What did you do to your truck today.The 3rd chapter

[67C10Step]

A bit more underhood cleanup and finally finished converting the oil bath breather to paper element. Slipped it back on the old 283. Cover looks terrible but it is covered with pine tree pollen. Dang spring. Now I wish I had painted that master cylinder before I installed it.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Getting a lot done on my project, but stretching new lines for the transmission cooler was big to me, means I can mount the cab and bed. The lines were cut on the old ones because the owner favored an auxiliary and completely bypassed the radiator. Came out clean all the way around, but I was especially ecstatic to see the lines lay into the oil pan clip like intended. They slid right in, no real tension on the clip.

[Chevys4life]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

Getting a lot done on my project, but stretching new lines for the transmission cooler was big to me, means I can mount the cab and bed. The lines were cut on the old ones because the owner favored an auxiliary and completely bypassed the radiator. Came out clean all the way around, but I was especially ecstatic to see the lines lay into the oil pan clip like intended. They slid right in, no real tension on the clip.

Yes............that is one nice looking restoration you have going there!!!

[Rich72C10]

Man, that looks so clean - love the paint. I remember when my painted engine looked that good after it was re-installed LOL

So I am going on day two with my truck in the shop for my frontend refresh. Technically it is not what I am doing to the truck but having done! Seems every step they hit a time suck roadblock. It was decided my break lines needed replacing (I bought front/rear lines because I thought they would want to replace them). The passenger side line was frozen/stuck on and some previous owner mucked them up on top of that. Now they are finally into replacing the ball joints. They aren't coming out like they should and are requiring to be heated up with a torch, yet another time suck.

They expect everything to be back together much later today but there won't be enough time to get the front end aligned (different shop). Which I guess that is also time consuming because it requires shims to get aligned. I hadn't even asked for a estimate because they thought they would be done in a day. Now we are looking at two full days of shop and then the alignment on Monday. I kind of started freaking on the call this morning but he assured me he is not counting the clock and so far I am still under my high end number. That is assuming they don't run into more roadblocks. But at least the whole front end, rubber brake lines, and my sway bar will be all done.

It seems Peace of Mind can get costly LOL

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by Rich72C10

Man, that looks so clean - love the paint. I remember when my painted engine looked that good after it was re-installed LOL

So I am going on day two with my truck in the shop for my frontend refresh. Technically it is not what I am doing to the truck but having done! Seems every step they hit a time suck roadblock. It was decided my break lines needed replacing (I bought front/rear lines because I thought they would want to replace them). The passenger side line was frozen/stuck on and some previous owner mucked them up on top of that. Now they are finally into replacing the ball joints. They aren't coming out like they should and are requiring to be heated up with a torch, yet another time suck.

They expect everything to be back together much later today but there won't be enough time to get the front end aligned (different shop). Which I guess that is also time consuming because it requires shims to get aligned. I hadn't even asked for a estimate because they thought they would be done in a day. Now we are looking at two full days of shop and then the alignment on Monday. I kind of started freaking on the call this morning but he assured me he is not counting the clock and so far I am still under my high end number. That is assuming they don't run into more roadblocks. But at least the whole front end, rubber brake lines, and my sway bar will be all done.

It seems Peace of Mind can get costly LOL

I'm in part's prison myself, A/C pending Original Air's high sign to send, and word is the wiring will take another four months, and that might be optimistic.

Costly is right, and thanks above. While I do most of the work myself less body, finishes and cores, I've probably blown 2K on just do-overs and not quite right and another 4K for the garage.

Have to say the details at this point come at a surprise, already removed the radiator once just to get the lines slid in. Slid the fan shroud in like butter last night to find it's too short for the top brackets, so I'll try cutting the top pads, but I may have to cut the bottoms too, meaning I'd have to re-adjust the trans. lines. And I get to install the fan again only to pull it again, and again and again The good news is I can slot the slots in the fan shroud if I have to. Should see the old shroud, on one side a hole was drilled three places beyond the factory slots

EDIT: Radiator pads have little or nothing to do with fitting a shroud Just ordered two new pads speak of do overs, and looks like the top radiator brackets will need refinishing too. I don't know how GM got those shrouds on right without bending the top bracket, anyone? Could be why so many shrouds were torn up at the bottom by fans. Don't know about small blocks, but the bottom shrouds for a BBC have a clip that slides into the core support.

[fourspeedwagon]

I spent several hours chasing a no start / electrical problem. I previously had found the hot wire from the battery to ignition had worn through and shorted out. I replaced the wire and it turned over but didn’t start. Checked for voltage to the HEI distributor. 12.4V I thought maybe the module was bad so I took the cap off. Rotor looked like someone took a bite out of it.. a chunk of the rotor was MIA. I went and got a new cap and rotor and put them on. Nothing. Swapped coils- nothing. Swiped the module out of my ‘71 so I’d have a known good unit.Nope. Finally pulled the condenser out of a spare distributor and put that in. Bango! We have fire! Must’ve had that cap off 20 times today.
Still no idea what happened to the rotor and can’t believe that the bits weren’t inside?

[FL71C10]

Installed my back window. Spent at least 2 hours polishing the trim first. No fun getting the gasket on the window and the trim in the gasket. Once we had it done, installing the window itself only took a few minutes. My friend held the window up on the outside and I pulled the rope from the inside. Everything dropped in nicely and it looks nice and tight!

[allchevy58]

My son finished polishing and we installed the bed. Time to bring it home and reassemble.

[Happy_dan]

Replaced right front parking light/blinker and took it for it's first ride around he block after the engine rebuild. It seems fine, I am relieved. Great to drive it again. Next trip will be longer as I build confidence.

