Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

I'm having a banner weekend. The whole interior is back together, just need help putting the clip on and a few odds and ends like plug wires, throttle bracket, tuning and dial-in plus a trip to the exhaust shop and I'll be rolling.

I repaired, cleaned or replaced everything under the dash including the control cables, a/c hoses, vacuum lines, washer lines, etc. My old washer pump was bad and it was bypassed with an electric unit which I tossed for a good stock pump. I used the correct circuits and connectors for extras like the tach, stereo, and lock-up which really cleaned up the wiring. I'm glad to have the peace of mind...although I still have to start and test and there could be a gremlin or two. I had to get a little creative since the harness I got is for a non-a/c truck but it was pretty straight forward.

I also fixed the seat adjuster rod and catches. I completed blasted and restored the seat a couple of years ago, but was missing a couple of parts and one side of the seat would slide around. Probably the best part is the tilt is back together and looks/works perfect. I like the black column and wheel for a change.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Pic for VA72C10

Here is the part of the non a/c dash harness that is different. It has the plug for the fan switch, heater resistor and blower motor. These are all in the stand alone a/c harness that is separate from the dash harness in a/c trucks.

In order to make this work, I had to move the power wire to the a/c harness switch plug. There is also an extra ground that is un-used. That's about it.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

looking very nice

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Wow leevon the truck is coming out awesome!!!!

Great job man

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Thanks!!!

I finally got some help putting the clip on, I thought I was going to have to stand in the street and hijack somebody but the neighbor brought some muscle and we got it done. I asked all of my co-workers and they were busy except my intern and I had a feeling he wanted to say no but couldn't LOL.

Biggest thing to finish is exhaust, and that's more about loading the trailer and getting it there than actual time at the shop. I'm trying to make Goodguys KC this weekend and I'm about 50% confident that I can, but the unknowns will be electrical, leaks, etc. which I'm counting on.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Absolutely stunning!

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Doesn't get much nicer looking than that!
Great job.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Looks fantastic!

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Thanks guys, the pictures are too generous. It really is "driver" quality, and it pains me to take the easy way on some of this stuff but I have to remind myself of that. More and more I am wanting to do a full on stock-ish restoration of another truck, maybe that is a sign I'm getting old LOL.

I got all of the sheet metal aligned last night, what a pain. You would think it goes back exactly the same since nothing was messed with but NO I had to move some shims around and tweak here and there. Maybe it's better than it was before, I can tell myself that anyway. Tonight with luck I will have it just about ready to fire up. I'm making an appt. for the exhaust shop for Thursday.

Goodguys? I'll be there with or without my truck but it's looking possible...

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Man, that looks great! Hope it comes together for you!
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Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Just for grins, an instagram pic of the other side of my garage and neglected but soon-to-be loved again project.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

I'll probably be just the opposite, it's looking like I'll have to work saturday, but my truck WILL be there!

Oh, and you do know when you get this one done, you're going to want to rip the 350 back out of the '71 right??? :lol:

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Looking good Leevon.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Truck is ready to run. I have hooked up the battery and turned the engine over with the HEI unplugged. I tried out the electrical stuff, no gremlins so far except a couple of lights out on the dash. I'm sure I'll find some electrical problem though.

I just need a leak watch helper tomorrow night to fire it up, oh and it must be done before it gets late (exhaust is still open). My neighbor came over and helped bleed the brakes and mount the front bumper. I installed the plug wires, using '75 corvette and they fit perfect, routed under the ram's horns hugging the block and up in the back. Much cleaner that way.

With luck I'll have it running well enough to get to my exhaust appointment Thursday!

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

That looks fantastic!! You gotta be proud of that.

BTW, I just noticed your location, looks like I will be in your part of the world tomorrow, I have to pick my bedsides up from a sandblaster in Nixa.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

What time? I live in Nixa, just down the road from at least one sandblaster. It would be nice to meet another board member and see the work you're getting done.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

I'd like to see pics of the plug wire routing, please?
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Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

I'll get some. The 70's vettes had rams horns and HEI and the wires were routed under the manifolds. I used zip ties to put #'s 2 and 4 together with the starter wiring away from the exhaust, then another zip tie near the back of the head with a 2-8. Same for #1-7, only I had to put a zip tie around a block plug/bolt because there is no wiring on that side. So basically 4 zip ties and everything is tucked away at least 3-4" from exhaust.

Like this, post #22 but with HEI:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=387485

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

It's good to see someone on here from Nixa. I own a house there even though I live in Aurora with my fiance. Very nice truck and great thread. I hope to have one of these trucks sometime soon to fix up. If you ever need any help with anything let me know.

Are you going to do the AC yourself or have someone else do it. I have all of the tools if you need some help and good score on the R12. I scored 50lbs of R12 last year for $250.

I did the DD thing years ago with my 70 Monte Carlo. From 87-93 when I bought a new truck. I got tired of DDing it because I was always working on it or fixing something. I probably have only put about 15,000 miles on the car since 93 when I had the body redone. I would like to drive it more but with a 396 BB and only about 10 mpg, it doesn't get driven much.

Anyway, good luck with getting everything figured out and maybe we can meet someday.

