Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Howdy-
So I thought I'd start my own truck build-up thread. I want to document the progress in such a way as to keep it and have something cool to look back upon later as well as creating a place to get good feedback from those who have more experience than I. My goal is to have a truck built with a unique philosophy of using every choice as an opportunity to do something different--even if it means struggling and swearing (Addendum: skills and especially money are the limiting factor, hence the lack of a fuel injected Caddy engine and so forth, bear with me).

My dad gave me the truck, we called it Jones because we thought such an American truck deserved a solid, American name. Jones served my family well for about 15 years and then was forgotten to death around 1990. It sat for nine years before I painted it for my senior project in high school, not a great paint job, but it keeps the rust off. I had a good summer job in 2003 and I bought a ton of parts for it, but college kept me from getting everything together and getting it running. Now that I have graduated, I don't have much more time, but I do have my own garage space (clean-out pending) where I will have to get the truck towed so that I can get it running.

Okay, stats:
1968 Long Bed, 2wd
What I have ready to go (everything is new):
GM Crate 350, intake, carb, headers, mufflers, dist. etc.
4 core radiator, bed-mounted battery,
TCI 700-r4--that OD had better be worth the trouble.
Audiobahn sound system.
The drivetrain is pretty "vanilla" but it will be great to have basically a new truck with a tested combination. This truck is going to be a driver.
*I'll also fill in more details as I move the truck along, this post is just to get acquainted.

Pics are coming in next thread.
Cheers!

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Pictures as promised

Jones himself

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Humble beginnings, but some goodies along the way

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Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

I will do my best to update this thread as often as possible, but progress will be slow at times.

Thanks for your help, feedback is welcomed.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Looks like a great start. Keep us posted on the progress

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Thanks man-
I feel fortunate to live in California, where a car can sit for nearly 20 years and not have any rust. I will keep everything updated.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

That paint didn't look too shabby, faded is all. Looks to be a nice project. I recommend putting a front sway bar from a heavy duty 67-72 optioned truck or a 73-87 one on there if you're going to be driving it everywhere.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Good suggestion-
I'll put it on my list of junkyard/craigslist "watch-for" items.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Every good project should have some way of keeping track of it's setbacks, and I'm sure this one will have plenty. So here goes
Setback numer one: Getting the truck from Sonora to Santa Cruz.

It's quite a conundrum, moving a vehicle 180 miles and still having some money to restore it when it gets here. I wish I could just get it up and running in Sonora and drive it down here, but I wouldn't feel safe over some of the scary highways on the way here. I have a couple of friends with trucks in Sonora, but none who would want to help me move Jones down here. I have AAA plus, and they'll tow for free for 100 miles but its $6/mile after that. Should I just drop off the truck in a parking lot at mile 99 and then call another AAA tow truck to tow it the rest of the way? Any suggestions on how to move this thing would be greatly appreciated--what a lame way to start out a build-thread I know, but this thread is as much for my own record keeping as it is for others' entertainment. :drama:

Anyway, here are some more pictures to keep everyone entertained. One is of the last truck I built and have since sold, rockcrawling wasn't my gig, I want a truck that I can wax and not have to worry about bashing. The other is a pic of the engine compartment while I was getting it all prepped for paint. The other is of my garage which will have to be cleaned out in order to make room for the truck. All those parts are from my slovenly roommate's Datsun which blows headgaskets like we go through toilet paper. He wonders why--but how could you do good work with a shop space like that?

As promised:

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Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

As far as getting it home, I would check out www.Uship.com. I'm looking to move something from CA to IL using someone from there.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

I know all about slow progress - took me almost 3 years to get my K20 back together after I tore it apart. This place is a great motivator - good luck and welcome to the board.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Quick update-
I did some straightening up around the garage. See pics. Now all it needs is for my housemate to clean up his disaster area--which he said he would do, and for one of my old housemates to move his pool table and I'll have a shop! I'm also going to start looking for a cheap welder to do little projects--welding holes, making brackets etc...

AND, I figured out how I'm going to get my truck here: I'm going to drive it! How novel. I hired a friend to get it wired up and running, and then I'll spend a weekend or two tuning it--e.g. getting the brakes working, tweaking the engine, hooking up gauges etc and then I'm going to drive it down. I don't feel too great about having someone else do the finishing touch, but he does great work and at least when it gets here, I'll be able to drive it between projects and do the stuff I really enjoy: Paint and Body and modification for power.

