Very short 1st test drive of my 70 K5!!!

[Yukon Jack]

Got alot done this weekend and went on my very first drive of my 70 K5! I had my kids and wife jump in for the maiden voyage - my wife wasn't too impressed - she said it was a rust bucket Heck, I told her this K5 is prestine compared to some K5's I've seen!

Anyway, got the new front hard brake lines finished and the system bleed this weekend, got the front axle u-bolts torqued down and got new ends installed for the drag link. Installed the front shocks. Got the rear axle u-bolt plates modified and the u-bolts torqued down.

Still need to bleed the power steering and put the belt on so can drive without fighting the steering. Have new engine wiring harnesses on the way and tested a spare internally regulated alternator that I have - it works! Hopefully the new harnesses will also fix a short I have. Also need to install the front driveshaft and rear shocks.

Friday a buddy was assisting me in cutting threads off of a later model NP205 shifter bolt - we screwed up and cut too much off so he was nice enough to machine me up a completely new bolt with the grease groove. May get the shifter installed tonight. Awesome to have a friend with a lathe and talent. I can now put the transmission hump back on, put the carpet down and reinstall the driver's seat. My buddy helped me make some new brackets for the rear of the seat to raise it up a bit - prior owner had used blocks of wood that were broken and used just one bolt per attachment point.

Need to adjust the clutch rod a bit - have to push in real far to get the clutch to work.

The first drive was exciting and completely unplanned, but with the brakes done I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to drive down the drive and up the road a bit and back.

Stupid me forgot to take any pictures of the K5 outside :rndll:

[special-K]

That sounds like a fun family activity.I bet your kids loved it.

[Yukon Jack]

Yep, my kids thought it was pretty cool - the dog can even jump in this one - the dog just can't quite make the jump into the K20, not sure why

[vtblazer]

WHOOHOO!!

Now you've got a choice to make..."which one do I drive today"

[Pop's72]

[meathead95]

ho did the 400 run?

[Yukon Jack]

As there were lots of things not finished I only idled and used a little gas pedal in 2nd and 3rd gear. Probably didn't get over 15 mph. Motor sounds very nice, has a nice idle and really sounds good when I give it a little gas. Presently has old glasspacks on it and they sure do cackle. I need to change my throttle linkage as there is interference and probably only have 1/4 to 1/3 throttle available.

Still was enough to put a perma-grin on my face for the rest of the day!

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

Now you've got a choice to make..."which one do I drive today"

That is a very nice feeling to have, not that I have it, Yet

[meathead95]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

Still was enough to put a perma-grin on my face for the rest of the day!

amen brother! taht is what its all about. I got to drive my K20 for the first time last week and im as tickled as possible

[Jtrux]

That's awesome, can't wait to hear how it runs at WOT. A while back you asked me for a sound recording of my blazer but I really don't know what i'm doing but Blizz does so maybe he can help me out with it since he made a video of his recently.

[Yukon Jack]

meathead95 - congrats on getting to drive your K20!

Jtrux - when you get a video clip, download videozilla, it will allow you to convert it to an audio only clip - works really well.

I dug around this morning before work and see I have a spare carb linkage rod, that is great as it is bent different so I won't have the interference with the carb linkage. Have to try to get it swapped in tonight so I can actually have some rpm range.

[kyle4381]

Congrats on the first test run.

[Burt4x4]

COOL YJ!
YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAit MOVES!!

[jaros44sr]

Been awhile since I saw it, but congrats on the first time out with the family

[Mike C]

Awesome! Can't wait for further updates. Congrats

[Yukon Jack]

I new as soon as I parked it that I had screwed up not getting any outside pics! Here is a pic though most have seen these before





Thanks for all the congrats - was a bid day for me. Got out last night and put in the new engine bay harnesses - still have my short so guess I get to start trouble shooting that I hate dealing with electrical issues!

As an added bonus, when I was putting the new purple wire to the starter solenoid, I broke that wire's post off Went to the parts store to get a new solenoid this morning and walked out with a new starter - didn't cost much more to replace the whole thing so hopefully get that installed tonight.

Funny, this K5 cost me like $650, but now I've put many times more money than that into it Oh well, my kids don't need to go to college

[Yukon Jack]

BTW, anyone up for a guesstimate on what kind of power this 400 will put out?

