Newbie thinking about diving into a '65 GMC 1000

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Marshy

Damn, that is in nice shape. Congrats on your buy. A truck in that kind of shape (no rust!) would easily sell for $5-6K.

Thanks for the encouragement, because every time I look at this thing I see a new thing I want to fix and I am feeling a bit over my head. The big question mark for me is doing the body work to straighten out the various dented panels. I've never done any kind of work w/ sheet metal.

But first, I want to just get everything running and road worthy, which I feel much more comfortable with.

[Marshy]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

Thanks for the encouragement, because every time I look at this thing I see a new thing I want to fix and I am feeling a bit over my head. The big question mark for me is doing the body work to straighten out the various dented panels. I've never done any kind of work w/ sheet metal.

But first, I want to just get everything running and road worthy, which I feel much more comfortable with.

What are your goals for it? I've been keeping my eyes out for a new project truck and while I really want a 55-57, some of the early 60's trucks are nice too.

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Marshy

What are your goals for it? I've been keeping my eyes out for a new project truck and while I really want a 55-57, some of the early 60's trucks are nice too.

My goal is to have a functional 'daily driver' truck that looks good and has some character. I want to keep things stock as much as possible.

A secondary goal is to just learn as much as I can about the repair, care, and maintenance of an old vehicle. I enjoy fixing things with my hands, and don't really get to do that for my career, so this is also a hobby for me.

[TJ's Chevy]

Lot has gone on that I have missed out on! Glad ya got it going, I'll check out the video when I get back from work. haha Glad your also keeping it stock. As a gmc owner myself it's pretty rare to see them left alone and not done like the rest of their chevy brothers. Here's a neat book I found on Ebay if your interested. Planning on getting it really soon:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-1961-GM...tT2uEn&vxp=mtr

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Lot has gone on that I have missed out on! Glad ya got it going, I'll check out the video when I get back from work. haha Glad your also keeping it stock. As a gmc owner myself it's pretty rare to see them left alone and not done like the rest of their chevy brothers. Here's a neat book I found on Ebay if your interested. Planning on getting it really soon:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-1961-GM...tT2uEn&vxp=mtr

I recently bought a PDF version of the 1965 GMC truck maintenance manual. It's already been pretty helpful.

[Praxiss454]

Took her for the first spin around the block tonight. She seemed pretty cold blooded, hopefully it's just her sweeping the cobwebs out. She idles pretty nice, but the gas pedal is awfully sensitive, and if I don't go nice and smooth, she dies out.

Hard to tell, but this is her first maneuver under her own power since I brought her home.

[Marshy]

Did you give it any type of tune up? Plugs, wires, points? What's your timing set at? Do you have a timing light?

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Marshy

Did you give it any type of tune up? Plugs, wires, points? What's your timing set at? Do you have a timing light?

I've checked the plugs, wires, and points and they all looked good, but I did not check the gaps or point openings because I didn't have a feeler gauge with me. Haven't checked the timing yet but my manual says to set it to 4 degrees BUDC. I do not own a timing light (yet).

[Captainfab]

Even though the plugs, wires and points look good, it wouldn't hurt to replace then in doing a good old tune up. The points , condenser, cap, rotor, plugs and wires, as well as a fuel filter plus a oil and filter change. You might be surprised what a difference those things will make.....when installed correctly.

[jtrichard]

Sounds like the accelerator pump is not working " if I don't go nice and smooth, she dies out."

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

Sounds like the accelerator pump is not working " if I don't go nice and smooth, she dies out."

It is possible I didn't hook up the springs correctly when installing the remanufactured carb the other day. I am having a hard time finding a picture of correct carb installation including all the springs and where they hook onto the throttle linkage and carb.

I'll take a picture of my installation when I get home from work tonight.

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

It is possible I didn't hook up the springs correctly when installing the remanufactured carb the other day. I am having a hard time finding a picture of correct carb installation including all the springs and where they hook onto the throttle linkage and carb.

I'll take a picture of my installation when I get home from work tonight.

Here is one of the springs that doesn't make any sense to me. The old carb had the spring hooked up to throttle shaft in this fashion but the spring sort of loops around the carb and is just hooked over the fuel line. From the illustrations and manuals I've seen, this spring shouldn't even be there?

