Sooo, I finally got me an old truck - AKC's 1968 C30

[AKC]

OK, got it. I thought the fronts would be biased more, but again, it's been a while since I've messed with this stuff. Thanks!

[Katrina/10]

That valve also contains a piston to separate your front brake system from the rear in case of a leak. There should be a wire connected to the bottom for the brake warning lamp in the dash.

[AKC]

I'm not of a mind to replace the decking on the bed, at least not for a while. It's not in awful shape, but it ain't great either. I'm thinking a good washing and some treatment with something. I'm not too impressed with my previous experiences with Thompson's, any suggestions for wood treatment? Just to keep it going for a while...

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[Sicksty8]

I'm totally diggin the project!! reminds me a lot of mine but it looks like it works a bit better Keep on givin' er

[AKC]

OK - A few quarts of whatever's cheap (maybe a nice straight-weight) cut with some mineral spirits and a fairly stiff brush...

[AKC]

Got a few things done today...

Removed most of the old glue from the dash. (and some of the paint...)

Before
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After
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I tried a little on the dash pad, it's coming off. So is the layer of paint that's on there. And the top of the old vinyl. Besides, it's so fried and brittle and cracked, it's just not worth the time and effort. I'll get a new one.

I tried a little on the door panels, but didn't want to get sidetracked. I'll get to them. In the meantime, I figured since they already had some holes butched into them for some sash pulls(?), some new pulls would look better than holes.

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I had been wondering why the register controls looked so "off-angle", discovered the control assembly had completely pulled off the rivets of the fascia. Great.

OK, I'll just drill some through holes at the rivets and use some screws and nuts to get it back together. Now, to get the fascia off. I know the levers are actually fairly delicate, so I carefully rocked the first knob off. That went well. Next knob. Felt like it was rocking off, nah, that was the lever letting go. Crap. Oh well, let's get the last one off. OK, it's rocking (and so is the lever) there goes that one too. Turns out they had epoxied the knobs back on after the upholstery job. They weren't going anywhere. The first one coming off was a fluke. So now I'll be looking for a new register control assembly. Bet those are easy to find...

So I got it put back together and reinstalled. Things can still be operated, just not easily. Got rid of the remainder of the old stereo wiring. There's other wiring stuff to be dealt with at a later date.

I did get lucky with an age/wear/condition appropriate shift knob with the correct shift pattern on the 'bay. Looked like it was 3/8-24 and it was. Just needed a new jam nut, the old one had some sharp spots from previous wrench slips. That's better.

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I had planned to swap the seats out, but the register controls took a little time away, I was running out of daylight and I didn't want to rush. Besides, I think I'll be wanting to get a cover for it first. "You just haaaad to have black vinyl."

So I decided to set the new vent handles instead.

Before
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After
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So, some progress, little things while I plan out getting the mechanicals in order. I now know that it has a crate 350, an SM465 trans and the Eaton H072 rear axle, thanks to the board. (You folks)

Baby steps, baby steps...

[Redline novdog]

Looking good!
Just an FYI you can buy just the levers and knobs from some of the vendors . I had to replace mine on the '67 PO broke all them off! Think I got mine from Manes.

[Katrina/10]

Nice work. Looks so much better!

[AKC]

Originally Posted by Redline novdog

Looking good!
Just an FYI you can buy just the levers and knobs from some of the vendors . I had to replace mine on the '67 PO broke all them off! Think I got mine from Manes.

Thanks! That's nice to know, I figured someone must have them.

Originally Posted by Katrina/10

Nice work. Looks so much better!

Thanks! I thought if I didn't have to look at so much ugly, it'd be easier to keep going.

I debated with myself regarding holes or pulls, I ended up deciding on the pulls for the main reason of having something else to pull to door closed with than the crank or latch handle. I think that's why the left door remote is kinda wobbly, it's been used as a pull too much. And it looks better than holes. I think...

[Katrina/10]

Yes, those doors are hard to close with no armrests. I'd add the armrests and take the pulls off eventually.

[AKC]

Originally Posted by Katrina/10

Yes, those doors are hard to close with no armrests. I'd add the armrests and take the pulls off eventually.

Thanks. Most likely, I'll end up replacing the door panels too, if it's not too expensive to do so. We'll see...

[AKC]

Oooooh, lookout! Last of the big spenders here...

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It needed to be replaced, it wasn't staying on the posts too well, it was wearing thin at the contact point and was still a bit of a mess after the oil spill.

I'm so easily amused...

[AKC]

Another productive Sunday...

Took it out to the wash rack at the base yesterday, their nozzles are almost pressure washer force. Didn't mind my muzzle a couple times and swiped the stakes. White paint flakes every where! Here it is, still a little damp.

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The cleaning went well. The bed is about as clean as it's getting. Got home and let it bake in the sun for the rest of the day. So of course, last night was the dampest it's been in a while, humidity actually got up to 65%!

While the sun did it's thing, I did some running around. You know, the vagaries of life. But I did stop at Fulkerson's and picked up ingredients for some old school "wood preservative" - 3:1 30w/mineral spirits, couple of cheap chip brushes, and a clean gallon can. I got enough to make two batches. $58.55 total.

