Crossing over, the 65 rebuild.

[step65]

Nice work gives me motivation to spend more time working on mine. Thanks for all the pictures love to watch progress.

[NEWFISHER]

Thanks guys!

I feel your pain Don. 1st trip I had a string measurement but was convinced by the counter guy that 36 was the correct fit by application, having a 72 350 with 73 steering pump and bracket. 2nd trip was me thinking that since the 36 was waaaaay to long, a 31 would be correct. 3rd was settling for something in between the two.

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No tech here, but a couple pics from my " would rather go for a drive than work on the truck " day. Had to put on over 300 miles, fill up 3 times , road trip to check for powersteering leaks

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[TJ's Chevy]

Truck is sweet!

[likaroc13]

Cool pics! Glad you posted about the belt. Not sure mine will be exactly the same, but it reminded me that it's something we gotta figure out before it hits the road again.

[duallyjams]

I think you really need to take some more test rides, well that's what I tell my wife when I take her truck.

[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by likaroc13

Cool pics! Glad you posted about the belt. Not sure mine will be exactly the same, but it reminded me that it's something we gotta figure out before it hits the road again.

I did the "run a string around the path" trick and it measured 31 at the bottom of the groove. Parts guy said that was how their belts were measured, but the application called for one that was 5 inches longer. Next time I will get 3 of them in 2 inch increments and then return 2 of them the next time I am there. That would have saved half the day!

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

I did the "run a string around the path" trick and it measured 31 at the bottom of the groove. Parts guy said that was how their belts were measured, but the application called for one that was 5 inches longer. Next time I will get 3 of them in 2 inch increments and then return 2 of them the next time I am there. That would have saved half the day!

Yep, great idea! I will have to remind my dad in case he goes to pick one up without me.

[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by duallyjams

I think you really need to take some more test rides, well that's what I tell my wife when I take her truck.

Ya, she has been gone most weekends lately taking care of her Aunt but when that's done she will be ready for the truck. My problem now is after driving this thing, my 50 Burb ( normally my DD) feels under powered with a 200hp inline 6 and I feel a V8 conversion coming. Something about smoking the tires at will brings back teenage memories from decades ago

[Jmorales3181]

You are jamming out!!! So when are you going to trade your wife your suburban for her truck....or are you going to build urself one now you have become affected by this addictive desease we all share. Nice progress!

[Ta2Don]

Awesome Pics!!! Sounds like a sufficient shake down cruise!

[Dinos63]

well done sir , very cool

[pdxhall]

Your truck looks very nice with the upgrades and personal touch you've given it.
Great pix.

[NEWFISHER]

.Thanks guys! The comments are great motivation and encouragement.

Then we have set backs and have to overcome little obstacles. On the shake down I drove all day, I mean 3 fill ups and stayed off every multi lane highway and kept to the outer skirts of the farm lands around the valley. I took roads I had never been down, just to drive. It really was a great day , a great mind clearing road trip in a great Chevy truck! On several occasions I made a few "crap, I need to turn down that road because I see a cool car next to that barn" moments, long down hill heavy braking situations and just a lot of 55 to right turn in 2 seconds stuff. The brake pedal throughout the day kept getting a little closer to the carpet and on the last fill up I spoted the wet streaks on the right rear inner tire and put the nail in the wheel cylinder coffin when I found the master empty.


Now, knowing I have front and rear disc conversions and a full line set with corvette dual master sitting on the shelf at work, do I park the truck and wait until this weekends funeral, following weekends family, next is Thanksgiving and try to squeeze a big teardown into December all the while knowing I can't drive a truck with no brakes? A few weeks ago I had every weekend planned to get small projects done making large results happen. Things change in life , you get knocked down and it seems the steam you have built up falls short on your project and they get abandoned.I have had this happen before and have seen several a friend go through it. Not wanting to park the truck and trying my best to. Do my part to keep the economy going, I bought a pair of $10.78 wheel cylinders and had at it after work. Grabbed the rear line to unscrew it and it twisted the line in half. Grab a new one out of the box, nope they are for disc and too short (rubber line to calipers) so a run to the parts store. Did I mention its my wifes Birthday and we are doing diner at 7? Back to work and toss some parts in that will be tossed in the garbage in a month or less, but I picked her up in it smelling like brake fluid and dinner was great!

She loves the truck, its back on the road and I feel like the small speedbumps are the ones that test you throughout our projects. Maybe its my rant, my frustration , the desire to have this truck done and tripping over little set backs around every corner? Or mabey its the margarhita and too many chips

[Low Elco]

You did the right thing. Running trucks tend to keep the motivation factor up. Plus you're gonna be too busy to jack with a big project. Keep 'er burblin' down the road.

[duallyjams]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

You did the right thing. Running trucks tend to keep the motivation factor up. Plus you're gonna be too busy to jack with a big project. Keep 'er burblin' down the road.

yep, I would have done the same, keep it on the road and do little weekend updates.

