Lattimer's 1970 C-10 build

[Street Smart]

Originally Posted by Lattimer

Also-----on my test drive, I ran a few errands. Started the truck in the parking lot of the pool store and noticed the temp gauge at 240. Not cool. Discovered both electric fans inoperable. Both fuses were blown and melted. Absolutely no clue why. No evidence of a short anywhere. I temp wired them without fuses to get home, and both fans run perfect with no issues. The fuse and relay harness was a kit from Jegs that I bought with my fans. Now I have more wiring to do.

I`ve seen this happen way to often, there isn`t a problem, just to much current traveling thru small connections. I usually use circuit breakers that have two threaded studs sticking out. or you can look into a maxi fuse and holder with the big blades.
just a pic so you know what I`m talking about
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/conten.../s4/60-485.jpg

[Street Smart]

By the way, thanks again for the 5 lug rear, hope you enjoyed the bottle.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Street Smart

I`ve seen this happen way to often, there isn`t a problem, just to much current traveling thru small connections. I usually use circuit breakers that have two threaded studs sticking out. or you can look into a maxi fuse and holder with the big blades.
just a pic so you know what I`m talking about
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/conten.../s4/60-485.jpg

I've used those before.

I wired in new fuse holders, but I used the old school glass fuses this time. So far so good.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Street Smart

By the way, thanks again for the 5 lug rear, hope you enjoyed the bottle.

No problem, and I definitely did!

[Lattimer]

Visited another body shop today. I see a place when I ride the airport shuttle, looks like a little mom& pop type place, but they always have cool stuff sitting out front. So I stopped in today. They have a really cool fully restored duece-and-a-half military truck sitting there 99% done, a couple cool frame off truck projects under way, a really nice GTO being buffed out, etc.

So I took my Chevy in for a quote. The guy wants to basically do the work one section at a time, one piece at a time. He wants to keep the truck for a week, do one area, then have me bring it back for more. Just keep it in primer until its all done. Seems like a more budget friendly approach, and allows me to fix some of the body stuff that I feel able to do before he gets it.

I like the approach, so he gave me a quote today to fix the rust on both of my doors, which is really the biggest issue I have left. He'll keep it a week, give it back with the doors in primer, new steel welded in and bodywork done.

I like the approach, and he seems like a cool guy. Went all over my truck and he really appreciates the old stuff. As he stared, he works on anything that comes in.

So, I go in for door repairs on 8/26, and at that time he will quote the next piece for me.

Shop is Century Collision, Repair, and Refinishing, in Lester, PA. Its on RT 291 just south of the Philly airport.

[Bennett68C10]

Good to hear Shawn, can't wait to see how it turns out for you and the quality of work they do.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Good to hear Shawn, can't wait to see how it turns out for you and the quality of work they do.

The nice part is, if the quality is sub par all he did was my door bottoms and I'll go elsewhere.

[Lattimer]

Busy weekend. Decided to get my gauges in and my new steering column. Took me two full days. Most of it was straightforward, but I had 2 items that kicked my ass and took a ton of time. Running the new oil line for the pressure gauge killed me. Not enough space for my huge hands at the back of the engine, plus I managed to break the fitting not once, but twice. I checked it after a test ride and I still seem to have a small leak.

Other issue was my steering wheel. The Flaming River adapter isn't drilled right, so I had to re-drill my steering wheel. Hard to do without a template. Took a lot of time to get it to fit.

This cluster is custom made with a clock in the empty spot. Only thing not working right now is the temp gauge, that will wait for my new engine. I'm not draining the coolant just to put the sensor in.

[cxcoleman67]

Good looking truck, enjoyed the read and the photos....

[Lattimer]

Decided to run the truck over the scales at work. Me in it, full tank of gas, tool kit under the seat, it comes in at 4320. I'm 400 of it, so the truck is right at 3900. I had expected it to be heavier.

