Suggestions on 70cst restoration? Tips?

[70cst]

Ok fellow Truck Owners and Drivers...
As you know I am planning the rebuild of my truck this fall. I am making a list and I am checking it twice. With the loads of experience on this site...what should I put on my list of things to do and things to buy? Thanks in advanced.
Brakes - tires - steering (quick steering box) , chassis & suspension - wipers - lighting - fuel delivery, etc.
1) Cruise-Dakota
2) Dynomat
3) Rebuild engine to use unleaded gas. Roller Rockers...Bronze Valve Guides (refurbish Q Jet)
This is the original 402BB.
4) Int. wipers.?
5) Check suspension (Shocks-match 2"-4" drop-Brand?), tranny (Gear Vendor Overdrive?),rear end, brakes (new brake lines, front/rear sway bars...2.5/4.0 drop, and replaced all of the coil springs, along with all of the suspension components that were questionable (tie rod ends, ball joints, upper/lower control arm shafts and bushings). (ECE?)
6) Interior-restore
7) AM-FM radio restore Joe @ (nhra69cam@cableone.net)
8) Body restore
9) Trim pieces
10) NOS Grille-bought five years ago
11) Install factory slider-in corn crib.
12) Wood steering wheel or factory wheel? (has wood may switch to factory)
13) New windshield-tint side
14) Window Wing Assemblies-need to send check-sent-done.
15) Take progress pics
16) Wiring Harness...Ground Straps?
17) Tires-size-brand?
18) Wiper motor...washer motor
19) Heater Core and Blower motor replace and related items
20) Gas tank-clean out & check lines
21) Engine Harness
22) Cab bushings...all bushings.
23) Borrow $$$ from board and site supporters
24) Hidden hitch setup?
25) The cooling system. Pull the radiator...rodded/pressure tested...water pump, themostat, hoses.
26) Down the road...spray in bed liner? I think I will use a bed mat.
27) Quick Steering Box?
28) Rebuild factory AC-leave factory.
29) Replace Cargo Light. Add LED Dual set-up
30) Jet Coat Headers??
31) Plastic glove box from Tri Power
32) 400 Electric Kickdown Kit KD-2400HT Part Numbers Lokar
33) Kill switch-theft protection.
34) Gear Vendor Overdrive for Turbo 400?

[68gmsee]

Pretty much complete except that I don't see the most important part.... check/replace/recondition brakes system!

[70cst]

Good point. Will add to list. Thanks!

[70cstjr]

dont forget

give truck to son

[Longhorn Man]

if the engine is original, it is OK for unleaded acording to the 70 owners manual.
But now you have to worry about new oils not being old school cam friendly.

[70cst]

The main reason for the rebuild is: 1) I don't know the condition of the motor and I want to see what kind of condition the engine is in 2) It is the original motor so I want to keep it in good shape, 3) Once it is rebuilt it will be able to operate with todays gas and oils 4) so it will last so I can hand it down to 70cstjr when I can no longer drive. Thanks for the feedback.

[wibilly]

if you haven't driven it much i would sugest that you spend some time driving it before you tear it down. it will give you a better idea of what it needs and what upgrades you would like to make. than gather as much as you can before tearing it down to avoid as many delays as you can, this will keep the project moving along keeping you motivated.

[jfalesi]

Originally Posted by 70cstjr

dont forget

give truck to son

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by 70cstjr

dont forget

give truck to son

Just got it!!

[Yukon Jack]

If your tearing the truck apart it's not a bad idea to inspect your heater core while it is easily accessible to see if it needs replacing. May not hurt to replace the blower motor too. Gives you a good time to get crap out of the heater box that seems to accumulate and breed rust.

Might not hurt to also replace your wiper motor if it is noisy.

Wouldn't hurt to get the gas tank out and cleaned and blow out all of the hard lines and inspect them. Replace any rubber fuel line you find.

I see wiring harnesses on you list. Inspect them good. I've replaced the engine harnesses on both of my vehicles as they were hacked or brittle but the interior harness haven't been in bad enough shape to replace.

So many things to consider - you're wise to start making a list.

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by 70cst

stuff deleted...