The shop, getting there...

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Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Sounds great. Truck look real good for starting with. Good luck with the tweaking and driving. You eve think about buying a tow bar and pulling it down. That's how I got mine back 140 miles and no problems. My towbar was worht the $100 and who knows what I'll bring home next (if the wife lets me :rolleyes: )

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

LOL--yeah luckily I don't have a spousal financial commitee at this point, although my girlfriend seems to be practicing for the role. I'll see about rounding up a tow-bar, the only problem is that there's this really steep and twisty highway to get into the town where I live and I just don't want to take any chances. Then again, I could always use the tow bar to tow it 80 miles and then have AAA tow it the rest of the way--for free! We'll see. I have some more pics to finish up the shop; I know: boring. But we should be up and moving pretty soon here.
Thanks for checking in.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

I towed mine back on some hairy roads. As long as I remembered I was towing it, no problems. But I got complacent part way home until I hit some time turns on some unsmooth road and the @$$ of my Dodge let me know, FOOL SLOW YOUR BUTT DOWN. No problems though.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Looks like a good starting point for a great project....

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Keep us posted :metal:

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

what kinda camera are you using for those pics ??

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Thanks for the encouragement guys--I can't wait to tear into it once it gets back down here--should be within a couple of weeks. I've also officially started saving for a welder.

71_LB--I am using a Nikon Coolpix 1200 (I can't remember the number) It is a couple years old but it works great. I am resizing them using Google's Picasa program, not too fluid but not bad software. The early pictures of the truck are just scanned into my 'puter.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Hey Gang-
Okay, the end of the quarter has totally consumed me, but I should have April to get my truck down to Santa Cruz and get some work done to it. In the meantime, I think the shop is ready--minus one surprise addition I will add when I get the truck down here.

Pics:
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Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Ha,
Yeah I've been referring to the mirrors as "dumbo ears." They are actually on the list of stuff to be removed and modified, although they would look hilarious in chrome.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

My garage is set-up pretty much like yours, ie, washer and dryer about same location. Left of washer/dryer I have a fridge. My water heater is where your furnace is. I hate it because I have to compete with my wife between it being my work shop and her laundry room. She usually wins... I need clean clothes, LOL. So, most of my work is done outdoors and the garage is a laundry room/storage room. :(

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Yeah, I've been thinking of ways to rope off the laundry area, but I'm not sure if it will leave enough room. I think my longbed pickup is barely going to fit in that garage anyway, but hey, I'm pretty stoked, my housemates are cool with the shop and I've put it together with stuff I've found or stuff I've had for a while. I'm particularly stoked about the stereo and the free workbench I put together out of scrap wood.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Have you looked in to renting a trailer for the move? Rental companies in this area rent car trailers for around $50 a day, and they have tie downs also.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

I would think about towing it, but I don't think my little Volvo is up to the task of towing it. I tried towing it with an f150 and it could BARELY move the thing, I needed a Cummins to finish the deal, and I don't think either truck owners are going to volunteer their rigs to me anytime again soon.

Here's the plan:
The quarter has finished! No more papers to grade, no more whiny students to handle, soo I'm going to just go up to Sonora and finish it with my own hands and drive it down. Don't despair: There will be enough pics to choke a horse. This thread is as much for my record keeping as it is for your entertainment. Hold tight my bowtie friends, this thing will get moving before too long!

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Okay,
Quick pic-less update for now. Sorry!!!! I enjoy the pics as much, if not more than you guys. These pics will not disappoint.

Okay, so I spent the last three days working on the truck, and we are down to a whole bunch of little things. It feels like I dropped a handfull of BB's on the ground and I have to pick them up, but they must be picked up in specific order.

Where it stands:
Everything is there and installed, from the air cleaner to the drive shaft, now its just a matter of making it all work together. The pulleys need to be aligned, the battery terminals need crimping and connecting, longer choke cable, adjust throttle rod, etc etc...As for the 700-r4, it is looking good, I installed the cooler, dipstick, and TV cable this weekend. Now it needs the TCC lockup and TV spring installed. It is a pain to get to that tranny pan with the crossmember. I had to grind off an edge of the x-member just to access four of the bolts.

I need help with the brakes--from you guys!

