Quest to DD my '71 again

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

On the seatbelts, anyway

I had a set custom made using my original buckles - they're reversed from the normal orientation, the tab is on the seat and the buckle is on the shoulder harness, but they work fine and it looks great.

Those are really cool, I looked into doing something like that. Where did you have it done?

Originally Posted by original-71

if you can drive it and be happy i would do the same with mine, minus the rain and thieves

Tell you what how about we just trade and you can drive mine. Yours will be safe in my garage!

So the DD Day is here, sold the wife's Tahoe today and she is driving my '08 Silverado. I have made some headway, been working on freshening up the tilt column by removing the upper guts, cleaning and prepping for paint. I also may have fixed the major leak, of all things it was the dipstick. I have a chrome one, and I suspected it of leaking before so I cleaned and sealed with RTV. It's really hard to spot, because the oil comes out clean then travels backwards between the block and head and off the back of the engine. There was no dirt around the dipstick so I didn't think it was leaking again but after some searching I ran across a thread where somebody said they have to be seated so I tapped it with a mallet and what do you know, it seated firmly in the block. Took a long drive, came back and there was one drip a half hour later (hopefully leftovers).

I'm exited to have tilt soon!!!

[19seventeeCustom]

sounds great, currently DD my '70.

[LEEVON]

Do you mind posting some pics? Your truck looks very similar to one that was for sale in Bentonville a couple of years ago.

[bovey]

My 2 cents. I've had my '71 for 24 years this August, it's not a daily driver - but it does do the daily duty when needed - it has taken me across the country and back, and then some - I racked up 130,000ish miles on it personally, the truck will be rolling 200K soon. It started out life as a 307/PG and has graduated to a LS427/t56. It's now getting ready to haul around my first child.

Anyway, on to your truck.

1) Fix the leaks - it can be a pain, but it can be done. Make sure everything is clean before the sealant goes on.

2) Air - I'd go aftermarket - it's smaller and cleaner.

3) Shoulder belts - mine came out of a '89 chevyP/U and they practically bolted in. You'll need to re-enforce the floor where the main retractor goes. Everything else will use factory bolt holes - use grade 8 hardware.

4) I've ran everything from Christhome (socal low rider stuff - before CPP, ECC) to my current CPP set-up - you have lots of choice. The only thing I warn you about is 5" rear coils - my experience is there is not enough spring to give a good ride - I'd go with a 3 or 4" spring and blocks - personally, I hate blocks but it works better. Don't forget the wedges to get our pinion correct.

5) You don't need to ditch the headers - just get a good set - make sure the have a thick header flange - min 3/8" and are at least 16G - that should cut down on the noise. The more you pay the better they are as a general rule. Cheap headers on a SBC have that awful tick in the primaries... I know I had a set of Blackjack headers...

What you want is totally in reach - your truck looks great. Just be ready the details can take some work to sort out. And yes, if you want reliable, shove an LS in there stat - it's freaking amazing. I gave away all of my SBC stuff after mine - I'm never going back.

[VA72C10]

sounds like you're getting everything under control....hope you enjoy it and it treats you well with minimal maintenance...

[502ms]

I applaud you choosing to daily yours. I pretty much daily my 72. I could drive my BMWs, which are chock full of everything nice, and also are modified nicely, but I prefer the no-nonsense and nolstagia of driving the truck. It doesn't hurt that I get a lot of love wherever I go...it is definitely a great networking tool. I also love the fact that parts are readily available without breaking the bank...I have been driving BMWs for the last 10 years, before that, Lexus and Acura...all were expensive, relative to my truck. Now, if it's raining too bad, I will leave it in the garage and grab one of the other cars...mostly to protect it from the idiots. I am going to look at the upgraded insurance, as well as supplemental, like Hagerty's.

As for the headers, don't ditch them, upgrade to the metal gaskets. Won't have to worry about the paper ones getting burned up...they really get the job done.
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[LEEVON]

Well the oil spot re-appeared this morning. And the lock-up has been working ever since I installed the 700R4 but this morning it decided not too, electrical issue I'm sure. I'm having withdrawals from my '08 already!

[Boog]

[I'm having withdrawals from my '08 already! ]

bound to happen. We get used to our late models doing all kinds of stuff and having neat bells n whistles. Our old trucks don't. I've gotten so used to having power windows n locks tilt, cruise, heated seats, etc, it's hard to imagine a time when there weren't any. Everything was manual. It's just how they were. And they were A LOT simpler to work on too. Progress comes with a price.
I don't have an old truck with intentions of making it as comfy as a new one. I have it because I like it as it was back then. I don't intend to make mine a dd but it will be at the ready any time I need it to. Get out there and enjoy that great truck.

oil leak? well, it's just marking it's spot

[LEEVON]

Fixed a park lamp that had a bad ground...radiator is leaking at the upper neck and will need to be repaired or replaced. Ohhh the fun!

