Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Drove to northern Louisiana yesterday for a truck club gathering. Unfortunately the GMC was not the mode of travel. I wanted AC and the AC on the GMC leaked down. Glad I didn't take it though, there was some CRAZY construction along the way. Thought you folks would like to see some of the trucks.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

some more

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Nice find Bill, I just stumbled on this thread.

Hope all is well!

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Thanks Outlaw.....doing OK. Slowly working out all the little issues. In process of AC work now on it.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Very cool truck. I’m late to the show but I’ll ride along.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Went out to the C10 Roundup this morning. I expected more vehicles, but lots of things going on I guess.
Here is link to pictures I took.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...QwX2VrZGN6QmJB

Sure is hot today too. Glad I have some AC now.:ito:

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Looks like a nice gathering.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Took the 81 on it's first long trip over the weekend, about 275 miles. She drove good at highway speeds, but the AC seemed to be lacking to non-existent. So today, I first put a cut-off switch on the input water line to keep the hot water from the heater core so the AC won't have to work so hard. After that I was looking at things over seeing if there was anything else going on. All of of sudden....mind you it wasn't a very quick sudden...more like a Duh, I noticed something. You guys see the issue why the AC isn't working (2nd pic) ?


Well out get some parts and see where it goes from here.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

I imagine it works better when connected to a turning pulley :lol:

Simple solutions are always the best!

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Yeah, now to figure out why a new belt disintegrated.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

In addition to the sound dampening, the bituminous layer provides a thermal break and is also somewhat of an insulator. The foil backing works like the expensive stuff and reflects the radiant heat. So it is effective and does what the more expensive stuff does, just not quite as well. It's a matter of degrees...

So to speak.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Been beating my head a while on this AC stuff, but I think I finally found the issue with the new compressor. From measurements and visdual you can see the factory recommended belt is too skinny. The 3/8" wide belt recommended would sit at the bottom of the compressor pulley and never touch the sides. It actually shock/wobbled in the pulley, causing it to screech,slip and eventually break.

I replaced it with a 1/2" wide V-belt and it fits the pully great. works on the engine pulleys also.

Hopefully you can see the difference in the pictures.

So far it seems to be fine. I picked up some pusher fans that I also am going to run evenetually to help cool the condenser so it will cool even better.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Next part of the week's projects was to install a factory front sway bar. It's not super huge (1 1/16") but way better than what was there. It really helps the ride/handling even with the small bar.

I also put on a new front air dam, the deeper 4x4 version. I think it really helped clean up the front end look.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Last of the projects was fixing up the windshield wipers washer system. I had an old generic pump lying around, so I hooked it up. Even though I replaced the wiper motor too, I went with the generic one for 2 reasons. 1-my factory plugin connector would not plug into the washer motor. 2-I never really like the factory washer motors. They seem to die quickly .

The other thing I did was to get a set of wiper arms off an 86 (or 87...I can't remember now) C10. They have the washer squirters built into the arms and they had a much better blade connection method.

I had to drill out/open up the little slot in the cowl to allow the hose to come thru. Other than that they go right on to the older assembly mounts.

They work good. The 80's style wiper arm covers were on the truck so I reused them since I need to touch up the flat black paint on the lower portion of the wiper arms.

Now back to driving it.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

You've been busy! But yeah the belt should never touch the bottom of the pulley, I'd bet that you have solved your problem.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Great work Bill, all good updates/repairs.

I need to do a washer motor and blower resistor in the daughter's pickup.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Very good updates...and a nice diagnosis for the belt issue!

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Lot's of head banging, hair pulling,:uhmk: and adjective hollaring. :sumo::lol: But finally my brain put it together.

Thank you

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Thanks for sharing your up-sized belt idea. My compressor has a slight wobble/groan at idle that no amount of realigning has stopped. Maybe this is the fix.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Good stuff!

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Cleaning up the shop mostly today, but did do one little update on the truck. Since the only thing running to it any more was the gas tank vent, I decided to remove the Vacuum/charcoal canister. Truck is a little slow filling, so figured the canister in its 37 years was a bit clogged, so out she went. That thing weighed a bunch. I can't ever remember getting a truck that still had one, so the weight kinda surprised me.

I added a motorcycle vent so that no dirt daubers or whatever gets in and clogs the vent line up.

The fill is not real bad on the 81, but I had no fill issues at all on my 83 using the cycle vent, so hopefully this will improve it some.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

I was pondering this very issue this morning...great idea...gonna copy...

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Vaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-rrooooooooooooooooooom

:ito:

Now it truly is da-bomb :lol::uhmk:

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Beautiful and HOT day for a good cruise to a car show. Soooooooooooo glad I have AC. One of the car clubs was having a car appreciation day show north of here at a state water park. Lots of nice rides The GMC ran flawlessly. That swaybar sure helps the ride and handling. Few shots, plus the link to the photos I took today.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LjqQ5WeVQCisVY9m8

Oh did I mention it is SO nice to have AC! :D

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Not much done on truck lately. between woeking on wife and son's cars, plus the pilgrimage to my home land in Pittsburgh the truck rested. After visiting family a few days, we took the round about way to Mississippi thru Niagara Falls. My wife and son had never seen them. So we had fun on both sides of the falls.