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by Happy_dan

Replaced right front parking light/blinker and took it for it's first ride around he block after the engine rebuild. It seems fine, I am relieved. Great to drive it again. Next trip will be longer as I build confidence.

great news Dan.i can just imagine it felt awful nice to drive your truck again?
good work.Greg

[Rich72C10]

Finally got my truck back from a complete front end refresh (minus springs), new flex brake lines (front and back) and a flush of the brake fluid. And to top it off with a cherry a CPP Sway Bar.

It's like a completely different truck at every level with its steering and handling - at any speed, any test road, on all kinds of turns/speeds.

[72c20customcamper]

Lost a NOS hubcap off my 85

[Ekliptix]

I re-sprayed my C10's door inserts with VHT Vinyl Dye. This stuff works amazing. I used it on my 70 blazer console with great success too.





And got some help cleaning the wheels from my 19 month old.

[KMC3420]

Originally Posted by Ekliptix

I re-sprayed my C10's door inserts with VHT Vinyl Dye. This stuff works amazing. I used it on my 70 blazer console with great success too.

And got some help cleaning the wheels from my 19 month old.

Door panels look great! Your little helper looks like my 2 YO son, he is my wheel washer man as well. You can’t tell them no, gotta get them involved young as they grow up too fast.

[Woodnears]

Finally finished this panel and mounted it. I’m embarrassed to say how long this took me!

[Rich72C10]

Wished I had a helper when I was washing the truck yesterday LOL!

A few days ago I replaced my PCV valve. The one on the truck "seemed" okay, it rattled okay but I wondered about it. So I got a ACDelco Professional one. The one on my truck had a right angle on it, where as the ACDelco one is straight up (every part search shows this is the correct one). It definitely flows better when I blow air back and forth compared to the old one (I bought a elbow adapter so its not sticking straight up). Though the real test was driving around, way much better. The biggest difference is very low speeds, say under 25 MPH and you are barely giving any gas. Like you do (or should) when driving around a neighborhood full of kids running around. Before I'd have like a deadzone at this speed, like she didn't want to really go until I gave her more pedal.

After this, I did some vacuum hose rerouting. Bought a vacuum kit off Amazon with a ton of T-adapters of various sizes. I also cut the hoses so there isn't any extra flapping around. I think this helped too, since this was mainly the manifold to distributor advance line.

Now after letting all of that settle for about a week, I finally installed my divorced electronic choke. It mounts right where the OEM one goes, then has a sensor on the forward intake manifold bolt (for GND) and then I tied it to the Stop Solenoid power. Man, it is nice to watch that choke warm up and move the plate and hold it solid in place.

Oh, I also fixed a fuel pump oil leak, which I caused myself when I replaced my fuel pump a month or so ago. I did a crappy job by allowing the lower part of the gasket to fold onto itself at the bottom. Got to love re-doing stuff that you messed up yourself... but perhaps that is why two gaskets are sent with these pumps LOL!

PS: I was at Sonic last night and a fellow pull up in the next stall. He gets out, knocks on the passenger's window, scares the poo out of my daughter LOL. He asks, "do you mind if I take a photo of your Truck??". I say sure, I don't mind. Then he says, "Thanks, your truck is cherry!". That my friends made my day, heck even my week! Ha!

[Rich72C10]

Just replaced my old oil line to gauge, thanks to LockDoc! The old line had like 4ft under the dash. Though I don't think it is any quieter that the old one but it is nice any shinny and nicely looped in the engine bay. Perhaps not professionally looped but it looks a lot better than the old one, that's for sure!

[FL71C10]

Got my cargo light and my cab lights installed.... Baby steps

[67C10Step]

Pulled my drive shaft to put a new output shaft seal in the transmission. Old seal fought me on the way out but I got it in pieces. Tailshaft had very little play so figur the bushing is not too bad - great. But wait, looks like more gear oil is coming from the speedometer gear housing than the rear seal.

I reached over to give it a wiggle and it came out of the transmission in my hand! The lock plate and screw are gone and have been for quite a while because the bolt hole was completely full of crud. Glad this thing hasn't gone more than about two miles since I got it running.

Should I make myself a lock plate or purchase a new speedo gear housing and all?

[67C10Step]

..

[Steeveedee]

If the rear seal is shot I'd put the bushing in when I was there. I'd make a lock plate instead of buying the whole magilla, personally.

[72c20customcamper]

Installed the short tilt I purchased from 70shortfleet took about an hour. Nice having the wheel further away and up . Makes getting in and out much easier but I’m a little stumped on the grey wire I’m assuming it’s for the indicator light but I can’t find where it would connect. Mine had the fiber optic wire from the dash bulb

[67C10Step]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

If the rear seal is shot I'd put the bushing in when I was there. I'd make a lock plate instead of buying the whole magilla, personally.

Can you pull the tailshaft on the transmission without a complete disassembly? If so, I may dig deeper. If not, I may see if this seal will hold for now.

Anybody got dimensions on the speedo gear housing retainer? Doesn't look like something that would be hard to fab up.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by 67C10Step

Can you pull the tailshaft on the transmission without a complete disassembly? If so, I may dig deeper. If not, I may see if this seal will hold for now.

Anybody got dimensions on the speedo gear housing retainer? Doesn't look like something that would be hard to fab up.

We used to just force them further into the transmission and install the new bushing. True fact.

[Hugh in NC]

Just finished under hood refurb and repaint and Vintage Air install. 1970 C10 Short bed Fleetside. 350/th400.