72 K30 Build

[rgunlock]

Dang, I've really started to hate do-overs!

[Dieselwrencher]

Sorry to hear of the #2 bad crank seal. That is no bueno.

[rgreathouse]

Truck looks great, By any chance could you post a side profile picture?

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Dang, I've really started to hate do-overs!

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Sorry to hear of the #2 bad crank seal. That is no bueno.

Me too!

Originally Posted by rgreathouse

Truck looks great, By any chance could you post a side profile picture?

Thanks rgreathouse, I really don’t have any dead-on profile shots yet, but this one from a couple of months ago is as close as I've got. The rear axle sets back a little like a wrecker and is perfect in relation to the goose neck bucket in the bed..

[72 tigger]

Very nice project! Love all the attention to detail, this will be a solid,clean & rattle free truck for years to come! Thanks for all the pics & info

[7dee2]

Thanks 72 tigger, I really appreciate your kind words. Or is it 72 t-i-double-guh-er?



No truck updates yet but my part of our front room redo is all done. Mrs. 7dee2 has wanted built in shelfs on our front room fireplace wall, and of course new furniture, rug, dining room set, etc, etc, etc. I'd make some wise crack about her wood handling skills but she'd kill me, so we'll let that one go!

[7dee2]

The end tables and dining room table are kind of interesting, we built all the bases and put hand hammered copper tops (fancy schmancy) from Mexico on them.

[swamp rat]

Damn nice work!

[DWilbur]

Looks very cool. missing the big screen TV though

[72 tigger]

Looks good- you're a man of many talents! Did you do the stone on the fireplace? Yes, my wife named my truck tigger because he's bouncy

[Dieselwrencher]

Wow, you sure a handy guy! That front room looks sweet! Where did you source the hammered copper tops at? I really like the shelves and fireplace too. I think that would look cool in our dining room.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Yes, my wife named my truck tigger because he's bouncy

That's pretty funny. My mom named my Dad's 69 Longhorn Dick because every time she drove the truck it wouldn't start for her or had some issue.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Damn nice work!

Thanks Mike!

Originally Posted by DWilbur

Looks very cool. missing the big screen TV though

Thanks, I'm guessing we did a good job of hiding the projection system then. There's 7.1 surround mostly in the ceiling and a pull down 100"+ screen, I'm a big, big fan of big screens!

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Looks good- you're a man of many talents! Did you do the stone on the fireplace? Yes, my wife named my truck tigger because he's bouncy

Thanks, it's faux stone panels. Wrapped some columns out front with the same stuff years ago and it's really good stuff. You go back and caulk some areas (screw heads, gaps, seams, etc.) then paint with there touchup paint and tada, yur done, easy peasy! https://www.fauxpanels.com/

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Wow, you sure a handy guy! That front room looks sweet! Where did you source the hammered copper tops at? I really like the shelves and fireplace too. I think that would look cool in our dining room.

Thanks Ryan, here's a ebay link to the same vendor they have the end tables also. Pre-made hand hammered copper stuff is crazy expensive so when we found this vendor it was go time.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mexican-Rou...72.m2749.l2649

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

That's pretty funny. My mom named my Dad's 69 Longhorn Dick because every time she drove the truck it wouldn't start for her or had some issue.

Sounds like us, funny stuff!

[rgunlock]

Very nice job on the room remodel! I like the copper table tops. I need to do something like those for my back porch.

[Yukon Jack]

Outstanding build! Such quality workmanship.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Very nice job on the room remodel! I like the copper table tops. I need to do something like those for my back porch.

Thanks Rick, can’t take the credit Mrs. 7dee2 spent many hours putting this together (it was a garage hijacking!) I was just her flunky.

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

Outstanding build! Such quality workmanship.

Thank you, Yukon Jack, I really appreciate the compliments. Mentioned you and your friend’s truck in the second post of this build and hope you didn’t mind me stealing pics of your guy's kool trucks?



Our K30 (El Rae or Ray, short for the Rancho El Rae motorhome cab donor) has made it back into the garage and the first order of business was to fix that crank seal. After pulling the belts and just prior to pulling off the crank pulley I noticed it hadn’t flung oil all over the right side like it had last time. It looks like something is eating the paint on the left side this time?

A few seconds later the light bulb went off and I realized it’s brake fluid not oil, a little taste test next, yep, it’s brake fluid. I’d miss diagnosed earlier, in my defense, it was leaving a trail and puddling exactly as before and there is a very slight oil trail (not enough to drip) coming from that seal. Must admit the two very PO’d seconds spent diagnosing earlier might have had something to do with it?