Wayne

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Wayne, I'd like to take you up on that offer! I haven't worked on a/c before and my plan has been just to get everything installed, sealed and borrow or buy a vacuum pump but beyond that I'm not sure...so I'd love to have somebody with experience lend a hand. I've got to replace the A6 shaft seal first and get everything flushed and bolted back up.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

I will be there around 9:30-10:00 am. The sandblaster I am going to has a shop on Kinder St, between 160 and Main St.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Yep, that's about .3 miles from the house unfortunately I will be working but I can usually duck out for a bit depending on schedule. If you had 10 minutes to follow me to the exhaust shop that could be huge! It's really close but out of respect I can't bring myself to fire up the truck without exhaust in the AM or PM when everybody is home, plus the ride back to the house is difficult to coordinate. Would you mind PM'ing me your phone number?

BTW, Redline Finishes in Ozark which does very high end restorations including NCRS vettes uses the same blaster.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Sure. I'd be glad to help! PM headed your way.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

No problem, just PM me sometime. I have a vacuum pump and gauges for R12. Are you going to A-1 for your exhaust work? Mark that owns the place has a sweet yellow chevy truck of this generation. Not sure what year. He did the exhaust on my Monte years ago.

Wayne

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Yep, Mark is the man and he's done work on my DD's. One of the first things I did when we moved here a year ago is scope out the shops and he is right at the top of the list. His truck is a '67 or '68 in a butternut yellow type color, and gets driven everyday unless he takes his wife's TBSS. I'll try and get some pics when I'm there.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Well, suck. I couldn't get the truck started to get to the exhaust shop. Fuel but no fire and I'm scratching my head. The morning wasn't a total loss though, I got to meet Rex (RocketKing) and show off my junk to a fellow truck nut. Thanks for stopping by!

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

That stinks...have you had a chance to trace it? did you change anything in the distributor? I know the module goes bad in those often...

or do you think there is a wire disconnected or crossed somewhere in the engine harness?

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Cool picture above...assuming that's the roller for the 50?

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

To bad we couldn't get to the exhaust shop but I was thrilled to see your project '50 and your "driver", don't let him kid you boys...the old girl is pretty sweet. Good luck with getting her started.

Now I am going to go find the other build thread! Great to meet you!

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

I didn't get a chance to troubleshoot since I just ducked out of the office for a while, but the ignition wiring is pretty simple. Then of course there is the module, and grounds to check. I didn't change anything at all with the distributor though so I wasn't expecting this. It will be easy enough to test that circuit and I'm sure I'll get it figured out tomorrow (day off).

Yes, that's project "Popeye". Look no farther than the link in my signature!

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

I moved to Nixa in 1992 and it seems like I met Mark soon after that. He has owned his truck the entire time I have known him. He told me about the Trailblazer SS when I had the Flowmaster cat-back put on my 98 Chevy 1 ton truck with the 454. It sounded like he got a great deal on it.

Hopefully you can figure out your problem. It should be something simple. Take care.

Wayne

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

This thing is about to get pushed over a cliff. I couldn't get fuel Thursday night, got that taken care of. No spark yesterday...verified 12v to the coil, diagnosed the pickup, module and cap. All were good but I replaced the capacitor and now I have spark. Then the positive wire to the starter moved and arc'ed to the solenoid. So that meant a new solenoid and cable (blew then end up) this morning. I have verified the distributor is stabbed correctly numerous times. I've checked my valve settings. I've advanced and retarded the timing.

I have a remote starter hooked up so I can see what's going on under the hood. I give it a little fuel, bump the starter and the manifolds will burp some flames but no start still. I'm getting frustrated.

I have a buddy coming over who builds engines, he should be able to give me a fresh perspective.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

hmm...sure sounds like distributor is 180 out or at least 1 tooth off...but you've checked that. Are all the plug wires on in the right order?

did you double check the grounds?

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Just checked again, couldn't hurt. Distributor hits right on #1 at zero degrees with both intake and exhaust valves closed on the compression stroke. Plug wires are in order...grounds are all new (negative lead, block to firewall, block to frame, frame to firewall).

I'm wondering if I didn't mess the valve adjustment up and have them too tight creating a no-compression scenario? I have hydraulic lifters, they could have not been pumped up when I did this...hmmm. They should be pumped up now, I'm going to check the lash again!

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

It's alive. I had the valves adjusted wrong. Next stop, exhaust shop 8am.

Does anybody know why my tach is moving but only registering about 200rpm?

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Moved outside under her own power for a quick hose-off.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

cool, looks great. Glad you got it figured out! On the tach, there is an adjustment under the sticker at the back, but was it working before everything? Was it hooked up when you had the short in the distributor? did you make sure the dash has the ground hooked up tight? I also always recommend adding an extra ground to the back extra post on the tach...just to be safe...

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

It was hooked up the whole time and working fine before. I'm thinking it's a ground issue...I also lost the gauge lights. No biggie, just happy she's running again!

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Pics of the plug wires for Tynee

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Did I say that Mark at A-1 Exhaust is the man? I didn't have him do anything exotic, just 2" drops to 2 1/4" through turbos with dumps mounted up near the trailing arms. It sounds great. Mark's Dad bought this '68 longbed new and it's really clean.