1st question: How does the rod from the brake pedal connect to the bracketry behind the booster? Ah, the perils of taking things apart when I was 18 and not organizing anything (I'm 25 now). Also, do you just have to push the rod into the booster to bolt it up to the firewall? It doesn't fit when it's connected to the bracket and sticking out where you don't want it. Pictures would be a huge help.

Second: I need to know where to get all my brake parts. This thing needs a full job, I want to replace all the lines--the old ones have been compromised, and the metering block.
Questions:
Which Master Cylinder should I run if I have drums now but want Discs later?
Where should I get all the lines, metering stuff? Is it easiest to buy a kit? Or should I just buy it and bend it? I am a cheap skate, but I also want to have it look nice. Which restoration catalog do you guys prefer (if any)?

Okay, a semi-boring update, but I could really use some help.

Thanks!

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Hey So here's one pic to whet your appetite. Like I said, this build has been slow, but it will continue, and it will turn interesting in a few months. My goal is to drive it to Hot August Nights in Reno--we'll see.

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Also, Here's a picture from Europe--another reason the progress has been slow. I was there for three weeks, this is the sunset in Italy's Cinque Terre national park.

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More pictures/progress to come.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

I'm somewhat halfway between Sonora and Santa Cruz. If your still looking to tow using AAA or something, let me know. I have a wide driveway you could park that thing in for a few days. I'm in Atwater, which is in Merced County. (there's 2 Atwaters in CA, the other is in L.A.)

It's about 70 miles from sonora to atwater, and then about 120 miles to Santa Cruz. Just tryin to help. Let me know.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Kevin-
I know where Atwater is, believe it or not, I used to play soccer there all the time when I was a kid.

Thanks for the offer, I may have to take you up on it if the truck doesn't make it very far on its maiden voyage. I think I can get it to run before having to tow it home. Once it gets here, it will be wonderful to be able to work on it on a nightly basis and post pics and really get this thread rolling.

I'll keep you posted if I need to use your offer!

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

gferris, get an LMC catalog.Don't buy any of the overpriced parts in it.Use it for an assembly guide and parts reference.There are a number of members on this BB that are parts vendors for these trucks.Many of the parts are available at your local parts store and some are still avail thru GM.These sources will be much cheaper than some of the restoration companies.Also a Chiltons or Haynes manual will help with repairs and upgrades.Many of the vendors will carry factory assembly manuals and if you are lucky you may be able to find a factory service manual or chassis overhaul manual. Good luck and keep us posted.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Sounds good man. I would rather see you drive that thing than tow it anyways. I'll PM you with my cell # just incase something changes though.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Thanks for the help guys-

I ordered the correct throttle cam assembly from BowTie OD today; they have always been cool. The last one they sent me was for a Holley carb, but I have an Edelbrock; its in the mail as they say.

What criterion do you guys use for replacing steel brakelines? I am not inclined to scrimp and save on brake lines, but there's also no need for frivolous expense.

Also, thanks for the LMC tip, it is nice of them to provide such great drawings! I think I figured out what goes between the pedal rod and the booster (its an I-bolt of some sort), but I think it may be hard to locate unless I deal with an actual person and not a business who wants to sell me an entire assembly (I understand where they're coming from, I'm just not going to buy more stuff than I need).

Anyway, the pics I promised are on my friends digicam so I will post them up as soon as he emails them to me.

Any suggestions for my brake quandary are definitely welcomed!!

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Teaser: I think I might win the award for least updates ever in a project thread, but I'm going to spend the next couple of weeks in Sonora working on my truck. In the time since I've started this thread, I had to stop two jobs, start a new one, finish that one, move, and get into graduate school. It has been a hectic year. I just can't wait to get back to the wrench therapy and start supplying this thread with some more pics and updates. I also have a few creative ideas I'm going to throw at this thing that should be cool and of use to the community. See you soon! The next pics will be of this thing running.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

sounds like your making prgress..but real life comes first, and with out a good job,, not gonna get far with toys or hobbies..good luk with your drive,,and be carful...cant wait to see more pics..looks like a good ol truck to start with..
billy

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Okay, so these last two weeks have been very productive, although its not the sort of thing that leads to sparkling write up material, but I can put up a couple of pics and make a list of what's been done.

