Palf's 1970 Custom/10
 

Well I unloaded all the stuff I hauled home with it, and cleaned it up a little. In case you missed it, the history behind this truck is very special to me. It belonged to board member EdB, who recently passed and wanted me to have his truck. I met Ed through this board in 2002. We have been wrench'n together since then and unp until a week before he passed.

It's a 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB fleet. Truck was had a 307 with a 3 on the tree. It also came with a tach dash, Factory AC, power steering, and full side trim. Ed acquired the truck in 1978. He drove the 307 till 160K, then put in a built 327. After another 150k, it was upgraded to a built camel hump head 350. It lasted another 100+K. The truck still has the original Saginaw 3 on the tree and supposedly has never been opened since GM put it together. So around 450+K on it. She shifts real smooth

Currently it has a front disk brake conversion from Stainless Steel Brakes, and the rear end was changed to a 3.08 gear. Has an extra marine tank in bed under the tool box (using a early Bronco switch system).
The engine in it now is Marshall 350 crate engine with an RV Cam (unsure of specs). It did have a factory quadrajet 4 bbl that Ed just tried to rebuild and it ended up leaking worse. To get it home I had a quadrajet to Edelbrock/Holley adapter and stole a Holley Street Warrior 4bbl (600 CFM, model 4160) off his Chevelle project. The truck fired right up. I added some gas and drove it home loaded with goodies I have not touched a Holley since 1973, but she seems to be a nice carb so it may stay, but will probably swap the intake soon. It also has unknown headers (been on there since before Ed owned it), plus dual exhaust with unknown mufflers.

Re: Palf's 1970 Custom/10
 

So unloaded things today. Extra doors, some patch panels, vintage air, steering wheel and other things I haven't looked thru and brought home yet. Cleaned up the dust and spiderwebs. It helps , but not worrying about polishing it now as I plan to redo the body and paint. SPID is in fabulous shape. I don't ever remember us opening the glove box in the last 19 years. In case you are wondering, that is an extra 15 gallon tank under the tool box. Seat is from a 91 C1500 truck that I found for Ed, then he had it reupholstered.

Re: Palf's 1970 Custom/10
 

Just a mild 350. Marshall crate with RV cam and the remote/bypass filter system. Ed loved those things. It's a local company, so I will get with them on filters and check on anything else. I can't remember what Ed had told me about them. He added the gas gauge in the dash for the extra tank in the bed. I am not real sure how well the original works. I add 5 gallons to drive it home, but it barely moved off E. It does serve around as you drive, so it must be somewhat functioning. These items and a slow drain from somewhere will be my first projects.

Some day I will get an old vehicle that doesn't need electrical work., probably not. :lol:

Not sure if the old M/T valve covers will return to it or not.

Re: Palf's 1970 Custom/10
 

That's cool Bill. Very nice truck along the history and friendship to go with it.
Say no to the M/T valve covers.

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I love it Bill, can't wait to see it!!

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Great truck and story

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Very clean ole truck - he obviously thought alot of you - enjoy!

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Really love the truck, and can’t help but admire the friendship you two shared. I believe that truck is exactly where it should be. No other person would care for it like you will. My hats off to you sir.

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I wondered if it still had the toilet paper roll oil filter, guess it does.

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Krue, far as I know it has a regular filter. We discussed how today's TP is different and doesn't work well in these things anymore. Waiting on some new filters to arrive.

Between helping Ed's widow with things, I got to do a few things on the 70. Made a new throttle rod to fit the Holley carb and added new air cleaner. I also change out the steering wheel to one that was a tad smaller. It makes it so much easier to get in and out of the truck now. Also started working on electrical drain issues. I think I found it. It looks like it was in the mess of stereo/amp wiring. Removed the old radio and all the unnecessary wiring. Once I decide on a new radio/stereo setup, I'll install it.

I redid the ash tray. Can't say I ever came across one that rusted thru. Once I got it out and got rid of Ed's cigar butts, I pulled the front cover off his and I had another ash tray from a 67 (with a handle). Took it apart, put Ed's front piece on, with the 67 handle.

I also found some more stuff today for it New clutch assembly & flywheel, new door panels and the kick panels with speakers.

As far as electrical, I still want to go thru all the grounds on the thing before I say I have the drain licked, but it does not appear to have any drain no in the system.

Now that it is officially mine, got the title and tags in, I guess I need to get at it a bit more. Time to do some cruising with this one!

Re: Palf's 1970 Custom/10
 

Great friendship and a story to share.

What a beauty that truck is, the white roof just does it for me with that green.

I don't think they make those Mickey Thomson valve covers anymore, they'd look nice.

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"I plan to redo the body and paint."

It is yours and you can do whatever you want....but I really don't like this idea this idea, esp if you are going to drive it. It's a beauty as is...

