Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[swamp rat]

Everyone needs to take a break once and a while! And you as much as anyone deserves it!

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by Xeen

cooperhw: Trust me his friends have been giving him crap about that for years me included and it's a running joke that is made even more fun by the fact that every single one of us are guilty of the exact same thing! haha

True enuf

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by cooperhw

...Just had to share my 3 minute observation of the "slippery slope syndrome" . Or the "while I'm at it".

I think I've fallen down the slippery slope and I can't get up! This has turned into a lot different deal than I planned and a big part of it has to do with selling the Ford and having a little extra cash. All of a sudden, some nicer stuff was possible and one thing led to another.

We're still sightseeing and took in a car show today. Saw this cool '68 and thought I'd share...

[Low Elco]

Hurry up and get home! (We have something to show you....)

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Hurry up and get home! (We have something to show you....)

Oh boy, do I smell a new project brewing or did you find a restored truck for your dad?
The suspense is killing me!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Hurry up and get home! (We have something to show you....)

Can't wait! We're winding our way there and will call when we hit the city limits.

[jlsanborn]

I had an opportunity to meet the man himself and let it slip past. It's something I'll forever regret. I sure wish my situation was different and he could have dropped by my make-believe, sanitary shop to see the great progress on my 10. Next time Vic!

[Low Elco]

Originally Posted by Xeen

Oh boy, do I smell a new project brewing or did you find a restored truck for your dad?
The suspense is killing me!

Um, kinda both... I'll have to figure out how to start a thread.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

I think I've fallen down the slippery slope and I can't get up! This has turned into a lot different deal than I planned and a big part of it has to do with selling the Ford and having a little extra cash. All of a sudden, some nicer stuff was possible and one thing led to another.

We're still sightseeing and took in a car show today. Saw this cool '68 and thought I'd share...

Cool.

The funny part is that "it's sooo easy to fall down that slippery slope. As a matter of fact the HARD part is not giving in, terribly hard".

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

I had an opportunity to meet the man himself and let it slip past. It's something I'll forever regret. I sure wish my situation was different and he could have dropped by my make-believe, sanitary shop to see the great progress on my 10. Next time Vic!

Hey John, Mom always said you have to strike while the iron is hot. Letting the title company twist in the wind would have been notso cool. We'll be back up that way sometime in the future. Besides, this will give you a chance to get back on track. It was great talking with you!

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Um, kinda both... I'll have to figure out how to start a thread.

First you gotta come up with a cool thread title.

Originally Posted by cooperhw

... the HARD part is not giving in, terribly hard".

Oh yeah!! Preachin' to the choir!

[Vic1947]

OK, finally back home from an extended vacation and ready to pick back up on CRLS. Kathy and I took off and went straight north to the Trans Canada Hwy and west to Vancouver, down to Seattle and back home to KC, more or less following the path of the impending solar eclipse. Only hitch on the trip was running over a boulder dropped in front of us by a dump truck and wiping out the chin spoiler and putting a major dent in the engine cradle / skid cover. All fixable and fortunately didn't knock a hole in the pan(s).

Chip and Vern brought their new ride over yesterday and it's a knockout! I believe their plans include some transplants from Yeller, but I'll let Chip lay all that out when he finds time to launch a new build thread. Looking forward to what they do with this fine little four-eyed Jimmy.

Time to get cracking...

[Low Elco]

Thanks for posting them up, Vic! I shall have to slay the photo dragon soon.

[snipescastle2]

Vic,
One day next week, I'd like to bring my rear end housing and all the
new bearings/seals and internals over to have you check it for straightness.
I'd also like to have you help me set it up, that's if you have the time. I'll call you to see what day/evening works best for you. I still have to get all the differential
and pinion bearings/seals.
Thanks!
Ben

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by snipescastle2

... I'd like to bring my rear end housing and all the new bearings/seals and internals over to have you check it for straightness.

No problem, Ben. Just give me a call.

I cut a window into the tunnel for the ECU/TCU/Relay wiring to fit thru. Had to curve the panel I made to fit the contour, but it fits pretty good now. Took the day yesterday to make a parts run to Sedalia and pick up my powder coating from Sure Coat. Parts look fantastic as always. They do really good work, nice even metallics, all threaded holes plugged and parts baked to perfection.

The dash had to be modified slightly to clear my aftermarket idiot lights, but the instrument cluster now fits as it should. Trying to get the a/c mocked up to see where to mount the electronics. I'd like to keep the console from becoming some giant monstrosity while keeping adequate room for all the boxes.

Next comes the part I've been dreading. Have to tape off the cab and undercoat the underside of the floor pan before setting the cab on the frame.

[Low Elco]

I like the idea of all the boxes in the console.

[Vic1947]

Thought you might get a laugh out of this. The Vintage Air instructions say to install the hardlines on the evaporator before mounting it to the firewall. The illustrations show the lines all pretty and in a row to match the holes in their supplied panel for the firewall. As you can see, out of the box the lines are nowhere near where they need to be to fit the actual holes. You'd think they'd use CNC tubing benders and jigs to insure a proper fit, but apparently not. I should be able to fix the 3/8" line, but I don't have a bender for the three 5/8" lines, so it looks to be a real treat to get them in the right locations. WooHoo!