Here are the specs:

Degress .05" dur 204 Int. 214 Exh., Degrees ADV. dur 278 Int. 288 Exh., Inches Valve Lift Int. .420, Exh. .443, Degrees Lobe Center Int. 107, Exh. 117

The block was bored .020 over and the crank was cleaned up. It now has hypereutectic pistons and with the 882 heads with 76 cc the engine should have a compression ratio of about 9.5:1. These heads came off of a 400 so they have the correct steam holes.

The intake is an Eldebrock Performer and the carb is a Jet Stage II 750 cfm quadrajet.

Using an SM465 so won't loose any power to an automatic.

[jaros44sr]

Dude, that sounds like some serious HP numbers, I couldn't even guess.

Thanks for the pics., motor looks sweet. Any rust to speak of? Nice patina on the truck, I like the road rash on the back quarter, adds character.... J.

Post up that electrical problem when you find it, what's the truck not doing?

[Yukon Jack]

Got the new engine bay harnesses installed last night but unfortunately that didn't fix my short. The tail/stop fuse is blowing immediately when I pull the headlight switch. The headlights still work as do the blinkers but the parking lights won't light up. I will have to verify whether the side marker blinkers are working, I know the rear and front blinkers are working.

I did have everything working prior to pulling the motor. After I had everything working I do believe I pulled the headlight switch out to test it in my 69 K20 when I was having an electrical problem on the 69. I will pull the headlight switch and put in another one to see if that by chance is where the problem lies.

If not, I guess I will start hunting down the short. Anyone know specifically what items run through that fuse? Looks like I might be lucky and it is only a couple things.

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

Got the new engine bay harnesses installed last night but unfortunately that didn't fix my short. The tail/stop fuse is blowing immediately when I pull the headlight switch. The headlights still work as do the blinkers but the parking lights won't light up. I will have to verify whether the side marker blinkers are working, I know the rear and front blinkers are working.

I did have everything working prior to pulling the motor. After I had everything working I do believe I pulled the headlight switch out to test it in my 69 K20 when I was having an electrical problem on the 69. I will pull the headlight switch and put in another one to see if that by chance is where the problem lies.

If not, I guess I will start hunting down the short. Anyone know specifically what items run through that fuse? Looks like I might be lucky and it is only a couple things.

Can you put a bigger fuse in it, when the wires start smoking you'll just know where to look. Sorry j/k
Do you have a good grounding strap hooked up to the engine. Maybe you pinched the wires going down the frame rail, by the cowl?

[Yukon Jack]

jaros44 - funny you should mention the fuse size, just was looking at the fuse box image on my computer and my fuse is undersized. Should be 20 amp, not 15 amp fuse. Of course that won't fix my problem, but funny still.

I do have a brand new ground strap from the battery to engine and engine to body. The body to frame strap is old but intact. I will replace it.

I did look at those wires going down the back of engine from the firewall and no obvious damage. I'm gonna unhook that connector and see if the problem is past that connector. That will help me figure out where to start loolking.

[Jtrux]

I just realized you have a 14 bolt. Is it stock and if not what do you have in it and what was your total investment?

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

jaros44 - funny you should mention the fuse size, just was looking at the fuse box image on my computer and my fuse is undersized. Should be 20 amp, not 15 amp fuse. Of course that won't fix my problem, but funny still.

I do have a brand new ground strap from the battery to engine and engine to body. The body to frame strap is old but intact. I will replace it.

I did look at those wires going down the back of engine from the firewall and no obvious damage. I'm gonna unhook that connector and see if the problem is past that connector. That will help me figure out where to start loolking.

You might want to run a continuity check as well, might narrow it down a bit, but if you're blowing fuses you have a dead short. Someplace your 12volts is hitting ground.....JMHO

He!! that extra 5 amps might give you 15hp at the rear wheels on that big small block, haha

[Yukon Jack]

I bought a 78 3/4 ton 4wd from Teeitup for $300 - that got me disk brakes up front, the 14 bolt and a power brake setup. Then I got a Detroit Locker for like $175 or $200 from a CK5 member who wasn't very quick about holding up his end of the bargain but finally sent me the locker after many calls and even discussions with his mother. I had the assistance of a friend with a plasma cutter to cut off the old spring perches and he welded on some perches we made. So, not too much invested in the 14 bolt that will serve my needs well.

[Yukon Jack]

Originally Posted by jaros44

You might want to run a continuity check as well, might narrow it down a bit, but if you're blowing fuses you have a dead short. Someplace your 12volts is hitting ground.....JMHO

I'm a little (okay alot) electrical stupid - what is a continuity check and how do you do it? Being a dead short should help me find the problem easier I would think - I will start working my way around the involved wires and see what I can find.