[502ms]

Originally Posted by Boog

Progress comes with a price...oil leak? well, it's just marking it's spot

Love it
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[LEEVON]

Proof of the daily driving! A couple of videos, me driving the truck and my wife in the '08 crew.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21806883@N02/7227089568/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21806883@N02/7227085382/

[jocko]

hey! I like the pic in the fuel gauge empty space idea... Good idea!!

[LEEVON]

So after a full week of driving the truck to work, around town and even a jobsite, there were no major issues but many little ones. Radiator leaks, suspension bottoming out, old exhaust is too loud and rattles, oil leaks and much more. So I did the only sane thing, tore it to bits!

[lil hoodlum]

Love the truck! I like your idea of daily driving it again. It is allways, OK mostly, a pleasure driving these trucks around.

Cool videos too. I like all of the bug splatter on the windshield.

It's nice to know you are enjoying it.

Keith

[LEEVON]

More dis-assembly, got the all of the accessories, wiring, hoses, etc. out of the way and pulled the engine. I was going to leave the heads on, but I have suspected that the source of my oil leak could be at the back of the lifter valley at the head gasket, and a close inspection couldn't rule it out...and dropping a nut into a water jacket sealed the deal so the heads came off.

This engine is spotless inside, I can still see the cross-hatching, valve train is tight, plugs look perfect. I don't know all of the specs, but it was is a .030 block with RHS heads, quite a bit of cam, hydraulic lifters, roller rockers, some nice pistons and is in the range of 9.5-10:1 compression. I will be cleaning the heads up and ditching my billet valve covers, timing cover and oil pan for stock units. I am keeping the edelbrock intake and Summit carb for now but the intake is getting painted orange to hide it a bit. The rest of the engine will appear stock.

I thoroughly enjoyed ripping the loud, hot and too low headers out. You can sort of get the fell of the truck in these pics, everything from the firewall forward has been gone through and at one point was rehabbed or in working order but could be cleaner and better. The suspension is caked in grease, the firewall needs paint and a rust patch, all of the a/c stuff needs some love and I'll also be cleaning up the brake booster, master cylinder and wiring. I'm making a pile of brackets small parts, and nuts and bolts to be cleaned and blasted. I'm thinking of saving myself the headache and going to the powdercoater.

Pics...of a perfectly good running and driving truck in pieces, what have I done!!!?

[mcbassin]

well Leevon, it looks like you have your hands full. What is the game plan for being back on the road?
I'm following this one too.

[LEEVON]

3-4 weeks is the goal.

[VA72C10]

just couldn't leave well enough alone....huh? but you're doing it the right way and will hopefully save any headaches down the road...

[ls1nova71]

This is how projects get started!!! Good luck man and don't let it get out of hand.
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[Tynee]

Yep, there won't be a nut left on a bolt by the time you're done, now...

[dfwright]

The start of something grand! I'm in for watching this one!

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by Tynee

Yep, there won't be a nut left on a bolt by the time you're done, now...

The cab and bed are staying put, I promise!

[gcburdic]

Leevon....love that you will DD this....your oil leaks remind me of the old Chevrolet saying...
C=Cracked
H=Heads
E=Every
V=Valve
R=Rattles
O=Oil
L=Leaks
E=Every
T=Time

[67chevy1series]

lol first thing that came to mind when i saw the front end off was "i wonder which peice of the truck he is going to daily drive now" lol..... steering columns are evil.. look what it did to him now thers no front end

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by 67chevy1series

lol first thing that came to mind when i saw the front end off was "i wonder which peice of the truck he is going to daily drive now" lol..... steering columns are evil.. look what it did to him now thers no front end

That's exactly what happened, I couldn't bear the thought of a clean steering shaft in that engine bay...and sadly I watched my Dad do the EXACT same thing last summer, right through the show season and regret every minute. He bought a new tilt column and next thing you know everything from the firewall forward was completely restored plus vintage air and some other goodies, just in time for winter I made fun of him all year.

BUT, I'm making progress! The heads came off and went right back on, so at least now if I have a leak there it will be my fault! I was able to get a brand new stock timing cover cheap at the parts store, new oil pan, stock valve covers and all the seals and gaskets. I just need to bolt the intake down and adjust the valve lash then set it aside while I tend to the truck itself (and clean up the mess I made).

Rattle can rebuild in two days!