The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Re: What did you get done on your 'Bolt today?

old trucks are fun(repeat until you believe) - Easter Edition!

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There I am in my big blue 1965 chevy truck... riding out to my buddy's place, about 17 miles away.

Nice Easter Sunday afternoon... vroooom.

Perfect driving weather except for all the crazy church drivers going fast and cutting me off!

*truth*

However, I digress...

I get to my buddy's place... 'hey man, how ya doing? What's the latest... hey, we hungry or what, ok... pizza? let's do it.. yers or mine? let's take mine, the winders are already open...'

Get in truck... crank... vrooom.... engine dies. Hrmmn? crank it again, it's fine... 'well, that was weird.' We ride about 300 yards away and it dies.

Now, after 9 years of owning this frankenstein(different years of parts cobbled together) of a Chevy truck, I know a few things or four about it... so we check this, that... and I think 'ya know, last time it acted like this, the power to the electric fuel pump was the culprit... ' and because of that incident, I have a backup positive wire running from the battery down to the pump... I jump the wires over and the fuel pump makes a very slight death 'ker-plunk' and then no-thing. NOTHING.

ooopsies.

Great.

Fun times ahead for me!

We roll it backwards down the hill and into a now thankfully vacant church parking lot... (thank ya lawd for not letting it die out on the main road!) .

Now the fun begins...

Folks, I'm here to tell ya that this newfangled gasoline with the ethanol in it... burns on the skin like you would not believe possible. hooooooo eeeeeee, I was lit up and I still have some nice red spots on me, ow!kwitit!

My buddy walked back to his place, grabbed his tools and his truck, we went to parts store, buy new pump, go back to truck... start to take off pump, gas goes everywhere all over me. I can report that this new ethanol gas tastes worse than old gas too. Now, naturally, the new fuel pump won't fit into the already existing and mounted bracket band which my mechanic or his crew put on a few years ago.

Wonderful.

So, I'm fussing with the hoses to get 'em off and get 'em on and gas is spewing and running out, and I'm on fire cuz it's irritating the snot out of me(serious understatement) and then I get the hoses on. Yay. Then... I notice... the rubber hose from the tank to the new electric fuel pump is dry rotted, has a nice slit in it and it is in fact, leaking.

I had to laugh, of course... mr. murphy is my co-pilot today.

Now... my buddy goes back to his place, grabs some fuel hose and some hose clamps he had lying around from a past project(he's a recovering old car guy, he has go-fast motorcycles now) and comes back. I'm laying under my truck trying to be philosophical about this and ponder : well, at least it is a awful pretty day, I'm right by my buddies house and it isn't raining.

hah!

Buddy comes back, I get back to work - new hose, new clamps, done.

My pal brought his wire stripper/crimping tool and some connecters, yay... get that done... now, will it crank, or was it something else?

crank... VROOM.

hallelujah!

Throw tools in the trucks, clean up our mess in the parking lot and off we roll back to his place for further inspection.

Now, how are we gonna mount this thing? Hmn... the bolts that came with new mini micro pump (mr. gasket - mini micro #12s for you gearheads out there) are too short to go through the plastic mount of the pump housing and the frame itself through the already existing hole.

Mr. Murphy had not yet left us, you see?

My buddy scrounges around and like a true gear head, he has some bolts, nuts and lock washers lying around.

*smirk*

Now I'm looking at this issue... fuel pump mounting is about a inch and a half away from the already existing hole in the frame... but, I have rubber fuel line on each side of the fuel line, so I can wiggle it side to side.

Aw dang it, I'mma take another ethanol bath.

%*&#&!$*@!!!

O.K., so I took my man pill and explained my predicament to my pal and he says: oh, ok, now we are being picky.

I say: that's right, my OCD is now fully active... got any more fuel line?

So, I did the other side of the fuel pump and had more adjusting room. Taking yet another bath in gasoline, this time with a straight shot to the mouth, luckily I have ridden in this kinda rodeo before and learned from my dad to keep my mouth closed when dealing with gas lines on cars and you are underneath the thing.

*thanks for the tip dad!*

Now we got new old stock fuel line on each side with the screw in adjustable manly hose clamps and I have it lined up with the already existing mounting hole on the frame.

YAY.

new bolt and hardware and done.

yay.

But... but... hey... wait... it's... leaking?

from...

fuel line to engine compartment ---> fuel pump ---> in line fuel filter ---> gas line to fuel tank pickup

that came with fuel pump that we already screwed in and snugged down!!!

Hrmmn.

Mr. Murphy must be on the porch now in the rocking chair.

Now we snug it some more... driiiiiip.

A little more.

drii ii iii pp.

A lil, lil more.

dripppp.

**aaahh. we are gonna break it!**

I double check directions to see if maybe we were supposed to use some kinda sealing tape or a gasket, something... nope, nada.

So, we tighten it a little more and it's really in there...

I'll check it tomorrow and see if it requires further attention.