Next to verify further fired the truck with no belts and let it run until the radiator fans kicked on. Crank seal is still OK, that is the good news. Had my boy lightly push on the brake pedal without any boost and watched brake fluid run out of the 2nd new CPP PV-2 proportioning valve we’ve installed. Fluid is coming from the metering valve pretty freely, leaking from the center of the fitting around the pin. After some internet research, I’m finding a few folks have been having trouble with this particular part (chinese knock off?) from this particular vendor.

[Dieselwrencher]

Well, at least it isn't the crank seal. That is a bad deal about the prop valve.

[7dee2]

Not really a hard part to replace but bleeding the rear brakes again without the use of our 4-post elevator should make for a good time. Yes, I do need some cheese to go with that whine!

[swamp rat]

Don't feel bad, since I parked my truck to do the metal work the new passenger front caliper decided to spring a leak so once I do get the body together I'll have to replace and re bleed, it was a pita last time.

[7dee2]

Yeah, they sure can be glad we figured out how to bleed the rear earlier, there's just no room between the backing plate and the spring pack without dropping the diff out…. Gotta say I do love the narrowed cab and chassis dually rears so the pain is worth it for me.




Brakes were really great before the failure but El Rae is gonna stop on a dime again! Ha, maybe as good as this kid on his skate board? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrRWoo1Wiug

Installed a 4-wheel disc, PV4 (Summit brand) combination/proportioning valve this time around and eliminating the metering valve part that failed so quickly. That particular part of the combination valve slows brake fluid to the front disc brakes for various reasons (softens nose dive, allows the rear drums to get a head start, etc.)

Those who have been following a while may remember we had to enlarge the inner prop valve bore (see the 4th pic) to get the rear brakes to function correctly in the first place. The 3+3 donor had a much larger bore in the main body as well as the prop valve. It’s brake setup ran a secondary ride height prop valve in the rear that we eliminated (http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=395).

The PV4 prop valve has a larger inner bore to start with and don’t think it’ll need to be messed with, also adding a Wilwood manually adjustable valve to the rear line this time for some control if needed.

[7dee2]

Thinking it's a really good time to add a helper fuel pump and different fuel filter arrangement (pulled the old spin on deal we had been running ). Also swapping out one of the Flowmaster 50’s, it’s an earlier version prior to the built-in resonator, this will give Ray a matched set.

Flatbed update; Got a phone call last week from Nova @ Semi Service the replacement CM bed is in! Somebody better get their truck back together pronto!

[rgunlock]

Hmm, where have I seen that helper pump recently? Are you planning to run this with the rocker switch in the cab like on Blue? Would there be a downside to simply run it always with ignition on? Hope the new bed is flawless.

[Dieselwrencher]

Man, I despise those carter style lift pumps. Good luck with it. I've put a lot of those in the trash can. Maybe they work better in gas apps? Haha

Very good news on the new bed though. Have a Happy Thanksgiving Brett!

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Hmm, where have I seen that helper pump recently? Are you planning to run this with the rocker switch in the cab like on Blue? Would there be a downside to simply run it always with ignition on? Hope the new bed is flawless.

Yep, that is a head scratcher! Yes, for now it’s wired to a rocker (our cargo light rocker worked nicely) and it will be on an ignition circuit. Had to hurry and button up the truck so I’ll have to come back to the wiring after the bed replacement but it is functional, just not idiot proofed yet! Thinking about a relay using the electric fans 12v ign trigger so if the fans have an issue the pump won’t work also.

Downside? An additional safety feature is a pressure switch, no oil pressure no fuel pump deal (see diagram). Some folks don’t like the noise of an internal/external electric pump, these are fairly quiet as they are insulated against the mounting bracket (I do like to turn mine off if it’s not needed, hot days and cheap gas just don’t mix). They are an inexpensive pump and I wouldn’t buy the knock off’s get an actual Carter brand if you’re going down this road.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Man, I despise those carter style lift pumps. Good luck with it. I've put a lot of those in the trash can. Maybe they work better in gas apps? Haha

Very good news on the new bed though. Have a Happy Thanksgiving Brett!

Happy Thanksgiving Ryan! I’d assumed diesel fuel pressures were much higher than these things can produce? I do know a guy who runs a small fleet of classic carbureted cars running E10 fuel and no mechanical pumps just these low-pressure pumps. He’s got one that’s a little finicky that he uses to drain tanks/move fluids (I’ve borrowed it now and again also) for 20 years. Since we are running one on each truck I did get an extra for the shelf so I guess my borrowing days are over…

[Dieselwrencher]

No, on the dodges that have those carter pumps, they are all below 10psi. All the 5.9 24v Cummins VP engines had those pumps on them as lift pumps.