[Bennett68C10]

It's amazing how light the SWB 2wd trucks really are isn't it. I always thought they would be much heavier.
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[68c10airstream]

Hey lattimer, you may remember me from a post a while back about complimenting engineers. Pm me when you can. Be patient, i've only pm'd once so it will take a bit, Thanks, Brian F.

[Lattimer]

Well, among all of the other stuff I have been working on, this week the truck decided to pee on the garage floor. Walked into a garage full of gas fumes on Monday. So I re-plumbed the fuel lines and put in a new fuel filter. Should have done that a long time ago, but never saw that filter hidden and wrapped in wire loom.

While I was underneath I noticed the diff leaking, so I changed the oil in that (again) and re-sealed the cover.

Then I finished up installing my amplifier and installed a very small subwoofer under the seat. Now I have four 4" Pioneer 2-ways in the highliner and 1 8" Pioneer sub under the bench seat powered by a 4-channel Hifonics amp running in 3 channel mode. Sorry, forgot to take pics.


Spent today working on my spare grille trying to see if I can make it better than the one I have. Inner turned out really nice, outer still needs the black parts painted.

Also finished installing pulleys on my new engine and mocked up the new headers so i could route the plug wires. Engine is a large journal 1968 model 327, bored .030" over. Flat top pistons, camel hump heads, roller rockers, moderate cam. Calculates at 9.6:1 compression. First engine I have ever completely rebuilt myself. Went through every inch. Was a running motor when i got it, wound up keeping the pistons, rods, wrist pins, and crank. All new bearings, new oil pan, freeze plugs, cam bearings, cam, lifters, roller rockers, timing set, some chrome and polished stuff...etc. Hopefully it runs good. Intake/carb/dizzy will get swapped from the 327 that is currently in the truck. Should be dropping this in the truck in a few weeks.

[Lattimer]

Oh, and please ignore the ghetto rigged harbor freight engine stand.

[Bennett68C10]

Motor looks great
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[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Motor looks great
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Thanks!

It will look even better once its in the truck.

[Lattimer]

Truck is at the body shop this week getting the passenger door rust repaired. So while its been out I started working on rehabbing my spare grill. The PO gave me this one with the truck. It was a little less dented than the on on the truck, but the finish was long since gone. So, I stripped it with easy-off, spent some hours with a hammer and dolly getting the dents out, and cleaned and buffed it with steel wool.

Then I clear coated the whole thing.

The I painted the black back the way it was supposed to be and added vinyl lettering.

I repaired a broken spot in the inner grill, painted it up, and added a custom "327" badge to the grill.

[Lattimer]

The dents didn't all come out perfect, and the finish wound up looking like brushed aluminum. Pretty cool look. I'm going to swap this onto the truck at some point. and work on rehabbing my other grill also.

[El Campo]

Truck is looking good! Love white. Do you still have the bellow style seal in your steering column or did I delete it altogether now that u have u joint at the steering gear? Did not see that on the thread anywhere.
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[Mister-B]

The grille looks REALLY nice! Wish you lived closer, and we could do a workout and then tinker with the trucks

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by El Campo

Truck is looking good! Love white. Do you still have the bellow style seal in your steering column or did I delete it altogether now that u have u joint at the steering gear? Did not see that on the thread anywhere.
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All the original stock steering stuff is gone. Right now I have a clunk in the new column that I think is because the slip joint is gone, so I'm trying to figure out what to do with that.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Mister-B

The grille looks REALLY nice! Wish you lived closer, and we could do a workout and then tinker with the trucks

Thanks!

I actually just picked it up from the body shop, passenger door rust is now gone. Goes back on 9/16 for the drivers door.

[El Campo]

Oh and also how do you like the electric fans? I bought the same ones but haven't got them on yet.
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[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by El Campo

Oh and also how do you like the electric fans? I bought the same ones but haven't got them on yet.
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They work great. I have a 4-core radiator, and the truck never goes over 205 with the fans running, even sitting in traffic in 98 degrees with the AC on.

[Lattimer]

Old engine is out. Wasn't too bad to do.