Now, put up tools... I've been sprayed in gas from my head to my belly and laying in it all over my back(my shirt has long since been tossed cuz the gas sitting soaked on my skin was making me insane, yes it hurt that much)... and my hands and fore arms are filthy with old truck grime and I'm covered with that sand that accumulates on roads and driveways.

For you Jerry Clower fans, my pal starts making jokes about going into town with me in this condition, no shirt, big fat jelly belly hanging out and dirt and grease all over... and making like Marcel Ledbetter wanting a bellywasher at the beer joint... I told him : " but, I don't have a chain saw... " he says: we'll just drag the door off with a chain.

*hah.*

So, Cuz finds me some clothes to borrow(luckily we are both big boys! - hah), I take a scrub/rub down/shower and we finally go eat pizza.

sheesh.

old trucks are fun.

repeat until you believe.

Ya'll have a good week!

--end--

-W

well i just drove my chevvy today in australia they tried to make everyone use ethanol based fuel now they have abandoned that idea you are not allowed to use it in boats no good for fuel lines is ethanol compulsory in the states we have unleaded i am not sure if i should put an additive in my fuel?any ideas

Well, I took my first test drive yesterday pretty stoked about that.
Today i pulled my entire fuel system, tank to carb, because it appears that the liner in my tank has come loose and is now a slimy/milky/gas.

Dropped off my fuel tank to get the filler relocated and a drain & return port added. Took some of the new door iron to the local shop for bending & sizing. Not very exciting (or rewarding) stuff at this stage but at least it's some kind of progress.

TPR57C - in my state the unleaded gasoline has up to a 10% blend of ethanol, allegedly, by law. I've read that it has been tested at various places and has been more than that, percentage wise by volume.

We don't have leaded fuel anymore in cars in the states. I think some of the old airplanes are still allowed to use it? That or they came up with a substitute.

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I went back through and snugged everything up on the fuel lines, pulled the line after the pump and before the next filter, going to the carb. to check for junk in the line. The gas was nice and purty, no mess in it, nothing fell out of the filter. I changed the fuel filter while I was at it and buttoned everything back up.

gotta keep wrenchin' to keep rollin'.

-W

There is a lead additive product I have used on my 2N tractor that may or may not work.

Installed my 1930's NOS GM script mirror w/clock. Fabricated a custom bracket for it and it works great. You pull a string a few times on the bottom to wind it up. The mirror is the perfect size at 2" x 7" I lurked on eBay a long time to find the right one.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2276907110102454676yUGhGD

Finished removing everthing in the cab. Sanded & cleaned inside of cab. Sprayed the floor & behind the seat with undercoating. Sanded & painted the inside back wall.

Got a fresh rebuilt engine(1960 235) painted dark grey, paint from the filling station. Painted new short shaft water pump and thermostat housing. Found out that fan hits bolt into harmonic balancer, I want to keep ss water pump so I will remove bolt for the balancer.

woogeroo we have no leaded fuel they were going to make unleaded with ethanol compulsory but backed off when you couldnt put ethanol based fuel in boats lots of people use ethanol unleaded but not popular with me they say it blocks fuel lines and eats hoses thats why they wont let boats use it

Aussies are smarter than Americans. However I'll bet we don't use it in airplanes.

Patched the 10x10" hole in the roof where the old wood stove chimney was. Old sheet metal is a (tough) to weld...especially with a crappy welder.

Cleaned out the ol' 3OTT shifter box. No more 1st gear jams.

BEFORE: ...~60yr old grease is some nasty snot.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5111/7069517703_8f72b76b80_b.jpg

AFTER:
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5451/7069518273_095cbc3566_b.jpg

i know what i will be doing next to mine it always seems to jam in 1st when i have an audience most embarissing

I'm surprised that would be the fix.

Replaced the water pump gaskets, changed the water outlet and installed the radiator for the 4th time, and changed the axle cover gasket to stop the grease leak.

Have the engine about ready to install. Bell housing on and flywheel on. Almost ready to go. Hope to have it in tomorrow.

Round two of Woogeroo vs. the Fuel Pump...

2nd fuel pump of the week... this aggravation makes me want to put a block in it that has a mechanical fuel pump!!!

(this engine block came in it)

The Easter parking lot install fuel pump was leaking from the body molding of the pump, or something really weird!

I used a excess piece of heater hose cut into two, 'C' clip shaped covers to protect the fuel line from the grips... worked great, just a little bit of fuel came out into my bucket. YAY.

The difference in road side and driveway repairs is the amount of tools you have!

I hope this one doesn't leak!


-W

Hey Woog, how come you aren't using a mechanical fuel pump?

I've never been a fan of the elecric models... just somethin else to go wrong.

John

You're becoming an expert on this stuff.

I gots the Previous Owner blues...

... my big rusty blue pile of chebby has a 1992 350/5.7L block in it, which was a throttle body fuel injection only engine... so, where the hole is on every SBC for the mechanical fuel pump, there is no hole on this block.