First picture is a retreat near my sisters out side of Pittsburgh. Rest are at the falls. My son dangling in Canada. No issues except 3K+ miles in the baby bus (wife's CRV) in 8 days is rough for my size 14s and legs. No issues and Canada let me in and out, twice. Just had to remember the 40 on the sign was not the 40 on the CRV numbers. Luckily I didn't get caught :lol:

Back to trucking things this week I hope.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Nice pics!

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

You where only 2 hrs away from me in the Canada land.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Saturday the Jimmy and I made trip to Baton Rouge again. It wasn't too bad, The weather stayed mostly dry on the way there. Luckily on the way back it did not rain at all because the truck died on me at a rest stop. It acted like battery went dead and wouldn't jump. After a few tries with jumps and all, a young kid came by and offered to give me a jump. Even though it had failed several times already, we tried again. Same thing. When The kid was pulling off the jumpers, he noticed something I had missed.

Yep, The ground cable had vibrated loose and came disconnected from the block. Thank the Lord for the extra eyes to see what I overlooked. Bolted it up and on the way again. Just about an hour in hot sweaty (but no rain luckily) weather. Once I got home, I undid the bolt with booger-ed threads and replaced it with one that is good. Some lock-tight and double nutted it to the bracket. Let's see it come off now (I hope it doen't take that as a challenge)

Yesterday and today while waiting for our Tropical storm, I did some electrical. I had a HD Relay/Headlight harness in the stash from the days of my 70. So I worked it into the 81's stsyem and now the cruddy/corroded factory headlight sockets are gone. Things look like the work very well now. My front park-lights/turn signals were also very cracked, faded and crumbling, so I put on some new ones. They are aftermarket customs. They look way better than what I had. Hopefully they will hold up a good while before they fade on out.

When I was digging in the stash for the headlight harness, I also noticed my air horns, so since the one remaining original horn barely bleeped, I hooked up the new horns. Way better. You will now hear me! :D

Glad I dug thru and found all this old stuff (some of it is10-12 years since I bought it..

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

The truck and I have been mostly playing the last several days. Officially today was the start of our 8 day event called Cruising the Coast. Had a few small meets and shows leading up to it also

Here are links to some of the photos I took.

Cruising the Coast 2018

C10 Mississippi Meet

It's a random mixture. Most are trucks (some not Chevys).

The 2 showing are my truck and another guy from the club I am in.
Blue 81's both of them, mine does NOT have the topper.

Time to go rest up for day 2.:ito::mm:

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

A couple from today's gathering I thought were worth showing.

First one is one you don't see to often, square step with the fender spare, I LOVE it.

2nd : Square crewcab with step bed

3rd: Love the graphics on this one.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Had a great time at Cruisin' the Coast. Put on about 600 miles during the week. Only issues I had was the power steering belt broke. Soon as I found one, it was back going again. I was surprised how cool the engine radiator and all were, especially since we were in the mid 90's and high humidity all week. Truck is a blast to drive. I did an autocross in it and needless to say, 6 popper, 250 CID, T350, 2.73 rear gear and 31x10.50 tires do not make a good combination. I stunk as far as I was concerned. Not sure what a good time was but I was at 87.1 secs. I believe old guys in walkers were faster. :lol:

I have been acquiring parts for it. Besides a better and working gauge cluster, I picked these up this week. Offenhauser 4bbl manifold and a Holley economaster 450 cfm (L-7455) carb. Carb was free from a friend, so after a rebuild if I don't like it I'll probably get an Edelbrock 500CFM.

Still have a few more things to gther up before I do the head swap and upgrades, but I am getting there.

Pretty much till November I will not do anything but drive it. Got one mre big event I want to have it together for in 2 weeks,

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Very cool on the Offy intake!

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Nice score on the parts

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Great day. 3 hr cruise over to LA to meet up with a bunch of truck heads. Truck ran great. 1st time the wife was able to attend an event with me. She enjoyed the drive and day also.

Picture of me with the GMC, the other 2 were a great view to see starting the day.
Pictures I took today.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Looks like a great day with nice trucks! Thank you for sharing.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Glad you and Jan came Bill! I had a great time!

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

You have been getting some good travel and use of the rig. That Offy intake is cool!

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

You have nice Truck Bill. By the way, you have also nice "license plate"!:agree:

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

While I had some downtime, I decided to get to the electrical (again). Pulled out the dash and started the setup on the replacement gauge cluster. Cleaned the gauge bucket up, painted the inside and the back of the front panel gloss white. I also added some LEDs to replace the stock bulbs. Fixed a few issues with the circuit board, found a bad splice joint on the power feed from the fuse box to the gauges and a bad headlight switch. I also had to readjust the ignition switch position so when it is off it isn't supplying ACC power to the ign leads.

While I was working on the cluster I decided to move the stereo to the stock location since it was already behind my radio delete panel. I did tweak the position some and trimmed the bezel so I could remove the bezel without having to pull the stereo.

Everything is back in place and seems to work. I need to replace the oil pressure sensor and I think the gauge will respond right.

Man, finding broke grounds and power leads took me a week, but things seem to be good again. Clean her up tomorrow, and back to driving it some more.

Re: Palf's 1981 GMC
 

Nice work Bill, looks like a great improvement!