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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | The latest project 64 Chevy Panel! http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p291/mrduckphoto/64%20Chevy%20Panel/?albumview=slideshowI don't post much here but I do lurk regularly...so I want to share the story and will post more pics as I go if anyones interested. The truck is owned by a single woman, was built by a long term fiancee who was tragically murdered a few years back. I don't know the whole story on that and I'm not sure I want to... So, she gets the truck and takes it to some dude who's supposed to get it going-somethin' happened and the wiring harness burned up, the guy tells her it's not worth fixin', big piece of junk,yatta yatta yatta, but in the same breath says he'll buy it from her! After two years of sitting there, she's had enough and rescues it, get's ahold of me and here it is. As you can see in the pics there has been alot of half assed electrical crap done. (Twist on wire nuts-Really??)  I just got off the phone with EZ Wiring, ordered a 12 circuit harness- haven't tried this one yet, I did rewire my Panel with a Ron Francis kit- so we'll see how this works. And the good Karma part? (lord knows, I need all I can get) I'm not charging her anything for the labor, just pay for the parts. And besides, I kinda enjoy doin' this kinda stuff Don J  | | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 | | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 |
Good luck, and good for you (and her).
Let us know how this works out.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 | School of, when one pump dies just put another one in???? | | | | | Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 725 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 725 | If the engine, brakes and steering are decent, it won't tale all that long to get it drivable. There is a lot to do and a lot to replace, but it's all doable. Good on you for taking on the project for someone needy of your talents! Please keep this updated, this is a story I'd like to watch! | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | The body is straight and mostly rust free but a lot of the rubber is hard and brittle- comes from being out here in the desert....the steering looks good,PS reservoir is full, but the brake MC is empty- not a good sign as brake fluid doesn't evaporate. The power booster looks cooked as that was right above where the fire was.....I'll look into that stuff later http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p291/mrduckphoto/64%20Chevy%20Panel/EZWiring.jpgThe EZ wiring harness showed up.You're gonna need super human sight to read the tiny printing on the wire, but it's there. http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p291/mrduckphoto/64%20Chevy%20Panel/Firewallplug.jpgI managed to find a firewall plug.They bypassed this, drilled a hole above it and ran the wiring thru, without any rubber grommet.That's where the fire started! I went to a local auto electric shop and bought the new clips to be able to reuse this plug. All the lights and horn will run thru this so if the need ever arises they can un-plug here and remove the entire front clip. I rerouted the trans cooler hard lines this AM, now I need to hang the trans cooler on the radiator and put that stuff back in Stay Tuned.... | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | Oh Boy- my favorite guy, the UPS man, showed up today with a box of goodies from Golden State Parts!  Gas tank sending unit, rubber grommets for the firewall, headlight switch, temp gauge sending unit...I rounded up a copper oil pressure line kit so the stock gauges will work (I hope), new ground cables are in and the plug wires are sorted out. Time to start the reconstruction!!! Stay tuned Don J | | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 | Not at all! Keep the reports coming! | | | | | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,139 Authorized Pest | | Authorized Pest Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,139 | This is fascinating. Wish more folks would "restore" their trucks in the forum like this!! Like the Good Humor man ... look forward to seeing him everyday!
Thanks for all the details Don. Will get this in the Gallery so we can direct folks back here ... may get some more 'Bolt help in here.
