm glad to see you have your priority right with the Chevy first. It will probably be quite a bit cheaper to get the chevy rebuilt. Be sure to get plenty of pictures.

[jojo]

Okay the pickup is at the machine shop. The drive over there was 30 miles and demonstrated how bad my leak was. It actually sprayed on to the fire wall and seeped into the cab foot well on the passenger side! Sorry it didn't occur to snap a pic of that.

I should know in 2 days if the motor is a rebuildable exchange. If not there will be a core charge. Ya'll cross your fingers for me.

I'll find out if I actually have a 305 in there or if it's a 350. The guy at the shop tells me a lot of his customers think they are running 305's but actually have 350's. I hope I have a 350 because it will save me $150.00

Either way, I've decided to go with a 350 and he tells me I can keep 305 heads (rebuilt ones of course). Does that make sense?

Also I'll have to decide before saturday to go with a "stock" cam, "RV" cam or "3/4" cam. I'm not sure which way to go but I think certainly not stock. But I have no idea if the 3/4 cam is gonna be too much (performance,power, gas eating). Since I no longer have a daily driver this has to be somewhat economical for daily use. I should also state that I have no idea what a 3/4 cam even means!!

Merry Christmas to all ya'll....

Only pic I got right now is the front of the shop:

[mcbassin]

Since you are having it rebuilt anyway, why not jump on Craigslist and pick up a buildable 350? I don't know about there but here you can get them pretty easy for a $100 or less. Anyhow, glad to see you are making progress.

[hotrod 80]

Imo you would be better suited to go stock or "RV" . The 3/4 cam ( stands for 3/4 race , it's and older term ) will be fun at first , but wear on you in a daily driver . Just read through your whole thread . You have saved this truck .

[jojo]

I'm with you on that hotrod80. And so is everyone I talk to so the "rv" cam is what I'm going with.

I can;t wait to get it back in my hands

Now that this is my only ride, there should be more frequent updates.

The next major thing will be updating the brake system up front.

Then its mostly cosmetic things that I'll concentrate on.

The way it stands right now, this truck only looks good to guys like us...
Ever heard the saying "He's got a face that only a momma could love." ?

[mcbassin]

Yep, I think your truck looks good! Glad to hear it is now going to be your daily driver.

[poppyq]

I was in a different boat. Thought I had a 350 and turns out it's a small block 400 with 350 heads? (My brother is the mechanic, not me, so that's my disclaimer on making incorrect statements, haha).

[foamypirate]

Originally Posted by poppyq

I was in a different boat. Thought I had a 350 and turns out it's a small block 400 with 350 heads? (My brother is the mechanic, not me, so that's my disclaimer on making incorrect statements, haha).

Yeah, with no steam holes at that. At least that beast runs now (and has steam holes!).

Good work on the truck man. I like the new steering column! Poppyq could definitely use a new one, his linkage is as loose as my grandpa's bowels.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by foamypirate

Yeah, with no steam holes at that. At least that beast runs now (and has steam holes!).

Good work on the truck man. I like the new steering column! Poppyq could definitely use a new one, his linkage is as loose as my grandpa's bowels.

Damn I almost dropped my laptop on that one!

[jojo]

Still waiting on the motor to be installed.

I scored some doors today off craigslist for $100 total.

They are in really good shape. No cancer and no dents that will be visible accept driver side upper section inside.

[jojo]

More pics:

The last pic is the only damage on the passenger door but I think when the hinges are installed, it will be braced and function properly. If not I'll figure out how to weld it

[mcbassin]

Looks like a good score on the doors! It's hard to find good rust free GM doors...I guess you already know that. Its hard to tell exactly where that damage is located. More than likely you can cut that area out of your door and weld it in or just weld the cracks. Keep the updates coming.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Looks like a good score on the doors! It's hard to find good rust free GM doors...I guess you already know that. Its hard to tell exactly where that damage is located. More than likely you can cut that area out of your door and weld it in or just weld the cracks. Keep the updates coming.

The damage is the hinge plate area is caved in and cracked. Ill probably be abl to cut it out and re weld it in.

As it turns out, someone has done that very thing on the drivers side for the door latch (no pics for now). Their job appears to be sturdy but not super neat so it may need to be redone.

Anyways I need a welder badly. Then I need to learn to weld.

I've been scoping out the cheap welders at harbor freight. I really can't afford anything over 200-300. I also don't have any 20amp 220volt plugs at the house so I'm not sure what to do.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by jojo

Anyways I need a welder badly. Then I need to learn to weld.

I've been scoping out the cheap welders at harbor freight. I really can't afford anything over 200-300. I also don't have any 20amp 220volt plugs at the house so I'm not sure what to do.

They make some really nice 110volt mig welders. I would try to find a nice used setup. Look for a Lincoln, Miller, Hobart with an O2 gas setup if possible. If you can't find a deal on a name brand you can use a cheapy no name flux core your welds won't be near as clean though. and BTW You will be able to learn pretty easy.

[jojo]

I got the truck back today from the shop. And after the drive home, I have to say I'm pretty happy with it.

So now the motor is new and almost everything attached to it is new except the power steering pump.

It takes some a few turns of the ignition and some pedal pumping to get it started. But I think it's because its either too cold outside or I need to adjust the carb or both.

The motor sounds great and the starter sounds pretty cool too.

The last pic is under the truck after the long drive home... Look ma, no spills!

Pics:

[mcbassin]

The new engine looks great! Looks like they did a high quality install too. Now you can back to other things on your build. Keep it up!

[Palf70Step]

Very Nice. Glad that has worked out for you. Keep a close look on the oil.

[jojo]

Well, I took it out for a little drive and it runs at temps between 200 and 210 degrees. That seams too hot.

They said I should get a fan shroud which was in the plans anyway. But it wasn't running over 160-170 in much warmer weather with the old motor.

Do you guys know if 350's run hotter than 305's? I should mention that they said they replaced the thermostat. Is it possible that they put in the wrong thermostat?

[Palf70Step]

What thermostat did they put in the truck? 195 may have you running that high, while a 160 would have you run in you old range possibly.

[jojo]

Yeah its a 195 thermostat but I think its cooling just fine since it never goes over 210 now.

Since getting the truck back, it has been hard starting and rough idling, so I started to track down some issues:

1. Bad PCV hose needed replacing.
2. Loose spark plugs needed tightening, one was so loose it was leaking (I noticed that when I put in my new wires which I should have had the shop install with the motor)
3. Tuned the carb (it was idling at like 500rpm)

Fixing all that makes a big difference.

[jojo]

Got me a welder... (the cheapy flux core thing)

And burned a bunch of holes in some scrap metal.

I think I should feel confident enough to work on the rust and repairs in a week or so.

[mcbassin]

Alright! Now you are in the restoration bidness! Cheapy or not, nothing more satisfying than doing it yourself! Pics please...of the welding.

[jojo]

Nothing on the truck, but here's my first welds that didn't break.

First one is full of holes, the second one is slightly less crappy IMO. Front and back pics provided

The practice material I used is 1/8th thick. But I believe most of the work done on the truck will be sheet metal welded to sheet metal.

I've got a long way to go.

I'll be ordering patch panels this week.

[jojo]

I got some new dynomax mufflers and tail pipes. They installed an H-Pipe too.

My truck was loud before (inside and outside the cab).

Now its a lot quieter in the cab and a little louder outside the cab.

Sounds mean as hell And I have experienced more power!

I'll see about video with sound later but heres pics for now: