Second tale of the Green Goose

[Hard Luck]

Green Goose Deuce

How did this one start? I would have to go back more than two decades, when the US Army moved my family to Washington State. We needed a second car so my Dad could get to the base on time. With the cash we had available my father came home with a seafoam green ’69 Chevy pickup. I looked at the car in our carport and named it the “Green Goose.” I don’t know, I was young.

We would spend Saturday afternoons driving the Goose around collecting cans and bottles to turn in for the refund money. Being over six feet tall, Dad would lift me into dumpster after dumpster and it was my mission to find the treasure in the trash! That was some of the best times of my young life, Saturdays with Dad.

Those memories drew me towards this truck. The sentimentality kicked in and I went for this ’69 instead of something that was in better shape or more complete. That and the fact that the couple was so incredibly nice and made me feel like I was really helping them out by taking it off of their hands before they had to leave for Eastern Washington in a week.

This Goose came up from Arizona two years prior where the couple that sold it to me bought her from the original owner. Being from AZ the truck came with naturally bleached highlights, every piece of rubber pre-toasted, and pound of fine sand ready to hold gallons of that Washington's famous liquid sunshine.

After it was transported to Renton, WA the new owners put on a brand new carb, a loud shorty exhaust, and completed a brake job before putting a torch to the four coil springs, heating them until they collapsed. The second owner, proud of the new marker lights he installed, decided to drive the truck to work for the first time where he promptly backed the forklift into the front fender. In that condition, and riding on three bumpstops, they managed to take it out to a few shows before sending it out to pasture in the front yard for the next year and a half.

I found the heavy half through local advertisement and after a good look over and a night to think about it, a deal was struck. The next day I watched in my rearview mirror as the now previous owner drove his big green Chev for the last time.

[Hard Luck]

The Green Goose Deuce was named and work began. Wheels were pulled, cleaned, painted, and fitted with the best tall skinny used tires very little money could buy. The truck barely stopped so I took a look at the brake job. I mean, they showed me pictures of the work being done so it must have happened, right? Well the brakes were all new except for the hoses, which on the front, were completely frayed around the diameter from being tugged on by the lack of suspension. New hoses were ordered a few times and the manual drum setup was bled, arriving at a slightly firmer pedal. It did stop, it was better but it was still not good. Panic stops were out of the question.

Next on the list was new springs and shocks all around. 2” drop up front and 4” Heavy Duty suburban type in the rear for future hauling. Nitro Drop shocks from Bell Tech all around made a huge difference in the handling department. As well as poly sway bar bushings up front. A quick inspection of the rear end confirmed the original 3.73 gear set to still be in good shape after 69 thousand miles of service.

[Hard Luck]

The center carrier bearing was toast so I rebuilt the driveshaft and put in a whole new assembly. When pulled the old one apart, the rubber surround was completely gone but the grease shields were still intact. Knowledge from working on other two piece driveshafts said that it was very uncommon to find the shields still in place. I considered it and decided with all of the grease, oil, and gunk under this truck it would offer more protection by putting them back around the bearing. This was a mistake. Out on the next ride I made it as far as the neighbors’ when quite a squeal and a shriek arose from underneath, so back into the drive to have a look. I couldn’t see anything and tried the mounting adjustment on the frame. This seemed to work but after a few blocks, an intermittent squeak came back. I tracked the interference down the front shield, pried it away from the overly bulbous rubber surround and put a good coating of silicone on the rubber. After putting her rear end in the air and some close scrutiny, in gear she went and…nothing, problem solved! Or so I thought.

The next week, on a show and shakedown run the noise came back, and on the freeway you could really hear it. Now 60 miles from home and pouring rain. I did what I could where I was and when at home found the rubber completely gone. Part of the problem is the replacement part design and part is the shield. After taking it all apart for the fourth and hopefully last time, the new bearing was pressed on without either shield and that is the end of that.