Peg
~ Peggy M 1949 Chevrolet 3804"Charlie" - The Stovebolt FlagshipIn the Gallery || In the Gallery Forum"I didn't see this one coming. I don't see much of anything coming. :-O" | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | Lets see....where were we? Oh yeah- the under hood stuff is done... From this...Ewww, yucky To This! This engine looks very healthy, the woman owner says it's real loud, look for big smokin' tire burning pic when this finally runs Waiting on the bulbs for the dash, I've had to replace almost all the light sockets, and order the bulbs...a big thanks goes to Doug,the kid at the O'Riellys parts store....this kinda stuff isn't in the computers, he's had to do this "old school" style- drag out the books and look stuff up, and then thanks me for showing him all that "old antique stuff"  dash backsideAnd then just make all this stuff work dash wiring Now, my big dilemma, making this work... switch wiring (You Canadians do make a fine beer!) The infamous stock switch  On the right,the black is the horn and the light blue is the light for the shifter... Then, from the left,white,pink, white...then grey yellow green... Now I'm not much of an electrician, so I'm asking for professional help...don't want to replace the swich unless we really have to as the woman who owns this is trying to do this on a cocktail waitress budget. And I'm still looking for a pic from a stock dash as I'm not real sure what goes where Stay tuned... Don J | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | Finally got a little time to go screw around with some things, somehow this life stuff kinda gets in the way, projects get sidelined.... So, for the latest in conundrums... Taillight Weirdness The left light brake and tail light works nice and bright, the right is a dim bulb....so first thing, check my wiring connections, nothing wrong there....so check the voltage, have the same both sides....swap bulbs...try some other things....give up and swear in disgust...then check for continuity.....Found It! Seems there's some kinda strange corrosion going on with the right light housing, and no continuity from the socket to the aluminium housing, there for no ground! We live out in the desert, this corrosion is something we don't see too often, and how could the left be so clean and the right be funky? At least I found the problem with this.... Which brings us to the never ending saga of the turn signals Turn signals Try as I may, just couldn't make any sense of the original switch,asked for advice, gave up and ordered a new one. Had to do some hammer and dolly work on the turn signal cup as the new one is a very tight fit,but got it mounted. Found the wire color matches hooked it all up, stood back proudly,hit the switch.... and nothing  no blinky lights, no dash blinky,no nuthin.... And now I've found I have no power to either side of the dash light or gauge power fuses Sheesh  Stay tuned, I ain't givin' up yet Don J | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | Now we're getting somewhere!  Taillight Grounds After trying several things to no avail, I just added an extra ground wire from the socket to the body and now have nice bright tail and brake lights But, best of all, FINALLY got ahold of someone at the tech line at EZ Wiring, explained my dilemma about the turn signals, simple fix -move the brown with the pink on the ignition switch- Ignition switch  Everything seems to be up and working! Sure wish their instructions were a little less vague Pulled the dash back out to clean the crud from around where the lights go as I repeat the mantra of "good grounds,make good light"  Have a bunch of small stuff to go back and tidy up and I need to replace a couple more light bulb sockets,and maybe, just maybe, I might be near the end of this electrical journey. Then there's still the task of getting this motor running, and the small detail of the brake reservoir being dry  More to come.... Don J | | | | | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,781 Master Gabster | | Master Gabster Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,781 | I like it that your taking it one step of the time. i started out that way but got carried away into a full blown rebuild-oration! | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | Getting closer signal plug Went junkyard pickin' got the turn signal plug connector thingy from a early 80s pickup, my epic turn signal struggle has ended Every thing electrical now seem to function....so, feeling quite smug from finally conquering this.... poured a shot of gas down the gaping 4 barrel Holley.....and the thing lit right off, but just for a few seconds! YES, SIGNS OF LIFE! Tried that again, just to be sure it was no fluke, same results! Walked around the back, looked down, and there must be a pound and a half of mouse $hit blown all over the concrete behind the truck Gonna have to go get some of our horribly expensive Kalifornia gas, check the fuel pump gas line connections (gave it my best guess, a 50/ 50 chance of being right)....the next goal is getting it to start and idle. Oh, yeah, then there's still the no brakes thing, that might be kinda important too.... Thanks for hangin' around for this rambling tale, more to come.... Don J | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | Got it running today!!!! And what a healthy sounding motor this is!!! And now, for the rest of the story.... I've been fooling around with used fuel pumps and guessing at which line pumps and which line sucks with no luck.....so just and purchased a new pump, the proper fittings and fuel line. Now we're getting somewhere! There's still a bunch of fine tuning to be done, I can't get it to idle down, and the initial timing doesn't like to go below 12 degrees....however, I have no idea just how radical the cam is....with the vacuum advance hooked up the timing at idle is way up around 26 degrees! I think I found the brake problem....poured some fluid in the Master cylinder, and it promptly drooled out.... There's still a lot of loose ends to deal with and some trouble shooting to be done, but progress