Restoring Rusty

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by MikeB

Just shot this photo of my truck's gauges, and just had to brag on my cell phone holder and USB charger.

What? Blasphemy! good thing that thing folds up, ha ha - no seriously super nice, I think my USB port [thank you Mopar Seth for getting it for me] has been laying in my toolbox for 4 years now and the closest it came to getting installed was me twisting some alligator clips to it once and taking it camping with us then cracking the hood open slightly on the truck and hooking it up directly to the battery and giving all the kids an iPhone charging kiosk if they brought me a beer out of the cooler, so I wouldn't have to git up

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Gregski

Thanks Mike, I love that stick thang poking out of the floor...

Yeah, it was fun rowing through the gears on that Muncie just like when I was a kid. Better yet was the price: free + the cost of an overhaul kit in exchange for me prepping the seller's block at a buddy's machine shop.

I actually converted the car from a perfectly good TH350 that some PO had installed many years before. I probably saved more than 100 lb including the weight of the trans, T/C, cooler, and fluid. Sold the trans, related parts, and B&M shifter for around $250 as I recall, which paid for a used bell housing and flywheel, clutch pedal kit, and new pressure plate and disc. So it was pretty close to a net zero$$ conversion. Wish I had more of those those projects.

[Gregski]

had a little time to show Rusty some love today, been meaning to install some loop hooks on the bed ever since I took off the rusty OG ones which were mounted on the outside (very practical not very asthetical) and we're all about form over function at Damage Inc. Garage

I tried to get these 3/8ths hooks on Amazon but finally got 'em at ACE Hardware - I think they was like .97 cents a piece

so off with the two remaining old ones and on with the new six pack

there were six holes already drilled on top of the bed rails so I just had to enlarge them slightly and I tapped them, I figure I would screw these hooks in from the bottom, decapitate the shafts that stick out, and welderize them to make the new owners life a little bit more exciting if he ever considers removing them, ha ha

I doubled up on the nuts to make them hang a bit lower below the side lip

[Gregski]

as I was wire wheeling the zinctoniam off of the tip of the threads I considered painting them black, hewk powder coating even, but then I pushed those silly ambitious thoughts right out of my head ~ Porgress Not Perfection is the new black!

[Gregski]

couple bird poops later, and the hooks were in

[Gregski]

and with the hooks installed it was time to go fetch some lumber for our next project... Truck Doing Truck Things!

... and the hooks worked great! no problems to report, ha ha

[texxxan]

Two sweet projects at one time. Now I know there are no excuses.

[Wgesnerjr]

"and welderize them to make the new owners life a little bit more exciting if he ever considers removing them, ha ha"

So am i reading this right? Rusty is looking for a new home?

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Wgesnerjr

"and welderize them to make the new owners life a little bit more exciting if he ever considers removing them, ha ha"

So am i reading this right? Rusty is looking for a new home?

Thanks for asking Jay, unfortunately that was the plan before the pandemic, I just need to install the Autometer gauges in it (a $1,000 value for sure) and have the original bench seat with new foam reupholstered professionally (sowing is on the short list of things I don't do) it breaks my heart, but I somehow own three trucks now Rusty '74, Dusty, '71, and Busty a '54 so I'm spread way too thin and I wish I had the space aka the property to keep them all, but Dusty has been tucked away at my mamas house for about a year and that aint fair to her. 100% of the proceeds from the sale will go to buy my kids a car they can share, one is 18 the other 15 soon to be 16.

[rgunlock]

As for your bench seat, you wouldn't have to sew anything and still do it yourself. You've done everything else, surely buying a premade cover and using hogring plyers isn't too intimidating Might have to replace some broken springs and repair or replace some foam, but its all available out there.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

As for your bench seat, you wouldn't have to sew anything and still do it yourself. You've done everything else, surely buying a premade cover and using hogring plyers isn't too intimidating Might have to replace some broken springs and repair or replace some foam, but its all available out there.

