Started cleanin some parts. I took the EGR apart and cleaned it up. When I put it back on, if I put it back on, I will make a block off plate. I have used a pop can to make one before. It has carbon all inside the pipe and is hard as a rock. I have helped others with an error code with the EGR and I have never had to replace one yet or the few I have helped. Just need to get it clean and it should be ok. This is the reason I block off the EGR. I may not make a friend with Al Gore, but this cant be good in a motor. I havent cleaned the intake yet. It is just as bad.


Intake Plugged.


I always keep my old head gasket to compare the new one to. It also gives an idea if and where the problem may have exsited. I rebuilt a 351 Cleveland years ago. It started and ran fine but would get hot. I never could find why it kept getting hot. A friend of mine help me tear it back down and found that one of the water passages in the head gasket didnt get cut out when it was being produced. Havent ran into that problem since, but still like to compare the new head gasket to the old one just incase.


Some parts I did get cleaned. One thing I do is keep my parts in totes. It helps keep them clean and together and no lost parts. Also if I need to remember something I need to do later on I will put a sticky note pad on the inside of the tote so it if is some time later on I will remember it. This works great for me. I just got the peices apart for picture purposes, but now I have the head all together. It will be a week from this Friday before I can send it to the machine shop to check it out. I ran out of WD-40 to coat it but will do it tomorrow to keep things from rusting. Hope this idea will work for some of you. These totes will take alot of weight with in reason. I have a block in the shed in a tote. A guy was going to throw it away and I took it. It had some pitting and just needs a slight bore. Just have to break them down in light enough pieces. This really cuts down on missing parts. I also have the old head gasket in here for when I go to rebuild later on.

 

Another thing I do that has helped out a ton is when I am at a bone yard is to grab every nut and bolt that I can get my hands on and keep them organized with these Mason jars. I posted this on my 88 build but thought it would go good here too. I super glue one to the lid. I get the jars at Dollar General for the whole flat for $7 I think. This truck will need alot of bolts and this will help alot.

 

your jar Idea is good but I have two locked up engines out in the back that when I need a bolt or nut for a certian location I just go find it on one of the other engines and pull it out...LOL I did that for a water pump stud last night....LOL....I might have to pull them all apart and put them in jars tho....

 

Wow! Another SICK ARSE write up, as usual! lol.

Looking good, homie... keep em coming... I'ma need this when I find myself a clean Motor/less 79-83! lol.

 

Hello dirt dobber.. It helps alot. I remember whne I didnt have bolts.What a pain in the rear.

Thanks Chef.. I try to make my builds helpful. Some will be from my 88, but I have talked to several on the home page that dont come to the build side and dont always have access to the tricks I have learned here or come up with myself.

 

Did spend some time on the truck today. Had some nice weather and tried to take advantage of it. Dont know how many more days will have. Had a sick kid at home today which was kind of nice as otherwise I would of been doing 500 other things.

Here is the driverside. It is actually in better shape then the passenger side. Guessing the exhaust help keep it dry and slowed some rust. On the far edge of the back of the frame you can see where I was working and the difference.


Passenger side done, still have to get the bottom and remove lines and wires and get in the tight areaas. just want to try and keep moving forward. Still wont paint for awhile. I will eventually rig lights up on the rear of the frame and run with out a bed for awhile. It is legal here. I think I started a fad the last time I did this. Seen several other trucks doing the same thing.REDNECK!!!


Got the doors on and have it sealed from the weather. I will be putting on a different door. I am working on it now. Got a few dents to get out.


Here is replacement door. Big dent that I had to work out. Doesnt show in pic but te next pic I circled it.


Here is the door. It is further along then this and I still have some work to do. Didnt think I was going to be able to save this door. It was a big dish dent. I dont have more then a nickels thick of bondo in it. The line at the top is where the dent went out to. The center that says it needs filled is just a deep scratch. I nearly have this door done. Hope to get to it finished soon.


Here is some of the things I am using on the frame. Today the drivers window was hard to roll up. I did this in my 88 restore and want to pass this on to others here. Spray your window track rubber seals. It makes a huge difference. I have fixed windows that I was worried about breaking the window handle or gears and you can really roll it up with one finger when done. The Silicone spray does wonders.

 

that thing looks good man, cant wait to see it done, what color you painting it? what size tires/lift u gonna be runnin?

 

Hello 1986..Right now I am thinking of a burnt orange. Probably something like the picture in my first post. It is similar to one of the colors they came in when new. Another color is hunter or forest green if that is what I am thinking of. I seen one in that color also.

I think the color should go with the interior. I wouldnt want a red body and green interior. That is one thing of a tan interior, it offers different choices.

I am a hard core purist, if it is orginal, that is the way I like seeing them. But this truck is a 83 frame and bed and 79 cab. I will change the cab out so it will actually be titled as a 79 since Missouri goes by the cab VIN. They dont worry about the frames. But the frame better be legal. I have both titles so I am good to go.

