New Here...Just purchased a 1970 Chevy C20 Camper Special

[fzttruckchick]

I just bought a Chevy C20 Camper Special off of Craigslist. It needs some work, of course and is a resto-project, but runs fairly well. This is my first project and I'm learning to do work on it as we go, dad and boyfriend are helping me.

So far, the only work I've done is: replaced some battery wiring, replaced the battery, and replaced the alternator belt. Today, I'm replacing the valve cover gaskets. I am having an issue with is starting still, and have heard it might be something to do with the carb. It has a holly carb on it right now. Any recommendations for replacing the carb? (What brand, etc?)

Anyway, here are some pics. Thanks in advance for comments and help.

[cheyenne shortstep]

Cool truck looks like a good start, I love the red interior. I must correct you it is a Custom Camper, Camper Specials were F&%ds.

[bigkountry]

Welcome to the site, looks like you have a very solid foundation to start with.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Welcome to he board from southern oregon.. Looks like a nice ride... What are your plans for the truck..

[Jaysonb]

Looks like a great truck. As for a new carb it's hard to beat a edelbrock 1406. Easy to tune, easy to rebuild, and generally run good out of the box.

[68350]

I spy a high hump so I'm guessing this has the 402 big block and turbo 400 trans? Personally, I love quadrajets, they are easy to work on and tune, and they get great mileage and are easy to start. I never had good luck with edelbrocks, they always had heat boiling issues for me. good luck with the truck, looks like a great project

[Duncan and son]

"As it was.. not as you wish it was". I also would stay with the quadrajet. Yours may be original.. if so I would have it rebuilt and stay with it.
BTW nice truck

[Sicklajoie]

Great Custom Camper! Welcome!

[Husker]

Great start there, nice truck. Welcome to the best place on the net.
Ron

[special-K]

Welcome! And,great Custom Camper. Pretty darn original.You don't see many white w/red interiors. I'd also rebuilt the Quadrajet. They are great carbs and hard to beat. Look how long they last! I just had one rebuilt for a fraction of what any replacement carb would cost.

[Lee H]

Love the White and Red color scheme.

[VA72C10]

Welcome to the board! Very nice truck!!!

[67swb72klb]

that red is cool int color looks like a solid start welcome from mi

[RenoKeene]

Welcome from Smokin Hot Florida (heat index 105-107 today).
Great truck! Still got the big block? Red on White, very cool.
How about some more pics...

[eagleuh1]

Where's a good place to get a Quadrajet rebuilt correctly? I did my own, but I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, and I think it needs it. Also, welcome to the wonderful world of Custom Campers, great looking truck.

[yuccales]

Good looking truck!

[cpisani70@aol.com]

Congrats on your purchase.I have the same truck only mine is a 71 and it is my daily driver if you have any questions about it let me know.
Posted via Mobile Device

[lil hoodlum]

from North Texas! I would drive that thing in a heart beat! Looks like a fun project. I've never had a quadrajet so I can't help you there. I have a edelbrock and they do run pretty good.

What issues are you having with the starting?

Keith

[fzttruckchick]

Ooops on calling is a Camper Special....should have looked at the emblems on the truck. It had the 402 replaced with a 350. Not sure what transmission is in it. Plans for it are to restore it to original, probably. I really want to paint it black but everyone is telling me to keep it original. Right now, I'm just working to replace the wiring and simple things to start. I have a list of things to check off, including a new radiator, new carb, update the brakes, and a bunch of other stuff that's slipping my mind at the moment. I am a little lost and maybe overwhelmed with the work that lies ahead, but excited too. I'm sure I'll be on here asking lots of questions and seeking advice. I'll post more pictures later this week.

[cpisani70@aol.com]

Someone already asked but what are the issues you are having with the Carb.Maybe it can be fixed instead of you buying a new one.Just a thought.
Posted via Mobile Device

[fzttruckchick]

It doesn't really like to start in the AM or if it's been sitting for a long time. I am not sure if this is the carb or something else. But it will only start if I spray the carb with carb spray. And, I'm assuming that's probably not really good for it, plus it's hard for me to rely on it starting so I can't use it as my daily driving till that's resolved. There are some other issues too which I'm working to figure out, like a humming/whining noise as I go down the highway, only when I'm going 55-60 mph. Dad thinks it's a rear gear? And apparently I need new motor mounts. Not sure what the contributes to (I'm learning here as I go, so I don't know the functions of much yet, so I'm sorry if I sound uneducated on the truck).

[BlackTopMotors]

Great truck! You'll get it figured out it just takes time to resolve...sometimes the fixes like the whine are resolved by draining and replacing the oil (not always but one step at a time).
.
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[dmack91]

Not trying to be a smart aleck, but if you aren't used to older carbs, you usually have to pump the pedal a couple of times for the choke to set and get enough fuel to start. So many people are spoiled with injected engines anymore, many haven't been exposed to carbs.

Enjoy the truck, they are a great vehicle to learn on.

[Longhorn Man]

dmack has a good point... you are probably used to late model stuff, have you been pumping the throttle a few times as you turn the key? It works like the rubber deal on the lawn mower, trying to get some gas in the carb so it'll have something to ignite when you try to fire it up.

[special-K]

Even if you know the proper starting procedure,it sounds like a choke issue by what you describe...no biggy

Don't be overwhelmed. Just take it one step at a time. Even if you want to totally restore it,right now you can address mechanical issues and not be wasting your time. Just get it starting,driving,and stopping properly and you're ahead no matter how far you go with it. You'll probably change your mind on keeping original colors and changing to this color or that 1,000 times before it happens. You can ponder that while you drive it down the road. It's best to let that marinade anyway.