Over 25 Years Later, Finally My 71 C-10 Truck Build

[hgs_notes]

Gonna get started with an update from the road trip. We loaded up and left the morning of 6/7.


We turned south and took mainly 2 lane highways across Iowa. Some of this route (most actually) I have been on several times in the past few weeks for work. We stopped in Estherville at a hot rod shop for a photo op.


I can't remember what town we saw this in...




We stopped at a drive inn place in Carroll for lunch...


And as we were turned south again we went over a big overpass for a set of train tracks. Down the hill I saw a body shop with a bunch of old iron around it so we turned around and found the road that led to it. A place called Total Performance (totalperformancerestorations.com) and the owner (Benton Warnke) was more than happy to let us rummage around. He showed us several of the projects he currently has going. He does mostly mopar stuff, but I don't think he turns any work down. There was plenty of GM and Ford products around also. If you're in the area around Des Moines to Omaha and need to get work done on a classic ride this guy can do it.
















We only had 1 break down with the truck this trip. We were pulling into a gas station in SW Iowa for a break, and we heard something that wasn't right. Took a look underneath and saw this...


Across the road was a Cenex that looked like more than a gas station. It had service bays, and looked like they did some agricultural business, but it was closed for the weekend. I walked over to look around cuz I saw a bunch of old junk/machinery around the site. I figured there was a chance they had a bolt I could scrounge off something. By a couple of the doors I found wet boxes of old junk parts, coffee cans with bolts and other mechanical bits in them. I found a few possibilities so I took them back to the truck. Between the assortment I found I had a perfect replacement shock bolt with lock washer included. A few minutes later we were heading south again. My son was amazed. I'm just used to finding solutions to problems and this was an easy one to fix.


While my son and I were driving due south, my oldest girl was heading down I-35 from St Paul and meeting us in Independence, MO. She beat us there by about 20 minutes. We found her and headed to Chips (low elco) place a mile or so away. Me and the kids...


We visited with Chip, had a beer, looked at his projects, then went to a hot rod BBQ place in the area. I'm gonna stop here for a bit. I have some work I need to get to but will get back on this later. Lots more pics and I'm not even done with the 1st day.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work! Those weird noises can drive a person nuts some times. Glad it was just a belt and not something worse.

[hgs_notes]

I finally got some time to work on the truck a little. I picked up some aluminum stock to make lowering blocks. I got enough to make 4 2"x7"x3/4" blocks and 2 2"x7"x1/2" blocks so I can adjust as needed. I figured 1-1/2" minimum would be needed.


I love my band saw...




Hole drilling time...


Looking like a machine shop around here.

My new u-bolts were 3/4" like the stockers. I have a 3/4" bit, but figured that was too tight on the tolerances. I don't have a 13/16" bit, so went with 7/8" and I'm glad I did.

The U-bolts as bent were too closed up. Probably 4" between the ends and 4-1/4" is needed. Tip of the day for opening them up a little: Put on some gloves, hold one side firmly (I found that holding it closer to the end worked better) and hammer that mother down on some solid concrete or an anvil if you have 1. Hit the top of the arch. The guy that made the bolts told me this trick. There is enough memory in the steel that it wants to flex back straighter and the blunt force on the bend will help it along.

So it looks like I'm ready...


Installing them wasn't too hard. I ended up taking the lower spring mount bolts out so the trailing arm would hang loose. Needed to persuade the axle forward to get the holes to line up with the arms lower.




The new stance...


I think it's good right there. 2" rake as measured from the top of each wheel arch.

Drove it around a bit to see if it would settle any. It didn't. Went by the scale and parked it there for a couple pics...




The weight, without me in it and about 3/4 tank of gas. Pretty good for a longbed I think.


Time to figure out what alignment specs I want and get it in. Road trip in a few weeks.

[Palf70Step]

I like it! Good rake to it.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work. I love your band saw and the new stance looks great!

[mcbassin]

Bummer about the loose belt, glad it was a simple fix. Pain having to change the water pump though. I dig the funnel idea

Very nice work on the lowering blocks too. You have a nice "machine shop" there.
Your truck looks great! I will be doing the same soon. If you don't mind, what did that place charge for the bolts? did you just have them add 1.5" to the stock length? thanks

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I like it! Good rake to it.

I think it's good right there too.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice work. I love your band saw and the new stance looks great!