However, it has a edelbrock intake with a 600cfm 4 barrel holley carb.. Therefore, with the current setup, it must needs have an electric fuel pump.

(details on my truck site in my sig line if you really want to know)

I hope the last one was just broke or defective...

*sigh*

If not, I might have to get see-r-i-ous.

-W

Gotcha!

I never knew they did the "fuel pump delete" dealio. Makes sense I guess. The day wasn't a total waste, I LEARNED SOMETHING.

My stuff is so old my SBC still has the hand crank on the front of it.

I've put it off tiem and timea again but finally tackle putting the cab windlace inside the panel today. Now I know why I was dreading it.
My track for the windlace was not bad but it was difficult. Tried the soapy stuff, started and restarted from different places but I just could not pull that sap sucker all the way around the door.
Finally I just took a 1/2" screwdriver and pushed the edges into it. Went a lot better then.

Yes, I had cut a small piece and slide it through the track opening up the tight places but it still would balk in some places.... AND if you open up the track to much its as bad as not being enough.
Best part is its in.

Second thing I did was put a coat of sealer on the back side of the cardboard panels that go behind the door handles.

...and finally, drove it up and down the streat. (no tags yet)

STill waiting on the guy to call me about my seats.

You've got me thinking now Alvin,I've read so many tales of woe regarding this matter.
I've got a big ole flat blade driver I deliberately smoothed off that I use in my work for working rubber seals,I guess I've just found another use for it...Thanks!
I imagine getting the windlace nice and warm will help too.

No Tags? You old rebel you!

Added to this subject of windlace installation should be: get all your rubber material from Steele Rubber Steele Rubber Products

Went yesterday and got mine out of winter storage. Noticed the fuel gauge is jumping back and forth between "full" and where it's supposed to be. Guess I need to find out what's going on there.

ditto on that......

Pulled the engine/trans out, removed more brackets and almost got the front end out (darn near finished but the left rear mount on the front springs REALLY likes where it is and seems determined to stay)

Got the 261 on the engine stand and started the teardown. A pretty good Sunday all in all.

Well I finally got to work and replaced the right emergency brake cable which I broke off short some time ago removing the retaining and adjusting nuts to adjust. What a chore disassembly turned out to be. Could not see a retaining clip at the frame bracket so struggled forever to get it loose and finally broke the retainer clip off (which I did not know was there). It was a tad rusty. Got it all back together --- and --- e brake still does not work. Sooo - disconnected the left side cable, and, you guessed it, it is so frozen --- so back to the drawing board, left wheel and brakes removed, and try to get it to loosen up. Nothing broken so far. Oh - 56 Cameo. -- Dale

Finally got the seat frame sanded and painted,I did it all by hand!
Latterly I was losing the will to live,but got it done.
Can you say tedious?
Next is the upholstery (more cash!)

Yesterday was very productive. Last week I installed the 3 point seat-belt retractors, RETRACTORS

And yesterday I managed to bolt in the clip hangers CLIP HANGERS

and cut the needed slots in the stainless plate I have covering the old fuel tank area.

Then I bolted on the bumper brackets, front and rear and the bumpers.
BUMPERS

Then I got the front license plate bracket bolted on the splash panel.
FRONT LICENSE BRACKET

It lives!!!

click

Started it for the 1st time.

looks like you're doing it up the right way Wayne.

Red letter day yesterday. I actually drove it across town to the paint shop for some airbrush touch-up of a few "boo boo's". She ran well and no parts fell off on the trip.
Next move is to replace the dinky speakers that make those 70's songs sound like their coming out of a tomatoe can, (a salute to Dan Quayle) ,and drive her to the upholstery shop for carpet and headliner.
She should be ready for the car show down in the Hill Country at Blanco on the 3rd Saturday of May.

Yay Jim. I can see your grin from here.

Way to go Jim.

Today I hooked up a temporary gas tank and fired up this old truck. I ran it long enough to bring the temp to normal '180 degrees'. It idles right down after I plugged the vacuum leak. Everything seems to work properly, fuel pump, water pump, alternator, carb, distributor does it's advance thing and even the clutch disengaged and I was able to run through the gears.

Now to get my drive shaft back from the driveline company and install the permanent gas tank. Then I'll take my 1st test drive, Hopefully on Saturday when we have our Florida Gabfest.

made new bed cross sills at work on the cnc plasma cutter and put the box back on my truck today. http://i891.photobucket.com/albums/ac112/Twotone_photos/My%20truck/IMGP3715.jpg
When I run out of things I can make for my truck at work I'll quit.

That looks like what I call perfection. You could do well in your own shop making stuff for trucks. They would have to fit better than Chinese.

I had a broken window regulator that I've been dreading pulling out since both the wing window and the door glass has to come out.
Turned out it was pretty easy.

As an added bonus I found a hammer laying between the inner and outer door skins. How does that even happen?
One less rattle to hunt down.