Palf's Little Blue Jimmy

[Palf70Step]

When I pulled motor, noticed oil in the coolant (not the other way). Took it back to builder and found a bad oil vein. Not sure , but suspect it may have contributed to the lifter/cam issue. Now to find another block.

[Palf70Step]

Took a 3-4 hr cruise to a friend's house in Louisiana and picked up 2 more 250 short blocks. Took us an hour to fetch and load the blocks, then heading back home.
The closer one in the picture is from a 68 C10 (casting Nov 1967, assembled Dec 67), the one closer to the tool box is from a 1978 non-integrated head model, AC block (Casting is March 1978, assembled Apr 11, 78) The 78 block spins freely and rust seems minimal. Both blocks look untouched as far as boring. Will run them up to the builder Tuesday. I imagine the builder will want the 78 block and hopefully I can get the engine back quick and back in truck for Cruising the Coast on Oct 3. I am so ready for it to be running again.

Only bad thing is someone in a big tall truck backed into the tailgate of the ole Dodge. Happened at a rest area, I believe, and I didn't see it till I got to my friends. There was a big box type truck across from me when I pulled in and was gone when I left the rest area. Hopefully I can work it out.

[Palf70Step]

Wife and I went to one of our club gathering over at St Francisville, LA. Bunch of nice trucks and good food. Here are the photos of alll the trucks and couple cars that attended. Unfortunately the little Jimmy is still without its guts, so the Dodge had to do the honors. Way better than the CR-V.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/prmJEFamGhAEeCUk8

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Wife and I went to one of our club gathering over at St Francisville, LA. Bunch of nice trucks and good food. Here are the photos of alll the trucks and couple cars that attended. Unfortunately the little Jimmy is still without its guts, so the Dodge had to do the honors. Way better than the CR-V.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/prmJEFamGhAEeCUk8

Hey...!!


Rather a CR-V than a walk.

GMC will be back.


Interesting that I cannot access pics via the link.

[Palf70Step]

Well it has been a while, really over a year since the Jimmy has been on the road. Got the second new engine in it finally on Monday. Finished hooking up everything, broke in the cam this morning and did some tuning and then cruised for about 45 minutes. It runs good. I still have some cleanup to do and probably some more tweaking on the carb/tune, but she runs really good.

Running Video

I guess I was a little too excited to take time and focus before I shot video.

[OutlawDrifter]

Glad it's up and running again Bill!....video is not working, however.

[Palf70Step]

Google been messing with me. I think I fixed link

[OutlawDrifter]

Working now! Sounds great!

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Well it has been a while, really over a year since the Jimmy has been on the road. Got the second new engine in it finally on Monday. Finished hooking up everything, broke in the cam this morning and did some tuning and then cruised for about 45 minutes. It runs good. I still have some cleanup to do and probably some more tweaking on the carb/tune, but she runs really good.

Running Video

I guess I was a little too excited to take time and focus before I shot video.

Nice! I'll be building a 250 here shortly as well; build specs of the new motor?

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by moregrip

Nice! I'll be building a 250 here shortly as well; build specs of the new motor?

Nothing overly radical/special. Block (numbers says it is from a 1978 non-integrated head 250 AC block) was done 30 over, crank 20 over, little cam (Erson E16021), Offy 5416 intake w/ 500 CFM Edelbrock, 12 Bolt Tom cast iron split manifolds thru duals and cherry bombs.

I have Davis Speed Equipment Alternator/Power steering (#10059) and AC (#10001) brackets.The AC ones are not on yet.

[straight6chevyguy]

Sweet!

[Palf70Step]

Had to go help a friend, so took the Jimmy out for some more break-in-time. It is running really good right now. I think I got the oil leak fixed from the side panel. Sounds good too. Hopefully once the quarantine thing is over I can rack up some more miles.

[OutlawDrifter]

Just keep the windows up! "Socially distancing!"

[Palf70Step]

No work on truck last few days. Yard work has been my prison sentence (quarantine) duty yesterday and today. Today's mission was clean up the raggedness of the fence line between me and my neighbor. Cleared out a bunch of ragged azaleas and weed crap. Cut most of the azaleas down to nubs and dug up a bunch of weed, stick vine roots. Teh azelas will grow back, tehy ar about impossible to kill, (even me). As they come back we will be able to trim and keep them at the 3-4 foot range and shape them better.. The red tips I try to keep around 6 feet. Hopefully the good cleaning of all the sticker vines and crap will allow them to also fill back out again. As the last picture shows I made a nice pile for the city to collect again.

Hopefully tomorrow and next couple days I'll be able to do truck stuff while stuck at home. Plan on re-oiling the bed wood and continue the shop cleanup.

[LT7A]

Nice! Looks like you guys live in a park. Must be a good-sized lot.

[Palf70Step]

My lot is just 1/2 acre (so is my neighbors). Enuff for some space, but not too much crazy to work on.

[Palf70Step]

The latest quarantine project. Going from the sun bleached oak bed to a nice Danish oil finish. I think this should do it. Thanks to my good friend Bart for the Danish oil and advise. Last two were after the 5th coating.

It may look like I knew what I was doing, but I sure didn't.

Once it dries good, I'll get the tool chest back in, then figure out the next project. But for now, back to prison life.

[OutlawDrifter]

Nice work Bill!

[dagnabbitt]

I've been following along but never commented before: very nice truck, love the progress you have made. I just watched that video you posted in March, sounds like that 250 has a lot of snap!

[Palf70Step]

Thank you. It does sound good. One day I may ditch the super highway gears and get something that with pep it up some more, but she is a good driver so far.

[Rich84]

So you were able to use the Danish oil without removing the wood? Will that stand up to the weather for some time?

My clear oak is ready to be finished again after about 20 years..Looking for some ideas.

[Palf70Step]

I did not remove the wood. If yours is not installed yet, then I (what was recommended to me) do both sides real well, then occasionally (depending on how much sun and use the bed gets) you can just re-rub the danish oil in again. Since the bottom doesn't get (or abuse by me), you don't need to worry about that as much. The guy I got the truck from did the bed about 5-6 years ago. It stayed in a garage mostly until I got it and drove it a lot more, and it sat out in the sun a lot more. I put 4 (maybe 5 I forgot) coats with 24+ hrs in between coats. Before the last coat I did a 1000 grit lite sanding, then rubbed in the last coat.

[Rich84]

Mine is also installed. The clearcoat on the bottom looks like brand new. The top is thin and abrasive but the wood is still in very good condition. My truck sleeps in a garage and I don't drive it if there is rain in the forecast. It is going to require a lot of sanding.

[Palf70Step]

If you used some kind of clear coat /varnish/poly coat, then you will need to sand it all off first. I didn't have that issues, mine was always done with an oil based protectorant. Also, if you have chrome or stainless strips, you need to tape them off or be very careful to not get any oil on them as it will leave a stain. Mine is painted strips so it didn't seen to bother them.

[Hart_Rod]

The truck is looking great Bill!