Re: Restoring Rusty
 

yeah, my seems pretty nice and solid like it has some quality to it, I may try to braise the leak, I am sure the replacement one will be a flimzy China plastic one

Re: Restoring Rusty - Heater Core Replacement
 

and she's out


Note to self: my motivation to take out this assembly and clean it out nicely is at an all time low... squirrel!!!

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

If it helps, I put a spectra "premium" heater core in from pepboys and it was good for the 2 years it was in my truck before I put the vintage air in. My unit was all aluminum.

Re: Restoring Rusty - Anatomy of a Heater Core
 

Anatomy of the Heater Core

so there's a rubber gasket thingy and a metal bracket that holds it in place with those two tiny screws

Re: Restoring Rusty - Testing The Heater Core
 

time to test the old heater core

so I filled it with water and plugged the ports with those handy rubber plugs then I dried it real good with a paper towel and held it up to see where it leaks from

I am not sure exactly where the leak is, but it's not from the rubber stoppers so time to get a new one, I may braise this one some day as I like the good solid quality of it

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

ordered a new heater core from Auto Zone it was $30 bucks but they have to transfer it from the hub store so that's it for today folks, thank you for reading, feels good to be back in the saddle again

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

This thread has shamed me to start documenting my "fixing up" better...great thread and great build...Thank you!

just curious if you ever tried to do anything with the dash pad...maybe I missed it...

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

This thread has shamed me to start documenting my "fixing up" better...great thread and great build...Thank you!

just curious if you ever tried to do anything with the dash pad...maybe I missed it...

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Glad to hear it!

Sure did, The Greg left no stone unturned, I realize this is a long monsterous thread (apologies) so I found a section on the dash pad in thread number 2219 check it out please, I think it jumps around from there, also updated the Table of Contents (that a kind reader started for me and gave me the idea to do, thank you so much)

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Oh man!...I totally dig the dash and I started tearing mine apart last night! Got an idea for the holes (I'll post pics) using barn wood...

Sorry you had so much trouble with the JBW. It can be tricky if you ain't used to it...here in the hood we use it more than duct tape...

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Ahhhh, that brings back memories. My first experience with a heater core was in my 78 K10 back around 1990... good times.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I have learned a lot reading your post thread thanks a lot. You will find the new heater cores are aluminum and are smaller than the original. At least the heater core I got from Advance auto was like that. I luckily had some extra foam lying around that I stuffed on the sides of the heater core. Also make sure they give you the right heater core as the first time they gave me a H core for a AC truck. I hope you didnt ruin the bolts that bolt on from engine bay, those are a bear to find.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

man I had a hard time getting motivated to get this new core in (the desire ranked right up there with a voluntary appendectamy), LOL, but I finally got tired of using my shirt sleeve to wipe off the sweaty windshield every morning

so here it is the new core

part number: 94553, 399079

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

and as always we compare the old (quality unit) with the new (flimzy junk)

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

the sound detening heater padding was sagging down making it difficult to get the heater core studs in the proper holes, so I yanked it all out, it came off in chunks the size of 3x5 cards, not my proudest achievement but it exposed any rust sections lurking underneath there, someday we will insulate this again (umm, or not)

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

and the heater hoses went back on, cluttering up my beautiful engine compartment again, sometimes Form wins, sometimes Function!

So far no leaks, the truck ran in the driveway for about 20 minutes whilst I vacuumed it out (yes including the bed, ha ha) since I hauled some fire wood, yup say it with me now; "truck doing truck things!"

Then I took it for a test drive to Target and the grocery store, still no leaks, and wait for it... we now have heat! oh what a spoiled gangster I am now.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Glad to hear, you're welcome, and thanks for the feedback, its always appreciated and keeps me motivated.

Hmmm, I got mine from AutoZone and this one fit like a glove. Hopefully posting the part number like I did will save somebody some grief.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

next we'll tackle something we started over 2 years ago back in thread 1039 Anatomy of a Kick Panel

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

It's good to see some more work done on Rusty. Another 'installment', if you will.

BTW, this is my post number 454. I had to make note of that since it's a number I have coveted since high school.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Good stuff Greg, I changed my heater core a couple years ago and was amazed at how fast I can heat up the cab (which is handy here in WV right now).

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

yep, fourth house is as many years, so it's been a tough road, so tired of setting up yet another garage, but this one will be permanent when done

ha ha, I totally get it, I have a MOPAR friend that sends me texts at 3:18 and 3:40 LOL and I PING him back at 3:27 and 3:50 etc. but 454 is a good one

Re: Restoring Rusty - Kick Panels \ Vents
 

Game On!


... yep, she's out of the house!

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Wow, this is so riveting!

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

nine cheap Harbor Freight rivets later (one stud didn't make the photo shoot) and one side is done

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

alright after getting re-motivated, and seven failed attempts at putting that silly rivet gun back together the wrong way, I think I finally put it back the right way, and we were back in business

so here is the driver side kick panel rebuild and ready to go

Re: Restoring Rusty - Kick Panels
 

and here's a little before and after comparison, old and new(ish)

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

"Oh, now, just a minute. You must understand, my dear: On the stroke of twelve, the spell will be broken, and everything will be as it was before."

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Greg, did you make your own replacements or did you get a kit?

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

not sure I follow your question since you see me assembling these myself, so yes these are all my original parts that I wired wheeled the rust off of then painted black, the only thing I bought new was the oval felt like material that gets sandwiched in the Oreo cookie, however had I known it was something someone just cut out free hand with scissors, and did a horrible job of it, I would have just pranced over to Walmart and bought my own material and cut them out myself, lol

if you follow the thread (huge I know) try the Table of Contents in the very first post, you will see how I worked these kick panels

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I was wondering if the gasket material was a kit.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Is that chili and cornbread muffins? I'm on my way!

Don't the kids tell on you when you spread parts all over the kitchen?

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

so got the passenger side kick panel back in, not to proud to bolt this shiny newish piece up to the rusty sheet metal, but its cold out and this is now my daily driver so git 'er done, come summer time things may git painted/POR15ed up

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I realize some of you may think this is silly, but I love showing our "city" trucks doing truck things, ha ha

so the HOA insisted we replace the unapproved white rocks put in by the previous home owner with standard bark, so here we go

Rusty gettin' dirty and maintainin' his Street Cred!!! ha ha

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Cool

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

I actually think it's cool bolting renovated parts up against old, obviously aged parts. It shows the progress. Good work on on Rusty's gills.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

1. I hate you, your propensity to actually get stuff DONE is making me feel inadequate.
2. I love you, your propensity to actually get stuff DONE AND take pictures is awesome and gives me ideas on things I can actually get done myself!

I have questions:
• I've heard from reviews that the POR 15 tends to lighten in color, turning a purple color (or even pinkish) when exposed to UV light... any thoughts on your application?
• You are using Phosphoric Acid to prep, and then applying POR 15, correct? I see concrete etcher at the local home improvement as Phosphoric Acid, but I'm not sure if that's the same, or if it is the same strength... Where'd you source your acid, and what strength is it (or do you even know)?

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Delete me. I am a duplicate.

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Christmas in December... (oh wait...)

Re: Restoring Rusty
 

Luv it, I mean I hate it!