is being made. Stay tuned Don J | | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 | Keep up the good work and the updates!! | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | Some days are good, some not so good.... Been doing some trouble shooting behind the dash as the gas and temp gauge don't seem to work. I replaced both sending units with new ones, however neither one works. So I have power going in to the gauge, but none coming out to the sender....crap the gauges are both fried! Then got to checking other things, the wiper switch has no continuity at all going thru it, fried also. So now, I take a hot lead, try the wiper motor and the heater motor directly and nothing there either! That musta been one hell of an electrical charge that went on due to the short and fire to totally fry all that stuff..... Burnt wiring! But, I did get the oil pressure gauge to work, as that has a copper tube running there! I've got the carb (750 Holley,vacuum secondaries) off and on the bench, found more weird stuff, the worst being thet put a small nut and bolt in the secondary linkage, trying to make them mechanical.....what that does is make a very big bog when ya stomp the gas......carb looks unmolested otherwise, gonna go thru it just to see what else I find. Oh and there's still the no brakes thing I probably should look at..... Don J
Last edited by mrduck; 11/29/2012 8:32 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | Epilogue Got this truck to move under its own power,  sort of..... First I had to install a new brake master cylinder, and do some air bleeding, starting with the master cylinder Brake BleedThe four wheels were next and went without any issues (thanks Sis for the pedal pumping!) Fired it up, wouldn't move, and found out no fluid in the tranny, nothing a whole gallon of ATF won't fix! So, after a lot of diddling around with a fussy motor, managed to back out from where it's been all this time and pull around to the side yard for some long term storage, a drive of a whole 80 yards or so! I can't tell at this point if there's a massive vacuum leak (maybe) or when they built this motor they put some gnarly lumpy cam in (likely!)....won't idle down,static timing way too high, and no power to the power brakes. So we have come to the end of Chapter one of this saga. I have agreed to store it here in the large dog side yard (95 pound slightly anti-social German Shepard lives there, should be no problems!) till next summer, where we will begin round two, trying to make this truck a driver. Thanks for hanging around for this tall tale, and I think there will be a chapter two coming sometime.  Don J | | | | | Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 323 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 323 | This is a good read. I'll be waiting for round 2.you're doing a fine thing.(you get to play with a hot rod)
These old bolts are in my blood. Hard thing is focusing on just one.
1937 Chevy 1/2 ton panel
1953 GMC 2 ton. future car hauler
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | Spring has sprung, the long days are back, time for some backyard wrenchin'..... Anybody interested in round two of this tall tale? Don J | | | | | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,781 Master Gabster | | Master Gabster Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,781 | Since you have been including pictures and we like pictures  , I am ready for round two! | | | | | Joined: Nov 2012 Posts: 77 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2012 Posts: 77 | I am ready for the next chapter! | | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 | | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | OK, but you're gonna have to stand by......seems the new and improved photobucket thing's not working..... (I wish they would leave well enough alone!) And I really haven't done much except drive it back around to where it was before I parked it.....and unfortunatly nothing has been cured by sitting there..... Don J | | | | | Joined: Nov 2012 Posts: 77 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2012 Posts: 77 | | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | Now that our awful So Cal winter is over it's time to get back on the Good Karma truck. 64 Panel The goal this summer is to make it drivable....you know, litle stuff like starting, idling, stopping.... It took the best part of the afternoon to get the truck started and back around to the back yard. Won't stay running, idle way too high,popping out the carb,one foot on the brake the other on the gas just to keep it moving! My first guess was the crank timing's gotta be off, so pulled the entire front off the engine, including the radiator and fan shroud, water pump, harmonic balancer, and timing cover, to get to here- Timing marks( and they used some really small 12 point cheapo chrome timing cover bolts that were a real bear to remove) Yanked the distributor cap off, pulled #1 plug, turned the crank to align the marks.......and found nothing. The marks on the cam and crank align right up at 6 and 12 o'clock, then one turn of the crank so both marks are at 12 o'clock and the rotor is dead on #1. I really hoped to find something wrong, that would explain a lot, so now I gotta put all that stuff back together and look elsewhere Crappy carb? Too big lumpy cam? Vacuum leaks? Weirdness in the MSD distributor? Stay tuned Don J | | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 | ???? With the marks at 6 & 12, #1 should be TDC with the distributor at #1 fire, or close. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | ???? With the marks at 6 & 12, #1 should be TDC with the distributor at #1 fire, or close. I think that's how we always end up with the distributor 180 out From what I understand (at 6 and 12 o'clock) #1 is at the top of the intake stroke, the crank needs to go around once from there to bring the piston up on the compression stroke before firing.... Am I wrong on this? Don J | | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 | | | |
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