Time to pull the 68 panel wagon out

[trapperjack]

Have had other projects going, just got the 67 K20 legal, so it's time to get the 68 panel out of the shed. Was my great-uncle's, I had it tagged and legal in 07, but lost the brakes and all taillights/blinkers and parked it. So I'll be on the hunt for a master cylander. It has a late 70's 305 and the original powerglide, and was a blast to drive. Looking forward to getting it going again. I'm sure I'll have a few questions as I get moving on it. Here it was right before I parked it in the shed.

[Flint70step]

Nice!! I hope to see it in person soon

[trapperjack]

I hope so too. Could use some in deciding what to do on it. It runs great, just needs a few things tidied up. Goats got under it and dinged up the powerglide pan a little, lost fluid, but it's been ok since I sealed it back up. i have a few things I'm thinking of swapping off on it, and would like to have another opinion. Not sure what I'm up to this weekend yet, but I'll call you tomorrow sometime if i remember and have service at the same time.

[big blue 72]

nice looking panel Trapperjack!

[trapperjack]

Getting ready to pull it out and start on it, and making a list of things i need to do. Needing a few questions answered.

I've searched and found nothing. It's the original 68 powerglide. How many quarts and what type fluid go in it? I'm going to drop the pan and re-gasket. I did it back in I think 06, but don't remember what I used. It was fine untill goats got under it goofing around, now I found a bright red puddle under it and dings on the pan. Which gasket sealer would you use?

Had non-power drum brakes, that stopped it on a dime, no complaints, untill it started leaking at the master. Everyone tells me to swap in a power booster. That won't bolt in will it? if not, it did fine as it was.

The reason I parked it in 07 was the brakes and the tail/brake lights. Oh and retreat lights. I get nothing. my great-uncle jury-rigged an 80's model wire harness in the column with wires crossed everywhere under the column. I used to could jiggle the wire mess and get them to work for days, then have to jiggle again. I wasn't able to find a correct harness for it, so....ideas?
Sorry for the long post. Thanks, if you read this far.

[robb67]

Hey, nice looking panel. I still run the non-power drum brakes and so far I'm happy with them, usually I leave a ton of distance anyway but I've had to get on them every now and then and they work fine for me.
I'm sure someone can chime in about the power boost, obviously I don't have one but I thought it was a bolt on option.
As for the harness, I'm not sure of what you currently have but if it can jiggle and work occasionally then I'd say with a lot of patience you will find a intermittent ground nearby (somewhere near the jiggly bit) and with that secured you may have an easy fix?

anyway, love the panel....

[trapperjack]

Drove it around on the place today. Powerglide was out of fluid, so was power steering, and took lots of ether to get it going, but it runs fine again. I need a brake master cylander for sure. And looks like I need a gasket for the powerglide pan. What is the best fluid to go in there? Been searching and not finding. I had some dex-merc that says it meets dex 1,2,3, and 4, but it also says for trans after 1985, this is the original 68 powerglide. Was fun to scoot around in it again. The Skynyrd even still works in the 8 track.

[rsavage]

A power brake booster bracket and booster will bolt up no problem. If your lines are still in good shape, you can bend them enough to go to the new master cylinder. Power drums work great and will make a huge improvement. They are grabbier than power disc, but you get used to using a light foot. Make sure you get the master cylinder for power drum brakes. There are actually two booster brackets that were used on these trucks. One is a little shorter and it had the thicker double diaphragm booster on it. The other bracket was a little longer and used the thinner larger diameter booster. Either will work but they have to be matched - a longer bracket won't work with the fatter double diaphragm booster and vice versa. You can usually get a set up from one of the guys on the board who part trucks. I would suggest then buying a new MC and booster. This is, in my mind one of the two best things you can do to these old trucks to make them more pleasant to drive. Power steering is the other.

[trapperjack]

I got a rebuilt master, bench bled it, and it started raining before I could get started on it. So I moved it back to the shed. Strange thing, though, I seem to have a brake fluid black hole. The back half of the master empties out, but I can't find brake fluid leaking anywhere. The fluid in the back half got frothy, too. May be a couple weeks before I can mess with it again. Eventually, I want to swap out for power brakes, now I just want to get it going again.

[bcminimart]

got a 67 but i gave up on it,out of money,already spent a ton on replacement parts and havent used them