I missed out on some 33s. Four tires for $35 a piece. Hopefully I can come across another deal like that when I am tire shopping. They had 80% tread. Seems like when I have the money, there just isnt any deals. When broke, I miss out on 10 deals a day.

 

I am about to get the door finished. It isnt the big dents that is giving me problems, it is the pin holes or small low spots. I am about to get it whipped though. Was about to have Jason in tn come give me some autobody lessons.lol

 

Glazing putty, Terry, Glazing putty.....LOL.....I see all is going good on your side of MO....... no bed huh I will have to try that Oh wait I did a while back with my Chevy..........doughnuts and burn outs super easy....LOL....


33's for that cheap man I really need to get off the flats and get up in the hills.......

Oh remember Glazing putty.......LOL

 

Hello dirtdobber.. You think you got a hotrod motor til the bed goes back on then you get brought back to reality. Its nice for a little while. Throw rooster tails in the rain.hehe

I am getting quite familiar with glazing putty. Sure is nice when you get it right the first time though.

 

The weather is turning bad here. Been getting rain and colder. Sure was hoping the weather would hold out til I got this running.

I cant send the head to the machine shop til next Friday. If I could just get it running and enough to drive to my dads shop it would speed things up so much more. Other wise I am stuck hauling what I can on my flatbed or my trailer whick is better then nothing.

Last winter I had to work on my runner and bundling up and working on it when I had a descent day is just for the birds. Will be glad when I get my shop.

The banker didnt get the paperwork wrote up and that will just be another delay. Should have my loan next week, Im approved, but the the concrete guy will need a few days and it will take the builders a little bit of time. Urrgh...

I went to put my drivers fender on so that I could do some body work on it but have some broken bolts that bolt the fender on that I need to get out first. Did get my door done, just need to prime it.

Since we are getting rain, I went ahead an coated some of the frame. Just the part that I had already done. The passenger side I want to remove the lines and wiring harenss and get behind them. Started to remove them and here came the rain again.

If I get a break form the rain, think I will pull the spare tire carrier and get it cleaned up and working. Still making some slow progress. It is one step closer.

Fender on for now.


Part of frame that I had done painted.

 

build is looking great...too bad you weren't a little closer, have a good source for straight doors..

 

Thanks ocdropzone..I wish I did too. I am in an area that there just isnt many of these trucks and good parts are hard to come by. I believe where "there is a will, there is a way" that rule applies to about everything except me becoming a millionaire.lol

I think that is one big satisfaction on getting any build done.

 

I got the head off to the shop yesterday. Hope it turns out to be a good one and no major problems. I feel good about it, but visual inspection only goes so far.

I had the kiddos helping yesterday on getting the frame painted. It as slow but they really liked it. Its not always about speed and they always help in some part of the build. Hoping it will payoff when they get older and want to build a truck of their own. I took some pics but the glare was bad and wasnt post worthy.

 

WOO HOOOOOOOO! ........>>>>>>>>>>>>WORKING WITH THE KIDDOS! That's'wutI'mtalkingbout! lol. C'monnnnnnnnnn, blurry pics will doooooo! lol.

 

I totally agree
I turned my 5 & 7 year old neice and nephew loose last summer when I was rattle canning the truck, they had a blast. My kids come out every once in a while to help hold stuff up..they want me to get the truck back together enough to go winter wheeling..Gotta Love it when the kids help and enjoy it too.

 

Man, I'm gonna be following this. I'm going to be replacing the head gasket on my new (to me) 94 pu w/ a 22re so this is kind of inspiring. It gives me ideas of projects to do along the way!

 

Hello Chef.. I managed to save one good pic.. I will post here in a few. They do help out quite a bit and actually like doing it. I think they like seeing the dust fly and getting it down to shiney metal. They do a really good job. I have to touch up a little. Restore mde easy.

Hello ocdropzone.. I agree, it is actually fun with them. I have to break the bolts loose and they were always saying it was their turn. 2 minutes is eternity to them. We went winter wheeling and had lots of fun last year. Its already on their minds. Good times. I had forgotten about that til you just mentioned it.

Hello thedrewski86.. Thanks, I try to make my threads helpful and I will try and be the guinea pig if need be. I will look up your build here in a few. I have gotten away with doing just 4 head gaskets and one complete. Getting the crankshaft bolt off is the biggest pain, but othr then that it not as intimidating as it may seem. Ever have question, feel free to ask, I help where I can. Enjoy seeing others getting their builds going just as much.

 

Here is a pic of the boys working. I didnt have any safety googles that would fit them and was letting them get used to the drill. Once they got the hang of it, I made them put on their swimming goggles. We are high tech here NOT!!lol Pictures of that would of been some good blackmail material when they get older.


Here is the rest of the frame that they had done. They had an hour and half on this. I did the painting, but they did a good job on the cleaning. Got to get the wiring haness cleaned up. It had alot of wires tapped into so will be removing the non factory add ons.