Restoring Rusty

[Gregski]

Spent the day cleaning, cleaning, and prepping, here is the inside of the inspection or dust cover what ever it is called, goes in front of the flywheel

[Gregski]

after a lot of cleaning, degreasing, and paint stripping I decided to paint the dust cover with POR15, only doing one coat so it actually dries cause it is winter

[Gregski]

then it was time to clean the oil pan

this must be what goes on in the pit at Jiffy Lube, they must be really good at it, to drop the pan and clean it like this in 30 minutes or less, LOL

[sgr60]

Subscribed - awesome work you're doing!

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by sgr60

Subscribed - awesome work you're doing!

Thank you

[Gregski]

it was time for POR15 on the oil pan as well, also one coat just to cover up the raw metal, in the Summer time I would have done two

Shoved a rolled up paper towel in the drain plug hole to protect the threads, and I put blue tape around the surface where the gasket will go so I would not get any POR15 paint on there, I think the stuff is kinda thick and I wanted to keep the area virgin

[Gregski]

you ever seen that cartoon with the devil on the guys one shoulder and an angel on the other...

ANGEL: Do it right, how many times are you going to drop the pan, install a new oil pump and pickup tube while you are at it, also get the one piece gasket.

DEVIL: Dude IT'S A TRUCK!!! Forget the new oil pump, just get the cheapest cork gasket and call it good! No one will know.

[Gregski]

The Oil Pump is arguably the most important component in the Internal Combustion Engine, yet it requires no gasket for installation, what gives?

[Gregski]

What's worse than one Temperature Sensor? (think more places to leak from)

I don't get it why do our trucks require two of them? I get that one is for the Transmission Controlled Spark System - TCS (manual transmission trucks only) and the other for the gauge, but why can't one sensor serve double duty?

[Gregski]

So picked up and installed the new freeze plug. I inspected two others (one on opposite side, and one in front by the fuel pump) and they looked ok. I could not get to the two in the rear of the engine, or the two under the engine mounts, nor the last one by the steering pump.

I used a 1" socket to get it started.

Looks good, so does it leak?

OH HECK YES - First thing tomorrow I am off to AutoZone for a new one and their Freeze Plug Installation Kit.

[Gregski]

even took off the starter cable to clean it ~ I'm a sick puppy

Can someone tell me why this positive terminal cable is BLACK instead of RED?

[Gregski]

Finally got the blower unit reassembled, and put back on the truck, and I must say it looks the business!

I ended up using the 3M Strip-Calk product aka "dumb dumb" between it and the firewall as someone on this forum recommended, thanks again.

[Gregski]

Winter Projects Suck, even here in Cali, especially painting in the winter, so you have to get creative. Here we peak inside our paint booth and literally watch paint dry, as I had to get creative. This little yellow halogen jobbie is 500 Watts and puts off some good heat.

[Gregski]

man I thought I would never change that oil, always wanted to line my oil cans up like that, TV car show style and all, LOL

I know its cheap Oil but if there's anything my daddy taught me it's that it is better to replace cheap oil often than expensive oil NEVER, am I right fellas.

Splurged $2 bucks on a new 1/2 inch drain plug as the washer on my old one was crusty.

[Gregski]

Look at that radiator drain plug, can you see those buggers stuck in it, that would explain why I had to remove the lower radiator hose to drain it.

Interesting design GM, flushing the cooling system hinges on one tiny 1/4 inch hole, why couldn't you just give us a wing nut type plug and call it good.

No hon I did not see your Q-tips, why would I take em?!

[Gregski]

Took out this passenger side engine block drain plug for no reason, well I guess to drain the coolant out of the block to replace the poorly installed new freeze plug again.

I wish I had a picture of this little guy cleaned up, thought I did, oh well, used a wire whee, and it cleaned up real good. I opted no to remove it's twin from the driver side, didn't wanna push my luck.

[Gregski]

First time I dealt with a starter with shims, I guess that explains the two busted starter teeth I found in the bell housing under the fly wheel, must have been from the old starter.

[Gregski]

got some new wiring mounting clips/hangers only to find out they are not the same kind, the old ones only have a bolt hole on one side and just bend over, not too happy with these, does anybody know where to get the OEM style hangers?

So cleaned up and re used the old ones. These run along my oil pan and hold the positive starter cable and others to the pan.

[rusty76]

You're making progress. A lot of it really.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by rusty76

You're making progress. A lot of it really.

Yes, this phase kicked my butt.

[Jake Wade]

What product did you use to paint that blower unit? That is the perfect underhood finish, not too glossy, not too flat, just right.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Jake Wade

What product did you use to paint that blower unit? That is the perfect underhood finish, not too glossy, not too flat, just right.

Thank you, I like it too. I've used KRYLON Rust Tough Enamel - Semi Flat Black on everything from the wheels, to the front bumper and now for bits under the hood. However it is getting too expensive at $7 bucks a rattle can. Thinking about switching to Rust-Oleum.

[Jake Wade]

Originally Posted by Gregski

Thank you, I like it too. I've used KRYLON Rust Tough Enamel - Semi Flat Black on everything from the wheels, to the front bumper and now for bits under the hood. However it is getting too expensive at $7 bucks a rattle can. Thinking about switching to Rust-Oleum.

Would you mind posting the part#?

[Gregski]

Finally some pics of the finished passenger side of the engine bay.

Blower assembly, painted - done
Inner Fender, replaced/painted - done
Battery Tray, replaced/painted - done
Frame Rail, painted - done

What do you think of the body color instead of black on the inner fender?

I only painted the lid of the air cleaner housing because I am going to replace it with the Retro one from LMC Truck next month.

[Jake Wade]

I don't know if you have installed the oil pan yet but, the position of the pickup screen to pan needs to be 1/4"-3/8". I like to tack the screen to the pump as I have seen them fall off.