Blue Dragon II Aka "The Man Truck"

[semperfidoordie]

So this is my first build thread and my first build. Introduction to the madness that has become my life.

February of 2006 I saw this old nasty blue rusted out 72 K10 LWB truck with a heap of tires in the back sitting on base outside my barracks...it didn't move...had notices it was going to be towed on it...basically was left to die. I said "someday that's going to be mine."

So fast forward to October of 2006 we get back from Iraq I use all that nice combat money and buy a newer, probably too expensive car against my better judgement but to my mom's pushing. Driving around and drive back by where that old truck used to sit...there she is...

May of 2007 I left a note about a month before on the truck stating, "Whoever owns this..if you want to sell it I'll buy it" Well low and behold someone finally calls me and says "It doesn't run....it didn't shift or stop last time it did run...but for 300 it's yours" I say "deal" and get the truck..mind you it has no title, registration or anything. I'll update you to the rest of it by pictures...thanks for reading and I hope to hear words of encouragement...

As it sat...








About two months or so in on a limited budget...new Edelbrock 1406 600 CFM 4 barrel with electric choke, new thermostat, thermostat housing, front shocks, 33x12.5 tires (for $150 for all 4 used), today a 2" lift till I can afford a good 6" suspension lift and 35's, new alternator, new starter, tailgate from Dano69c10 off here, tailgate hardware and just ordered a Resto Pack from Chevy.














Enjoy...after we get the lift blocks for a temp fix under it I'll get another pic or two...anyone have any idea on the carb pic what I could use to plug that empty vacuum port?

[semperfidoordie]

These last 3 wouldn't fit

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Looks pretty good but did you get a title for it?

[OlChev67]

cool truck, you can get vacuum plugs from the parts store pretty cheap

[semperfidoordie]

No...no title yet...hit a major bump in the road on the "almost done status." So we were going to put some lift blocks just to hold it temporarily until I could afford a good suspension lift...

Well that turned into nevermind they won't work so we're going to do exhaust..went to the local shop picked up some Cherry Bombs and were on our way cutting and hacking away at the old exhaust. We finally get her undone and decide we want to hear what it sounds like straight piped...

Go to start it and just a horrible noise comes out...so we get down and start tearing into the starter...take it off...and like half the helicoil comes out. So now to get the bolts to rethread into the block we have to dig out the rest of it....we are at it for a good 3 hours last night with no avail. So we decided to tap the whole bigger and see if that route would work...

Unscrewing the tap out of the whole everything seems good until it snaps off at like a 45 angle in the block....so now we've got the motor almost all the way pulled and are going to start on that. Plus it needed pulled anyway a tooth or two is missing off the flywheel going to replace it...do the water pump...possibly some other stuff while I'm at it...kind of a downer cause it's such a brick wall in the way of progress but I guess for some reason everything happens for a reason just a little frustrated...

Also come to find out that when the truck was in park...in 2wd the front drive line spins...BAD ju ju isn't it? Don't know what's F'd up the front diff or the t-case...any advice?

[Spanky_Pete]

Seems like a lot of effort to be putting into a truck you don't 'technically' own. Hope it works out ok for you.

[semperfidoordie]

I will own the truck as soon as the title gets here..I got ahold of the guy finally and now it's all good...so anyway back to the adventure...

So we got the motor pulled...come to find out in GM Motors manual apparently 1 in 20 GM repro blocks are cast wrong and that you have to "negative" shim the starter. So I'm going to be taking some material off the top of the starter today and also found out the flywheel was missing a tooth and warped so bad you could almost drink soup out of it. Took a good amount of heave hoing to get the tap outta there but we did and dropped in an improvised starter bolt so that mess is taken care of. Wishing I had the money to do the 383 build now just don't....gotta somehow make $900 haha...anyway that's about it on the truck as of late...life's been hectic cause I'm getting married this weekend. Hope everyone keeps reading and enjoying...I'll get more pics up soon

[semperfidoordie]

So boys...I'm a married man...if anyone still even pays attention to this thread...title will be in hand on tuesday so The Man Truck will be mine for good...just replaced all the hoses today...got the alternator bracket bolt in the alternator in so my pulleys don't sway back and forth...got the starter shimmed up all nice like...and tomorrow she'll be back in action...I really will put more pictures up tomorrow too

[Dano69c10]

Hey semperfioordie glad to see you put the tailgate to good use.
Dano

[samwise68]

congrats on your marriage Sir!


and glad to hear about your title acquisition.

and on the refurbishing of your engine.

jeepers, things just keep gettin' better, eh?

haha, keep up the good work, i await more pics.

