'69 GMC Build Thread.

[samwise68]

well, another successgful day for the ol' girl, for the most part.

my dad drove it to work today, and he comes home for lunch. it made it there, back, there and back again. so, since it used about 3 gallons of gas, we're guessing about 15-18 mpg...but thats with a 20 min warm up time this morning.

the only hitch?

the starter doesn't want to kick in when it's cold. it'll just click. after enough key turns, it randomly turned over, and started. it did the same thing after work, when he was getting ready to come home. except that time he got a push from one of the guys at the shop.

so, i'm gonna post another trhead regarding a cold starter not engaging..or whatever. we're thinking its one of the two washers in the started not functioning...or something..-shrug-.

she's on the roazd. and thats what counts!

-Sam.

[samwise68]

well. not really much of an update.

the starter issue...i'm going to have to dive in to, which i'll do this weekend. at the moment, after a look over, some hammer tapping, and wire tightening, she clicked a couple times, then turned over.

after that, she's turned over since.

so..i'm really quite dumfounded.

the good news? i have a spare starter that i pulled tonight before i went to my night class. so, i'll bench test that tomorrow, and if need be, can throw that in the ol' girl.

it's nice to have her back. went through about 8 inches of snow with no weight in the bed, loaded 'er up with wood, backed ';er up to the basement without a hitch. not bad for a one wheeled wonder.

-Sam.

[clemson71guy]

glad to hear you got er back on the road
so lets see er in action.

[samwise68]

haha, will do Clemson.

some good news today - my dad's diagnoses of the starter issue was correct. the copper washer in the solenoid was welding itself to the positive battery wire bolt.

so, we flipped the washer over, so i it has a fresh face, and put it back together..andd...not a hitch.

so, thats a good thing.

i'll see if i can get some pics tomorrow. .

-Sam.

[1LoC10]

nice job

[samwise68]

hey, thanks man. i appreciate it.

-Sam.

[Palf70Step]

So where is the pics of this roaming, cruising beast Sam?

Glad she is moving for ya!!

[samwise68]

ok..ok...sheesh...

a demanding audience. .

tomorrow we plan on taking 'er to the gas station, the ol' girl is thirsty again. so, i'll take the camera. or try to remember, anyway. haha...getting forgetful in my old age. l

thanks again all.

-Sam.

[Bob 68327]

Originally Posted by samwise68

haha, will do Clemson.

some good news today - my dad's diagnoses of the starter issue was correct. the copper washer in the solenoid was welding itself to the positive battery wire bolt.

so, we flipped the washer over, so i it has a fresh face, and put it back together..andd...not a hitch.

so, thats a good thing.

i'll see if i can get some pics tomorrow. .

-Sam.

HMMM!!! I think I mentioned to start with solenoid in your starter thread !!! Glad to hear you got it going !!!!!! Bob

[samwise68]

haha, thanks again all.

as primised, some pics! i forgot the camera going to the gas station, but i remembered it today on the way to school.

So, here are some pics.



pic off the deck, idling, waiting for me.



angle cut pipe...it's ok for now...



got 'er up to 60...



with a straight road in front of me...



and leavin' 'em all behind.



and the ugly mug at the wheel of the ugly truck. we go grea together.

and...now for what i did today.

after driving it without a radio, or anything besides road noise, exhaust and the window open...

i decided to put a radio in.



the start of the plate.



marked and drilled, ready to start cutting.



installed.

it's not pretty. but, it's good enough for now. better than no music at all..

let's hear it!

-Sam.

[67_C-30]

Looking good man! I'm glad you got it back together!

[samwise68]

thanks man!

It's been an adventure, to say the least. but, ya know. i honestly wouldn't change a thing.

thanks again for following my thread so diligently, it's really helped when i got down and out and all that.

-Sam.

[Palf70Step]

Good job Sam....Although I suggest a much easier on the eyes driver, like a centerfold?

[67_C-30]

Not a problem. I just remember my dad and I building my Z28 when I was a little younger than you and how that as one of the best times of my life, especially now looking back. My dad doesn't mess with cars anymore and I guess your project with your dad takes me back to those memories. You already seem to have a great appreciation for what your dad has done for you, but trust me, it is nothing like it will be later down the road. Enjoy the the good times while they last, and keep that ol' GMC out of the ditches!!