[a.c.ward]

Vic,

long time observer of your talents, first time posting on your build...

love all the attention to detail you are putting in to this truck.

I have installed over 15 VA kits in 67-73 trucks, El Caminos, Camaros, etc, never out of the box did the hardlines work out, the aluminum tubing they use is easily bent by hand, no need for a dedicated bender.

I have talked to Al (sales and marketing director) from Vintage Air many times about this and always the answer was to just gently bend the lines into position by hand, it'll be ok.

I have found from experience to have the tube nuts snug and tight on the fitting before attempting to bend line or cross threading ensues..

hope all works out for you, PM me is you need any questions about VA install or hook ups

Respectfully

AC

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by a.c.ward

... just gently bend the lines into position by hand, it'll be ok. I have found from experience to have the tube nuts snug and tight on the fitting before attempting to bend line or cross threading ensues.. hope all works out for you, PM me is you need any questions about VA install or hook ups. AC

Thanks for the tips, AC! I have a tendency to overthink things when when a perfectly good solution is staring me in the face.

Fortunately, the condenser hard lines were spot on. The aftermarket core support already had the engine side access hole, so all I had to do was punch the grille side hole.

I looked high and low and couldn't find the original heater control that was in the truck when I took it apart. I scrounged one on eBay and assembled it per the instructions and test fit it into the dash. Looks like it will work, although I may need to add a support strap to keep it from flopping up and down.

[Low Elco]

Dadgumint, Vic, I wish you'a called. I'd have given you the one I was about to put in Yeller. New one is a factory AC truck.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Dadgumint, Vic, I wish you'a called. I'd have given you the one I was about to put in Yeller. New one is a factory AC truck.

I didn't even think of that... must be getting old. I do have a few more things now that I know Yeller had an organ donor card. I'll give you a call.

[mcbassin]

Very nice work on everything Vic! looks great!

[knomadd]

Looks like CRLS is coming along nicely. Keep up the good work!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice work on everything Vic! looks great!

Thanks, Mike!

Originally Posted by knomadd

Looks like CRLS is coming along nicely. Keep up the good work!

Hey, Duane. I think you're ahead of me quite a bit.
Hope the water is going down in your area. The hard part is still looming for a lot of folks. Scrounging gas and groceries may be tricky for awhile. Even getting around will be a challenge. Buddy of mine lives on the northern edge of the Addicks reservoir and his daughter lives on the southern edge of the Barker reservoir. Took him over two hours today to go the 11 miles between their houses... but he made it!

Scott came over this weekend and helped me get the evaporator installed and leveled. Needed more hands than I alone possess. Talked with AC on the phone for about a half hour last night and picked his brain for installation tips. He's done a bunch of these and made several really good suggestions. I followed his advice and opened up the two lower holes for the heater hoses to the same size as the upper holes. Ordered grommets to fit from McMaster-Carr. This should make it much easier to get the unit in and out as I continue to fit up the lines. I was able to tweak the suction and high pressure lines with the evaporator in place, but looks like I'll have to fit up the radiator lines on the bench. Either that or find a triple jointed circus performer to reach up in there.

The pedals are in after making some last minute mods. Also temporarily installed the air controls. I'll have to support the back of the unit but maybe I can tie it together with the radio. Still have to mount the under dash antenna. Big punch list to do before the Truck Nats!

[Low Elco]

So niiiice....... BTW, the trailer has been reserved.

[knomadd]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Hey, Duane. I think you're ahead of me quite a bit.
Hope the water is going down in your area. The hard part is still looming for a lot of folks. Scrounging gas and groceries may be tricky for awhile. Even getting around will be a challenge. Buddy of mine lives on the northern edge of the Addicks reservoir and his daughter lives on the southern edge of the Barker reservoir. Took him over two hours today to go the 11 miles between their houses... but he made it!

Getting around my area isn't bad right now. Supplies are definitely going to be tough to get for a while. I'm seeing that trash services and mail/package delivery is still not happening (holding my parts hostage on the north side of town), but things are starting to look better with the sun finally out and the rain has stopped. Flooding from rivers and reservoirs are going to be a concern for a week or two at least. Hopefully the whole Houston area can recover pretty quickly.

Originally Posted by Vic1947

I was able to tweak the suction and high pressure lines with the evaporator in place, but looks like I'll have to fit up the radiator lines on the bench. Either that or find a triple jointed circus performer to reach up in there.

I remember this part all too well. I couldn't get the hard lines to fit, and I didn't like the look that much, so I went with the EZ Clip stuff for the heater side too. That was still a huge PITA to get in there and tighten the fittings to the bulkhead. There sure isn't much room in there for extra line to be able to do it when the unit is out. I had to install it TWICE! Once a couple years ago and again during this swap after modding the firewall.

It's looking pretty clean though, keep it up!