Thanks. I got that saw at a farm auction for about $75.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Bummer about the loose belt, glad it was a simple fix. Pain having to change the water pump though. I dig the funnel idea

Very nice work on the lowering blocks too. You have a nice "machine shop" there.
Your truck looks great! I will be doing the same soon. If you don't mind, what did that place charge for the bolts? did you just have them add 1.5" to the stock length? thanks

I really didn't mind the water pump swap. Something I was sorta planning to do anyway. I have had the chance to buy real machine shop tools, like a lathe and milling machine, but declined because I just don't have the room for it yet. My next place will have a shop or room for me to build the shop I want and then I can accept the deals when I come across them. I had some training in high school (back when the schools still supported such things) and had more when I was in the navy. I think I would have been a good machinist if I had gone that route.

They charged plenty for the U-bolts. $60 because I got the full 3/4" diameter ones. I think the kits use 5/8". I told them the dimensions I needed and thats what they made me. I can't remember if they were 1-1/2" or 2" longer. I think 1-1/2" because there was still some threads showing through so if I used 2" blocks the bolts should still be long enough. They were about 10" long.

[Low Elco]

I like the rake!

[Dieselwrencher]

U-bolts have definitely gone up in price the last few years. But, the nice strong rod stock like you got will assure you don't have a loose axle. It drives me nuts that a lot of lift and lowering companies give the grade 3 and 5 u-bolts in their kits and that is sketch!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

I like the rake!

Same here.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

U-bolts have definitely gone up in price the last few years. But, the nice strong rod stock like you got will assure you don't have a loose axle. It drives me nuts that a lot of lift and lowering companies give the grade 3 and 5 u-bolts in their kits and that is sketch!

I paid $20 for the aluminum stock, and $60 for the U-bolts, so I didn't really save any money doing it this way, but I'm not worried about how strong it is, thats for sure.

Driving it the past couple days I had a new sqeak or high pitch sound in the driveline. Today I jacked it up, loosened the bolts on the hanger bearing and retightened in case there was some added pressure on the U joints from the driveline angle change. And since I was already under there I added a few squirts of grease to the U joints.

Took it to New Ulm where they are starting a regular Saturday night cruise thing and the noise was gone. Rode great but I gotta get the alignment done.

Here's a few pics from the cruise...

[Low Elco]

That Red TA gets the Old School Sammy Hagar going in my head. Just me, and my TRANS AM, come on catch me if you can.....

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice pics and glad you're driving it! How long until your trip down south?

[hgs_notes]

We will be leaving 6/7. Might head towards KC, then cut east through St Louis for a change of scenery.

[Dieselwrencher]

If you're in the area and have any issues, don't hesitate to give me a shout!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

If you're in the area and have any issues, don't hesitate to give me a shout!

Will do, but what if I'm not in your area? I still have your #.

Appointment is set for alignment. I'm seriously considering getting a spare fuel pump for the old holley EFI. It's 1 thing that may be a pain to get in stock and will leave me stranded. It's fairly old, used by a previous owner, has been run hot when I had recirc issues. I just don't trust it. I have a spare fan belt. I have my tool bag and oil, etc. The other worry is my old as dirt tires. Weather checked but not many miles on them. I plan to replace them and the wheels next spring if I get my bonus. They seem to be ok, but I constantly check them. I don't carry a spare, or a jack. I would just call for a tow if needed.

I don't expect problems. I do try to plan for them and avoid them where I can afford to do so. Last years trip went pretty smooth and a few of the issues I had then have been taken care of. The stereo and interior have been upgraded. New front suspension and steering components, new water pump and alternator. New lower stance to bang speed bumps on.

[Dieselwrencher]

:LOL: Well good luck either way. Might not be a bad idea to order a spare pump just in case. It will last a long time if you have a back up.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

:LOL: Well good luck either way. Might not be a bad idea to order a spare pump just in case. It will last a long time if you have a back up.

I found out it was cheaper to add emergency roadside assistance to my insurance policy than to buy a spare pump. $1/mo per car. So I added it to my truck and my daughters car since she has decided to join the road trip. She will go to some of the same places as my son and I, but take her own route for parts of it and instead of power tour she wants to leave earlier and head SE a bit further.

The alignment was done yesterday. A word of caution to those of you that haven't had this done. The cost they quote you for alignment is just for checking it. Adjustments add to the cost. Sometimes significantly. Mine was $271.

