2.5 years of work wrapping up.
 

After reversing the center link on my 1970 a test drive has been completed. The difference, in how it drives, is night and day.
Truck turns much sharper as the rod ends impacted the center link kept the truck from turning as sharp as stock. The slight twitchness is gone. It may even return to center a little better. The extra power required when turning is gone. Confidence is back as it just never felt correct. Frankly it was just a little unnerving. Now the truck is just much more fun to drive.

I have address a transmission oil leak, speedometer bouncing, lock up converter wiring and turn signal stalk in the last week. The converter lock reduces the highway RPM by an additional 200rpm.
Also addressed a brake light issue. Did you know the brake circuit isn't identified on the American Auto wire fuse box. Turns out it's included in the courtesy lighting circuit. I had pulled the courtesy fuse to work under the dash. Issue repaired by replacing the fuse.

When you have every nut and bolt off of a vehicle I expect issues.
Getting closer to a real truck as the "to do" list gets smaller.

Still on the "to do "list is;

1. Planning on installing a factory cruise control, vendor is fabricating a harness for me to connect into the factory ECM
2. Refinish the center console.
3. replacing the head light switch. The China American Auto Wire switch failed out of the box. The knob pulls out of the switch unless you are very delicate with the pulling. The dash light dimmer will not turn more than 1/8 of an inch. I am planning on installing the 50 year old stock switch. Bet it works better than the AAW provided switch.
4. Repairing the non-functioning fuel gauge and volt meter.
5. Aiming the headlights.

.

6000rpm shifts, to second, are exhilarating to say the least.
Possibly a LS1 stroker motor with CNC heads sometime in the future.
Those changes should produce close to 400Hp at the wheels!
That would be a winter project as I plan on putting some miles on it this summer.
Cheers.

Re: 2.5 years of work wrapping up.
 

Good to hear. Glad the steering got worked out.

Re: 2.5 years of work wrapping up.
 

All the details are quite time consuming aren't they..

Re: 2.5 years of work wrapping up.
 

Good to hear you got things sorted out.

My bouncing speedometer cured itself by driving the truck. Yours might too.

Re: 2.5 years of work wrapping up.
 

Can't help much but with the speedo bouncing. After driving mine a bit it was bugging me and figuring the cable and cable housing had never been cleaned in 55 years I decided when I was installing the new speedo gear to disconnect the cable at the speedometer as well. Cleaned the cable housing by repeatedly spraying carb cleaner down it and then blowing it out with compressed air. Once that was mostly clean I took a shop rag, sprayed it with carb cleaner and then wiped the cable until it was pretty clean as well. Greased it all up with Lucas grease and reinstalled. After the first drive it runs smooth now.

Re: 2.5 years of work wrapping up.
 

This board has been a life saver many times over.
Always someone that has been there done that and I am so appreciative of the help.

BTW the speedometer bounce was repaired with a gear replacement.
Speedometer cable was new. $11 on Amazon. I needed a couple extra inches, of cable, for the transmission conversion. I also burnt the sleeve on the new cable when it hit the exhaust. Another detail taken care of this week with a bracket.

I used Black Widow mufflers. Not the loud "Angry Housewife's" or Neighborhater" but the standard Venom 250-series. They are louder than anything I have owned in the past. Not too bad till you add power. Then they get obnoxious. Enough to advertise "look at me doing something stupid". I like them out of town. LOL.
Hopefully, I will continue to stay out of trouble.
Cheers