Time to turn attention to the engine. Beyond the normal tune-up, the old points and coil distributor was set aside in favor of the only billet part on the whole truck, a Mallory Pro-Billet HEI. Vintage Weiand manifold and Moon finned valve covers were sourced and every belt and hose was replaced. After a basic check of the internals, lots of cleaning, some paint and we’re back on the road again.

[Hard Luck]

Upgraded the brakes to power which almost sent me though the windshield at the first stop. Cool.

When the heat went out in 20 degree weather another used motor was found at the first swap of the year, with a beat up box thrown in for good measure. The purveyor said “these motors never go bad.” Luckily I tested it before install and found it did work…like a cat in a meat grinder, the motor was done. The box was worse. The only thing left to do was use parts from this one to repair mine. With careful trimming, some epoxy, a little bondo, sanding, and paint - back in business.

[Hard Luck]

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[Hard Luck]

Before the new glove box was installed a few mods were employed for better function and access. Hopefully this won’t access more problems and cause my life to flash before my tires as I get spit out the windshield and over my hood like so many horrible watermelon Jolly Ranchers out of the mouths of fourth graders onto the sidewalk.

[nuke1]

Really nice start on your truck you have there, i will admit, i Want your engine, it looks so good. Congratulations on the detail. It will pay off in the end.
James

[Hard Luck]

Thanks. I'll keep posting as I keep working.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Very cool she is looking better already keep up the good work.

[OARNGESI]

Really nice the motor looks really good in there

[Hard Luck]

After all that was finished I started working on a custom center dash. I wanted it to look like an old jukebox or guitar amplifier.

[Hard Luck]

Here is a finished shot as well as my new passenger.

[Hard Luck]

Snow time pics.

[hicktownhotrodder]

hey man great project! the motor and your dash piece look awesome! best of luck to ya

[oldblue1968chevy]

Looks great! Looks really good. Looking forward to next mod!

WTF is the thing on the dash again?......

[Hard Luck]

Basically it is a speaker pod or a custom ceter console. Can fit two 6x9's or two 5.25" full range or components facing up and forward.

[nickp51chevy]

The history about the truck and your past times with 'em are great.

Have you found out what engine you have in there?

[Hard Luck]

The rear pad is missing a number but that with the fact that it is a four-bolt main, and the stamp pad on the head surface = 350.

[Hard Luck]

Worked out a pattern and tagged by bed. I wanted to do something different so I decided to make it really hard on myself and make it wrap the wheel house. I like how it turned out.

Also nosed the hood and made a custom hood ornament that I just need to mount.

[nickp51chevy]

Originally Posted by Hard Luck

The rear pad is missing a number but that with the fact that it is a four-bolt main, and the stamp pad on the head surface = 350.

That's cool. I remember the last time we talked you still didn't know for sure between the 307 or 350.

[Hard Luck]

Did more research and crossed all the numbers I could find including the heads.

[Hard Luck]

Weather is nice and dry for a few days and thought I might tackle a small project, plenty of rain still expected. What better time for a new door seal? Can’t put a new seal over flaking paint and surface rust so I’ll break out the grinders and wire wheels.

Can’t just stop at cleaning out the channel, better clean up the whole gutter. Why stop there? The edge of the headliner could use some touch up. If I go that far, it will just look weird if only the edges look nice. Take out the mirror and visors, cover and tape, plastic and wet sand. This might have gotten out of hand a bit.

Speaking of out of hand, best take out all the seam sealer out of the gutter and try the new POR15 putty to help keep out all the Seattle sunshine that always around the corner.

[Hard Luck]

New paint makes every thing look better, or makes everything else look worse.

[nickp51chevy]

Originally Posted by Hard Luck

New paint makes every thing look better, or makes everything else look worse.

I think it looks great. I don't think that new paint in the cab makes everything else look worse. It's the cool think now to have a nice interior with a nice patina out side.

Keep the news comin'!

[Hard Luck]

Here is a neat little gadget I built to help me with my next few projects. It is a project box, tests multiple voltages as well as charges USB and car accessories.