I had them try to reach the following specs based on info from the "make it handle" thread. +5* caster, -.5* camber, 1/8" toe in. They couldn't quite do it. I was a bit surprised how much caster I started with (alignment sheet attached below with before/after) because I didn't move my LCA's as far fwd as some have on that mod. But just doing that I had 6-7* caster. The further static drop from removing my spacers under the coils really messed with the camber though and they could only get it out to 1.24-1.45* so I will have to see how the road wear is at that. Spacers are maxed out on the UCA studs.

They also adjusted the rear axle too. They said it was probably dog legging a little. But it's rolling smooth and easy now. Almost ready for the big trip. Leaving here saturday and heading to Kansas City to see fellow board member low elco and have some fun there before heading east through St Louis and into IL.

[hgs_notes]

Heading south tomorrow morning and I think I have everything ready to go. The last bit was to get a motorcycle wheel chock made to help stabilize the dirt bike I'm bringing back home with me. The ones at the store seemed simple enough and hardly worth the $40-70 price. So I took some pics of the different styles and made my own.

Nothing fancy. I had some angle iron and flat stock around the garage to use and I paid $5 for an 8' long piece of 3/8" round stock. I bent the rod on my neighbors clothes line pole (all my stuff is square) and just tossed it together. I used my Kawasaki as a model, should be close enough on tire size.




Drilled holes in the bed floor and then painted it up pretty.




Later fellas.

[tkeduk8r]

Good luck! Safe travels!....
Mike

[Low Elco]

Thanks again for coming by! Truck is too cool, and Enjoyed meeting you and the kids. Hope the rest of the trip goes well.

[Low Elco]

Can't wait to see the rest of the trip!

[Palf70Step]

Ditto

[hgs_notes]

A few more pics from along the way to Chip Heads...




The reflection on the hood looks kinda cool...


As I said earlier, we went to get some BBQ. Chip took us to a A Little BBQ Joint (http://www.alittlebarbqjoint.com/), which looks like a garage with hot rod memorabilia all over. Including a bar made from a couple cars, complete with flame jobs.




Painting of a dragster, with a drag slick, and engine parts mounted to give it depth...

And Chips blurry head (normal state for him I think).

Old bikes, signs, etc, and Chip again. The camera just loves him.


This old car pulled in as we were leaving.


From there we went to the Independence Cruise Night. Chip said that there were typically more cars than what we saw cuz we were late. It's about 10 time the cars I see at our little local cruises. Here are some of my favorites and an example of the variety of stuff that shows up.

I will start with my dirty road worn truck...


Damn nice K-5, which was 1 more 1st gen than I saw on power tour.


Pro Street...


Looks familiar. Pretty sure it's been published...




Chip and I both dug this little beast...






Matching pair...




This one was just too cool. Shows that you don't have to be ratty to get into the details.






Factory Five Cobra. Owner on the right (who I talked to a bit about his build), Chipster on the left. Of all the pics I put up on fb, this 1 got the most likes from all the lady friends of the Chipster.


This camaro was over the top.






This mustang blew me away. Both of these built by a local shop.








Low n slow...


Dune buggies? Yep.


That's it for day 1. We went back to Chips to drop him off. Then headed east to the hotel. We had a great time packed into our brief stay in the KC area. Chip could've said, No thanks, I'm busy, but instead spent some time showing strangers around town, talking trucks/cars/junk, sharing his beer and being a fine host.

Thanks again Chip.

[hgs_notes]

The 2nd day on the road was pretty uneventful. We took Hwy 50 most of the way to St Louis. Saw some nice back road towns, and as we got closer to St Louis the road got hillier and windier. That was a nice change from the long flat open stuff we typically travel.

My daughters car tracking us all the way...


Entering St Louis...




Made it to my friend Damon's place...


That evening was primarily spent right here on the back patio, drinking beer, BS'ing, planning the next days schedule and catching up.


I met Damon in the navy. That's him looking at the camera. His youngest boy in the yellow tee. Whenever we get together, no matter how long it's been since the last time, we take off like it was yesterday. He always tells the same story about how we met and ended up getting tangled in each others lives to his friends when he is introducing me, so I will tell a version of it here.

Damon and I were in the navy nuclear power program together. When we got to Orlando for nuke power school there was a waiting period before we would start in the classes. In the meantime the quarter masters are responsible for assigning all of us idiots fresh out of A school to menial tasks around the base to keep us occupied until the day comes that we start to learn stuff. Damon and I got assigned to "trash watch". I'm not making it up, that's what it was called and where we first met.