[NEWFISHER]

On tonight's menu, the Chef has sourced some very marinated NW sway bar. It is lightly dusted first in the media cabinet, seasoned with a hint of wax an grease remover then glazed with a hamerite spray bomb and accompanied by 4 fresh Mandarin xiàngjiāo ( aka Chinese rubber bushings ).

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more pics as our meal unfolds

[NEWFISHER]

Bar and hardware blasted and painted. I ordered all new bushings and parts guy says " I have to get them from different manufacturers, is that ok"? Sure, I say. I open up the Quick Steer p/n K6408 and the Moog p/n K6408 and find the same bushings, same packing label, same part number for those wanting to order a set.

[NEWFISHER]

Flew in late last night, worked this morning and at lunch I sorted out all of the nuts, bolts and valuable shared info from this site on sway bars! I didn't buy the dropped brackets mostly because I forgot last week with everything leading up to the funeral this past weekend. I held up the stock ones and knowing that I am going to bag this thing, I thought " well, it will only be temporary". Thankfully other members have been down this same road before me and have shared their info here with us. You CAN mount the bushing clamp directly to the frame without the bracket (there is a secret). One member commented that the bar would interfere with the steering box on powersteering set up's (remember I just installed it last weekend). I read that and was bummed, but determined to figure out why. I loosely installed the outers and the bar with the truck at rest and well lubed with dry silicone spray letting it hang in the center. I pushed it up and he was right, it does interfere with the pitman arm and the drag link......until you pull the bar 1/4 inch or so to the front of the truck through the well lubricated and loosely installed clamps at the A arms! Whaaaallllaaaa! I cut the rivets individually and installed a through bolt as mentioned to keep the crossmember from shifting. Drilled the back hole and loosely installed the bar clamp/bushing directly to the frame for better clearance and no aftermarket waiting for dropped brackets to arrive. After everything was lubed and loosely installed, I shifted the bar around until it looked clear and straight then tightened everything down. Here is the thread that saved my butt and made the bar install 45 minutes start to finish! Thanks for those who contributed to the FAQ thread.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=72338

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The pics at the end show the clearance between the pitman arm and the drag link
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I have so much time left tonight thinking this was a several hour project that I'll be able to burn at least 3/4 tank out of it before getting home ripping the local roads up

[NEWFISHER]

Okay, I just got home and I can only say " why didn't I or anyone else here with a coil sprung truck install a sway bar already" ?!! This is the cheapest, easiest bang for your buck improvement I have done this far. $20 used bar with clamps and brackets (didn't use them) , $22 for4 bushings, a few bucks for spray bomb and grade 8 hardware. 45 minute install and about the same to search a few threads, get good advise and bead blast the parts. 2 weeks ago with manual it drove good. Added powersteering last weekend and drove better but I noticed quicker entry into corners causing my wife and then my buddy on a 300 mile cruise through the valley on Sunday grabing for the arm rest on the tighter twisties and sharper in town corners. Tonight, flat ,solid, effortless. After stopping for fuel I noticed on a few pushed corners, a fuel smell I had never noticed before. It handles so well and effortless that the force is pushing fuel past the cap vent where before I hadn't cornered that hard. I also picked up of Costco's rottesserie chicken noodle soup after gassing up and always set it in the bed ontop of the spray in liner. Jump out at home and grab it, not tonight. I slung it across the bed and almost exploded it on the bed panel during a corner. The cooler I bolted down that my buddy said I would never use came in handy!

I sent him a pic too

[pdxhall]

It's good to hear the sway bar is working so well. I put one in mine, but I haven't been able to appreciate it yet.

[Low Elco]

Look up the 3rd gen Z-28 rear sway bar mod in 60-66, I'm itchin' to try it. Here ya go-

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...507111&page=12

Have fun!

[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Look up the 3rd gen Z-28 rear sway bar mod in 60-66, I'm itchin' to try it. Here ya go-

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...507111&page=12

Have fun!

I'm on it! Thanks for the info, you're reading my mind

[Low Elco]

Glad to help! Fab up some good deep cup holders- you gonna need 'em!

[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Glad to help! Fab up some good deep cup holders- you gonna need 'em!

I have a line on some big block rods that I am securing the wrist pin end of each together, welding them into a " V " and using the big end as the cup holder. Little end under the seat.

Rear sway bar located at a local wrecking yard. I have to work this weekend so no time to go pull it myself. I'm having them lay in the rain and puddles today and delivering out to work this afternoon if all goes well.

[lucifer]

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

Thanks guys!

I feel your pain Don. 1st trip I had a string measurement but was convinced by the counter guy that 36 was the correct fit by application, having a 72 350 with 73 steering pump and bracket. 2nd trip was me thinking that since the 36 was waaaaay to long, a 31 would be correct. 3rd was settling for something in between the two.

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No tech here, but a couple pics from my " would rather go for a drive than work on the truck " day. Had to put on over 300 miles, fill up 3 times , road trip to check for powersteering leaks

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Newfisher Love the truck. Any chance you would share the color code? Its what I have been looking for.

thanx