71 Blue Jay
 

So here is my stab at rebuilding the old family farm truck.

It has been sitting for about 20 years after me and my dad tore the engine apart to rebuild for me to drive in high school. (He Passed away a couple years ago.) We never did put the engine back together, I think he was afraid I would get hurt driving it. Had about 200,000 miles and used a quart of oil a week if I remember correctly.

Why it's called the Blue Jay... On the way to a goat show in some other state my mom got lost driving with us 3 kids in the front and pulling a stock trailer full of goats. She picked up the CB radio and started asking for directions. We needed a handle! The truck was blue & white, loud as hell and in my opinion quite awesome looking. So "Blue Jay" it was!

So 20 years later and still dreaming of driving this truck I am starting the slow process of rebuilding. Am I in over my head? :lol:

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Here are some pictures. Will have more once I reduce the file sizes.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

RATS!! Yes, rats made a nest on top of the engine block... But the crank still turns! I thought it would be rusted trash, looks like I can save it after all.

Not so happy to find the pin holes above the windshield interior though :-( I knew I should have just use some random caulking in the drip rail when I was a kid...

Most of the glass is missing because my brothers kids shot them out. At least that was recently and not sitting for years without windows. Got glass ordered and will show steps of replacing windows.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

I picked up some parts from Classic Chevrolet Parts here in south Oklahoma City. I think I got everything I need to for both doors (felt, wipers, door runs and glass setting tape). Now I just need to pick up my glass so I can get the drivers side door put back together on Saturday. I will finish taking the passenger side door apart then too. I am having to drill out the door panel screws as they are rusted in and just striped when I tried getting them out. :-( I picked up a new set of screws while I was there.

I hope I can save the vinyl on the panels... Would be nice to just get new but the budget doesn't allow that for now.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Just wanted to say hello to a fellow okie. Love the ol truck and the story makes it even better can't wait to see what ya make of the ol girl.
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Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Welcome from Tulsa..

Cool story, Good luck on the build..

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Thanks guys. It's going to be rough at first but I will get there. :-)

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Today after work I cleaned up and painted one of my steelies. Thinking about clear coating it also so the red dirt here in Oklahoma doesn't stain it pink. After I get the second one finished I think I will shell out for two brand new tires. Maybe 235/60/R15?? or is it 235/75/15? I can never remember which I liked better... :smoke:

Well here are the before and after pics of the one I got done so far.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Small progress made last weekend. Got the front tires on and the truck moved. Took off the hood and cowl. Then set up the A-Frame to hoist the engine and transmission out this next weekend. Going to be picking up some new glass, so hopefully I can get some of that in as well...

I have been helping my brother out around the 40 acres, and helped him buy another 8N tractor. Got to keep the grass from growing over us. But I spent my rebuild money :-( Slow going but I will make it.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Finally got the engine and transmission out this past weekend. And on the hottest day possible, first 95 degree day of the year. Been cool ever since... I didn't have the bolt at the back of the block/transmission all the way in and it broke the transmission housing. :-( But at least it didn't land on my foot.

Also dropped the block off at Buddy Rice machine shop downtown OKC for them to clean it up and get it ready for me to rebuild. Although I am broke now and am fine waiting a few weeks for them to work on it.

Feels nice to get to a major step like this. Progress can be made :c2:

Here are a few pics

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

woo ain't that a beaut a 4 cyl haven't seen that yet keep up the drive to work on this thing man it'll all be worth the smiles one day

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Thanks NewType72, But that's just my extra dirty 350 4-bolt main sitting on it's side. LOL. Been sitting for a long long time and not close to a car wash to blast the dirt off...

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

oh hahaha wow I feel stupid now that I see that it's on it's side I'm just gonna call it a night xD

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

So Excited. I picked up my engine block yesterday morning. Looks brand new!! Buddy Rice did an awesome job. Now to order new parts form Northern Auto and put it all back together. The crank shaft has surface rust so thinking I should buy a new one instead of having them turn it.? It probably wouldn't cost that much more.
Well off to clean more parts, here some photos :uhmk:

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Awesome man looks really clean I remember when I got mine redone three years ago it's so much cleaner when it's not in the truck :lol:

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Thanks... LOL. I still have so much more to clean :mm: But I will get it done somehow.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

awesome truck! anymore pictures!

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Lookin Good!

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Been working on little stuff... Got one of the hood hinges cleaned up and painted. baby steps...

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

awesome man that must have been a task to get that spring off I've never seen someone go and do that before I just had mine podercoated and they work like a dream

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Thanks. Would be nice to have them powder coated but I just can't afford it right now. Just took my time with some wire wheels, wishing I had a sand blaster. LOL

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

What I did last weekend. Cleaned my valve covers up with some Dawn/water and vinegar. That dirt was really caked on there... But I think they cleaned up pretty well. Now I'm thinking of what color to paint them. Either Chevy orange or a blue that's close to the truck color.? I would end up painting the entire engine with the same color.

