Green Gus the 68 shortbed convert

[hewittca]

Originally Posted by GR8-68

Well, at least you know what you have now This truck should glide down the road good now after this rebuild.

That is very true. I've known something was wrong with it for a while now but it is actually good to know what it was and that I can fix it.

Originally Posted by rusty76

I will ask are just keeping the powerglide for keeping sake or do just don't want to deal with a three or four speed auto? I'm just curious. Another gear might be nice.

One of the things that I really liked about this truck was its originality. Although I've now cut it up and put wheels on it, I'm still trying to maintain the original styling and equipment it had. The 307/powerglide combo is plenty of power and pickup for me, so I want to try and preserve those original aspects of the truck. I've had pretty much every other popular GM transmission in the past and I can't say that I like those any better than this powerglide. I've got the powerglide already, so why not?

[rusty76]

Boy I just read what I posted and makes me sound like a pirate. Lol. That's cool by me. I figured it was an originality thing. Still kool either way. Thanks.

[hewittca]

Originally Posted by rusty76

Boy I just read what I posted and makes me sound like a pirate. Lol. That's cool by me. I figured it was an originality thing. Still kool either way. Thanks.

No problem! I am always curious too about certain decisions people make on their build. Most times, reality dictates my build. Sure, I'd love to drop in a turbo LS w/ 4L60E, but my budget says I need to rebuild this powerglide and tune up the ol' 307.

[hewittca]

I'm not normally one to name my vehicles. Usually I just refer to my projects as what they were/are: the Malibu, the Beetle, the truck. But, I think I found a working name for my truck since naming your project seems to be the in thing. My son got a new book called Truck Stop and one of the trucks in the story is an old green pickup called Green Gus. My son was quick to point out that it looked like my truck, so I think I'll go with that. I'll still refer to it as "the truck" but if someone asks, his name is Green Gus.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by hewittca

No problem! I am always curious too about certain decisions people make on their build. Most times, reality dictates my build. Sure, I'd love to drop in a turbo LS w/ 4L60E, but my budget says I need to rebuild this powerglide and tune up the ol' 307.

Both feet flat on the ground ain't a bad way to live brother. We can't all be Top Gun pilots.....

I like it. Gus works.

[GR8-68]

I love it hello Green Gus, fits it well

[rusty76]

Green Gus it is.

[hewittca]

I haven't had a chance to work on the truck this past week since it's at my dad's house, so in the meantime I've been trying to clean out my garage from all the left over parts and pieces I have from the shortbed conversion. I was hanging onto the bed floor pieces because I didn't really want to just scrap them, and I finally thought about building a shelf out of them. I just used some 2x4s for supports to see how it would work out, but I like it enough that I may make some more appropriate metal brackets.

[flashed]

Very creative ,I like it .

[GR8-68]

cool idea, do you have any other recovered parts you could make brackets from ?

[zicc1835]

great idea!

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by GR8-68

cool idea, do you have any other recovered parts you could make brackets from ?

I agree brackets make from parts from either this project or another project would look awesome!!

[hewittca]

Originally Posted by GR8-68

cool idea, do you have any other recovered parts you could make brackets from ?

That's a great idea. I'll have to see if I have anything I can use for this.

[flashed]

Got any old hood hinges you could put under there ?

[hewittca]

Originally Posted by flashed

Got any old hood hinges you could put under there ?

I don't, but that is a good idea. I will eventually swap to the Porterbuilt hood hinges, so when I do I guess I have something I can use my old hinges for. I'll have to find a way to make them more structural though. Maybe I'll just weld them solid in the open position.

[hewittca]

And the hole keeps getting deeper... Since I had the trans out and relatively easy access to the pan and rear main seal, I figured it would be a good time to finally deal with the decent oil leak I had. The bottom end looked good and the rear seal was a breeze to replace (after all the other junk was out of the way, of course).





All was going well until I lifted the oil pump up to put it back in place. That's when a handful of broken timing gear teeth fell out of the catch screen on the pump. The pickup was literally packed with pieces.



It was getting late at this point and I did not have the motivation to pull the timing cover yet, but I can only imagine what the gear looks like. After seeing the condition of the clutches in the transmission and timing gear teeth in the pan, I am amazed that this truck ran so smoothly for the first year that I had it. On the bright side, it turned out to be a saving grace that I decided to go the extra step during this trans rebuild and take care of the oil leaks as well.