[samwise68]

Bill -
I'll look into it. . i'd like to thank you, as well, for following the build and all that. it's indespensable to have support, and you guys kept me from staying stuck in the ditch, so to speak.

67 -
Thank you, sir. . i take that as a compliment. I can always buy more parts for the GMC, but time with my dad, well, not to be a bad credit card commercial, but that's priceless. .

Thanks again all.

-Sam.

[Kager67]

I went back and looked at your first post and compared it to your last. I think that is awesome! Don't you feel sorry for the schmuck you park next to at school who wrote a check for his vehicle, and probably can't even change his own tire. Survival of the fittest I say. Good job!

Kage

[samwise68]

Thanks Kage!

I know sooo many people who are juggling paying for college, plus car payments, insurance, etc. plus when something breaks, they get to spend a grand to have a mechanic change a sensor.

yup. i'm glad to be driving my old ugly loud pickup. .

thanks again all.

-Sam.

[Bob 68327]

lookin' good Sam !!!!!!!!!!!!

[samwise68]

thanks Bob!

She's holdin' her own in the snow and cold. and the looks i get, are simply priceless.

-Sam.

[samwise68]

Well.

hit another bump in the road today. i was coming home after a later class and talking to my professor, and went to down shift into first while rolling up to a stop light, and *ping*! my shifter went floppy.

so, luckily it must've been in 3rd gear, dropped into third gear, so i was able to run it down the highway just fine. just kinda burnt on the clutch a bit trying to start out in 3rd at stop lights...ok. alot. it smelt something awful.

so. i'm going to do some searches, to see if i can find some info on it. my dad and i have a general idea, since it's all pins and linkage in the column.

so, we're going to tear into it saturday. but if anyone has any ideas, lemme know. that'd be great.

oh. side note. theres a guy that drive an older ford..umm...ok. i'm no good with Ford years, but he parked his pickup next to mine in the parking lot, and it kinda made me laugh. because among all of these new cars, covered in plastic, were two old vintage trucks. not the prettiest. but still livin' on. i drove away with a smile.

...before my shifter left. haha.

thats about it for today.

-Sam.

[samwise68]

alright. good news!

the shifter is fixed, and totally operable.

the little knob at the end of the lever just...broke off.

so, we welded it back on. and,...that was that, basically. lol.

unfortunately, i don't have any pics, since the batteries in my camera died out on me.

also.

my parents decided to buy me a stereo set up. so, i'm now the proud owner of...well...this.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...e123187-rLink5

is it glamorous, fancy, or expensive? no. but! it's better than my awesome Sanyo cassette player, and single speaker zip tied to the floor mat. yeah, that was a kickin' system.

so, tomorrow, Dad and I plan on getting that thrown in to the ol' girl.

we built boxes tonight for the 6x9's, and are deliberating shoving the 2 6's in the stock location.

we;'ll see what happens. and i'll keep you all posted.

-Sam.

[Bob 68327]

Keep pluggin away at it Sam !!!!! With any luck I will get a motor put back together for my truck and be drivin it too !!! Untill then I have envy !!!!! Bob

[samwise68]

thanks Bob!

Keep givin' 'er on your motor man, she's gonna be a screamer yet!

and, a small update.

i officially have a decent stereo! wooO!

for now, i just have 2 6x9's, boxed up under the seat, and we're looking at putting the 2 6's left over in the stock spot. we're thinking it'll work, just have to take the blove box out to get the speaker assembly over there.

but yes.

and now the pics.





and there she is!

i know it's not stock, but, it sounds pretty good. lol.

we made the plate out of a chunk of aluminum diamond plate a neighbor gave us a while back. and, i think it looks pretty decent.

i should've took pics during the plate fabrication process. but, alas, i didn't. it was the whole drill 4 holes. cut out roughly, use a file to make precise...assemble.

but yes.

thats where she is now. tomorrow, i'll have some good tunage while driving to school.

now i just have to decide what band i want to listen too.

any suggestions? lol

-Sam.

[clemson71guy]

man that looks great...one question tho on the radio, did you buy a harness to hook the radio up or does it plug up to the stock one?

[samwise68]

stock..harness....? haha. .

it came with a plug in, for the head unit, and then just wires coming out of it, for power, memory power, and then circuits for the 4 speakers that came with the whole set up.

so, we just wired it up...spade connects on the fuse block...soldering the wires together..etc etc.

i hope maybe that answers your Q? lol.

thanks for the compliment man, i appreciate it.

-Sam.