Thanks Rick, I am not a big fan of pleather, and prefer cloth, strange I know, so I don't know if there are any cloth seat covers, and I've done the bucket seats on my '71 myself and no thank you, it's like replacing your own windshield or tires, I leave that to the pros, ha ha, I appreciate you trying to help.

[kmswi]

I wish I would of thought to install those eyelets like that on mine !!!

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by kmswi

I wish I would of thought to install those eyelets like that on mine !!!

thanks, it's Gangstah!

[hatzie]

I'd ask TKCR about it and read her bench seat thread.
This is post 143 of that thread.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=143
The second seat in that bunch would go well with your green interior.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by hatzie

I'd ask TKCR about it and read her bench seat thread.
This is post 143 of that thread.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=143
The second seat in that bunch would go well with your green interior.

I swear I'm gonna have to call you Radar! Well done mate, you always come through.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Gregski

and with the hooks installed it was time to go fetch some lumber for our next project... Truck Doing Truck Things!

... and the hooks worked great! no problems to report, ha ha

Heavy load ya got there!

I did something similar with my last truck, but installed 3/8" stainless eye bolts in each corner of the bed floor, reinforced by a thick flat washer on the bottom of the bed.

[texxxan]

My mom always said that if I was too quiet, I was up to no good.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by texxxan

My mom always said that if I was too quiet, I was up to no good.

OMG... I'm so busted! you have no idea what I have brewing (I will PM you) plus it's 4:00 am and I am already up planning

[texxxan]

What tangled webs we weave...

[Gregski]

not funny !!!

this one sprung a pin hole leak right above the water line by the inlet on the driver side, I could hear it hissing under pressure when I tried to pump it up with a test pump (a total must have tool) but could not see any moisture coming out nor could I build up any PSI, even tried the Windex look for bubbles trick, so I got mad, yanked it out and tested it in my organic hydro radiator testing facility - and we saw tiny little bubbles, just enough to cause a small leak that would cause me to overheat once every two weeks or so (most of the time in the In N Out drive through, ha ha)

3rd brand new radiator in six years !

November 3rd 2016 installed Northern aluminum one off of AMAZON for $271, post #4983

December 16th, 2017 (only one year later) bought a Chinese plastic one called Rad Cool for $114 from a local mom and pop radiator shop, post #5333

and now this one from NAPA for $125

[blazer2007]

Hope it works I have to go to NAPA for a new one. I bought one for my 89 jeep 5yrs now maybe longer from NAPA and still good

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by blazer2007

Hope it works I have to go to NAPA for a new one. I bought one for my 89 jeep 5yrs now maybe longer from NAPA and still good

Ditto, one thing I noticed is that NAPA's parts aint what they used to be, it seems every retailer is under some self imposed mandate to built it cheaper and faster, and you know what they say: “Fast, Cheap or Good? Pick Two.”

[MikeB]

Guess I've been lucky. Around 5-6 years ago, I bought a "Murray" radiator that looks like yours from O'Reilly Auto Parts for around $130. Mine is the small one (17" x 28-1/4" x 1-1/4"), but it keeps my 355 below 190 deg even on very hot days. Looks to be the same thing as a "Spectra Premium" at Rock Auto for $104 + shipping.

Haven't had any issues with mine, but I bought it locally for the lifetime warranty if it does fail.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by MikeB

Guess I've been lucky. Around 5-6 years ago, I bought a "Murray" radiator that looks like yours from O'Reilly Auto Parts for around $130. Mine is the small one (17" x 28-1/4" x 1-1/4"), but it keeps my 355 below 190 deg even on very hot days. Looks to be the same thing as a "Spectra Premium" at Rock Auto for $104 + shipping.

Haven't had any issues with mine, but I bought it locally for the lifetime warranty if it does fail.

Sounds like it, smart man!

[Gregski]

... and order in the Universe has been restored

the PCM now reads 192° F relying on the sending unit at the front of the driver cylinder head, aka the stock location

and my aftermarked Intelitronix digital gauge reads 190° F relying on the sending unit in the back of the passenger cylinder head, as a backup location