[preacher anthony]

Glad you found it!

[67ChevyRedneck]

With that much in the pan, it's likely the remnants of an old failure that's been repaired/replaced but they never cleaned the pan out. I can't see it running at all with that much material missing?

[hewittca]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

With that much in the pan, it's likely the remnants of an old failure that's been repaired/replaced but they never cleaned the pan out. I can't see it running at all with that much material missing?

That's kinda what I was thinking too, but there is also a fair amount of play in the crank. At this point, it's peace of mind to follow through with the only evidence I have so far and just put in a new timing set.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by hewittca

That's kinda what I was thinking too, but there is also a fair amount of play in the crank. At this point, it's peace of mind to follow through with the only evidence I have so far and just put in a new timing set.

x2. Definitely do an inspection.

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by hewittca

I don't, but that is a good idea. I will eventually swap to the Porterbuilt hood hinges, so when I do I guess I have something I can use my old hinges for. I'll have to find a way to make them more structural though. Maybe I'll just weld them solid in the open position.

I really would just take a tack or two, those hood hinge springs are pretty stout, and would take a lot of weight on that shelf to close them.

Sorry to hear that you have to dig further into the motor, really sucks when a simple project turns into an all day deal, or in this case a multi-day project.

[rusty76]

Eons ago I was on my way to work when I went to pull out at a stop light. As soon as I gave it gas it just stopped. I tried start it, nothing. So I seen two workers for the city and got them to help me push it across Hwy 150(up hill the way I came). Walked back home in the dark about three miles, no cell phones. Next went and fetched my truck up. Got it to the house pulled distributor cap and turned engine over. Rotor didn't rotate. Crap. Maybe a broken cam, maybe a timing chain. Pulled front cover and found the cam gear totally sheared off. Replaced gear stuck it backed together drove it for many years. Then decided to rebuild the motor. Pulled oil pan and there was all the teeth on top of the oil pump pickup. Oops. My buddy couldn't believe it but honestly that motor ran super smooth. Too smooth. Oh well. Good luck. Hope all works out well.

[hewittca]

Originally Posted by rusty76

Eons ago I was on my way to work when I went to pull out at a stop light. As soon as I gave it gas it just stopped. I tried start it, nothing. So I seen two workers for the city and got them to help me push it across Hwy 150(up hill the way I came). Walked back home in the dark about three miles, no cell phones. Next went and fetched my truck up. Got it to the house pulled distributor cap and turned engine over. Rotor didn't rotate. Crap. Maybe a broken cam, maybe a timing chain. Pulled front cover and found the cam gear totally sheared off. Replaced gear stuck it backed together drove it for many years. Then decided to rebuild the motor. Pulled oil pan and there was all the teeth on top of the oil pump pickup. Oops. My buddy couldn't believe it but honestly that motor ran super smooth. Too smooth. Oh well. Good luck. Hope all works out well.

Good old 150. I used to live right off 150 in Denver. Now I take 150/421 for a short way to get to work in Winston Salem. Anyway, after seeing the pump packed with teeth, I too was amazed that my engine had any oil pressure at all!

[rusty76]

I grew up and lived in Winston. 150 is now called Peterscreek. I still call it 150. Drive it every day. Do you think you'll have the truck up and going by the 22nd of May? If so there's a really cool car show on May 22nd at the America's Children's Home in Lexington. It's a cool show and a good cause. My wife and I will be working at the show. Thought I'd kick out an invitation.

[hewittca]

Originally Posted by rusty76

I grew up and lived in Winston. 150 is now called Peterscreek. I still call it 150. Drive it every day. Do you think you'll have the truck up and going by the 22nd of May? If so there's a really cool car show on May 22nd at the America's Children's Home in Lexington. It's a cool show and a good cause. My wife and I will be working at the show. Thought I'd kick out an invitation.

I really wish I could have it done by then, but it's not likely. This weekend I'm busy with Mother's Day plans, and next weekend I plan on finally getting back to the transmission rebuild. Once she's running again, it's straight back to paint. I'm really aiming for the June Kannapolis cruise in as my first outing in the truck, but realistically it will probably be July.