Restoring Rusty

[Gregski]

scored some used but in good nick Hedman Hedders (Made in USA - warms the heart seein' that don't it) no idea what they came off, for $75 bucks on a handshake agreement that I pay only if they fit my truck, otherwise just return them

they measure 1 5/8" and 3" at the collectors

[rusty76]

Nice score. Have a set on my '76 or atleast in my shed....

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by rusty76

Nice score. Have a set on my '76 or atleast in my shed....

LOL, your shed must sound great!

[bnoon]

Love the inner fenders.

I know what you mean on the hood hinges too. Might not last very long though. Mine lasted about 2 months with white lithium, so I went with heavy axle grease and it's been a year and still great.

[rusty76]

Yeah the shed is loud....lol.

[jb3t]

Paint and other items starting to ding your wallet? If you have an Advance Auto Parts near you, they always have coupon codes available for 30-40% off when you order online and go pickup at the store.

Yesterday, I got 3 ton jack stands, two rust removal wire brush kits, and two cans of primer for $30. Ordered from home and went and picked it up immediately. That $7 can of paint drops to $4.20.

http://promocodesforyou.com/index.ph...g9YaAnfg8P8HAQ

[bnoon]

Originally Posted by jb3t

Paint and other items starting to ding your wallet? If you have an Advance Auto Parts near you, they always have coupon codes available for 30-40% off when you order online and go pickup at the store.

Yesterday, I got 3 ton jack stands, two rust removal wire brush kits, and two cans of primer for $30. Ordered from home and went and picked it up immediately. That $7 can of paint drops to $4.20.

http://promocodesforyou.com/index.ph...g9YaAnfg8P8HAQ

I use this all the time too. I do always check the Oriely's and Autozone sites though too as they all run different promotions at times. I'm lucky in that all three shops (plus NAPA) are within only a couple of miles of my house. Become part of their memberships too and earn coupons that they will mail to you after buying so many $$$ in parts.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by jb3t

Paint and other items starting to ding your wallet? If you have an Advance Auto Parts near you, they always have coupon codes available for 30-40% off when you order online and go pickup at the store.

Unfortunately I don't, I have NAPA (the closest, but expensive) then Pep Boys, then O'Reilly's, then AutoZone, of course I go to the furtherst - AutoZone. I have their points card which says for every purchase over $20 bucks you get a point, and when you get 5 points you get $20 bucks credit, works for me.

I actually make a point to buy at least $20 bucks each time (when I'm short I just throw in a quart of oil, you always need some oil, LOL) and since I have another AutoZone by my work, I walk there at lunch time so it all works out. Hey I'm a man on a budget so every bit helps.

[rusty76]

Absolutely right. I use my Autozone card to help me get alittle bit extra, lol.

[gramps77]

DANG great work, that's a LOT of manual labor going on there. Hours that I don't have with 4 kids and a testy wife. I'll have to get down your way. Im up north just before Marysville.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by gramps77

DANG great work, that's a LOT of manual labor going on there.

Thanks, and yup it is a labor of love

[Gregski]

another day another freeze plug replacement, I know once one of them goes you should probably replace all of them but that is easier said than done, since there are 8 total freeze plugs and only 2 seem to be accessible whilst the engine is in the car, I believe this is the one exactly on the opposite side of the one I replaced a week or two ago

first pic shows you how the exhaust manifold flange is smack dab in the way, the exhaust manifold would have to come off to hammer in the new one

one of the other pics shows how the plug looks as you try to remove it, it's sort of half way in half way out, looks bad, but that's actually a good thing

in another pic I show you how much metal crud I pulled out of the freeze plug hole with a telescoping magnet thingie, I don't even wanna know how much other crud is still in there

[Gregski]

I had to remove the driver side exhaust manifold in order to get the right angle to hammer in that freeze plug

note the air tubes that stick out when I flip the manifold over, I had no idea that's what they looked like on the inside, would sawing those off help the exhaust flow better? if one was to keep the stock manifolds instead of going to headers

[Gregski]

well with the exhaust manifold off I decided to try test fitting those Hedman Hedders, as you can see there is quite a difference

and soon realized they will not fit, since what is the 3rd cylinder exhaust pipe hits the lower control arm, also they interfere with the oil filter

[Gregski]

don't mean to ask a stupid question, but:

Shouldn't there be a gasket between the cylinder head and the exhaust manifold?

mine did not have one

[Dball]

Hi Greg, I've got headers on my truck so I took a quick look at the bible and it looks like you should have gaskets. Hopefully it's ok to attach this picture no ill will intended.

[motornut]

Stock manifolds to heads ,any I've removed did't have a gasket.
I clean my bumps right out,(older style)I've found it helps,I'd remove the tubes.
May want to change out the pipe studs,while they are out

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by motornut

Stock manifolds to heads ,any I've removed did't have a gasket.
I clean my bumps right out,(older style)I've found it helps,I'd remove the tubes.
May want to change out the pipe studs,while they are out

looks great, thank you for the advice

[Oregoon]

Nice build, and I enjoyed the thread very much!

[Gregski]

removed the air injection tubes from the stock exhaust manifold, I believe they were just pressed in so I was able to use a bit of gentle persuasion and slide them out and since I am going to go with long tube headers eventually there is no sense in porting and polishing these or painting them

FYI: the truck bed makes for a nice work bench, I keep forgetting that

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Oregoon

Nice build, and I enjoyed the thread very much!

Thank you very much, appreciate it

[Gregski]

decided to clean up the cylinder head and the block a bit, it's nothing to write home about, not pristine, but cleaner, and good enough to see new leaks, am I right fellers?

Once again I used a 3:1 ratio of elbow grease to Mineral Spirits to clean this, LOL

[Gregski]

decided to use an exhaust manifold gasket when reassembling although it was pointed out to me that the truck did not come with one from Fremont California

splurged $13 large on a Fel Pro three piece gasket not only because they are "the leader in aftermarket engine sealing and the brand professionals trust "but since they usually come with instructions, LOL

installed steel faced side toward the manifold, as shown in second photo

installed 3 slotted bolt holes to the front of the left-hand bank

[Gregski]

yes The Greg owns a Torque Wrench and is not afraid to use one, tightened the six exhaust manifold bolts to 20 lb. ft.

decided I know better than the GM engineers and opted not to put the tin heat shields back on, hope I don't regret it, but it's just to hold me over a month or two till I bolt up some long tube headers

[Gregski]

so just a quick comparison of the way this exhaust manifold/head looked originally when I got the truck, and how it looks now, still work in progress but definitely better wouldn't you all agree?