Hopefully I can get my glass before it gets to hot... I'm having to light a fire under the guy :devil: He sucks.

This next weekend I need to have a garage sale and get rid of a bunch of crap I've had for way to long. I don't do anything with the stuff so it's time to say bye bye. lol.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

looks like my wife, she cleans up real good.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

LOL...get the oil off :smoke:

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

I finally ordered some parts. Got vent window seals and rear window glass from LMC. A little bummed that the vent window seal is about 1/8 inch to thick and wont allow the latch to lock the window. I will have to either space it with a washer or file a bit off the back side of the latch. The rivets are hard to crush but I am managing to get them.

On a good note I did get one valve cover sanded and repainted. Pictures to come when I get the energy to re-size it. Time for a loratab and bed.

Vent Window agony
 

I'm so annoyed at the vent window rubber and seal I got. The latch has a good quarter inch hang over and wont latch. I could cut a thin strip along the edge of the seal to make it fit, but how annoying... And the rivets are so hard to get to I haven't got one to be accurate. Note, if you do these make sure you are on a good solid surface, like a concrete floor. A wood table bounces to much and is much more work on the rivet. I will have to drill them out and get some "pop rivets" that I have read about. They will be much easier to get in that tight corner. :waah: I feel better now, thanks for listening. lol

Photo of the painted valve cover.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

looks nice

Re: Vent Window agony
 

Sounds like I purchased the same kit as you. I to thought about using pop rivets in mine also but I managed to use those great rivets with that one of a kind rivet tool that came with the kit:lol:

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

So I got some work done this past weekend. Since I had all my glass ready I went to install the door windows. Took me all day and all I got done is the driver side door glass. :-( I started on the passenger side but after 3 attempts I gave up. There is not much wiggle room to squeeze that vent window back in. I'm thinking I had the door glass to far back in the sash, I moved it up a bit and will try again next weekend... :smoke:

The new rubber looks ok, I'm not extremely happy with it. I take some installed pictures next time, there is a gap from the glass to the new window seal on the out side that shows the sash. But, better than the crumbly half missing one that was on there... :lol:

Re: Vent Window agony
 

Thanks Tinkermc :-)

Orange, The pop rivets are so much easier, but buy quality ones if possible. A couple of the cheap ones I got didn't "pop" correctly and didn't even hold anything. But sooooooo much quicker!!
(Also, drill out the two smaller rivets that hold the swivel arm on rather than drilling out the bigger swivel rivet.)

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Been a while.... Summer and fall allergies have almost killed me this year. :-( I did manage to order parts and they have just sat in the garage for the most part.

Question for you all: Ordered parts from LMC, Back window and rubber. (see pic) The rubber is a good quarter to half inch longer at the bottom edge than needs to be. And the stainless steel trim is to long to fit in the grove cut for it. Am I suppose to cut the middle of the rubber to take out excess? (like right in the middle and butt them together.) And, I guess I will have to cut the grove longer to fit the trim...? Have any of you had this issue and what did you do about it?

Also ready to pounce on the engine and get it back together. In the mean time a pic of my truck because I love to look at it no matter how dirty it is... LOL

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Hey progress is progress!

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

I got some major progress made this week. Got the engine block mounted on a stand and the rods/pistons reconditioned at Buddy Rice machine shop. I have the crank and all 8 pistons installed. Feels amazing...

I guess I better find and intake and get my carb rebuilt quick... LOL Would be nice to get this running in the next couple months.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Nice work, keep it up!

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

for window rubbers only by Precision brand !

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Thanks @Portmod7 !!
Thanks @67cheby , I will search and buy a new rubber, I don't want to "make" this other one work just so it can look bad.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Wow, been a while now...

My brother and nephew have taken over putting the engine back together for me out in Meeker. I've been sick and moved into an apartment, so no garage to work in.

Here are a couple pics of the engine coming together and the old intake I found in the dirt... think it will work? LOL

Can't wait to get it going, that's for sure. Slowly onward.

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Got my carburetor rebuilt at the Carburetor Shop in MWC, It looks amazing! I don't know if they painted it or some kind of chem dip but wow. Another big step in getting my truck back on the road.

Now I just need to get the transmission rebuilt/exchanged and get the gas tank ready. Also will be picking up a small blasting kit to clean some parts with walnut shell for paint prep.

progress is good...

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Finally, some warm weather! The last two days I wire wheel brushed inch think oil/dirt build up in the engine bay. Then painted what I got brushed. Still a lot more to clean and paint but I think I got the hardest part done first. Hopefully I can blast the rest of it with ease.

Also put in a new battery tray.

Here are some before and after pictures. As you can see I still have a lot more cleaning up to do...

Re: 71 Blue Jay
 

Also, I think the back will be a lot easier to blast and paint. I need to read up on all these bolts and see how to tighten it up as it's all pretty loose and lopsided. I will probably use some plywood for now because it is affordable... I have seen some other guys post using plywood and it looks nice enough for now.