Quest to DD my '71 again

[Tinkermc]

I think this is the path to happiness

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

That's exactly what happened, I couldn't bear the thought of a clean steering shaft in that engine bay...

Might have been easier to 'dirty up' the end of the column.

[mcbassin]

That was fast. Did you confirm the oil leak was around the intake corner(s)?

[VA72C10]

Looks good and fast work!

[LEEVON]

Thanks! I am not absolutely sure that the leaks were coming from the intake valley at the head gasket but considering they weren't coming from the intake, distributor, oil pressure line or valve covers (all clean) it's a strong possibility. Very weird if so, but I'm not losing any sleep over it, that's history!

[67chevy1series]

haha nice one LEEVON! i would have done the same thing ... that engine looks awesome!!!! keep it up, i like where this buil..... i mean daily driver is going

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I drive my blazer everyday and am at the same point as you.. Im gonna follow along and geta game plan together..

[Tinkermc]

very fast indeed, will make a nice DD

[LEEVON]

Nothing new, made such a mess we had to clean the garage tonight and make room for Dad's '62 Nova convertible. We're on our way to the NSRA Mid-Western Nats here in Springfield tomorrow. Here's a better pic to show what I'm working with, still need to remove everything from the firewall, and that will be it for teardown.

[LEEVON]

Craigslist find of the day, 10lbs of R12 for $100 bones and he brought it too me. I have debated and researched R12 vs R134 and ultimately I think I'll be happier keeping it R12.

[Tinkermc]

that tank of Racon 12 looks like a good move

[LEEVON]

Been collecting parts and pieces...some a/c stuff and an awesome blasted and painted shift linkage with almost no wear from member WETOWM. That should compliment my tilt column nicely. I have a lokar linkage now and the geometry is just wrong. I could bend and hack, but the originals work pretty darn good in my opinion. I might have to slide the frame mount back a little, no biggie.

Finished stripping the firewall this week, if you look closely at the second pic you can see in the upper right below the cowl I started some rust repair. There's also a spot in the door I'm going to hit. I loaded up and went to the carwash to get the grime off the front end today. It wasn't bad, nothing like an original truck but still wasn't fun. Loading and unloading was worse than anything. We've had this trailer for at least 10 years and every time I use the hand crank I swear it will be the last...I mean it this time, gotta get a winch!!!

[LEEVON]

I confronted some paint bubbles head on and wound up with three patches. The cowl patch was pretty straight forward, and I hit it with some Rust Bullet (POR-15 type coating) for extra insurance. I will have to lay down some filler there too, so ignore the roughness. The door was pretty dissapointing, it had been skinned over once before and where the rust appeared was a real mess inside. I dug out what I could, cleaned and slathered the Rust Bullet on, that should get me through for awhile...I have a set of doors in storage because I knew the day would eventually come that I'd be ready to replace them. It's hard getting a reminder that this was an inexperienced, budget build many years ago. But it's just metal, right?

I will get the patches closed up tonight, lay some filler and start prepping for paint. I'm also going to paint my rocker panel becuase it's gotten wear and tear on the door sill.

[mcbassin]

Nice work on the patches Leevon. I am at the point of working on my lower doors right now. You have confirmed what I was afraid of. I need to do the exact patches on the exterior of mine. I hate those rust bubbles under the paint.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

My blazer also needs those same areas patched...

[Tinkermc]

progress looks good

[LEEVON]

Patches are done and ready for paint (going on two weeks now)...dang summer distractions! Under the dash is another sad story, one best told by a simple picture

[gcburdic]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

Under the dash is another sad story, one best told by a simple picture

Eeeekkkkk!!!

[LEEVON]

This must be a really boring thread LOL.

I got the firewall painted today, barely. It hasn't even thought about raining in weeks, yet after spending the whole morning prepping and masking I fired up the gun and half way through I see the neighbors outside staring into the sky, seconds later the wind starting whipping and it got ugly. I barely finished and pushed the truck inside but not before the masking came loose and stuck to the cab corner. So that will have to be redone.

Oh well, I got the important part done. And I started buttoning up the engine, installed the correct oil pan gasket...did anybody know there are 3 different front oil pan seal thicknesses? I do now! Also installed the balancer and pulleys. I may be able to drop the engine back in tomorrow. I'm waiting on a harness and some a/c parts from the classifieds here and need to make a big odds and ends catalog order.

[LEEVON]

This is partly off topic, but pushes me to get the "DD" work done on the truck so I'll bore anybody reading this (yeah right) some more. We replaced the wife's '02 Tahoe with this new family hauler yesterday which means my '08 is getting the boot. We don't need both. It took awhile to find a deal, and it was worth the wait! Very happy other than I discovered that it has a nasty oil leak, hopefully that is entirely a warranty issue.

[LEEVON]

Back from vacation...got the brake booster, master cylinder, miscellaneous brackets, parts and pieces detailed and painted. I have a load of parts on the dining room table including the a/c seals and wiring. I hope to have the engine dropped back in this week and at least started putting the a/c boxes back together.

At least if I write that down I will know who to blame when it doesn't happen.

[Tinkermc]

I hope ya got good heat in the shop cause I don't see much going on. Ha,Ha,

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by Tinkermc

I hope ya got good heat in the shop cause I don't see much going on. Ha,Ha,

At first I was like "huh?" and know I'm like "yeah...winter time". Thanks for the vote of confidence.

[LEEVON]

Dropped the engine in, tilt column, intermediate shaft, and brake booster / master cylinder. I can see the light! Next big task is to get the evap box cleaned up and installed, then on goes the front clip. Pics to follow!

[Low Elco]

I will bet you the adult beverage of your choice that thing can't make it to Kansas City. Wager payable at the Riverside show. The gauntlet has been thrown down, sir. I wanna see it!