PROJECT: How would a Chevrolet dealer build a shop truck in the early 1970s?

[mattfranklin]

It's scary how close it is to rolling. Got the shocks and grille/hood latch installed. Now all it needs (I think) are insurance and registration.

[DD1]

Originally Posted by mattfranklin

It's scary how close it is to rolling. Got the shocks and grille/hood latch installed. Now all it needs (I think) are insurance and registration.

Glad to hear it's almost ready to roll. Let's see some pics.

[72c20customcamper]

A shop truck in the 70s. C20 six with a 4spd and highway gears. Remember gas went from 33 cents a gallon to 55. I drove a jeep j20 232 6 with a 4 speed for years at my uncle's AMC dealership

[mattfranklin]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

A shop truck in the 70s. C20 six with a 4spd and highway gears. Remember gas went from 33 cents a gallon to 55. I drove a jeep j20 232 6 with a 4 speed for years at my uncle's AMC dealership

Sounds like fun. I love those old Jeep pickups, too. I used to go to Boe Jeep in Concord, MN to get parts for my '74 Cherokee (and maybe my '54 M38-A1).

EDIT: And which engine goes in the shop truck depends on who gets to drive it and who makes the engine decisions. If the workers drive it and the boss makes the decision, then it's the six for sure. ;-)

[mattfranklin]

First time I have had rats build a nest under my hood. And eat the starter control wire. And pull off the distributor power connector (twice).

[mattfranklin]

More pics. Air cleaner base for a Corvette or Z-28 Camaro with the LT-1 350.

Several views of the carb that was driving me crazy and is now ok.
It would only start when primed and wouldn't idle very well and would not restart unless primed.
It turned out it was a bit of green sludge from not running it often enough.
Accelerator pump circuit (and probably idle circuit) clogged with a minty green sludge.
I think the ethanol gas and brass float were not playing nice together when run only once every six months.

As a side note, it was kind of fun fiddling with the Holley (Street Avenger 770, very similar to the LT-1 spec 4150, 780cfm).

The new fan shroud that makes cooling more efficient and protects careless hands and fingers.

Installed a new/rebuilt Delco alternator with internal regulator. New alternator was hooked up using a handy YouTube video without much wiring other than swapping my old terminals into the new connector and plugging a couple of jumpers unto the old connector for the external regulator. It charges at 13.7v.

Here's the video I followed for the alternator conversion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBbn...ature=youtu.be
(It was surprisingly easy.)

Things keep getting better.

It charges and I'm shocked at how well it starts and idles.

[mattfranklin]

And again

[mattfranklin]

Last two of the day. These two shots remind me of how badly I need to get new wood for the bed.

[DD1]

Welcome back Matt! You must have been very side-tracked if you didn't notice a rats nest that big under the hood. Your engine looks pretty clean and I like the patina on your truck. Look forward to seeing more soon!

[mattfranklin]

Originally Posted by DD1

Welcome back Matt! You must have been very side-tracked if you didn't notice a rats nest that big under the hood. Your engine looks pretty clean and I like the patina on your truck. Look forward to seeing more soon!

Thanks! Good to be back. Sidetracked by a treefort build, blacksmithing forge, aluminum casting, poison oak, pandemic, and a downsizing at work (still in progress). Those are my excuses and I'm sticking with them. ;-)

Still, I'm quite energized by how well this beast runs. I think my next step is getting proper tires for the front instead of the castoffs from my old Accord. And then start testing it with longer and longer trips. More than the half a block at a time that I have been doing, anyway. Did I mention that I'm still excited about how well it starts and runs (and charges)? Though I'd never see the day. Thankful.

[LT7A]

That's a neat truck. I hope you can install the missing parts and enjoy using it some.

[mattfranklin]

Thanks.