PS> Hope to see it at Cruisin the Coast!

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There is lot of rust in the doors and some areas that need smoothed out. But it will look exactly the same when it is redone. I'll be at CTC but probably in the 81 mist of the time. However, I may switch between the 2.

Re: Palf's 1970 Custom/10
 

Most of the days were with the 81, but did break out the old guy yesterday and did Cruisin' with it. Man the difference in ride between SWB with leafs and the long bed with coils is sooooooo different. Felt like I was in an early 70's Caddy driving the 70. Soon I'll be going after it trying to get everything eventually fixed up on the 70, hopefully without too much down time. 2 more days to go and probably split the time between the 2.

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Last full day, but it is a beautiful site to see.

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Now that's beautiful! Those pictures are telling me I need a vacation. Thanks for sharing.:metal:

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New front shoes. The tires that were on it were from 2013 and the belts had shifted. Made a bumpy ride. I'll clean the blue off in the morning. man she drives soooo much better with the bumps in the tires gone. Drove it back to my friends house to help clean out more stuff today and tomorrow. An 8 foot bed really gives you a lot more room!

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While I looked at what has been accumulating in the shop, the kids were outside in the yard together Hopefully I will get to sorting thru and organizing all this stuff so I have room to work on the trucks. At least so far I can fit a truck in there with all the stuff.

The kids do get along well with each other and enjoyed there time in the yard. 70 and I are off to move more stuff at my friends old shop.

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Today the last of the vehicles at my friends place went on it way today. An old Ford Jubilee tractor. Late 50s I think. It was good also that I had the 70 to help get tractor loaded (starter went out). Trying to pull a tractor to jump start it definitely worked the 70. It would have been much better with a lower rear gear instead of the 3.07. Almost got the shop and house finished up.

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Got bored cleaning up the shop, so I went to work on the Edelbrock Performer I plan on using sometime in the future. It was really greaser/dirty, so went to work with brake clean and some scotch-brite pads. Should have invested in a media blaster, but oh well old ways for the old guy. She cleaned up pretty good so far. Going to work on it some more, then paint it Chevy orange so it will blend in.

Well back to shop cleaning.:uhmk:

Re: Palf's 1970 Custom/10
 

Nice work on the intake:metal:

I like me some F__D tractors.

If it's a 1953 it's a Golden Jubilee.
If it's a1954 it (Just) a Jubilee.

They only made them 2 years.
I have just a Jubilee:ito:

Re: Palf's 1970 Custom/10
 

You probably shouldn't have your fuel hose resting on the hot radiator hose.

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I just changed to new filter yesterday and think I got it moved, but I'll double check. I forgot about that. Thanks

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Other than driving it, I have not had much time lately to piddle with it. I did add my 2 personalizations that I have on all my toys, the front tag and my Foot gas pedal. That foot pedal has been on most all my cars and trucks since 1976.

The latest to honor my friend was customizing the glove box door. The mouse was something a friend in Japan did about me since I was always talking about my mouse motor in my 55. Since Ed also loved the small block, I added that and a reminder that he will always be along for the ride.

Re: Palf's 1970 Custom/10
 

That's a nice tribute Bill, just got caught up on this thread.

I would nudge you back towards getting the q-jet rebuilt and sealed up...10x better carb for a driver.

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So far I am liking this Holley. I have always been less than satisfied with Q-jets (many years ago). Not sure though. I do have an Edelbrock Intake that will go one one day, then the decision will be the Holley, an Edelbrock (I have one for it) or maybe another Q-jet. All the Q-jets (3 of them) that came with it were in a million pieces. I ended up selling them all to some one who really likes them.

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-
Nice truck Bill. I also like the Q-jets but I have a really good rebuilder local to me so that helps. That is a great job on the GB door and a nice tribute to Ed.

LockDoc

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Since it was supposed to warm up today I thought I would maybe do oil change on truck and cleanup more in shop. At 9:30 the shop temp was a bit to cool for my now southern body. It warmed up a good bit by 2:00, but somehow it just did not quite feel any warmer. I guess I have been here too long and lost my Yankee roots (couldn't be because I am ancient now). I remember dropping the transmission out of my Chrysler Newport, dragging it to the garage, rebuild it and put it back in in a snow storm in January (about 34 degrees). What a wimp I have become. :rolleyes:. Oh well, time for some hot coffee and stay in the house!

BTW I am about as far south as you can get in Mississippi and not get wet. Its only about a mile to the Gulf.

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We had a high of 48* in northeast KS today...but the wind is blowing 30mph straight from the north.

Tomorrow's high will be in the 20s.

