Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

And a new gas tank installed. Didn't fit, bolt holes didn't line up at all. Had to drill most of them out and still couldn't get some of the bolts to go in. Got it from Classic Chevrolet Parts here in OKC but I'm sure any of the aftermarket stuff will need to be fitted...

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Well, after a long hard week of work putting it all back together we got it started!! Sounded great. My radiator had a couple leaks so didn't get to run it very long (10 mins) and I still needed to wire up the HEI correctly.

Ordered more parts, got my new radiator and some relays for the HEI, Will get to finish it up this Sunday. Can't wait, it's keeping me awake at night thinking about it all.

What a contrast to 3 years ago when it was all rust...

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Looks great! I know the feeling about no sleeping mine is nearing completion and I can't wait!

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Starting to look good in there. Nice accomplishment to cross.

Regarding your seat, I just got my seat cover from www.CarsInc.com. They carry seat covers that others don't, including the stock vinyl seat with correct patterns, as well as the correct vinyl and original cloth inserts. As far as the foam is concerned, you can go to a local upholstery shop and buy some replacement foam and some 3M glue to affix it to the original foam. You can get your hog rings from them as well. Or if you determine it's too dried out, you can just buy the replacement foam for our seats (although it's fairly pricey). It's definitely doable by yourself. There's plenty of write-ups here on the forum on the process, and even some video clips out there as well. Just take your time.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Just started reading this thread. I like the story behind your truck. Your truck looks nice - I like the patina on it. You should think about clear coating it as-is and not painting it. Looks like you have made great progress in the last couple of years.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Glad to see you able to keep project going despite negative circumstances. A lot of folks hit a small bump in the road and give up.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Thanks guys. It feels great to have it running at last. There are still a ton of little things to be done but at least I can cruse around in it. The week I took off work to put it all together was worth it. :-)

@DD1 - I'm going clear coat all the way... lol.

I'm thinking the carb is missing the divorced choke, It starts and runs fine but it's not cold here yet. I'm not sure if the Carb Shop did something special so it doesn't need it anymore.

Ordering more parts this week so I can start driving it, drum brake hardware, side mirrors, power steering lines, turn signal canceling cam... Would be nice to have signals. Need to fix the mess of wires for the tail lights. My dad had a trailer plug hooked up but then unhooked it all... now it's just all hanging there.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Looks good so far. I should probably take a week off from work and do nothing but work on my truck.

What did you decide to do about the rocker panels and cab supports?

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Thank you. That week felt great. I haven't decided yet on the rocker panels, going for rat rod body look for now. The cab supports do need some attention but will have to wait for another week off work (and payday).

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

I got to mess with the turn signal and canceling cam some but didn't get it all to work properly. I do have blinkers and a horn now though. Doesn't cancel the signal so I will have to take the steering wheel off yet again to see what is not working properly. The horn seems to not want to make contact sometimes also. I cleaned all the dirt and grease out so the contacts could make connection, I guess something hidden is broken.?

Next week I'll get to the brakes and be able to start driving more. :-) Back to making stained glass for a few days...

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Well after two days of rear drum brake hell I have it all back together but still the same weak braking. I'm sure there is either air in the lines somewhere that didn't bleed out or the master cylinder is shot. I do need to check the vacuum line to the power brake booster. I mean it only sat for 25 years in a field...

Also, after I finally got everything attached I noticed the two different shoe pad sizes. Somehow I managed to get a short and long pad set on each side, but didn't get the short pad towards the front & long pad towards the back. Yep, got it backwards, accidentally, on each side... (Or I think it's backwards, from what I have searched on here.) The old pads were so worn down I couldn't tell the sizes to know which should go where anyways.

Look at all the rusty gunk in these pictures... (drivers side first)

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

I'm sure I should replace the wheel cylinders. But I'll have to save up for another parts order, been spending to much lately and not working enough.

Also, my transmission just started to not shift. Stuck in first. I bought it used off Craigslist so it was just a matter of time. Didn't think it would die so quick... The rear seal on it leaks and was going to replace that, but looks like I may have to pull the transmission out completely. Wish I had time to rebuild it myself... Don't see it happening till spring.

