Getting ready for a long cruise

[olblue81]

So I've made up my mind I'm going to dust off the 81 and drive it from western Saskatchewan to Ft. Dodge IA in Oct for the Cruise to the Woods. Why? I have to be in IA the next week for work anyhow so it seemed like a good excuse to go for a drive in the ol girl.



But like all good ideas, there are problems to overcome.
-truck has sat for a few years now and the gas in the tanks is from 2005
-can't switch fuel tanks from one side to the other
-the gas tanks are looking a little rusty and might spring a leak any minute
-there is a puddle of tranny fluid on the floor
-there is a puddle of brake fluid on the floor
-I'm 90% done a Flexilite electric fan swap
-the chrome thermostat housing weeps
-it sits high enough to get a nose bleed
-the back bumper looks like crap

So I've started this thread to help to keep me motivated to get this done and to get a little help.
Problem 1 is easy enough to fix since the lawnmower needs gas anyhow. I'll siphon it out and fill up the mower.
Problem 2 I'm in the middle of right now and need an answer. I'm going to replace all the fuel system components just cause I can't afford the time to break down on this trip. New tanks will ensure that ethanol blended gas won't pull any crap out of the system and plug filters, valves, pumps and the carb. I just bought a new tank switch for the dash today ($16.92 cdn at Acklands Grainger) and I'm thinking of changing the selector valve on the frame to make sure I don't have any issues at all. Problem is the guy at Acklands didn't know what the valve was called. I've searched the forums and have seen it called the Tank Selector Valve. Any other names it goes by? Parts guy was looking in the Blue Streak and Carter catalogs. Maybe they don't even carry a part for it. I'm also wondering if there are different valves for different years. Will an 87 valve fit my 81 for example. I've tried google, but I'm wondering if anyone can post a link to learn more about the part I want.
Problem 3 can be fixed at Ackland's as well. They have fuel tanks available at a decent price. $137.36 cdn for a 16 gallon and $134.23 for a 20. I have to double check the size, but I'm sure I have 16 gallon tanks. Are the 20 gallon tanks interchangeable? I kinda like the idea of having that kind of fuel range for the trip.
Problem 5 I'm going to farm out. Booked an appointment to get the wheel cylinders changed, axle seals replaced and new brake shoes. While it's there they can look for tranny leaks. I think Problem 4 is just the converter draining back into the case while it sat so long and is coming out the vent. Not sure though because it was too dark to tell.

That's where I'm at at the moment. I have to fab some brackets to hold the fans in place since I had a brain fart and ordered a kit for an 04 GMC from Summit. With the border it's just too much of a hassle to send it back and get the right one. So the bottom is held on with 2 brackets from the kit and the top is held on with zip ties. The thermostat housing is driving me nuts. I've filed the housing flange on the Edelbrock intake flat, filed the chrome off the housing, replaced the O ring, smothered it in silicone, but the SOB still leaks.

After all those things are done, I'll hopefully get around to doing something about the altitude, switching to a sport rear bumper and cutting off the tailpipes and dumping them after the axle. If there's any budget left over then I'll see about getting the seat fixed up a bit. Not very comfy anymore.

[shrtbx]

i would say go for it. I took a trip in december from los angeles to oklahoma and loved it. Talk about an adventure..but well worth it.

[N2TRUX]

Keep us posted on your progress.

[JohnC]

Sounds like a good road trip.

The 16 gal fuel tank is for short beds, and the 20 gal fuel tank is for long beds.

Here is the page from LMC. They are calling their switching valves Selector Valves. Fuel System Components

As far as the thermostat housing goes. I have heard the chrome ones are bad about seeping. Don't know how to remedy it, besides replacing it. Which is what I think I would do just for peace of mind on the road.

Good luck, and we are here to motivate you! Keep us updated!!

[olblue81]

Thanks for the link John. I had a couple LMC catalogs here but the wifey cleaned up. I didn't know they had catalogs online. That's what's great about this board. I could spend spare time looking for stuff on the web, or post a quick question and someone helps out within a few hours. Thanks again.

About the tanks sizes, I realized I made a rookie mistake. I remember filling the truck up at the farm and it taking 16 gal per side. What I forgot was that our gallons are 20% larger. Well, our gallons were 20% larger then we went metric. But our old pumps on the farm are in Imperial gallons and that was why I thought I had the small tank. 16 imperial gallons = 20 US gallons.

[TexasJeff]

Sounds like a fun trip, I used to live in Cedar Rapids Iowa many years ago.

[JohnC]

Originally Posted by olblue81

Thanks for the link John.