Done:
1. Gas tank relocated to rear, plumbed, but filler neck is not in its final place.
2. Brakes have been completely rebuilt, new lines, new MC, new drums, new shoes, I couldn't find the right brackets and rods for the power booster, so I'm gonna run the manual for a while. Good thing I grew up playing soccer and mountain biking--gonna need it to slow down this thing.
3. Some sewing up around the transmission--installed inspection cover, yada yada,
4. Throttle linkage hooked up

So now it has two working pedals, feels like an accomplishment.

What's left:
1. Set up the 700r4
-Hook up torque converter lock-up
-Speedometer gear housing.
-finalize TV cable set-up
-take it to a tranny shop for the OK

So yeah, only a tranny set up and I'll be on the road. Not a ton of progress, but hey, I'm only a beginner. I like body work, and I'm better at it than all this mechanical stuff, so I'm looking forward to having a truck that runs like new that I can tinker with other stuff and make it look nice. My girlfriend says she won't ride in it until I get the interior done. Can't say I blame her, that stock gas tank has been putting turpentine fumes out for 10 years...not sure how much I want to ride in it before the interior's done...what can you do.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

First pic set: blazer tank relocation

I went with the truck and car shop out of Orange CA. What a neat place! They have a store room with everything you could ever want for one of these trucks. The kit was pretty good, those straps and j-bolts are a total pain in the butt to get all working together. What I ended up doing was hooking the j-bolts through the straps and then sticking them up through the holes and reaching around to start the bolts. This is much easier than starting the bolts and getting the straps up to meet the bolts. The kit earns minus points for not having the holes drilled larger enough in the flange and reinforcements on the tank. You just have to drill 'em out, but hey, I hate drilling.

From the top. It came in handy to have the bed rotted out, pretty much the only way you could do it with the bed on and it was still a pain to reach around all that stuff to get the bolts started.
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From the sides now:

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Oh yeah: I love gravel, thorns and wasps.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Okay, here are some more random pictures from around the truck, unfortunately I didn't get a good picture of the new brake lines and all that jazz, but the engine bay just doesn't get old to me, so I'll throw up a couple more pics of that as well. I went with the pre-bent sets of lines from the truck and car shop in Orange as well. I think it was a good idea to go with the pre-bent, although threading them all up through the headers and around all that other stuff was a bit of a pain. Worked nicely in the end though, with everything running it its proper place.

sorry for the rotated pics, for some reason the uploader isn't keeping that part of the file intact; they look fine on my computer :(

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This last pic holds a special place. You see, when I was redoing the front drums, I struggled to get the bolt out that olds in the wheel cylinder, it is the bolt upon which all the springs and guts of the drums mount. I did however, manage to get them out. When I moved to the rear of the truck, I *assumed* that they would be the same. Idiot!!! So I began to work on getting off the same bolt for which all the spings mount. In the process, my socket slipped off the bolt and sheared off the stud itself. Try and find this thing at Napa! The clencher, as you might have figured out, is that the rear wheel cylinders are removed with a couple small bolts. The thing I was fighting did not even have to be removed; and I snapped it. Woo-hoo.

Thank goodness for the junkyard which happened to have 3 68-72 chevy pickups and the guy just went and grabbed a replacement for me. The bolt? Well it never came out under its own threads. I managed to loosen it a few turns and then I took it out the rest of the way using my best friend: el DeWalt reciprocating saw. I had to get a new nut for the back of the new one and everything else worked out fine. This whole ordeal set me back like 8 hours, from working to get the thing out of there. It's all about learning...and swearing.

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Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Note to Mods:
Should we move this thread to the build-up section? Shoot me a PM if you do, or whatever is the normal thing that you do. I"m cool either way.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Santa Cruz needs more of these trucks, Are you still headed this way?

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

I wanted more than anything to rock this truck around Santa Cruz, but unfortunately life moved me down to orange county :whine: It's not a bad gig, but it's not as cool as Santa Cruz.

Re: Project Jones--a different kind of build-up
 

Again: Worlds slowest build thread gets an update:
The truck is running! It moved under its own power for the first time since 1994 last weekend. It is getting the exhaust finished up (3"--boy the girlfriend will definitely not want to ride in this thing) and I ended up having it towed to a tranny shop to get it wired up. I can't believe I'm seeing some light. I have made mistakes at every possible turn of the road in this project, but I never quit! We'll see what that means when I comes time to enjoy it. Pictures to come in, oh, maybe the next month or two! Sorry, worst build ever, but it is more for my records than anything else...