3) Rebuild engine to use unleaded gas. (refurbish Q Jet)

...stuff deleted

The carb is fine. As Longhorn man pointed out in 70 or so GM made these engines work with "low lead" gasoline. Whether or not they can handle today's watered down with corn squeezin's gasoline is debatable. Either way I'd put bronze valve guides in when you are rebuilding - if you're sticking with the stock heads.

I think roller rockers will defeat the low zinc cam problems. If I read the write ups on the new oils correctly the reason they are eliminating the zinc is that all new engines use rollers instead of what is in our stock setups.

[Longhorn Man]

roller rockers is a great idea, however, it's a roller cam that is needed to live in the new oils, and that's not a cheap upgrade.

[70cst]

Thanks a lot all...
As you can see I am upgrading my list as you all come up with ideas. This will be built to be a fun driver with upgraded mechanics, suspension, brakes etc. It's been a long time coming but the day is soon arriving. Your help is greatly appreciated.
PS... 70cstjr
When I get my wheel chair you get my truck so until then dream.

[special-K]

Washer pump.

[70cst]

Washer pump...Done As a matter of fact my washers never did work.

[jfalesi]

Sounds like a great truck. How about some pics?

[70cst]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=251608

My Truck and it is singing

Hey jfalesi...
The above post has pics of my truck that will be getting a major face lift this fall.

[72gord]

Don't forget 23) Have on hand large amounts of cash j/k but it does add up...I'm in the 3rd year of a ground up rebuild/restore....just the little stuff here and there can suprise you!!

[70cstjr]

Originally Posted by 72gord

Don't forget 23) Have on hand large amounts of cash j/k but it does add up...I'm in the 3rd year of a ground up rebuild/restore....just the little stuff here and there can suprise you!!

its still probobly gonna be cheaper than a new truck these days, and its better quality by far

[jfalesi]

Nice. Looks pretty well decked out. I had that steering wheel, but returned it because I couldn't get the horn button on. Also it was winter and my fingers didn't like the sharp edges of the spokes in the cold. I got this wheel and the spokes are more rounded. I liked the look of the other one, though.

Originally Posted by jfalesi

Sounds like a great truck. How about some pics?

[70cst]

Since I have two vocations and I am mechanically challenged I have found a small independent shop that does resto's and rods. My next visit I will get a list of references. Instead of buying a newer truck I am going to put my money into my 70cst. I want to upgrade the suspension, improve the brakes, rebuild the 402BB for todays gas and oils, check out the tranny etc. I have an idea to what this will cost but time will tell. When we built our house a couple of years ago we kept with 10% of what was estimated so hopefully the same will happen when we start the truck resto. I was thinking about "Gabes" interior but that would blow my budget! I appreciate all the ideas as to what to add to my list for the resto. The most difficult part will be to keep 70cstjr's foot off the gas pedal.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by 70cst

Washer pump...Done As a matter of fact my washers never did work.

They never have worked on trucks when I got them.It`s fine until a drisselly day with road spray and not enough rain to clear the smudge.One of my "pet pieves."

[dave3156]

You've got a good list going. Plan on the cost of any rebuild being at least 25% more than you think it will be. Also the whole cooling system will need restored. Pull the radiator, if it is the right size then take it to the radiator shop and have it rodded out and pressure tested. Don't risk a rebuild on a old radiator, water punp, themostat or hoses. Replace them. Does it have AC? You can spend alot on restoring that system. If it does not have AC install a shut off valve in a radiator hose so coolant does not flow into the passenger compartment in the summer. Makes the truck alot cooler to ride in. In the fall open the valve and you have the heat again. Also look at the headlight upgrade in the "how tos". Makes a big difference. Hey, you need a list for your list! Good luck.

[70cst]

Hey dave3156...
(Pull the radiator, if it is the right size then take it to the radiator shop and have it rodded out and pressure tested.) I am not sure of the 402BB cooling system was any differrent than the others but...what does "rodded out" mean? Good ideas on the cooling system.

[mnunn454]

I like your idea of improving the electrical. No doubt there's a fair share of cobbling and crimp connectors under there.

While you're focused on suspension, pay attention to new bushings throughout (rubber or urethane, your pref.) to improve the handling a little.

Sounds like it's a driver and not a show truck (yet at least). Consider a spray-in bed liner of some sort to prevent scratches from the 2X4s and concrete blocks?

Sounds like a lot of fun.