[jtrichard]

NOT sure where the springs hook on a 6 but you can check the accelerator pump WITH engine OFF ..look down the inside of carb work the linkage with your hand to full throttle and hold it there for a second and there should be a stream of gas spray into carb... THE other thing that will make them stumble on take off is the vacuum advance on the distributor with CAP off pull vacuum hose off carb stick it in your mouth (if you don't have a hand pump) suck on it and watch the rotor it should move once it moves place your tongue over the end of hose to hold vacuum (very tasty LOL) if it don't stay or does not move you need a new vacuum advance there is also a mechanical advance in the distributor to

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

NOT sure where the springs hook on a 6 but you can check the accelerator pump WITH engine OFF ..look down the inside of carb work the linkage with your hand to full throttle and hold it there for a second and there should be a stream of gas spray into carb... THE other thing that will make them stumble on take off is the vacuum advance on the distributor with CAP off pull vacuum hose off carb stick it in your mouth (if you don't have a hand pump) suck on it and watch the rotor it should move once it moves place your tongue over the end of hose to hold vacuum (very tasty LOL) if it don't stay or does not move you need a new vacuum advance there is also a mechanical advance in the distributor to

Looks like this video illustrates what you're talking about with regard to the accelerator pump spraying some gas: https://youtu.be/bb_m4c3xS7A In my shop manual this is referred to as the Pump Plunger Assy.

I plan on testing the vacuum advance this week as well.

[jtrichard]

Here is a carb accelerator pump test watch first 18 sec. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I319vj9ktSwa ... I had a brain fart when i said the rotor would move.... the vacuum advance only moves the point plate ...The mechanical advance moves the rotor here is video on vacuum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3TdDGzo_Ig And here is one on mechanical https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxgmCXeIVZo

[Praxiss454]

The vacuum advance checks out when I suck on the tube from the carb to the distributor, and the accelerator pump does in fact squirt a bit of fuel into the carb chamber. It is not quite a jet stream like shown in the video, more like a dribble. Not sure if that matters.

[Marshy]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

Here is one of the springs that doesn't make any sense to me. The old carb had the spring hooked up to throttle shaft in this fashion but the spring sort of loops around the carb and is just hooked over the fuel line. From the illustrations and manuals I've seen, this spring shouldn't even be there?

For sure, that spring does not belong there. Look in the lower right hand corner of your picture and you can see a spring. That looks more correct to me than what you have there. I don't know where it's supposed to go but that other spring looks at home to me.

[Marshy]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

The vacuum advance checks out when I suck on the tube from the carb to the distributor, and the accelerator pump does in fact squirt a bit of fuel into the carb chamber. It is not quite a jet stream like shown in the video, more like a dribble. Not sure if that matters.

Do you have a timing light? What is the timing set at with the vacuum advance disconnected at idle?

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Marshy

For sure, that spring does not belong there. Look in the lower right hand corner of your picture and you can see a spring. That looks more correct to me than what you have there. I don't know where it's supposed to go but that other spring looks at home to me.

Agree. I think it is a duplicate spring someone put on in the past.

I'm going to pick up a running light this weekend

[jtrichard]

I had not noticed this before but those 2 springs are pulling against each other and kinda looks like another spring is hooked to the linkage bell crank at the bottom center of pic???? more pics would help

[Marshy]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

I had not noticed this before but those 2 springs are pulling against each other and kinda looks like another spring is hooked to the linkage bell crank at the bottom center of pic???? more pics would help

I agree. I pointed out that the one in the lower right is likely in the proper position to help close the throttle linkage. That might be the only one he needs.

[jtrichard]

[QUOTE the accelerator pump does in fact squirt a bit of fuel into the carb chamber. It is not quite a jet stream like shown in the video, more like a dribble. Not sure if that matters.[/QUOTE]


I would think that if its NOT a good stream then you are not getting the fuel you need upon acceleration

"the one in the lower right is likely in the proper position to help close the throttle linkage. That might be the only one he needs" AGREE 100% Marshy

[Praxiss454]

I bought this carb off of eBay as remanufactured so I think I might file a claim...

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

I bought this carb off of eBay as remanufactured so I think I might file a claim...

The seller is willing to refund my money or ship me another one, but when I tested it again this evening I saw a more pronounced squirt of fuel from the accelerator pump, so I wonder if it didn't just have some debris blocking the flow. Tonight I also popped in some new spark plugs, so I'll test things again tomorrow and see how it goes.

The auto parts store near my house doesn't have a loaner timing light and I didn't feel like shelling out $$$ without doing some research first, so I'm going to see if I can borrow one from a friend.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by old cool

almost forgot. be careful when starting. old gas and tank could become an issue.

This is very important. Crud in tank will mess up a constant flow of fuel. Pull the tank and have it cleaned out and sealed. Your engine appears to be original. GMC engines were painted red from factory. GMC engine codes are not the same as Chevy. Very little is known about GMC engine codes, info is just not out there.