This should be pretty streetable by DDIY. Leaving my mechanics very soon and headed to tire/suspension/alignment shop next. Needs about 2" taken off the height on both ends and just need to check overall undercarriage health etc. Then the major mechanicals are done and I can start the nickle and dime shit-list lol.
I also can nickel, hard chrome, zinc, cadmium, and phosphate steel and stainless parts, as well as anodize and chem film aluminum parts. Part size limited to 6' x 4' x 2'. We do high end plating for aerospace and the military.
I also can nickel, hard chrome, zinc, cadmium, and phosphate steel and stainless parts, as well as anodize and chem film aluminum parts. Part size limited to 6' x 4' x 2'. We do high end plating for aerospace and the military.
I am jealous! My set up is a 6"x8' PVC pipe with small chemical pump, 10 amp rectifier and 800watt titanium heater.
Putting together an "ASAP" mechanical punch-list at the moment.
1. The drivers side door likes to surprise me by opening at inopportune times. Exhilarating, but ultimately dangerous.
2. With the switch to the HEI ignition, I suspect the factory gap on the plugs is inadequate.
3. The gas is old and moldy. This combined with the spark is contributing to some doggy behavior.
4. Speedometer reads very slow - with the transmission swap I expected this. With my GPS it shows 43mph actual and speedo shows 35mph.
5. Rear end is flolloping all over the place - no sway bar installed.
6. Front end is flolloping all over the place - similar story. Entire suspension needs overhauled/upgraded.
7. Tires/wheels mounted.
8. Tranny lines leaking at the radiator.
9. Ugly one - frost plug hidden behind drivers side motor mount is leaking. Yuck.
10. Heater motor non-functional.
11. Brake fluid reservoir leaking - probably a simple gasket swap as it is coming from under the lid.
12. The steering column has some slop in the reverse location - have to finagle it a bit to get it to work right. Not sure if this a rebuild or replace scenario, however.
Good news is, and I am surprised I had not noticed this until I was laying on my mechanics driveway yesterday, is the rear has already been lowered ~2". This was accomplished by compressing the coils, probably with a torch. I will change those out for proper lowering springs at some point.
It runs at about 65psi of oil pressure.
The coolant system holds good pressure.
Transmission is barely noticeable when it shifts - very smooth. He did a good job on that rebuild.
On my "someday" punch-list:
1. The truck has 4.10:1 posi-trac rear end, which begs for a 700R4 swap at some point.
2. A set of aluminum heads, ceramic coated headers, and a proper dual exhaust.
3. Correct 1972 grill.
4. Cheyenne Super tail-gate.
5. Freshen up the body work/paint job.
6. Factory tach gauge cluster - or an aftermarket alternative.
The truck is 99% complete - no missing bright-work etc. Much of it is showing its age, however, with a lot of the chrome having the tell-tale patina. Probably not salvageable as-is, but I will investigate it. If it is shit, then off it goes. Replacement stuff is not all that expensive if I limit myself to a few pieces per month.
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Guess what I boughted today?
This should be pretty streetable by DDIY. Leaving my mechanics very soon and headed to tire/suspension/alignment shop next. Needs about 2" taken off the height on both ends and just need to check overall undercarriage health etc. Then the major mechanicals are done and I can start the nickle and dime shit-list lol.
In the meantime, got a myriad small items to fix...
Heater motor bad - requires removal of a hood hinge or inner fender.
Heater controls seized up.
Incorrect grill.
Missing various chrome/other trim.
The list will be lengthy, I am sure.
You know a truck in its 40's is a lot like a guy in his 40's.
But really, switches gauge rings, stuff like that.
Shes running.
Home (for now). Still gotta go to the alignment/tire shop. That is brother Nick photo bombing.1. The drivers side door likes to surprise me by opening at inopportune times. Exhilarating, but ultimately dangerous.
2. With the switch to the HEI ignition, I suspect the factory gap on the plugs is inadequate.
3. The gas is old and moldy. This combined with the spark is contributing to some doggy behavior.
4. Speedometer reads very slow - with the transmission swap I expected this. With my GPS it shows 43mph actual and speedo shows 35mph.
5. Rear end is flolloping all over the place - no sway bar installed.
6. Front end is flolloping all over the place - similar story. Entire suspension needs overhauled/upgraded.
7. Tires/wheels mounted.
8. Tranny lines leaking at the radiator.
9. Ugly one - frost plug hidden behind drivers side motor mount is leaking. Yuck.
10. Heater motor non-functional.
11. Brake fluid reservoir leaking - probably a simple gasket swap as it is coming from under the lid.
12. The steering column has some slop in the reverse location - have to finagle it a bit to get it to work right. Not sure if this a rebuild or replace scenario, however.
Good news is, and I am surprised I had not noticed this until I was laying on my mechanics driveway yesterday, is the rear has already been lowered ~2". This was accomplished by compressing the coils, probably with a torch. I will change those out for proper lowering springs at some point.
It runs at about 65psi of oil pressure.
The coolant system holds good pressure.
Transmission is barely noticeable when it shifts - very smooth. He did a good job on that rebuild.
On my "someday" punch-list:
1. The truck has 4.10:1 posi-trac rear end, which begs for a 700R4 swap at some point.
2. A set of aluminum heads, ceramic coated headers, and a proper dual exhaust.
3. Correct 1972 grill.
4. Cheyenne Super tail-gate.
5. Freshen up the body work/paint job.
6. Factory tach gauge cluster - or an aftermarket alternative.
The truck is 99% complete - no missing bright-work etc. Much of it is showing its age, however, with a lot of the chrome having the tell-tale patina. Probably not salvageable as-is, but I will investigate it. If it is shit, then off it goes. Replacement stuff is not all that expensive if I limit myself to a few pieces per month.