Everything taught in the nuke power school is pretty much classified. Most of it was available through the library or other public records, but there were things specific to actual navy plants and I suppose the procedures for our training, etc that the navy didn't want dumped in the local landfill. Our job, the trash watch, was to show up around noon each day at a loading dock. The morning trash had been deposited there. We sorted through it. Every bag was scrounged through. Every paper that had anything on it even remotely tied to the training was pulled out and set aside for proper disposal. The aluminum cans were bagged and tossed into a semi trailer parked behind the dock. The rest was just trash and would go to the dumpster.

At first we just thought, ewww. Several guys in school were tobacco chewers. No smoking was allowed in the school and leaving for a smoke wasn't really an option outside of lunch time. Lots of partially full coffee cups and chewed gum in there. You got used to it pretty quickly and the yuck factor waned. After an hour or so of sorting, we were done. Then we waited, there in the trash dock, until afternoon when we would head out into the school and get the afternoon trash and haul it back to the dock. This was around 3 or so, when it would rain like the sky was dumping the ocean for about 15 minutes everyday and the sun would poke back out and you could watch the moisture radiate out of the ground like a vampires myst. Oh yeah it was hot. The hottest wettest place on earth as far as I knew at the time.

Anyway, we sorted that trash, cleaned up the dock, found the quarter master in charge of us and begged for dismissal. That's where I met Damon.

After that, we were put into the same section (class) in nuke school. We made it through that and got assigned to the same prototype facility in Idaho. We ended up having to wait again for our school to start and we got assigned to the maintenance training group (MTG). It was a group of fleet machinist mates on shore duty that did maintenance in the prototype plants. These are operational nuclear reactors based on actual ship/submarine reactor plants that are operated by us students with qualified operators looking over our shoulders.

We started in the same class again, which is on a rotating shift work schedule. We were on the same shift.

We managed to make it through that hell and were getting orders for where we were going in the fleet. Before that though, I was going to be a ships emergency welder, so I was going to San Diego to go to an abbreviated Hull Tech welding school. Damon didn't do that, which put a slight shimmy in our groove. I have an uncle that was a chief of the boat (COB) on the USS Nevada. A trident missile boat in Bangor, WA. He wanted to get me assigned to his boat. Well they didn't need a welder. Each crew of each boat is allowed 2 welders only. So he said, "fine, just give me the next guy on the list then. And get Wells assigned to the boat that has the closest patrol rotation as the Nevada." That was Damon. I was sent to the USS Michigan. Our patrol cycles were about 2-3 weeks apart.

We both did our 6 years, got married, had kids or were about to in my case and were going back to civilian life. Damon is from Decatur, IL. I'm from MN but my wife is from Idaho, which is where we went. Somehow Damon ended up in MN. About an hour drive from where I grew up.

He was working with a guy that was a boiler inspector, but had been laid off and doing energy surveys for a utility. I was working at a potato dehydration plant. I got laid off and actually found a job back in MN, so we were back in the same area again. Then the boiler inspector he was working with got offered a job with Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB) and they asked him if he knew anyone else that was qualified and he gave them Damons name. He called me up and gave me the good news of the new job. He didn't tell me about it before hand cause he knew I was looking for something different and didn't want to compete with me for the job (smart on his part, I was more qualified, lol). To help me out though, he said they were still looking for more people and gave me the contact info. I faxed a resume from my work the next day, interviewed a few days later and gave my 2 week notice the day after that. Never looked back, it's been an awesome career.

So we were going through the training to get out inspector commissions, car pooling into Minneapolis everyday, when a change in the company prompted lay offs. Here we are, newbies, unqualified and saw the writing on the wall. But things don't always go as expected. Turns out HSB had an opening in southern IL and they offered that to Damon instead of him staying in MN as was the original plan. I still got my territory up in the Fargo/Grand Forks area and life went on.

We both changed employers a few times, always staying in this field though. And here we are over 20 years later, still friends, in a sense still co-workers, and tangled up in each others lives. I helped build the 400 sbc in his Camaro he still has. He helped me do lots of stuff on my truck and other cars from back then. Now he's teaching my kids how to shoot (He's a certified instructor).

Well that's a lot of words. Hope I didn't bore you all too much. That's it for day 2.

Sunset that evening...

[jlaird]

Thanks for sharing road trip pics. Looks like a blast!