No problem man.

Originally Posted by olblue81

.... What I forgot was that our gallons are 20% larger....

Oh stop your bragging!

[olblue81]

Originally Posted by JohnC

No problem man.



Oh stop your bragging!

[olblue81]

Just thinking of one more thing I'm going to need before I go on this trip...cupholders!

I've seen pics of cupholders for 67-72 that slide into the ashtray tracks. I've googled and searched the forum to see if there is a vendor that offers one for 73-87s but I've come up empty. Anyone know of one?

[ont_guy_38]

LMC has cupholders

[flamingbig10]

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=106

[olblue81]

Originally Posted by ont_guy_38

LMC has cupholders

First site I searched and came up empty. Never thought to search drink holders. Thanks guys.

[78 Big10 454]

From experience, dump the chrome thermostat housing for a stock one. The chrome ones are notorious for leaking.

[3r!c84]

i got one of the plastic cut holder things that sit on the floor from pepboys

[olblue81]

Originally Posted by 78 Big10 454

From experience, dump the chrome thermostat housing for a stock one. The chrome ones are notorious for leaking.

I filed all the chrome off the bottom so I'm not so sure it isn't the 15 year old Edelbrock intake that part of the problem. Only way to know is swap out the housing for the stocker and see if it still leaks.

[olblue81]

Told my parents yesterday about the trip and my 70 year old Dad has decided to come along.

Really looking forward to this. Could only be better if my 5 year old son could come along.

[SBTork]

Originally Posted by olblue81

Told my parents yesterday about the trip and my 70 year old Dad has decided to come along.

Really looking forward to this. Could only be better if my 5 year old son could come along.

very cool, sounds like it should be a blast. Keep us posted on the progress.

[olblue81]

Not much of an update, but I got started on getting the truck ready today. Got it out of storage to take it to a shop that is going to repair the leaks tomorrow.

As it sat in storage. You can see the edge of the tranny fluid puddle.


Hooked up the battery. After checking all the fluids, I tried cranked it to see if it would start. Surprisingly, it fired on the third try today. Not sure what I was thinking. Red heater hose, red distributor cap, yellow plug wires. ugh.


You are looking at an original, crack free 1981 vintage dash. And a bunch of garbage on the seat.


Side shot with all the crap my parents had stored in the box. Most of it was mine, so I guess I should take the hint and haul it home.


Dropped it off at the shop.

[olblue81]

Well I haven't updated my thread for a bit, but the truck is slowly getting ready for the trip (10 days and counting left to work on the truck). I've had tons on my plate lately and posting hasn't been at the top of the list.


The rear brakes are fixed now. I didn't get photos, but on the way home there was an issue with the right front brake dragging. Back to the shop the following week to get the right front caliper replaced, but it turned out to be a bad brake hose.

So from the original post-
-truck has sat for a few years now and the gas in the tanks is from 2005
-can't switch fuel tanks from one side to the other
-the gas tanks are looking a little rusty and might spring a leak any minute
-there is a puddle of tranny fluid on the floor
-there is a puddle of brake fluid on the floor
-I'm 90% done a Flexilite electric fan swap
-the chrome thermostat housing weeps
-it sits high enough to get a nose bleed
-the back bumper looks like crap

I'm going to get some of this fixed and some not.
-I've run several tanks of fuel through the truck and no issues have sprung up other than a stuck needle and seat that was cured by pulling the top off the carb and giving it a "30 second carb job" by spraying a pile of carb cleaner on it. Changed the fuel pump and fuel filter and crossing my fingers that nothing else happens. MPG has been in the 16 US/19 IMP to the gallon at 75 mph/120 kmh. Better than I thought.
-bought a new switch for the fuel tank. Hope that fixes the fuel tanks not switching. They appear to work OK now.
-tranny fluid is coming from where the shift linkage goes into the trans case. Was told there is nothing that can be done for that.
-brakes are good to go now.
-still have to fab 2 quick brackets to mount the top of the fans.
-gave up on the chrome thermostat housing and went back to the ugly stocker. It still weeps a touch so I'm starting to think the Edelbrock manifold is the culprit. It is 15 years old now.
-The back bumper and tailpipes still look like crap, but I'm going to trim the pipes so that they dump behind the axle. The bumper is what it is for now.
-Last but not least, DHL showed up with a set of DJM drop spindles and shocks. The 4" shackle and hanger kit is on back order so I'm crossing my fingers to get them before I go.

Pics to come!

BTW, does anyone know of a site that I can post updates from the road with my Blackberry?

