Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Still has a few bugs, leaks seem to be staying away though. My favorite new "unwanted mod" is the right turn horn. :lol:

I had to unplug the horn for the trip home, it kept honking everytime I made a right turn.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

that mod was a rare option...rarer than the corvette option :lol:

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

There was a kid in high school who drove a rusty old postal jeep, and somebody rigged it to play "Hey Baby" every time it turned left. He didn't know how to stop it so it just was part of his driving experience. Funniest dang thing.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Woot woot! Honk it on up to Riverside! Waxing up now for GG tomorrow! Bring it!
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Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Glad you got her running! I may take a look at Mark when I do my exhaust, it is gonna take someone that knows what they're doing because space is at a premium under there. I don't know if I trust my local guys or not.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Fixed the horn. The next bug has to be a ground. No guage lights, tach or anmeter and the radio and wipers were cutting out at high speeds.

EDIT: Fixed the gauge issue too. Turns out you gotta connect the power to the junction block under the hood, duh.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

NO LEAKS!!! :metal:

I did have a battery drain, traced it to the headlight switch was was for some reason feeding the dome light circuit in the off position. Replaced that, no drain for today, fingers crossed. I drove around a good bit yesterday, and wound up roaching my new carrier bearing. I'm probably going with a one piece driveshaft this week, sick of replacing those cheesy bearings. I've also got to re-curve the HEI, it's only adding 10 degrees mechanical advance. Today was garage cleaning day, it felt good to get all of that mess taken care of and old blue back in her bay. On top of that Mrs. Leevon gets to park in the garage again. Note the complete, running truck in the background sitting in the driveway without any pans under it! The next phase is air conditioning completion, then little things like ugly bolts, rusty screws, front clip alignment, etc.

Here is a video of the "new" engine running (quietly):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21806883@N02/7910015668/

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Duuude... your garage vomited! It's nice to have it cleaned up (and have Momma back in her spot!) Hope to see you next weekend!

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Yeah, it was bad enough to require a complete empty and hosedown/squeegy. I'm not sure if we're going to make it next weekend. My Dad was going to ride along, now he's going to Concordia for some party/show and wants us to go to Ottowa, KS the following weekend. Plus this driveshaft thing... We'll see.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Glad you got most of the bugs fixed on your truck. They can be frustrating.

Mark at A-1 is the man. I guess I didn't know that his dad bought his GMC new. When I first started going to A-1, his dad was still alive and He along with Mark and his brother operated the muffler shop. Now I think Mark does all of the exhaust work and his mother works the desk and does the bookeeping.

I need to do some garage cleaning myself. Mine still fits two vehicles but has stuff along every wall. I need to learn to throw some things away. LOL.

Wayne

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Not sure why GM thought a short bed needes a carrier bearing in the first place, one piece driveshafts are way better! Hope you make the truck nats, but if you don't, the Ottawa show is one of my 'dont miss' shows. Maybe I'll see you there.
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Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

I haven't been to Ottawa but I hear it's great. Would love to make it to both!

So I just remembered that "Popeye" has a 56 1/2" one-piece driveshaft that I got from an 88-98 junkyard shortbed with a 700r4. Since it won't be used anytime soon...BINGO! My problem could be solved as early as tomorrow night. This was AFTER scratching my head about billet bearing, new shaft, trip to junkyard vs. my schedule and cost, etc. LOL.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Popeye's driveshaft was 1" too long so I took it to get cut down. The carrier bearing quality has reached a new low. I've toasted 3 or 4 in the 18 years I've owned this truck and they always crack. This one fell off of the top plate, which appeared to be spot welded but in reality there was only 1/2 of one spot weld holding it all together. It looks like it would have fallen apart just holding the driveshaft up sitting in my garage. I need to take a picture. Yes, there are those who will say (vocally) that a properly set-up driveline doesn't stress the bearing and I agree. I'm just tired of chasing that pipe dream. I've balanced, shimmed, measured, cut, replaced and still here I am. One piece driveshaft worked in millions of trucks so it will in this one too!

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Man i cant believe i missed this whole deal, nicely done ! Did i miss the ac compressor ?