Anyways, after hours of hammering the drums off... well the drivers side came off kinda easily. The passenger side took the longest. One pad was completely worn down so don't think that helped. Actually broke the hold down springs getting it off. (passenger side pictures)

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Ah if forgot to upload the pics... ugh. Hopefully they show up now.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

You did a great job cleaning up those brake parts. Check out Rock Auto if you need inexpensive parts and are not in a rush.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Thanks DD1, It's a lot of fun and work.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Glad you think it's fun. I don't have the patience for cleaning stuff.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

I figured out why my brakes were so weak and why the transmission wouldn't shift. The vacuum hose to the power brake booster popped off, I guess I forgot to tighten the hose clamp... Brakes work so awesome now! Especially now the back drums have new shoes.

So... I drove it home from my brothers house, got almost home and it started sputtering on the highway. I pulled off quickly to a gas station. a couple more intermittent sputters and then it died. Had to get a tow truck for the rest of the trip... :-( Carb doesn't seem to be getting fuel. I replaced the new fuel pump with another new fuel pump, still a no go. I'm guessing the carb jets are clogged... I have a filter before the pump, and original pump to carb line. I'll get some carb cleaner and spray around to see what happens.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Going to take the carb off today and see what I can get sprayed out. It's newly rebuilt so I'm afraid of messing something up. I'll just take the air horn off and make sure the float is working and the jets/seat is free of junk. I knew better than to use an old gas line, just couldn't wait...

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

So after months of fighting with this truck, and not really having the time to, I finally pulled the fuel pump again and yanked the fuel push rod out to find the tip is missing!!! How am I going to find that little piece? It couldn't have gone far? right?

I guess I'll need to get one of those magnets on a stick tools and see if it just happens to still be up there. Or it's just going to the shop, I have to many other work projects to spend to much time finding it... At least I know what the issue is and that I'm not crazy.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

It’s been 5 years but I’m still here…
Lots of work and learning has been done on the Blue Jay in that time. The brakes actually work now. Got lots of clear coat done on the body. Put in a new-to-me windshield that broke going in. Lol. It sat in the garage for a year and I haven’t driven it much the last few so had to replace the water pump, which created other issues. Every time something gets fixed something else breaks… so new water pump and hoses, rebuilt carburetor, new headlights and taillights, and some wiring. New voltage regulator (which made a huge performance difference).

Today I got new shocks and one installed. Will be ordering parts for suspension refresh. I’ve been driving it a lot this past few months and it’s a great feeling.

Plywood bed, 71 Blue Jay
 

Some other fixes and updates also happened over the last year.

With the light electrical issue where I updated a lot of the lights and tried fishing out why some would and then would work randomly I got a new dome light. Ordered from LMC, I didn’t like the white and the original one had chrome/silver so I painted it. Looks better and now I have light.

I also finally repaired the wood bed so I would be able to haul stuff. And the bed moved around a lot when I drove. I ordered rails and bolt kit from Mar-K here in OKC. I should have just got the chrome ones so I didn’t spend three or so days painting the steel. I do like the blue rails though. I bought a sheet of 3/4” plywood (this was before the prices got out of hand) and ripped it down on my table saw. Then used the router table to make the groves on the sides and some Thompson’s water seal. Even after all the measurements it still ended up off but whatever. It’s usable, looks better and I got a good ab workout from the 100’s of times I got under the bed then in the bed to tighten all the bolts.

Next project is to build a camper for the back. It’s so hard to find a retro one that isn’t either rotted out or overpriced.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Good keepin' after it! I like your vicious guard animal.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Yeah, thanks. It’s definitely a never ending project. The guard animal will attack anything for a treat. Lol.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

A few great updates. I rebuilt the front end, shocks all around, track bar bushings for the rear, new tires and alignment. Drives so much better down the road. Still some play in the steering so need that rag joint and eventually new gear box.

The External Voltage Regulator (EVR) stoped working last year, got a new one and it makes a buzzing noise that is really annoying. Been researching solutions and will spend some time on that in the coming weeks. I don’t want to upgrade the alternator but it may be what I have to do.

Also this week I fixed that broken defroster arm and the bulbs in the heater control box. Took the radio out, cleaned it but I guess the speaker is a no go because it still doesn’t make any sound. It’s AM only so will probably get a FM/bluetooth one to put under the seat or in the glove box.

I’m just glad I can drive it and not be worried about the suspension or tires blowing out. Now it’s just the electrical will stop working at any second. Lol.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

I'm digging your rescue of this fine old truck. :metal: