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View Full Version : For those that remember my vehicle situation....


Darrin
05-04-2007, 05:33
A little has changed as of late.

My old rusted out Toyota is gone. Another forum I belong to is the Tercel 4WD forums. One of the other members on there bought my car as a spare parts car for his. My little snow turtle has gone to a good home.

My old truck has seen better days. Out of the original 5 leaf springs on the left rear corner, I've lost two out of the back half of the pack now. One was already cracked (presumably quite a long time ago if you account the rust on the broken end), which weakened the rest of the pack. I have since overloaded the truck about 20 times carrying firewood around for my heating system. In the process I lost another leaf last week. I no longer trust the truck to support anything heavier than a sack of groceries in the back.

My wife's Neon is still running strong. The engine I dropped into it a while ago seems to be doing okay now. (whew)

That truck I dragged home is making slow process.
http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/oldocuk/truck/90chev2.jpg

I have since ripped the old engine out of it. I've bought a used engine from a local scrappy and done a little work to it. A lot less than I wanted to, but the weather hasn't exactly been kind to me lately. I originally bought new valves, pistons, headers, 4bbl intake, Holley 850 double pumper, Jacob's ignition, and some more goodies.

I have since gone back to the stock TBI intake, haven't even unbolted the rocker covers, and I'm selling the headers. It's all going back to stock. I bought this truck to SAVE on fuel economy.

I am putting on all new belts and hoses, fluids and filters, plugs and wires etc. I've already gotten the new tyres for it (P335/65R16LT at $104.00 a piece) and I've got new pads and shoes for the brakes. The U-joints look ok, same with the front suspension bushings.

All that remains is to actually drop the new engine in and get it running up to par, then transfer the insurance over from the old truck. I'm hoping to do the actual engine move this weekend (it's been planned for the last two weekends, but Mother Nature spoiled them both).

For those that don't know what I'm talking about, this was what I woke up to April Fool's morning.


http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/chevy/aprilfools.jpg

A full-on blizzard that only subsided this morning. It's currently 12*F outside (-11*C).
http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/COLD.GIF

So, when I actually get a chance to thaw the truck out enough to work on it, I'll get it running. And yes, I'll be sure to get some pictures. But I need camera batteries first. I'll also hopefully get a sound clip of it firing up the first time (with the obligatory open header pipe run of course).

The future plans for it are for this summer to cut out the little bit of rust around the rear arches, at the bottom of the rear of the cab, and the rocker panels under the doors. I can order all the replacement sheet metal for under $100 a side and do the welding myself. I'll then sand the entire truck down to bare metal and primer it with at least 3 coats. Then I'll have to save up for some REALLY good paint. I'm thinking coal black with a satin black on the bonnet to prevent glare.

I'm not going for the "Pimp My Ride" look as this will still be a work truck. This one will be completely taking over from the old one as a wood hauler, and it will also end up being my daily driver. The only thing I'm really changing from stock is to put around 100W total of ICE in it to play CD and MP3. Oh, and the twin 150W KC Daylighter HID off road lights on the front bumper, of course. To match the Sylvania Cool Blue headlamps that are already in it!! ;)

Del Lardo
05-04-2007, 08:52
Given my complete mechanical ineptitude I have massive respect for anyone who can work on their own cars but you forgot to mention the 22” spinners you’re fitting when you’ve painted the truck ;)

Kell_ee001
05-04-2007, 10:34
http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/COLD.GIF

I did read the rest but had totally forgotten in favour of going "aaawwww" by this point :embarassed:

Jonny69
05-04-2007, 19:59
I hope I haven't been a bad influence :)

Darrin
10-04-2007, 04:56
A quick update.

I've got the engine in, all the plumbing hooked up, all the electrical is run, and everything is mostly bolted up.

I haven't been brave enough to crawl around on my back in the snow to finish bolting the engine to the transmission yet. I also haven't gotten the exhaust hooked up.

But I plunked the battery in it and tried all the electrical tonight. Everything I can check without the engine running works!! All lights, wipers, heater fan, fuel pump. They all work!!

This is a good sign!!

Oh, and I got batteries for the camera today so I can take lots of pictures now. They're in the charger as I speak....


P.S. Could someone please move this to motors where it belongs? Thanks so much!!

Stan_Lite
10-04-2007, 10:14
I have a great deal of respect for people who can work with engines and stuff.

I can build a PC in less than an hour but as soon as I open the bonnet (that's the hood, Darrin :p ) of a car, I shout "Dad, come here a minute" :embarassed:

Stan :)

Feek
10-04-2007, 10:29
With me it's [shout] "Mrs. Feek, what's the phone number of the mechanic?" ;)

Good work Mickey (that name has stuck for too long!!), looking forward to a spin in that :D :D

Jonny69
10-04-2007, 16:02
Wehey nice one. Let us know when she fires up. Keep getting this odd need to transplant a V8 into my Pop, I think it's because with a V8 you have somewhere tyo put your tools when you're working on it :D

Darrin
11-04-2007, 00:51
Well, got everything all assembled (except the exhaust). I think the parts store gave me the wrong upper radiator hose, though.

All the electricals are hooked up, all the hoses are on and fluids filled.

Still need to put the bonnet on, but that's a two person job (the thing is HUGE!! No way am I going to try it myself!!).

So I put the key in the ignition, crossed my fingers and turned it.


NOTHING!!


I think it's either the starter is fubar (almost $70) or there's something wrong in the wiring. But I'm too cold, tired, and disheartened to bother ****ing with it any more today.

In one way I'm excited that it's all together finally, but I'm rather depressed that it won't even turn over for me. I SO wanted to scare the living daylights out of everyone for a half mile radius when that thing barked to life with the open manifold exhaust it's sitting there with right now!! :(

Ah well. Time to go take a shower and wash the multitude of mechanical fluids that are in my hair out, eat something, and take a rest. I'll dig back into it tomorrow.

The other depressing thing is that in 1988 they changed the starter style on the trucks. So I can't even scavenge the starter out of my old truck to try the newer one. :(

Feek
11-04-2007, 02:11
Not even a clicking from the starter?

Put a handle in the front and crank it like a man ;)

Darrin
11-04-2007, 02:17
Nope, absolutely nothing.

And I ain't gettin anywhere NEAR that crankshaft when it decides to fire!! Almost 300bhp and over 350ft/lbs isn't something you want grabbing a hold of your arm!! LOL

Jonny69
11-04-2007, 11:35
Ooh that's a bit annoying. Can you put a jump lead direct on the starter? Then try a live direct to the solenoid. Then you'll know if it's the motor, the solenoid or the wiring.

Darrin
11-04-2007, 16:26
Yeah, that's what I'm going to try today.

I would have yesterday, but I was just completely fed up with sliding around in the snow on my back. Now that I've had some sleep, Im a little more inclined to try again.....

Pebs
11-04-2007, 20:00
Good luck! Hope its straightforward :)

Darrin
11-04-2007, 23:07
Well, went out there and pulled the starter out. Hooked up my Coleman jumpstart pack and nothing happened. Got an arcy sparky from it, but not much else.

Put the positive lead on the motor connection and the motor spun up fine.

Great, the solenoid is fubar. Stripped it apart, didn't find anything wrong. Put it back together, IT WORKS!! Twice :(

Used an old Ford repair method and smacked it with a hammer. IT WORKS!! 3 times. :(

So, I need a new starter. But I decided to put it in anyways and see if the engine worked.

IT RUNS!!! *do a happy dance*

Woke up everybody for a mile around as there's absolutely NO exhaust on it at all... :D

It now moves under its own power, but I'm not going to start driving it until I can get the new starter. I don't feel like climbing under the truck to smack the starter every time the solenoid decides to quit working on me.

I still need to do the exhaust up, fill the power steering resevoir, change out the distributor (original's got some serious play in it, got a spare), put the bonnet back on and transfer the insurance over.

I took it out on the road to make sure the tranny was working fine. Seemed to shift okay. Dropped the hammer on it and opened it up. Good Lord that thing can ROAR!!! Left two 8 inch wide strips of torn up gravel for about 200 yards!! :D

So it's not quite my daily driver yet, but it's a hell of a lot closer than it was two days ago!! ;)

Flibster
11-04-2007, 23:21
So you take a hammer out with you. Not a problem. Thats half the proper mans toolkit.

Hammer - for if it doesn't move and should.
Duct tape - for if it does move and shouldn't.

Sounds good fun though. ;)

Simon/~Flibster

Darrin
11-04-2007, 23:27
Oh, if the ground was dry anywhere within the boundaries of the county I live in, it wouldn't be a problem.... ;)