Re: Restoring Rusty
 

decided to remove the alternator

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

also removed the heater hoses and the radiator hoses, and put them away nice and neat on the shelf

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

unbolted the power steering pump from the block but left the hoses connected to the steering box

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

don't forget to disconnect the fuel line from the fuel pump

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

removed the belts and one of them was shot, the other ok, but I will be replacing both

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

started out by removing the wiring harness that runs across the top from the driver side to the passenger side

don't forget the grounds, there is one by each one of the headlights, and one on the frame rail

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I think this is a brake sensor that needs disconnecting

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

don't forget to disconnect the horn

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I removed the headlight bezels because there are two hidden bolts hidden way up high under there

I think 7 bolts hold the radiator support to each fender, now there are 3 additional bolts that hold it underneath to the inner fender, but 7 go from the inside out to each fender

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

removed the front turn signals to reveal the bolts hidden behind there too

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I wanted to remove the front section as much in one piece as possible, but decided to remove the lower grille panel to get access to hidden fasteners

it was held on by 8 bolts, two in the middle and three on each end, like so

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

removed the brackets that hold the lower grille panel to the main radiator support section

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

removed the overflow tank so I wouldn't damage it, when I had to lift the radiator support out by myself

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

then it was time to undo the two large bolts that hold the radiator support to the frame

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

after some grunting, some PB Blaster, and some more grunting, both long bolts and body mounts were out

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I also removed the battery tray just so that I could have more wiggability, and then it was time to wiggle the radiator support out

I took my time and wore some construction gloves so I wouldn't cut my surgeon like hands, ha ha

and soon enuff Bob was your uncle

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

now lets take a looksie at that engine without having the grille obstruct our view shall we

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

things were going great, I was on an adrenaline high, so I kept going

decided to remove the water pump, so easy now without the silly radiator in the way, ha ha

four bolts later and it was off, by the way it must have square bearings cause it makes an ugly sound when rotating, needed replacing for sure

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

ah what the heck lets separate the radiator fan from the water pump

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Thanks, and yeah, this is one of the few design flaws of our beloved trucks, that silly lip in the bottom of the radiator core support catches water, dirt, and of course battery acid drippings. The other terrible design flaw is the taco hood. Another one would be the dumb always on blower fan in the cabin, so annoying. Then there's the lame fuel tank filler neck that you have to squat and hold the gas pump nozzle just right or it will run on the side of the truck, LOL. There may be one more, but I forget.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

yup, good eye, and since you have a '79 also you mind checking what yours looks like, if you have not put the front end back together already that is, did GM get lazy and say why use 4 bolts when 3 will work, LOL

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

In GM's defense, I would argue over some of those said design flaws.
when the fuel filler location were designed the filler nozzles of the day were of the old type (like a diesel nozzle) they were not problem like the vapor recovery nozzles are.

The "taco" hood was a DOT mandate to all manufacturers. before the event of the folding hood, In a front end collision the hoods had a better than average chance of entering the passenger compartment and under enough cases decapitating occupants.
due to their flat design, the real cause of the hoods bending over time is lack of lube to the hinges.

The blower on always was not a defect this was GM wide feature of their "Flow-Through" ventilation system. A lame idea in my book, but........

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I don't know if its true or not but read somewhere it was to create positive cabin pressure to keep exhaust fumes out of the passenger area.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

My 79 fenders are OEM and do not have the lower bolt hole.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

If you have one that hasn't been modified there are hooks and tabs to catch the back of the hood in a collision so the A-pillars aren't getting the brunt of the impact.
I've had four of these 73-80 trucks that had hinges that were properly lubed by the owner. All of them had zero bends in the hood.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Yup, that spot is a devil. Here's a nice shot of mine. Also notice that the front of the wheel well and the inner fender structure are gone too.

http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps1lb7p876.jpg

http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/u...pstz7qhrn1.jpg

http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/u...psu0plveta.jpg

http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/u...psptxvgzd5.jpg

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

you was robbed, ha ha - thanks for confirming

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Day Three of Leftie Loosies

Fun Level = 11 (a little Spinal Tap reference for you all, horns up if you got it)

man I tell you working in a clean garage with an empty surface to put your parts on is such a big difference and a pleasure to work on your truck

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

we decided to move this party indoors tonight, and do a little wrenchin in the cabin

first we loosened up the shifter rubber boot

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

we were paying attention the last time we dropped the tranny so we learned (thanks to you all) how to press down and turn the metal cup to get the shifter stick out

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

then we removedatized the transmission turtle shell

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

we disconjoined the go backwards light switch thingie

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

next we disconbobulated the "Do You Know How Fast You Were Going Son?" cable

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

then we had to suck in our gut (see Lowering The Truck posts above) and slid under the truck like a sloth and removed the ZZ Top bar