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Got up this morning and got to it. The "goop" fills the can right to the top, stir slowly. And while I stopped smoking years ago, I'll add the caveat here - NO SMOKING! - while using this stuff. Put the first coat on, it actually fizzed a little at first, the wood was so thirsty. Here's the bed right after the first coat.

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Even though, I still had a 1/3 of a can left after laying it down. I figured it'd take a second coat today, so I did a couple other things while it dried/soaked in for a bit.

The drive out to the base convinced me that I really hated the seat. It's blue velvet/blue naugahyde, shoves me into the door and has me offset to the controls. "Put the new seat in..."

Out the old seat comes, and while it's out (and since the tank was down to about a 1/4) let's unbolt the tank and change out the filler neck grommet.

The old grommet

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The new grommet

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Well, that was fast and painless. Really. Honest.

Put the new seat in, (I'm glad I'm fairly strong, I'm by myself here) all the mount holes lined up perfectly(?) and bolted in good and proper.

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Great jumpin' Jehosephat that's better! I'm actually behind the wheel now, away from the door and centered on the controls. I'll just pick up a cover to protect it. I did lose the stowage spot for the sunscreen behind the passenger headrest, I'll live.

It's been a few hours or so, let's check on the bed...

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It's lightened up quite a bit and already looking a little dry in a few spots. Second coat time. The 1/3 of a can of goop I had left actually did almost the entire bed. I had to mix up the second batch to do the last run at the back.

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I did some cleaning up, took some pics of the old seat (it's CL fodder, I don't think anybody here would be interested), spent a little time looking at what it takes to remove the cowl to get the wipers going again, popped the hood and stared at things a bit, made a mental note to pull the belt when I got it parked back at the RV lot. (Quite frankly, I'm surprised it hadn't popped on me already, it's fairly fried)

Got the old seat covered up so it doesn't get totally coated with cat hair, tidied up in the garage (a little) and got ready to drive it back to it's spot.

Last look at the bed

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I'll give it a few weeks to soak in and distribute, then I'll probably use the rest of the goop for a couple more coats. That should keep the bed going for a while, I'm not planning on replacing it anytime soon. It's going to be an interesting job, all the planks are oak tongue-in-groove. And maybe the fasteners will come out a little easier when I do, those that still have heads that is.

Off to park it... but...

One last look at the new seat. Oh joy!

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I'm starting to like these "Truck Sundays"...

[sduckworth13]

Nice work! The seat looks great!

[AKC]

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Nice work! The seat looks great!

Thanks! I'm chuffed!...

[swclassics]

Looking better every week!

[AKC]

Originally Posted by swclassics

Looking better every week!

Thanks!

[AKC]

I dozed off in the chair this evening.

I've still been seeking the inspiration for a name, truck's gotta have a name.

I woke up to a blues tune, with references to "having an angel on my shoulder" and realized that's where the wife has been these past couple of years.

As I was reasonably certain "Angel" would already be taken for a B/Y plate, I fell back to the Hawaiian spelling. It's where I grew up, and where we met.

And it was available.

So, 'Anela it is.

[AKC]

Question for my CA bretheren - 'Anela is registered "Commercial." I really have no intention of using her in a business sense. Do I just go to the DMV and state so, and have it changed to "Automobile"?

The annual registration is $270, I'm pretty sure the automobile rate will be lower.

03-17-2016 - Update on this one. Fella that had the bed tool boxes I go check out later on here knew about this. One used to be able to change the reg from "Commercial" to "Automobile" by placing a shell on the back of your truck. That "out" no longer applies, and wouldn't work for 'Anela anyway. Pretty much once it's registered "Commercial", that's what it will be. For good.

Now, if one has a "Disabled" plate or placard, the DMV will do it for one vehicle. Had one for the wife, but it was turned in after she passed.

I suppose I could look into "Historical Vehicle" plates, but they're very limiting on how much you're allowed to drive the vehicle.

There may be other options I haven't explored yet...

[AKC]

New fan belt - check.

And I also have to ask - Is it at all unusual that there are no rear shocks installed? I don't even see any rear mounts, upper or lower.

[flashed]

My 1 ton does not have rear shocks or mounts either so I think its pretty common .

[cooperhw]

Nice 68 C30 you got there. Might have rolled off the assembly line near my 68 C30. Mine was delivered with a 327 to Open Road who made a motor home out of it.
Anyhow, really cool to see another C30 getting saved.

[Sicksty8]

Yeah mine doesn't have any shock mounts either. It seems to ride pretty good without them anyway

[AKC]

Originally Posted by flashed

My 1 ton does not have rear shocks or mounts either so I think its pretty common .

OK, thanks.

Originally Posted by cooperhw

Nice 68 C30 you got there. Might have rolled off the assembly line near my 68 C30. Mine was delivered with a 327 to Open Road who made a motor home out of it.
Anyhow, really cool to see another C30 getting saved.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Sicksty8

Yeah mine doesn't have any shock mounts either. It seems to ride pretty good without them anyway

As does mine, I just wondered if I was missing something.

[AKC]

As an aside, it occurred to me this morning as I drove to work if one rearranges "Anela" by transposing the n and l, it's my name in Hawaiian as well.

Kismet...