Re: Restoring Rusty
 

so getting a bit concerned about my front end it appears to have dropped 4" when it should have dropped only 2" I think I am seeing a bit of negative camber, you know the top of the wheels leaning inward, your thoughts?

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Random Update # 1014

Here's what I scored at my last Pick N Pull visit, a tinted slider rear window off of a '79 (after market I think, maybe stock option I don't know), I think I paid $45 for it, already can't find the receipt

I never took one of these out, so I sacrificed the rubber seal to get it out, but I figured I would put in a brand new one anyways, I think LMC Truck has them for like $30 bucks

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

also scored some Vortec L31 Cylinder Heads part # 12558062 off of a 1999 Suburban for $90 bucks for the pair and $5 bucks for the set of head bolts

I think the SUV had 222,000 miles on it (just a baby, ha ha)

the cashier wanted $4.00 bucks per push rod so $64 bucks for the set, so I said no thank you (I planned on getting new ones anyway I just wanted them for reference)

~ Hey me, it's me from the future, it's four years later (9/22/2018) and I gotta tell you these heads did not turn out, they were both cracked, warning to all you ambitious junk yard pullers out there, I do not recommend hunting for used Vortec cylinder heads, I pulled 5 pairs, and all were cracked! ~

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Nice score on the slider window ,I see van Rally wheels in that yard ,they are getting scarce out here.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Thanks, and I always get a kick out of what guys see in the background of my pictures, it cracks me up each time, like you and the wheels, needless to say made me look! ha ha

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

ah what the heck lets take a closer look at those beauties, yup kept the rockers

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

so this is what Chevrolet Performance horse power looks like (ha ha)

and this is the exhaust side

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Also those van side marker lights look to be in good shape and to me they look better than our truck ones .You are so lucky to have those yards to shop in .We have none close by anymore as the land became too valuable .I usually look for good yards when we are traveling on vacation but the down side to that is we are usually driving our 72 Malibu convertible so I cant get anything big.I always enjoy your posts and the pics ,you are very entertaining .

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Good score !
Will you be taking the heads to a shop soon ? I'd be interested in how they find their condition to be (please don't tell them the accurate mileage on those ).

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

goodness how many sides do these things have, here's the intake side(s)

we will learn later the intake manifold on the Vortec heads is only held down with 8 bolts, two on each end and none in the middle

remember that (yes it will be on the test)

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

also snagged the valve covers and bolts, since the Vortec heads sport the four bolts down the middle style covers

didn't even charge me for the extra dirt and grime they came with, score!

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I wasn't planning on it, as I know how that will go... um yeah you need new guides, seals, seats, valves, and springs, and oh by the way one head is warped and the other is cracked...

ok, can I have them back sir?

um, no we threw them away

RIGHT !!!

Seriously though, machining will cost me more than buying them new for $660 bucks

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Nice score on the parts

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I would at least do a close visual, especially the area between the two center exhaust seats.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Remove the valves and check the valve seats, especially the exhaust since thats were they tend to crack. It took me three tries to find a good set at my local pick n pull. I did check them before I bough them though. I bought them when they had their 50% off sale so I got a killer deal.

The truck I pulled them from also had 200k+ miles. All I did was check them with a straight edge, lap the valves, and used umbrella seal. Havent had any issues with them and cost me a total investment of about $100.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Yes I plan on cleaning them and testing them and checking them (with you guyses help of course)

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Not sure what your plans are but if you plan to use vortec heads and use a carb you'll need a special intake manifold.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Yes sir, a Chevrolet Performance dual plane intake part # 12366573 is on the horizon.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

you ever had one of them days where you may actually have time to work on the truck but you aint got no money to do anything

well today was one of them days, I literally walked out of my garage to the garbage bin with my old dash in one hand and an angle grinder with a 4" cut off wheel on it, I was sick of starring at this ugly rusty cracked up piece of junk, the plan was to cut it in half and shove it in the trash bin

then it hit me a little voice in my head said, hey how is that aftermaket Weiand intake manifold working out for you, how about them aftermarket arm rests, and don't forget them McGauphys front coil springs, not to mention a new dash runs $260 bucks plus shipping and tax

Re: Restoring Rusty - Naked Dash Cover
 

so I looked at the dash and I said whats wrong with this thing, well the padding is cracked to smitherinez

oh, so what do we do Greg?

well we get rid of the padding so we get rid of the cracks

that's what we call an Eureka Moment folks, they are few and far between so take a moment

and so we busted out with the metal spatula and emabarked on a couple hours of scrapping and scrapping

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

progress was slow, but quickly we learned that this thing naked has some potential

first it eliminates that three inch gap opening around the gauge cluster bezel

second with the dash molding bar it covers up the two AC holes

so the plan is to scrape it nice an smooth, then use some acid to get rid of all rust, then primer and paint it

couple pics to remember where the clippy clips went

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

would have to see it stripped the rest of the way and sitting back in truck to decide

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Do you plan to leave it as pure metal or put foam/vinyl over it? If pure metal I'm totally interested in seeing this as I've seen a few people think about it and I've thought about it too.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Hmm...

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

The thought of going real thin spunge like material maybe 1/8th of an inch thick with black vinyl over it did cross my mind, but that would be Plan B.

Plan A is to just primer and paint it, I can always go with Plan B over that if I don't like the bare results, but I hope I will cause I like the Spartan look and feel of my truck.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Exactly!

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

First thought, maybe hydro-dipped with your pattern of choice? Just a thought...

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

You gonna make me Google that, aint you John? LOL

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Black crinkle paint would look very professional and badass at the same time.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

whoa, "professional and badass", I'm in, ha ha

so I think we are thinking something along these lines, this paint aint cheap it's $10 bucks a rattle can but that's still $250 ahead of a new "aftermarket" dash

Dupli Color

Textured Metallic Coating

"Use on trunks, dashboards, and Toolboxes"

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

so checked on our dash this morning and it is coming along nicely

one Top Tip: don't kill yourself scrapping all the padding off of it, let Mr. P do the work for you, soak the left over foam and adhesive with phosphoric acid and go watch some TV

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I am interested to see how this turns out painted! Will you weld/fill the extra holes?

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I wish I was man enough to do so, but when I went through my second midlife crisis I sold my Harbor Freight MIG welder and mask, etc so now I am in between welders, ha ha

so the short answer to your question is no, not at this time, I may re do it at some point in the future, unless someone from the Sac Crew shows up at my doorstep and welds them in for me

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

If I was to paint that I would use plastidip. It will be a neat texture and if you don't like it peel it off.

If you want to cover up the holes you could use some JB Weld and just put a backing plate behind the holes for it to grab on to.

Or the other option would be to basically strip to metal then let it rust up a bit then clear coat with stuff that is UV compatible.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

That is a most snazzy idea.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I would probably do it in black wrinkle paint. Kill the glare as well as the windshield reflection. The Rustoleum stuff isn't too expensive. The thing about Rustoleum is that it dries slow, to produce a more flexible coating. This doesn't micro-crack and let moisture and oxygen in to start rusting. For a dash, which can get very hot in the sun, I think the Rustoleum product is probably the way to go.
http://www.zoro.com/rust-oleum-wrink...Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Awesome idea. Waiting on pics

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Can't wait for more updates!

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Fiberglass the frame. No welder needed to cover holes...
Below is an old thread. I'm sure there are more threads /ideas...
You can still use the black textured paint to keep the glare down or find someone to cover the dash in marine grade UV resistant vinyl.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=441581&page=2

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=592107