Work list for this spring:
1) Swap drivers side header out for a real Dorman replacement 2 1/2" ram's horn. This is so I stop burning up plug boots and so I can put a normal dipstick in without juggling the tube in and out around the headers every time I want to check level.
2) Some new front tires might be in my future.
3) A stretch goal might be to put on standard height valve keepers so I can have my full rev range now that the cam is broken in. I had 0.050" taller keepers during the break-in to lower the pressure per my machinist's recommendation..

[mattfranklin]

Good progress last weekend. I swapped out that Sanderson "shortie" header for a 2 1/2" ram's horn. Welded up the new header pipe to the manifold. And inserted the new dipstick. Unfortunately, inserted the dipstick with the wrong clocking so it's almost as awkward to check oil as it was before all that work. Twos steps forward, one step back. I know I owe you guys some pics.

[DD1]

Originally Posted by mattfranklin

Good progress last weekend. I swapped out that Sanderson "shortie" header for a 2 1/2" ram's horn. Welded up the new header pipe to the manifold. And inserted the new dipstick. Unfortunately, inserted the dipstick with the wrong clocking so it's almost as awkward to check oil as it was before all that work. Twos steps forward, one step back. I know I owe you guys some pics.

Hey Matt, Glad you are back at it. We need to see some pics of the stuff you are doing!

[mattfranklin]

I got it running again. Very frustrating. I kept filling the carb bowl and it would start and run great until the bowl went dry. The tank was full, but the pump lately didn't seem to be able to pull any fuel. It's a fairly new AC Delco pump, with probably less than 20 hours of running and idling.

On a hunch, I primed the pump this time and it kept going great. Maybe I need to start it more often than a few times a year.

I even drove it half a block, pulled a u-turn, and came back home without issue. I'm scared I'll get stuck and have to call AAA. My plan is to drive it at least once a week and go a little further each time and watch for issues to make sure it's reliable.

I changed one hood hinge today it was one of those "OER" brand ones from Summit. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/oer-t70297 I was able to fiddle it myself with a prop board to hold to hood up and a gymnastics pad to protect the windshield. The quality seems reasonable. I just transferred my old spring over because it looked fine. I hit the pivot points with waterproof "Sta-Lube" marine grease. That side sits way, way better now. The other side is on the way and is supposed to arrive in a few days.

Also, I ordered the AC Delco 9088C plug wire set, but have not yet installed.

I'm about to order a new stock gas tank because the original got hacked up by someone trying to remove the locked cap to steal gas back when the previous owner had it.

Progress.

And yes, I owe you some pics, but hey at least I'm documenting with part numbers and/or links. ;-)

[mattfranklin]

Just ordered a gas tank, too: https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-839...origin=keyword

Kind of on a roll with this. Sometimes you just gotta order some parts and eat less.

EDIT: Amazon had the tank on backorder, so I cancelled that order and ordered it from Summit Racing, who had several in stock.
Arrives Wednesday, they say.

[mattfranklin]

And yes, I definitely owe you guys some pictures.

Yesterday got the other hood hinge installed. It made a difference in the height of the rear of the hood. Now it's within the range of adjustment to get the rear down level with the cowl.

Then I also adjusted the front bump stops and got the front level. Maybe a picture or two later this week.

The nice thing about driving it every couple of days is that I don't have to prime it. Just hit the key and it roars to life.

[BigBird05]

Looks like I am accidentally copying your build. I needed an engine for my truck (1972 C-10) and found a 68 Camaro 327.

[mattfranklin]

Sounds like fun!

Originally Posted by BigBird05

Looks like I am accidentally copying your build. I needed an engine for my truck (1972 C-10) and found a 68 Camaro 327.

[mattfranklin]

I just got a Holley heater box and a Summit brass/copper heater core from Summit. It's been driving me crazy when the rodents get in through the firewall hole and mess up the interior.

[mattfranklin]

A little side project on my exh manifolds in the powertrain forum instead of here. It seemed more like a general interest thing, so I posted it there.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=846677