-Sam.

[semperfidoordie]

Originally Posted by Dano69c10

Hey semperfioordie glad to see you put the tailgate to good use.
Dano

Thanks Dan...I think she looks good...the Man Truck is getting together...slowly but surely...hopefully tomorrow I'll be getting the motor in and she'll be running like a top...we'll see...

[semperfidoordie]

Originally Posted by samwise68

congrats on your marriage Sir!


and glad to hear about your title acquisition.

and on the refurbishing of your engine.

jeepers, things just keep gettin' better, eh?

haha, keep up the good work, i await more pics.

-Sam.

Sam thanks for the congrats...the title will be a good thing to have too haha...as for the engine it's getting there bit by bit on a military salary so it's slow coming but soon...then she'll be tearing up the road haha...well mainly the wife wants the car so I gotta get her put all together so she can have the car...thanks again guys and i'll keep you posted...going to bed to get an early start on her tomorrow.

[semperfidoordie]

well as luck would have it starting the day off by getting up at 5 and having to wait till the hobby shop opened at 9 to work on the truck should have been a sign of bad ju ju or when I took my ipod out of my computer without it saying it was okay and it deleted 7000 songs should have been a sign....so needless to say the truck isn't done...ALMOST...like the shop was closing and all we have to do is wire up a few more wires and get a few more lines hooked up and she'll be back in action...pics coming as soon as I resize them

[72BlckButy]

Can't wait to see what's instore for that truck!

[semperfidoordie]

There ya are...tell me what you think so far

[semperfidoordie]

So the man truck is now running...which is a plus. After some minor adjustments and most of my money from this paycheck it is back in action. All that has to be done now is just to put some clamps on the last few hoses and throw the hood back on. The Cherry Bombs are mostly installed so those have to be finished as well. But as of today I can legally drive it as well so the truck is now OFFICIALLY mine haha...it's been an arduous half a year but now it is ready for the road.

[samwise68]

woooO!

Congrats man!

bump the key and hit the gas, enjoy that man truck.



-Sam.

[ksjh1316]

Congrats on everything looks like things are starting to go your way again keep us posted

[semperfidoordie]

so she runs..the cherry bombs sound GREAT...just gotta do header gaskets and valve cover gaskets and she'll be in action. i drove it a little last night but noticed oil leaking out the backside of the valve cover...going to replace those gaskets and she'll run like a top...anyone know a surefire way to get the dieseling to stop? that's just adjusting the carb right?

[semperfidoordie]

So I did the valve cover gaskets because I was hearing what sounded like a burning sound and looked like the back of the drivers side valve cover gasket had blown out...well someone told me that was built up water pressure so I tighted the clamps on the radiator hoses and changed valve cover gaskets...could it be Permatex that dripped from the valve covers burning off?

[semperfidoordie]

So I replaced my valve covers and now it's leaking oil...think it's not enough nuts on those valve cover bolts or what? cause that appears to be where it's leaking from

[Dano69c10]

Your covers' flanges might be bent.
Take em off and set them on a flat surface to make sure the sealing surface is flat.
You might have to use a hammer to straighten out the mating surface of the valve covers, especially around the bolt area.
And more importantly, don't overtightened the bolts or the mating surface will become distorted/warped again.
Dano

[semperfidoordie]

ok i'll try that..someone else had said to use sealant and seal the gaskets to the valve covers then put them on

[70rs/ss]

I use spray addhesive on one side of the gasket and glue it to the valve cover. Permatex is a no-no on gaskets. Sounds like you learning as you go. Good work so far and keep plugging away it will get easier sfter you work on it over time. Don't hessitate to ask for help, we are here to help each other. Congrats on the wedding and thank you for your service!! I wish I was closer to help you out, to me that is what working on these things is all about the helping and passing on the tradition!!



PS toss those thin chrome valve covers, you will drive yourself insane trying to get them to seal!! Pick up a set of edelbrocks or the GM ones can be had for $40-50. I know money is tight, but the new covers will seal and you won't pull anymore hair out!!

[semperfidoordie]

So..we pulled the intake and heads...turns out it is just a head gasket...now I'm going to replace all the gaskets and clean up the pistons and heads because there was major detonation primarily from the timing being off and a rich air-fuel mixture i think...anyway no damage to the heads...no cracks..nothing crazy just a bad head gasket...so hopefully she should be up soon...just gotta start paying on that debt first and then if I have money left over she'll get done