Re: 1968
 

Today, I married the transmission to the engine and installed it back in the truck. I will have a few items to button up tomorrow.

Re: 1968
 

Nice work George!

Re: 1968
 

Thanks a lot.

Re: 1968
 

Today I hooked up all the stuff under the truck. Almost. I got the transmission lines and the started. I'll do that tomorrow. It getting a little closer to cranking up the engine for the second time.

Re: 1968
 

Today I hooked all the stuff in the engine compartment. all went well. I started the engine and I need to adjust the drivers side valves again. Or see what is the matter with the lifter. I have one that is tapping. but the engine runs good. I took it for a test drive today. and it felt good to drive the old girl.

Re: 1968
 

Success! Congradulations George!

Re: 1968
 

George I know you are an old hand at this but give this procedure a try and see if it helps you at all.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Tech/h...cam-valve-lash

Re: 1968
 

Thanks Mr. Swamp Rat. I took the truck out for a test run this Morning. I got about 5 miles from the house and I noticed a lot of smoke coming out from the back. I knew this I had a oil leak. so I took it home and found a valve cover was leaking on the driver side. I replace the gasket with a new one and it was fixed.

Re: 1968
 

That is the same way I did the valve adjustment. But when I cranked it up it had a lifter napping. So I pulled the valve cover off and adjusted the valves again with it running. Now they all is AOK. But hey thanks for the in site and the link. Maybe someone else can use it also. Again thanks.

Re: 1968
 

Today I took the truck out for another spin around town. It failed the first test. But only a small thing. The valve cover gasket on the driver side leaked. No big deal I went to Advance Auto and picked up another one and now it is done, fixed.
My brakes was really hard. so I replaced the rod with another straight one and now they work a lot better. I removed the bracket that came with the new set up. it was binding up the booster. all well now. I then took it out for another drive around 25 miles and boy what a difference that made.
I hope to get it to the front end shop and have the front end adjusted. The last guy could not do it. Here are a few pictures of the truck all finished. I still have a few bugs to work out. I want to set the timing with a timing light and adjust the carb.

Re: 1968
 

one more

Re: 1968
 

Awesome!

Re: 1968
 

It's really looking great George! It's good to know you're getting to drive it around. After all that work, finally the payoff!

Re: 1968
 

congratulations George, thanks for sharing your journey lots of good info along the way and a truely awesome backyard build
jess

Re: 1968
 

Swamp Rat, dfwright, z1835 thanks guys. I finally got the truck out of the back yard and parking it in the front. I had to put a piece of 3/4 '' plywood in the bed. State Farm insurance said that I needed a bed floor before they would put insurance on the truck. 22.00 isn't that bad. Later own I will be putting a plank board floor in the truck. Next week I will be taking the truck over to a local shop and he will be doing all the fine tuning on the engine. Timing and carb and valcume leaks if there is any. It has a few issue's but nothing bad. Three years and I don't know how many hours.

Re: 1968
 

Congradulations George! I have read your build from the beginning and am so glad for you to finally get to enjoy your truck = Patches!

Re: 1968
 

Put a new shifting valve on the transmission but it still shifts hard. It going in the shop tomorrow to adjust the carb and timing. I hope they can tell me what is wrong with the transmission shifting problem. maybe it need some adjusting also.

Re: 1968
 

George refresh my memory did that transmission come with the truck or did you buy a used one or was it rebuilt?

Re: 1968
 

the transmission was in the truck when I got it, a th400 and it works great, all it needed was a few adjustment like.

carb adjuster
timing
valcum lines
now it starts great and idles like it should. and the transmission shifts smooth it is a pleasant to drive now.
before it barked the tires every time I put it in gear. I am planning on pulling the 373 rear end gears out and putting in a 308 this week end. I had to borrow a torque wrench, mine was not big enough. I hope this will slow the engine down a little and save gas.

Re: 1968
 

That's great George, I'm glad to hear it's all dialed in.

Re: 1968
 

Got the truck from the shop a few days ago. Boy what a difference a little adjustment made. I got a new temp gage, I didn't like the elect one. I will install it when the engine cools down a little.

Re: 1968
 

Thank bryan

Re: 1968
 

Glad to see you got her going!

Re: 1968
 

thanks wideside72 it just turned over to 750 miles on the new engine.

Re: 1968
 

Great news, George! Glad to hear you're finally rollin' around in it.