More of a repair thread for now, but showing a little potential. My grandad's name was Buck.
It's a 78, with racetrack trim blue and grey, blue and black and white interior. 351, 4spd, np205, mostly original from what I can tell. Has been sitting in garage for a few years and got some funds earmarked from old uncle sam's loan(tax money).
Main culprit was leaky oil pan, low oil pressure. I thought it had a f'ed up oil pump. Tested that a couple weeks ago and was good, held good oil pressure so the revival continues. I'm just kicking myself now for waiting so long...
To avoid tank/fuel line issues, Ive been running a 2 gallon tank off the front bumper. Works well enough for test driving down the street. When I did run low on gas, it would sputter and BIG backfire through the carb. That blew the power valve and started the flooding. I've dealt with this in the past and had enough. I got a PV plug and put it in temporarily. I have to feather the throttle and be real gentle through it to the mains. After I get my fuel tank and lines worked out/tested out good, I'll put a new PV in.
Current issues:
Since it was running off the bumper gas tank so well, I figured try to get the stock tank up and going in order to drive it to the shop to fix some other issues. Yesterday I put 5 gals in it and then about drained my battery with the stock lines hooked up and never got fuel. Today I tried siphoning off the front fuel line that goes to the fuel pump with one of those bulb syphons. Nothing... I hate to admit it, but I made sure no one was looking and sucked like a 10$ job and still nothing. OK.... traced the fuel line to the rear tank, tried siphoning off that lead and same thing, nothing. I was about ready to give up on it, but then got the air compressor, removed the fill cap and sprayed air into the tank line. Heard bubbles. OK, tried siphoning with the bulb and whallah Fuel from the tank! Hooked that line back up and then siphoned some from the front line as well. There were some rust flakes in the fuel, I drained it into a gas tank until I didn't see any more bad stuff and then hooked up the fuel pump. A few cranks over and he runs. Rode to the local station and put in 10 gallons and the fuel gauge didn't move. Actually it moved from past E to just on E, but I think it should show more full than E. I'll fix that down the road.
So... now I'm to the point of getting it to the local shop ~15 miles away and getting some long tube fender wells, new exhaust and oil pan on it. This truck will mostly be a fun weekend cruizer, with occasional trail/mud/hunting. I'm leaning toward fender well exits because its cheap and easy and will provide room/clearance to get at the drivetrain in the future ( did I mention the squealing throw out bearing). While at the shop, I'm also considering putting on a good oil pan, as I don't want this thing leaking oil like it has been. Somebody mentioned a helicoil for the drainplug, but I'm not sold on that idea.
Next ups are planned to be:
3G alternator - I already have a good one I snagged from the yard years ago - yes procrastinational hoarding pays off.
dual electirc fans - flexite most likely or something similar
4bbl intake
then EFI holly sniper and poly fuel tank
Anybody have experience/suggestions on fenderwells or oil pans, please chime in. I'm fairly noob at those. I am planning on getting an O2 bung welded in they system in prep for EFI. are o2 bungs universal as far as size/threads? I'm skipping the coating, and going to have them dump out before the rear tire.
Here's a few pics of the truck in its best days and a driveshaft I redid when I was bored, years ago (before marriage...)
Ohh, Also heres a pic of the fornt axle swap me and dad did after the jade greeen 78 got smashed by a white oak during tornado - now parts truck, but its about 100 miles away and full of snakes and wasps and rats...
Last one is my last day at crappy job in Montgomery..
Looking forward to banging the old 4 speed again! I'm always amazed at the stuff I see on here, it's quite inspiring I'm gonna steal a bun of your cheap fix ideas so beware.
It's a 78, with racetrack trim blue and grey, blue and black and white interior. 351, 4spd, np205, mostly original from what I can tell. Has been sitting in garage for a few years and got some funds earmarked from old uncle sam's loan(tax money).
Main culprit was leaky oil pan, low oil pressure. I thought it had a f'ed up oil pump. Tested that a couple weeks ago and was good, held good oil pressure so the revival continues. I'm just kicking myself now for waiting so long...
To avoid tank/fuel line issues, Ive been running a 2 gallon tank off the front bumper. Works well enough for test driving down the street. When I did run low on gas, it would sputter and BIG backfire through the carb. That blew the power valve and started the flooding. I've dealt with this in the past and had enough. I got a PV plug and put it in temporarily. I have to feather the throttle and be real gentle through it to the mains. After I get my fuel tank and lines worked out/tested out good, I'll put a new PV in.
Current issues:
- drain plug leaks oil - Changed the oil and the drainplug still leaks and is stripped out fairly bad(not by me). I'm already using a nylon washer and oversized plug and still drips.
- exhaust manifold leaks on passenger side - May be the collector, I dunno... I do know that those bolts are really old and rusty and I ain't touching them except with a can of PB blaster morning and night.
- Throw out bearing squeals like a cameo in deliverance (I am really close to the TN boarder, but yeah its the clutch)
- Drivers side floorpans rusted - have replacement pan, dont have welder
Since it was running off the bumper gas tank so well, I figured try to get the stock tank up and going in order to drive it to the shop to fix some other issues. Yesterday I put 5 gals in it and then about drained my battery with the stock lines hooked up and never got fuel. Today I tried siphoning off the front fuel line that goes to the fuel pump with one of those bulb syphons. Nothing... I hate to admit it, but I made sure no one was looking and sucked like a 10$ job and still nothing. OK.... traced the fuel line to the rear tank, tried siphoning off that lead and same thing, nothing. I was about ready to give up on it, but then got the air compressor, removed the fill cap and sprayed air into the tank line. Heard bubbles. OK, tried siphoning with the bulb and whallah Fuel from the tank! Hooked that line back up and then siphoned some from the front line as well. There were some rust flakes in the fuel, I drained it into a gas tank until I didn't see any more bad stuff and then hooked up the fuel pump. A few cranks over and he runs. Rode to the local station and put in 10 gallons and the fuel gauge didn't move. Actually it moved from past E to just on E, but I think it should show more full than E. I'll fix that down the road.
So... now I'm to the point of getting it to the local shop ~15 miles away and getting some long tube fender wells, new exhaust and oil pan on it. This truck will mostly be a fun weekend cruizer, with occasional trail/mud/hunting. I'm leaning toward fender well exits because its cheap and easy and will provide room/clearance to get at the drivetrain in the future ( did I mention the squealing throw out bearing). While at the shop, I'm also considering putting on a good oil pan, as I don't want this thing leaking oil like it has been. Somebody mentioned a helicoil for the drainplug, but I'm not sold on that idea.
Next ups are planned to be:
3G alternator - I already have a good one I snagged from the yard years ago - yes procrastinational hoarding pays off.
dual electirc fans - flexite most likely or something similar
4bbl intake
then EFI holly sniper and poly fuel tank
Anybody have experience/suggestions on fenderwells or oil pans, please chime in. I'm fairly noob at those. I am planning on getting an O2 bung welded in they system in prep for EFI. are o2 bungs universal as far as size/threads? I'm skipping the coating, and going to have them dump out before the rear tire.
Here's a few pics of the truck in its best days and a driveshaft I redid when I was bored, years ago (before marriage...)
Ohh, Also heres a pic of the fornt axle swap me and dad did after the jade greeen 78 got smashed by a white oak during tornado - now parts truck, but its about 100 miles away and full of snakes and wasps and rats...
Last one is my last day at crappy job in Montgomery..
Looking forward to banging the old 4 speed again! I'm always amazed at the stuff I see on here, it's quite inspiring I'm gonna steal a bun of your cheap fix ideas so beware.