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Thanks and nope, just not on yet. I want to get the bugs worked out then focus on the a/c, small bites you know. You and my Dad are killing me...he asked me why if my goal was to get a/c I didn't put the compressor in...10 minutes after I put the front clip back and sent him a pic LOL.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

LOL....just sayin...i think i asked about your AC 2 years ago...LOL, i hate procrastinators !! you should be more like me and just get stuff done !!

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

LOL....NO RESPONSE come on man, how fun is it to harrass you if you dont ever respond !!LOL

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Ok Tommy Boy...Lots of people build trucks for 9 years!

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Lol, bout time you got back on here !
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Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

You comin tomorrow? Got one with your name on it!
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Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Can't make it : ( : ( : (

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

I need to subscribe to this thread. Nice truck and good progress.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

I've been tinkering with timing. I can't get enough mechanical advance. I have re-shaped the weights and gotten a combo of springs that has me at 34 degrees with initial timing (high) of 18 and another 14 or so with vacuum advance. I can live with that for now but this has been a real pain.

BTW, a blower motor is MUCH easier to replace with the truck disassembled. I should have done it for peace of mind, now by luck I have to. I also still have some electrical gremlins, for now I'm just disconnecting the negative cable until I get it pinpointed. I also have to get the lockup only in 4th, right now it's 2-4 and I hate that. Other than those issues and needing a good cleaning she's running great. We'll put her to the test on a trip to Ole Marais' River Run this weekend in Ottawa, KS.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

turned out really nice :metal:

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Thanks, just need some intros : )

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

PM sent

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Just made the 450 mile round trip to Ottawa, KS for the Ol Marais River Run. The truck did great, I've got confidence in it but there are still some nagging issues. It pulled right pretty hard, there was a serious driveline vibration and the wind and road noise was rediculous. My ears are still ringing. I'm probably done with her for the year unless I get the a/c done this fall but the next big project will be a complete suspension makeover, followed by some sound deadening. I wasn't afraid to pop the hood at the show for the first time in a looong time which was nice.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

gourgeous truck I love being apart of the DD crew with my own truck even if its only doing about 10 miles a day at least its still a start up and go and refill with a lil oil maybe I grew some confidence to re-do the sealon my intake since she leaks like a sick pig. Subbed

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

I've read both your builds fully and there both beautiful trucks!!! I love them both!! :metal:

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Love the truck!!

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Is your suspension setup the same in both of these pictures?

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1335898631

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1336536785

Did you ever switch the front end to drop spindles and drop springs? Does the truck have a c-notch in the back? Also, did you ever acheive a more comfortable ride? If so, what did you change?

Lastly, what size wheels and tires were you running in these pics?

Thanks.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

I never came back to this thread. This is not at all my "DD" but I did finish the A/C project and although I don't drive it much, whenever I jump in and turn the key it's ready to go anywhere. Ended up using a "Pro6Ten" compressor from Old Air which is modern guts in an A6 case. I restored all of the factory system and kept the truck R12, it works great.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Looking great! Would it be possible to get the answers to the questions I asked earlier. I'm sure others would like to know more about this sweet setup. Thanks.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Oh man, sorry yes! To answer your question the first photo had what I did 22 years ago now which was DJM upper and lower 3" arms with 4" rear drop coils. The control arms were never great but it's what we could get back then. The new suspension in the second photo is nothing fancy, just all new ball joints, cross shafts, tie rod ends, pitman and idler with 2.5" drop spindles (McGaughy's or nothing), HD coils with 1 round cut, and the CPP sway bar. Rear is 4" drop springs and 1.5" blocks with a double adjustable track bar. No notch, no shock relocation. It does bottom very seldom on hard dips, no biggie. The wheels are old school American Racing 15x8 with 4 or 4.5" backspacing. Tires I *think* are 255/70/15.

I have a thing whenever I lower coil spring trucks I like to use a heavier coil and cut a half or full round. It takes some digging to confirm the specs for length, load and thickness (rockauto is a great resource). I've never had good luck with "lowering springs".

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

Thanks for the info. The truck looks terrific! I thought it looked a little higher in the first pic now I know why

Re: I want to DD my '71 again
 

Must be a short bed thing lol,the very little amount of short beds I've seen in my city never seem to see much roadway. Yet I see tons of long beds still working and playing out there.

Re: Quest to DD my '71 again
 

I know you've got a thread going on over in squareland, but I stumbled on this. It's a great looking truck and a good read.