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Cool truck and great story, Bill. Glad to hear and see that you're already enjoying it. Just for the heck of it, I will mention that I think that it looks great as is and that the paint would clean up nicely. I think you could even repair the rust and touch up those areas. If any of that plus the money and time saved appeals, just speak up I'm sure there are others that can help too. If you are wanting to make it look new again, then ignore everything I just said. It's yours, and what a blessing to be given something so significant as a tribute to your friendship. I didn't know it Ed, but I trust that he has passed on to a better place and hope that his widow is doing well as can be.

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I have to replace both doors, do some patching on the hood and drip rails. My Truck club has already been on me about keeping it as is. If I can get it paint matched in those areas, I probably will keep the rest. Just not sure. I know it has not had any wax or whatever on it in 15+ years. My friend wanted nature to get all that out so it would be less cleaning off of all the old wax and etc before paint. The more I look at removing all the trim and replacing it again makes me want to keep it as is, except the few really bad spots.

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Did a couple changes for convenience, took off the homemade/modified spare tire holder from under bed and move the spare to the side of the bed. What Ed had was part original and part home mode and made it a real pain to get it out. Plus it was very rust and if I had to get it out, it probably wouldn't go well on the side of the road.

Nothing complicated, just simple one at rear of bed to make it easy to get in and out. I'll get me a new spare in the near future as near as I can figure this one is almost 30 years old.

Last picture is the underside. Pretty clean for 52 years old.

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Definitely clean and in good shape under the truck. If it holds air, I'd be tempted to keep that Radial 70 Interceptor for a spare. Get some UV protection on it and figure it's good enough to get you to the next tire shop anyway. Just because it looks cool and it's vintage. I think 30 years might be on the young side, haha. But you tend to take your truck on trips and probably should have something more reliable. Something you can drive back home on.

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What does that spare tire mount look like behind the tire? I would like to make one for my truck. Thanks.

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Beautiful truck. I love the photos!!!

I love the interior

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Well, first thing to mention is while I was working on truck yesterday was my latest gift from Chevy Truck legends showed up. So, now I have tape measure that fits the garage theme.

Anyhow, yesterday I decided to do some servicing of the truck. First thing was replacing the fuel tank sender. I don't remember if it was that way when I found the seat for Ed, but I just realized that the tilt lever is missing from the seat (its a 90 model CX1500 recovered). Even though it slides forward, it made it tight to twist the sender around to get it out and new one in. I am guessing somewhere in the tank is a float (couldn't find it) because the old unit came out missing it. New one is in and yeah, gauge works again.

Next was oil change. Ed had installed a remote oil filter system. What I didn't know or forgot was it still had the factor style oil filter also. No biggie, change both. The recommend oil filter for 70 Chevy V8 truck didn't fit. The headers where in the way. I am not sure (yet at least) what brand these are. Ed says they were on the truck when he bought it in 1978. They are in great sharp and seal well, but REAL tight around oil filter. Found a shorter filter (I guess cars had same issue, as they all used the short filter and truck longer one). Anyways, got that all done, 6 quarts of oil and she is ready for more cruising.

Last small block I had (my 83 C10) had shorter headman headers so I didn't notice the oil filter issue. I believe every other small block I owned used Ram horns. The wrench barely gets on and the filter just makes it in and out when replacing. The pictures make it seem like more room that what it felt when changing.

I also did some adjustments on the driver's door latch so that the key would lock the door. Turns out it wasn't fully engaged when closed, so it would not allow the lock to engage. Little steps.

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If your filter is that close to the headers make sure the oil is not getting hot. You might have to put some header wrap on them where the oil filter is.

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That was a thought I had too. Since it has been that way for 40ish years and 400K miles, I am not sure if it is effecting it much though.

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Spent yesterday and today getting the inside of truck ready for some trips. First up was getting some cup holders. I got one from a 2002 Silverado worktruck that I am going to adapt. Since I have a seat from a 91 truck, it gives me a metal bar across the front of the seat frame to attach. Nothing fancy, just some angle aluminum and a little paint. This design worked great on my old 83 and 64, so why not do it again.

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Also up was installing my Christmas present from the wife and son, a new stereo unit that I don't have to cut up the dash to use it. It's a Retrosound Hermosa model. Not the top end, but it gives me the ability to use my USB music sticks for long drives. It was too much fun to take pictures of the install, but it wasn't too awful bad. Having to put it together to fit in the space was a bit cumbersome, but I didn't take my pistol out at all during install. Before I put the head unit in, I swapped out the front speakers with a set of duals. I also put in some kick panel units and speakers. Unfortunately one of Ed's kick panel speakers was bad, so I am 3-speakering it until the new ones arrive. It sounds OK. I had to trim the emergency brake pedal to clear the driver's side speaker better. I'll probably shift the dimmer switch up and over a bit when I go to do insulation and carpeting. The USB connection is in the govebox.

But for now, she is ready for its first ling trip with me on Saturday.