[rockn30809]

Your tranny leak can be fixed by any shop that does trans work. The selector seal leaking is common, has happened to me twice. If it happens again I'm gonna buy the puller for removing the seal and start doing them myself.

[olblue81]

Originally Posted by rockn30809

Your tranny leak can be fixed by any shop that does trans work. The selector seal leaking is common, has happened to me twice. If it happens again I'm gonna buy the puller for removing the seal and start doing them myself.

Hmmm. I was lead to believe there wasn't a seal in there. Good to know.

[joe231]

Originally Posted by olblue81

Well I haven't updated my thread for a bit, but the truck is slowly getting ready for the trip (10 days and counting left to work on the truck). I've had tons on my plate lately and posting hasn't been
The rear brakes are fixed now. I didn't get photos, but on the way home there was an issue with the right front brake dragging. Back to the shop the following week to get the right front caliper replaced, but it turned out to be a bad brake hose.

So from the original post-
-truck has sat for a few years now and the gas in the tanks is from 2005
-can't switch fuel tanks from one side to the other
-the gas tanks are looking a little rusty and might spring a leak any minute
-there is a puddle of tranny fluid on the floor
-there is a puddle of brake fluid on the floor
-I'm 90% done a Flexilite electric fan swap
-the chrome thermostat housing weeps
-it sits high enough to get a nose bleed
-the back bumper looks like crap

I'm going to get some of this fixed and some not.
-I've run several tanks of fuel through the truck and no issues have sprung up other than a stuck needle and seat that was cured by pulling the top off the carb and giving it a "30 second carb job" by spraying a pile of carb cleaner on it. Changed the fuel pump and fuel filter and crossing my fingers that nothing else happens. MPG has been in the 16 US/19 IMP to the gallon at 75 mph/120 kmh. Better than I thought.
-bought a new switch for the fuel tank. Hope that fixes the fuel tanks not switching. They appear to work OK now.
-tranny fluid is coming from where the shift linkage goes into the trans case. Was told there is nothing that can be done for that.
-brakes are good to go now.
-still have to fab 2 quick brackets to mount the top of the fans.
-gave up on the chrome thermostat housing and went back to the ugly stocker. It still weeps a touch so I'm starting to think the Edelbrock manifold is the culprit. It is 15 years old now.
-The back bumper and tailpipes still look like crap, but I'm going to trim the pipes so that they dump behind the axle. The bumper is what it is for now.
-Last but not least, DHL showed up with a set of DJM drop spindles and shocks. The 4" shackle and hanger kit is on back order so I'm crossing my fingers to get them before I go.

Pics to come!

BTW, does anyone know of a site that I can post updates from the road with my Blackberry?

Very Cool thread!

you just reminded me that I need to replace my axle seals

[olblue81]

So the last week thrash is on to make sure the truck is ready.

After noticing the oil pressure was dangerously low at hot idle, I decided to do some investigating. The motor wasn't knocking so I suspected the pressure sender. I removed the pipe plug from the oil gallery behind the water pump-


And threaded in a master gauge to check the real pressure-


And like I suspected, lots of oil pressure-


65 lbs at cold idle with 15w40 oil. I put a standard volume, high pressure oil pump in the motor because of the 2 camshaft failures I had when I rebuilt the motor, but it seems as though I don't really need it. I thought the clearances might be a little loose after the trash went through it, but I guess not.

So I went ahead and put in the new sending unit-


I still have to fab a couple brackets to mount the top of the electric fans-

Like my zip tie bracketry? lol.

I still want to do something about the altitude.

I have the spindles, but the hangers and shackles I'm still waiting on. Hopefully they arrive on Tuesday like I was promised. I won't do the spindles until they arrive, and even then I will only get the shackles in if they do. That will give me a 3/2 drop at least. Not the best, but I'm hesitant to try and get the hangers off this close to leaving. The truck sits almost level now, so it will have a little more than a 1" rake when I get the shackles on.
Front-

Rear-


I've got my route planned out now on MapPoint-

It'll end up being over 2500 miles in 8 days. Planning on stopping in Jamestown at Agricover to pick up a tonneau cover on the way down.

[olblue81]

Well it's the night before the departure. What I wanted to do was step by step posts with photos of my getting the truck together.

But as it turned out, it was a 3 day thrash with no time for photos or posting. All I have is an after photo.

The installation of the spindles went well, but the hangers and shackles were a little slice of h-e-double hockey sticks. Sometime I'll go into it, but for now I've got to get packing.

[79gmcc15]

wow looks nice!!! have a safe drive!